Study on the production of IgG, IgA- and IgM-antibodies to somatic antigens of Salmonella typhi in humans.

The immune response to O- and Vi-antigens of Salmonella typhi in humans was studied under a variety of conditions. In sera of persons immunized with various typhoid vaccines and with chemically purified Vi-antigen of S. typhi, anti-Vi-antibodies of three main immunoglobulin types (IgG, IgA and IgM) were found, but anti-O-antibodies were of IgM-type only. In sera of typhoid patients anti-O-antibodies of IgG-, IgA- and IgM-types were detected. Anti-Vi-antibodies appearing in the course of typhoid fever were heterogeneous to the same extent as anti-O-antibodies. The antibody response to Vi-antigen administered subcutaneously was quite similar in typhoid patients and in healthy individuals. Both anti-O- and anti-Vi-antibodies in sera of chronic typhoid carriers were usually of IgG-type only. Immunization of typhoid carriers with Vi-antigen was followed by the significant augmentation of IgG-antibody level, not preceded by IgM-antibody production. The possible reasons of IgM-deficiency in typhoid carrier state are discussed.