MANIFESTATIONS OF THE FUNCTIONAL-HETEROGENEITY OF PEPTIDOGLYCANS IN OPSONOPHAGOCYTIC REACTIONS

The peptidoglycan activity of Staphylococcus aureus CCM 885 and Bifido bacterium bifidum 1 was studied in the opsonophagocytic system on the basis of the luminol-dependent chemiluminescence of human neutrophils. B. bifidum peptidoglycan was more active in direct interaction with n eutrophils. After treatment with normal human serum S. aureus peptidog lycan showed more pronounced neutrophil-stimulating properties. This p henomenon was in accord with a higher content of IgG antibodies to S. aureus peptidoglycan, as well as with its capacity for the classical d irect activation of the complement. Moreover, in reactions' with S. au reus peptidoglycan ''minor'' opsonins, independent of antibodies and c omplement, were detected. B. bifidum peptidoglycan did not activate th e complement, could not be opsonized with the serum having no specific antibodies and did not react with ''minor'' opsonins.