Human serum complement requirements for bacterial killing and protoplast lysis of Escherichia coli ML308 225.

Normal human serum kills Escherichia coli ML308 225 and lyses protoplasts derived from this organism. Human serum which is depleted of complement component C9 or deficient in component C8 is not bactericidal, but C9-depleted serum will lyse protoplasts whereas C8-deficient serum will not. Bacterial lipopolysaccharide, which can protect bacteria from the serum bactericidal reaction, does not protect protoplasts from lysis by serum.