鼠伤寒沙门菌VI型分泌系统效应因子Rhs生物学特性分析

【背景】细菌的Ⅵ型分泌系统作为杀死真核捕食者或原核竞争对手的“武器”,其杀伤作用是通过释放有毒物质即效应因子来实现。尽管已发现一些效应因子,但大多数效应因子的功能仍然未知。【目的】研究rhs基因编码的效应因子Rhs对鼠伤寒沙门菌生物学特性的影响。【方法】利用Red同源重组的方法构建鼠伤寒沙门菌rhs基因缺失株及相应的基因回补株。通过试验分析比较亲本株与缺失株、回补株在生化特性、生物被膜形成、耐药性、细菌间竞争、抗血清补体杀菌能力、组织载菌量及感染小鼠后炎症因子IL-18、IL-1β释放量上的差异。【结果】效应因子Rhs不影响鼠伤寒沙门菌的生化代谢、生物被膜形成、耐药性及抗血清补体杀菌能力。细菌种间竞争试验中,基因缺失株CVCC541Δrhs1、CVCC541Δrhs2和CVCC541Δrhs1-2的竞争指数(competition index,CI)值分别为0.85、0.77和0.87,毒力均被轻度致弱。体内组织载菌量试验中,CVCC541Δrhs1、CVCC541Δrhs2和CVCC541Δrhs1-2基因缺失株在小鼠肝脏和脾脏中的细菌数均较亲本株明显下降(P<0.05);机体...     

新疆野果林苹果腐烂病病原菌鉴定及药用植物内生细菌对其抑菌效果

【背景】药用植物内生细菌能产生与寄主植物相同或相似的化合物及一些新的次级代谢产物等,具有促进宿主植物生长、抵抗病虫害、降解有毒有害化合物等作用。【目的】进一步提高苹果腐烂病生物防治的效率,丰富新疆药用植物内生细菌拮抗功能菌株的资源库。【方法】从新疆伊犁新源县和塔城额敏县野果林中采集带腐烂病病斑的果树枝条,分离鉴定苹果腐烂病病原菌,并采用平板对峙法从药用植物内生细菌中筛选对苹果腐烂病具有抑制作用的拮抗菌株。【结果】从两地共分离获得234株分离株,筛选鉴定出25株Valsa malicola和2株Valsa mali;同时,筛选出92株具有抑菌效果的内生细菌菌株,其中70株来自甘草植物内生细菌。【结论】药用植物甘草中富含较为丰富的抗苹果腐烂病病原菌的微生物菌株资源。本研究在新疆野果林苹果腐烂病的生物防治及药用植物内生细菌的开发利用等方面具有重要意义。     

毒力基因yqeH功能分析及对禽致病性大肠杆菌致病性的影响

【背景】禽致病性大肠杆菌(avian pathogenic Escherichia coli,APEC)可引起禽类急性或亚急性感染,在近年新发现的大肠杆菌Ⅲ型分泌系统2 (Escherichia coli type III secretion system 2,ETT2)中,毒力基因yqeH对其致病性的影响尚不明确。【目的】探究yqeH在APEC致病过程中的作用,为后期深入研究ETT2致病机制奠定基础。【方法】利用Red同源重组技术构建yqeH缺失株ΔyqeH及其回复株CΔyqeH,通过运动性、生物被膜形成能力、抗逆性、抗血清杀菌能力等试验分析yqeH对APEC生物学功能的影响,并通过细胞黏附、侵袭试验、致病力测定及荧光定量PCR检测细胞炎性因子转录水平,探究yqeH对APEC感染宿主的影响。【结果】构建了缺失株ΔyqeH和回复株CΔyqeH;生物学特性试验结果表明,与野生株APEC81相比,缺失株ΔyqeH生物被膜形成能力、运动能力降低,对酸、碱、渗透压、氧化休克的耐受力降低,抗血清杀菌能力及致病力显著降低;与野生株APEC81相比,缺失株ΔyqeH对鸡气管黏膜上皮细胞的黏附及侵袭能...     

