The Dissociative Influence of the Normal Rabbit Conjunctiva on Beta Hemolytic Streptococci

Abstract

Experiments were performed to determine whether the conjunctiva would exert a dissociative influence on bacteria. The normal rabbit was employed as the experimental animal and three different strains of Streptococcus haemolyticus were used as test organisms. After the bacteria had remained in contact with the rabbit conjunctiva for varying intervals, the organisms employed exhibited loss of hemolytic quality, loss of pathogenicity, and changes in colony and cell morphology. Since such changes are accompanied by loss of virulence, possibly this dissociative influence by the conjunctiva may be one of the defense mechanisms of the eye against bacterial invasion. From the Department of Bacteriology and Preventive Medicine, University of Illinois College of Medicine, Research Laboratories of the State Department of Public Health and The Chicago Medical School. Experiments were performed to determine whether the conjunctiva would exert a dissociative influence on bacteria. The normal rabbit was employed as the experimental animal and three different strains of Streptococcus haemolyticus were used as test organisms. After the bacteria had remained in contact with the rabbit conjunctiva for varying intervals, the organisms employed exhibited loss of hemolytic quality, loss of pathogenicity, and changes in colony and cell morphology. Since such changes are accompanied by loss of virulence, possibly this dissociative influence by the conjunctiva may be one of the defense mechanisms of the eye against bacterial invasion. From the Department of Bacteriology and Preventive Medicine, University of Illinois College of Medicine, Research Laboratories of the State Department of Public Health and The Chicago Medical School.