[The haptoglobin-streptococcus relationship].

Abstract

In many experiments beginning in 1977 Prof. O. Prokop and Prof. W. Köhler discovered that the human haptoglobins are able to agglutinate group G-streptococci, but the reaction depends on the haptoglobin type. Haptoglobins of the types Hp 2-2 and Hp 2-1 are complete agglutinins and haptoglobin of the Hp 1-1 type is incomplete ("blocking") antibody. Later it was found that streptococci with the T4--antigen (from Lancefield types A, C and G) are suitable for the test.