贵州半夏块茎腐烂病拮抗细菌的筛选与鉴定

【目的】从半夏根际土壤筛选对半夏块茎腐烂病致病菌有拮抗活性的细菌并进行鉴定。【方法】采用稀释分离法和平板对峙法分离拮抗菌,然后根据菌落形态、生理生化特性,结合分子生物学方法进行鉴定。【结果】从半夏根际土壤共分离到228株细菌,其中菌株GZDF2、GZDF3、GZDF4对病原细菌及病原真菌均有拮抗活性,抑菌圈大小达23 mm,并且抑菌谱广。经形态学观察、生理生化特性分析和分子生物学方法,将菌株GZDF2、GZDF3、GZDF4鉴定为短短芽胞杆菌(Brevibacillus brevis)。进一步采用gyr B和rpo B基因对3株短短芽胞杆菌进行聚类分析,结果显示GZDF3菌株与其他2株短短芽胞杆菌存在遗传差异。【结论】半夏根际土壤中分离到的3株短短芽胞杆菌抑菌活性强、抑菌谱广,具有开发成生防剂的潜力。     

柑橘黄龙病隐症寄主九里香内生细菌分离及功能鉴定

【目的】分析黄龙病高发区的九里香植株叶及茎干中内生细菌,为寻找具有抗柑橘黄龙病的内生细菌奠定基础。【方法】利用平板培养法及基于16S rDNA的限制性酶切长度多态性(Restriction fragment length polymorphism,RFLP)序列分子鉴定法,对九里香植物内生细菌进行多样性分析。【结果】在兼性厌氧的生长环境下,从九里香植株中分离获得可培养内生细菌26株,分属于9个细菌属的14个种,其中肠杆菌属(Enterobacter sp.)(IF=19.23%)、芽胞杆菌属(Bacillus sp.)(IF=38.46%)为九里香可培养内生细菌的优势菌属。茎干中内生细菌丰度高于叶中内生菌丰度。建立了九里香内生细菌16S rDNA文库,对文库质量检测显示,该克隆文库的覆盖度(Coverage C)为94.97%,结合Rarefaction曲线分析,表明所构建的克隆文库是相对充分的。对文库中179个阳性克隆进行HaeШ、MspⅠ、RsaⅠ3种限制性内切酶分析,得到20个不同的操作分类单元(Operational taxonomic units,OTUs),其中沙雷氏菌属(Serratia sp.)为九里香植株中内生细菌的绝对优势菌属。测定了14株内生细菌的功能,其中9株菌能产生吲哚-3-乙酸(IAA);具有抗生素(phlD)合成能力的内生细菌有4株;结合nifH和NFb固氮培养基确定有3株内生细菌具有固氮能力;1株内生细菌具有ACC脱氨酶合成能力;8株内生细菌具有铁细胞合成能力;3株内生细菌具有淀粉水解能力;2株内生细菌显示强阳性的蛋白酶合成能力,4株内生细菌具有以上4种功能。【结论】九里香植株中内生细菌具有丰富的多样性,并且可能对九里香植株生长发育及抗生物和非生物胁迫有着重要的生理功能。     

解淀粉芽孢杆菌杀线虫活性高效筛选模型的建立及应用

【目的】食线虫细菌对线虫的侵染机制报道甚少,限制了生防细菌的在农业实践中的广泛应用。本研究中,我们构建了一种对细菌杀线虫活性进行快速高效筛选的方法来快速寻找与线虫侵染功能相关的基因。【方法】将培养在固体平板上的野生型解淀粉芽孢杆菌FZB42及其突变株接种于5mL液体快杀培养基中,37℃培养24h后,在24孔板中分别加入200μL菌液和50-60条L4龄秀丽隐杆线虫(Caenorhabditis elegans),记录变化明显的时间点及线虫存活数,将相对于原始菌株杀线虫能力明显下降的突变株选出,并进行多次复筛。同时以传统的固体平板杀线虫法作为对照。【结果】用液体快杀法在21h时筛选出了与原始菌株相比杀线虫活性显著下降的2株突变株F1和F2,与传统的固体平板杀线虫法结果一致,且极大地缩短了筛选时间。【结论】该研究为下一步鉴定食线虫细菌中的毒力基因、进而阐明病原细菌侵染宿主的分子机制提供了良好的生物材料,并缩短了研究周期。     

