AGGLUTINATION OF STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS IN THE PRESENCE OF CHORIOALLANTOIC FLUID FROM HEN'S EGGS.

Certain strains of Staphylococcus aureus will agglutinate when grown in the presence of normal or influenza virus-infected chorio-allantoic fluid. Fluids are rendered inactive after heating at 56 degrees C. for one or two minutes. Surface tension and temperature are not important factors in the manifestation of the phenomenon so long as they are within the limits compatible with growth. The reaction is favored by an alkaline pH. Bacterial dissociation is not a feature of this phenomenon and the relationship of this reaction to bacteriophagy is probably not significant but is being investigated further. Similar reactions as described for the egg fluids uiay be seen when Berkefeld filtrates of influenza virus-infected and normal mouse lungs are used. A more detailed account of all the data will appear at a later date.