Chemiluminescence of human leukocytes stimulated by clinical isolates of Klebsiella.

ABSTRACT

Chemiluminescence (CL) of human polymorphonuclear leukocytes was determined after stimulation with 89 clinical isolates of Klebsiella which differed in serotype and in their virulence for mice. With K1, K2, K4 and K5 strains, a significantly lower CL response was observed than with K3, K6 and K greater than 6 strains. These results correlated well with virulence greater virulence could be explained by greater resistance to phagocytosis.