2型猪链球菌SSU0448基因敲除突变株的构建及其毒力分析

【目的】 通过构建2型猪链球菌(SS2)强毒株05ZYH33的SSU0448基因缺失突变株Δ0448和互补株CΔ0448,探索SSU0448基因缺失对细菌基本生物学特性和细菌毒力的影响。【方法】用同源重组基因敲除方法构建筛选强毒株05ZYH33中N-乙酰半乳糖胺和半乳糖胺代谢途径相关转录调节因子SSU0448基因的缺失突变株,比较分析突变株Δ0448与野生株05ZYH33、互补株CΔ0448的基本生物学特性,小鼠毒力实验分析SSU0448基因缺失对细菌毒力的影响。【结果】PCR检测分析显示,SSU0448基因在转化重组体中被壮观霉素抗性基因所替代,表明基因敲除突变株构建成功;同时构建了基因功能互补株CΔ0448。生物学特性实验表明突变株Δ0448在成链能力上较野生株明显减弱,对数生长期稍短,快速到达平台期;而菌落形态、革兰氏染色和溶血活性方面无明显差异;小鼠毒力实验发现,突变株毒力并无显著改变。【结论】SSU0448基因的敲除能够改变2型猪链球菌的成链能力;不影响其侵袭致病能力,可能延缓2型猪链球菌的发病过程,此研究为2型猪链球菌致病感染奠定了基础。     

两株聚球藻伴生细菌分离纯化与促生功能鉴定

【背景】蓝藻周围存在伴生细菌,伴生细菌与蓝藻具有复杂的作用关系。【目的】研究淡水聚球藻伴生细菌对聚球藻生长的影响。【方法】采用高通量测序分析聚球藻伴生细菌多样性;平板划线法纯化聚球藻伴生细菌,通过形态观察结合16S rRNA基因序列同源性比对,对其种属关系进行确定;通过聚球藻和不同浓度伴生细菌共培养测定其叶绿素a浓度,分析伴生细菌对聚球藻生长的影响;采用种子发芽试验验证伴生细菌促生功能。【结果】淡水聚球藻伴生细菌优势菌属为产卟啉杆菌属(Porphyrobacter)、根瘤菌属(Rhizobium)、水单胞菌属(Aquimonas)和中慢生根瘤菌属(Mesorhizobium),从聚球藻分离获得了两株伴生细菌JQ1和JQ2,基于16S rRNA基因序列鉴定其分别属于Rhizobium和Peribacillus,通过在聚球藻与不同浓度伴生细菌共培养及水稻发芽试验验证,证明伴生细菌JQ1和JQ2在菌藻比例分别为5:1和15:1时具有促生作用,都对增强秧苗素质和根系发育有一定影响但JQ2与JQ1相比能显著提高水稻种子的发芽率。【结论】淡水聚球藻伴生细菌JQ1和JQ2在适宜的浓度均可显著促进聚球...     

2株草螺菌的鉴定及其对煤矸石胁迫下香根草的促生作用

【背景】植物-微生物联合修复技术在减轻环境胁迫作用、增强植物抗性、改善矿区景观等方面发挥重要作用,其中根际促生菌可与植物相互作用,促进植物生长,增强植物对非生物胁迫的耐受性。【目的】鉴定铜尾矿中分离得到的2株根际细菌,研究其对植物生长的促生特性,测定2株菌的接种对于煤矸石胁迫下香根草的影响。【方法】对铜尾矿中分离得到的2株菌进行16S rRNA基因序列鉴定和扫描电子显微镜观察,对菌株的促生特性进行测定,并将其分别接种于覆土5 cm的煤矸石和掺土10%的煤矸石中生长的香根草根际,测定2个月后香根草的理化指标和生理学指标。【结果】菌株P5-11和P5-19经鉴定均为草螺菌(Herbaspirillum),2株菌均具有固氮、溶磷、产吲哚乙酸(Indole-3-Acetic Acid,IAA)和产铁载体的特性,其中P5-19的产吲哚乙酸能力约为P5-11的2倍,具有较好的促生能力;2株菌均能提高香根草的株高、生物量、氮积累量和抗氧化酶活性,并降低丙二醛积累量。【结论】2株草螺菌均具有良好的促生特性,能够促进煤矸石胁迫下香根草的生长发育,这不仅为促生菌肥的研制提供了优良菌种,也为香根草在矿区生态恢复中的应用提供了参考价值。     

