ANTIGEN-NONSPECIFIC IMMUNOSUPPRESSION INDUCED BY STAPHYLOCOCCUS-AUREUS

In experiments made on noninbred white mice the manifestations of dela yed hypersensitivity and the number of antibody-producing cells in reg ional lymph nodes or the spleen were determined on day 5 after the sub cutaneous or intraperitoneal immunization of the animals with sheep re d blood cells (SRBC). At the same time the injection of S. aureus anti gens simultaneously with SRBC raises the threshold of antigenic sensit ivity and decreases the manifestations of cell-mediated and humoral im mune response to SRBC. This suppressive effect was even more pronounce d in the local immune process and was partially mediated by the hyperp roduction of prostaglandins.