In article <3r8gob$mdl at jhunix1.hcf.jhu.edu>, ejf at welchlink.uoregon.edu
(Ephraim Fuchs) wrote:
> I believe that the burden of defense against gram - bacteria rests
> squarely upon the neutrophil, and that the adaptive immune system plays
> either no role or one that is detrimental to the host.
>
Ephraim,
I suspect your statement is a little too general. How do you
account for the observation that inherited deficiencies in late (ie lytic
pathway) complement components are specifically associated with
susceptibility to Neisseria infections (a gram- organism). In these cases
the early complement components are intact and capable of acting as
opsonins, but this is insufficient to control this particular group of
pathogens.
As to whether in general adaptive immune responses are associated
with resistance to gram- bacteria, isn't there a window of susceptibilty
in infants whose onset correlates with the disappearance of maternal
immunoglobulin and which decays as the infants own immunoglobulin levels
rise? Does this not suggest that antibody (which I would class as part of
the adaptive immune system) plays a role in host defence against gram-
pathogens?
Paul T
--
Paul J Travers phone : +44-(0)71-631-6862 (office)
ICRF Structural Biology Unit " " " 6868 (lab)
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