单核细胞增生李斯特菌hfq基因缺失株的构建及其生物学特性

【目的】单核细胞增生李斯特菌(Listeria monocytogenes,Lm)为革兰氏阳性的短杆菌,营腐生和寄生生活,是重要的食源性人兽共患病原菌,对低温、酸碱和高渗透压等环境具有较强的抵抗力。Lm在各种环境中适应、生存并表现致病力,是与调控因子的网络调控密切相关,本文初步研究了细菌调控因子hfq的生物学特性。【方法】利用同源重组技术对血清型为1/2 a的EGDe菌株进行hfq基因的敲除,对获得的突变株EGDe△hfq进行生化鉴定及生物学特性研究。【结果】实验结果表明:在4℃低温环境下,缺失株生长显著减慢(P<0.05);在含7%Na Cl高渗BHI培养基及含4.5%乙醇的BHI培养基中生长受到抑制;缺失株形成生物被膜的能力显著下降(P<0.05);对Caco-2细胞系的侵袭能力下降;与野生型菌株相比,EGDe△hfq对BALB/c小鼠的感染能力减弱、半数致死剂量提高。【结论】由此表明,Hfq蛋白对细菌抗胁迫、生物被膜形成及细菌毒力具有重要的调控作用。此缺失株的构建为进一步研究Hfq的功能提供了材料,为研究其在Lm胁迫环境生存及疾病预防控制奠定了基础。     

Genes involved in copper resistance influence survival of Pseudomonas aeruginosa on copper surfaces

Aims:  To evaluate the killing of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 on copper cast alloys and the influence of genes on survival on copper containing medium and surfaces.
Methods and Results:  Different strains of P. aeruginosa were inoculated on copper containing medium or different copper cast alloys and the survival rate determined. The survival rates were compared with rates on copper-free medium and stainless steel as control. In addition, the effect of temperature on survival was examined.
Conclusions:  Copper cast alloys had been previously shown to be bactericidal to various bacteria, but the mechanism of copper-mediated killing is still not known. In this report, we demonstrate that P. aeruginosa PAO1 is rapidly killed on different copper cast alloys and that genes involved in conferring copper resistance in copper-containing medium also influenced survival on copper cast alloys. We also show that the rate of killing is influenced by temperature.
Significance and Impact of the Study:  To use copper surfaces more widely as bactericidal agents in various settings, it is important to understand how genes influence survival on these surfaces. Here we show that genes shown to be involved in copper resistance in P. aeruginosa PAO1 can have an impact on the length of survival time on copper cast alloys under certain conditions. This is an important first step for evaluation of future use of copper surfaces as bactericidal agents.     

Contribution of Copper Ion Resistance to Survival of Escherichia coli on Metallic Copper Surfaces

Bacterial contamination of touch surfaces poses a serious threat for public health. The use of bactericidal surface materials, such as copper and its alloys, might constitute a way to aid the use of antibiotics and disinfectants, thus minimizing the risk of emergence and spread of multiresistant germs. The survival of Escherichia coli on metallic copper surfaces has been studied previously; however, the mechanisms underlying bacterial inactivation on copper surfaces have not been elucidated. Data presented in this study suggest that bacteria are killed rapidly on dry copper surfaces. Several factors, such as copper ion toxicity, copper chelators, cold, osmotic stress, and reactive oxygen species, but not anaerobiosis, influenced killing rates. Strains deleted in copper detoxification systems were slightly more sensitive than was the wild type. Preadaptation to copper enhanced survival rates upon copper surface exposure. This study constitutes a first step toward understanding the reasons for metallic copper surface-mediated killing of bacteria.     

