MANIFESTATIONS OF THE FUNCTIONAL-HETEROGENEITY OF PEPTIDOGLYCANS IN OPSONOPHAGOCYTIC REACTIONS

The peptidoglycan activity of Staphylococcus aureus CCM 885 and Bifidobacterium 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 neutrophils. After treatment with normal human serum S. aureus peptidoglycan showed more pronounced neutrophil-stimulating properties. This phenomenon was in accord with a higher content of IgG antibodies to S. aureus peptidoglycan, as well as with its capacity for the classical direct activation of the complement. Moreover, in reactions' with S. aureus peptidoglycan ''minor'' opsonins, independent of antibodies and complement, were detected. B. bifidum peptidoglycan did not activate the complement, could not be opsonized with the serum having no specific antibodies and did not react with ''minor'' opsonins.