Experiments on the nature of the opsonic action of the blood serum.

Abstract

Abstract In a series of simple and convincing experiments Wright and Douglas have shown that in phagocytosis so called, an important if not a cardinal róle is played by the body humors, whereby they act upon the bacteria, thus rendering the latter an easy prey for the polynuclear leucocytes. The demonstration of this opsonic action of the serum or plasma was mainly brought about by testing separately and combined the body humors and the corpuscles which had been washed in salt solution. Contrary to general opinion, Wright and Douglas found that the leucocytes were capable of engulfing microbes only when the latter had been attacked by the serum or plasma.