西瓜食酸菌抗铜基因cueR的生物信息学分析及功能验证

【背景】CueR被证实在模式细菌大肠杆菌的Cue抗铜系统中参与转录调控,西瓜食酸菌(Acidovorax citrulli)中是否有类似的机制尚不清楚。【目的】鉴定西瓜食酸菌中的cueR基因、分析其编码蛋白的特点与功能,可以为进一步探究类Cue系统在西瓜食酸菌铜稳态中的作用机制奠定基础。【方法】以大肠杆菌等4个模式细菌中已经鉴定的CueR为参照,运用生物信息学手段对西瓜食酸菌的CueR (AcCueR)与大肠杆菌的EcCueR、铜绿假单胞菌的PaCueR、沙门氏菌的SeCueR、霍乱弧菌的VcCueR蛋白进行结构、性质、亚细胞定位、互作因子等特征分析;利用同源重组插入突变技术构建西瓜食酸菌FC440菌株cueR基因的突变体,并制备突变体基因功能互补菌株,比较分析各菌株抗铜性表型。【结果】西瓜食酸菌和铜绿假单胞菌的CueR序列相似性最高;5个细菌的CueR蛋白均属于HTH-MerR-SF超家族,三级结构主要由α-螺旋和无规则卷曲构成;5种蛋白结构相似;AcCueR可以与西瓜食酸菌中P型ATP酶(即CopA)、多铜氧化酶CueO产生互作,且copA启动子中存在一个与CueR结合的回文结构。在含Cu~(2+)培养基上,突变菌株FC440(?cueR)生长能力明显减弱,基因功能互补菌株FC440(?cueR-cueR)的生长能力则完全恢复。【结论】西瓜食酸菌中的cueR基因与菌的抗铜性相关,其AcCueR蛋白与大肠杆菌等菌中的CueR具有相似的结构与功能,在西瓜食酸菌中可能存在类似于大肠杆菌的Cue抗铜系统。     

Metallic copper corrosion rates, moisture content, and growth medium influence survival of copper ion-resistant bacteria

The rapid killing of various bacteria in contact with metallic copper is thought to be influenced by the influx of copper ions into the cells, but the exact mechanism is not fully understood. This study showed that the kinetics of contact killing of copper surfaces depended greatly on the amount of moisture present, copper content of alloys, type of medium used, and type of bacteria. We examined antibiotic- and copper ion-resistant strains of Escherichia coli and Enterococcus faecium isolated from pig farms following the use of copper sulfate as feed supplement. The results showed rapid killing of both copper ion-resistant E. coli and E. faecium strains when samples in rich medium were spread in a thin, moist layer on copper alloys with 85% or greater copper content. E. coli strains were rapidly killed under dry conditions, while E. faecium strains were less affected. Electroplated copper surface corrosion rates were determined from electrochemical polarization tests using the Stern–Geary method and revealed decreased corrosion rates with benzotriazole and thermal oxide coating. Copper ion-resistant E. coli and E. faecium cells suspended in 0.8% NaCl showed prolonged survival rates on electroplated copper surfaces with benzotriazole coating and thermal oxide coating compared to surfaces without anti-corrosion treatment. Control of surface corrosion affected the level of copper ion influx into bacterial cells, which contributed directly to bacterial killing.     

Assessing bactericidal properties of materials: the case of metallic surfaces in contact with air

A new method for assessing bactericidal properties of metallic materials, soiled by aerosol, was developed and applied to stainless steel in conditions close to reality. The airborne bacteria survival on different stainless steel grades and massive copper is presented here. The investigating bacterium was Enterococcus faecalis, which is a well-known contaminant strain in the indoor environments. It was observed that the bacterial aerosol lethality increased proportionally with the relative humidity (RH) of the environment. A significant difference in survival rate was measured depending on the tested supports, the greatest lethality being observed on clean massive copper. Moreover, the addition of nutrients on metallic surfaces, even in small quantities, was enough to ensure the revival of quiescent microorganisms.     

Copper as an antimicrobial agent against opportunistic pathogenic and multidrug resistant Enterobacter bacteria

Infections by Enterobacter species are common and are multidrug resistant. The use of bactericidal surface materials such as copper has lately gained attention as an effective antimicrobial agent due to its deadly effects on bacteria, yeast, and viruses. The aim of the current study was to assess the antibacterial activity of copper surfaces against Enterobacter species. The antibacterial activity of copper surfaces was tested by overlying 5×10(6) CFU/ml suspensions of representative Enterobacter strains and comparing bacterial survival counts on copper surfaces at room temperature. Iron, stainless steel, and polyvinylchloride (PVC) were used as controls. The mechanisms responsible for bacterial killing on copper surfaces were investigated by a mutagenicity assay of the D-cycloserin (cyclA gene), single cell gel electrophoresis, a staining technique, and inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy. Copper yielded a significant decrease in the viable bacterial counts at 2 h exposure and a highly significant decrease at 4 h. Loss of cell integrity and a significantly higher influx of copper into bacterial cells exposed to copper surfaces, as compared to those exposed to the controls, were documented. There was no increase in mutation rate and DNA damage indicating that copper contributes to bacterial killing by adversely affecting cellular structure without directly targeting the genomic DNA. These findings suggest that copper's antibacterial activity against Enterobacter species could be utilized in health care facilities and in food processing plants to reduce the bioburden, which would increase protection for susceptible members of the community.     

