I think the question needs to be clarified more. Is the infection associated with viral infection or with bacterial infection (Mycobacteria). I have research on it. See the page

your question is not clear..still from my understanding i try to give some answers that if the bacteria is opsonised before infecting the animal models, it will be ended up with higher phagocyte activities and may not lead to infection and instead it will induce the immunity in animal models, for the antibodies production studies you can use it and for the further purification and use of antibodies in sero-diagnosis or vaccinations..

Thanks for answer.

I'm planning some in vitro infections of neutrophils with BCG. Most of the papers I've read the authors opsonize the bacteria with autologous serum, because phagocytosis by neutrophils is improved by opsonization.

However, I found a few papers where they do not opsonize the bacteria (or at least it is not mentioned in methods). And the phagocytosis was not impared.

Previous work done by Majeed et al. 1998 shown that serum opsonization of mycobacteria is required for phagocytosis by human neutrophils. And as I mention before this procedure is most common and I think is the better procedure for in vitro infections. But, I'd like to know your experience.

Hope it makes sense. Thanks

Interesting question. And yes, your question makes sense. I have not worked with Mycobacteria so I cannot say whether opsonization would be necessary. I have only worked with S.aureus for neutrophil phagocytic assays and we opsonize the bacteria as part of the protocol. That is of course because it is generally assumed that prior opsonization improves phagocytosis.

Have you considered doing preliminary tests using both opsonized and non-opsonized BCG to see if there will be any measurable difference?

HI, Ferdinand. Are you using a neutrophil cell line or primary cells? Ferdinand Mendoza

I guess you can call them primary cells. We do not use cell lines since we perform the procedure to evaluate whether certain interventions (like exercises, diet change, etc.) can cause variations in the neutrophil function of individuals. The subject's own serum is used to opsonize bacteria prior to the phagocytic test.

Ok thanks