The bacterial induction of homograft sensitivity. I. Effects of sensitization with group A streptococci.

Heat-killed Group A hemolytic streptococci can induce in guinea pigs a state of altered reactivity to skin homografts which is indistinguishable from that which results from sensitization with homologous tissues. Challenge of suitably prepared recipients with first-set skin homografts obtained from unrelated randomly selected donors elicits white graft reactions or accelerated rejection of such grafts. The gross and histologic appearance of these grafts is identical with that observed in similar reactions obtained in guinea pigs sensitized with homologous tissues. The ability of Group A hemolytic streptococci to induce homograft sensitivity in the guinea pig is a property shared by Types 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 14, and 49 of Group A streptococci.