苎麻脱胶菌群RAMCD407中优势菌的分离、鉴定及脱胶能力分析

【目的】以苎麻生物脱胶菌群RAMCD407为研究材料,分析其菌种功能,初步阐明菌群的种间协作机理。【方法】利用4种不同的培养基,对该菌群中的微生物进行分离培养,通过16S r RNA基因序列比对鉴定,将分离得到的菌株进行果胶酶活力、木聚糖酶活力和胶质去除率的测定与筛选。筛选得到的菌株重新组合成为复合菌系JHY,并分析各菌种对JHY的功能影响。【结果】共获得25个菌株,这25个菌株分别属于芽孢杆菌属、假单胞菌属、肠杆菌属、鲁梅利杆菌属、鞘氨醇杆菌属和微小杆菌属。从中筛选出6株细菌,分别为Y1、2H3、Y2、JY31、2H2和2H1,组成复合菌系JHY。经测定,2H2在复合菌系JHY中发挥重要作用,能提高复合菌系的果胶酶活力、木聚糖酶活力和胶质去除率;JY31的存在抑制了其它菌株的生长,降低了复合菌系JHY的酶活力和胶质去除率。【结论】2H2为复合菌系JHY的重要菌种,去除JY31可提高复合菌系JHY的脱胶效率。     

鼠伤寒沙门氏菌参与细菌竞争相关基因

【背景】细菌在环境中以复杂的微生物群落形式存在,细菌间的竞争是细菌生存的一种重要方式。鼠伤寒沙门氏菌是一种可引起胃肠道疾病的重要人畜共患病病原体,其在水源、食物或是宿主肠道等环境中均需与其他细菌进行相互作用以获得生存优势。【目的】通过转座子技术构建鼠伤寒沙门氏菌转座子插入突变体库,从中筛选鼠伤寒沙门氏菌与细菌竞争能力相关的基因,探讨该菌参与细菌竞争的相关机制。【方法】利用EZ-Tn5^TMTnp Transposome^TM试剂盒获得了含有1 323个突变株的鼠伤寒沙门氏菌突变库,并针对其与大肠杆菌JM109以及MG1655的竞争作用进行筛选,利用反向PCR对筛选出的在细菌竞争能力上具有显著差异的突变株进行侧翼序列的鉴定,确定了转座子插入位点,并根据插入位点所表达基因的功能分析了其造成细菌竞争能力差异的可能原因。【结果】筛选出细菌竞争能力差异显著的13株突变株,其中2株突变株竞争能力显著增强,插入突变的基因为polB与flhd;11株竞争能力显著下降的细菌突变的基因分别为fstJ、rfbG、recC、rfaI、rfaG、rfbC、udha、plsc、mdh、res及ackA。【结论】毒力因子、细菌膜蛋白的完整、细菌代谢能力的正常及其天然免疫能力和DNA的合适修饰等都与细菌参与竞争的能力密切相关,此研究为进一步探讨影响细菌竞争能力的具体机制奠定了基础。     

The relation between the bactericidal activity of complement and the character of the bacterial surfaces

The bactericidal activity of sera not containing antibodies (sera from precolostral piglets and calves) was tested with strains of gram-negative bacteria with different surfaces. The accuracy of the method of bactericidal test was evaluated statistically the bactericidal unit of complement was defined for comparing the activity of sera of different animals and different species. Various methods used for estimating the character of bacterial surface were compared. It was found that the bactericidal activity of piglet sera is directly dependent on the content of complement in the sera tested and the character of the bacterial surface (in the R-form). In selected strains there is a correlation in all criteria characterizing the surfaces of bacteria, and their susceptibility to bactericidal activity of sera; in a group of 37 strains selected at random, correlation with only one of the surface characteristics (stability in solution after heating to 100°C for 1 hour) was found. In calf sera a component was found which increases the effect of complement to some strains (e.g.Shigella shigae). This component may by absorbed from the serum only in the presence of complement. The nature of this factor is discussed.