Antibody cross-linking as a factor in immunity to cholera in infant mice.

Several antibody preparations were tested for their ability to reduce adsorption of Vibrio cholerae to isolated intestinal epithelial cells, and this ability was related to agglutination and protective activity in infant mice. The results demonstrate that (1) the reduction in adsorption of V. cholerae to epithelial cells correlates with the degree of agglutination for given antibody preparation; (2) intact tantibodies protect infant mice from cholera only at concentrations that agglutinate the bacteria; and (3) purified antibodies to flagellar antigens protect infant mice from cholera. These results indicate that cross-linking of bacteria by antibody causes a reduction in the number of organisms adsorbed to the intestinal wall. Thus antibody cross-linking plays an important role in immunity to cholera in infant mice.