[The ontogeny of the cell receptors of the adhesion of meningococci and influenza viruses]. / Ontogenez kletochnykh retseptorov adgezii meningokokkov i virusov grippa.

Specific age and individual features of the adhesion of Neisseria meningitidis, groups A, B and C, and influenza viruses, types A and B, to red blood cells of humans aged 0-60 years were studied. The study revealed that the red blood cells of newborns, in contrast to those of persons of older age groups, are highly resistant to N. meningitidis adhesion, but highly sensitive to the adhesion of influenza viruses, though to a varying degree. The postnatal period of ontogenesis is characterized first by a sharp rise (up to 1 month) and then by a slower increase of the individual sensitivity of red blood cells to N.meningitidis adhesion without essential changes in the sensitivity of the same cells to the adhesion of influenza viruses.

[The range of individual sensitivity to adhesion by Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B in young men]. / Diapazon individual'noi chuvstvitel'nosti k adgezii Neisseria meningitidis serogruppy B u molodykh muzhchin.

5,340 young adult males, including 5,149 healthy persons, 141 N. meningitidis carriers, 25 patients with generalized meningococcal infection and 6 patients with nasopharyngitis of meningococcal etiology, were examined. The study revealed that red blood cells of 17.4% of healthy persons were highly sensitive to N.meningitidis adhesion (adhesion indices equal to 0.25 and less), red blood cells of 20.4% of persons had low sensitivity to N.meningitidis adhesion (adhesion indices equal to 2 and greater). All other persons with high sensitivity of their red blood cells proved to be patients with meningococcal infection or carriers of N.meningitidis of the same group.