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Healthy individuals possess circulating antibodies against their indigenous faecal microflora as well as against allogenous faecal microflora: an immunomorphometrical study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 May 2009

H. Z. Apperloo-Renkema
Affiliation:
Laboratory for Medical Microbiology, State University of Groningen, Oostersingel 59, 9713 EZ Groningen, The Netherlands
T. G. Jagt
Affiliation:
Laboratory for Medical Microbiology, State University of Groningen, Oostersingel 59, 9713 EZ Groningen, The Netherlands
R. H. J Tonk
Affiliation:
Laboratory for Medical Microbiology, State University of Groningen, Oostersingel 59, 9713 EZ Groningen, The Netherlands
D. van der Waaij
Affiliation:
Laboratory for Medical Microbiology, State University of Groningen, Oostersingel 59, 9713 EZ Groningen, The Netherlands
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Summary

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Healthy persons were shown to possess circulating antibodies of both IgA, IgG and IgM isotype directed against the bacteria of their faecal microflora, assessed by immunomorphometry. After removal, by absorption, of the fraction of antibodies directed against the autochthonous faecal bacteria or cross-reacting with allogenous faecal bacteria, there were still antibodies left directed against allogenous faecal bacteria of both the IgA, IgG and IgM isotype. However, relatively more antibodies of the IgA isotype appeared to be directed against allogenous bacteria than against indigenous faecal bacteria. Persons who reacted with specific antibodies to many bacteria of their own flora also tended to react specifically to bacteria in the allogenous microflora of the other volunteers. The patterns of antibodies directed to faecal bacteria of different morphologies (morphotypes) were unique for each individual.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1993

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