[Immunoglobulin production by human peripheral B cells against Staphylococcus aureus].

Immunoglobulin (Ig) production by human B cells in thymus-independent (TI) and -dependent (TD) immune response against Staphylococcus aureus was investigated in vitro. Highly purified human peripheral B cells were cultured either in the presence of formalinized Cowan I strain Staphylococcus aureus (SAC) or with anti-CD3 stimulated T cells, and Ig content in supernatants was analyzed after 10 days of culture by specific sandwich ELISA. When activated with SAC in the absence of T cells, B cells produced minimal amounts of Ig.