The inhibition of streptococcal desoxyribonuclease by rabbit and human antisera.

Rabbit antisera against partially purified streptococcal desoxyribonuclease inhibit the action of the enzyme on its substrate. The activity of pancreatic desoxyribonuclease is not affected by these antisera. Similarly antibody against pancreatic nuclease does not inhibit the streptococcal enzyme. Certain patients develop inhibitory antibody to streptococcal desoxyribonuclease following streptococcal infections, occasionally in very high titer, although the proportion of patients showing an antibody response appears to be lower than in the case of streptokinase and streptolysin O. The pattern of antibody response to desoxyribonuclease has been compared to that of streptokinase and streptolysin O in a group of ninety patients from an epidemic of scarlet fever.