Question

Background In 1885, Jules Bordet tested the effects of immune serum on a bacterial culture. He took goat serum from an animal vaccinated against Vibrio cholerae cells. He then heated the goat serum to 58°C for 1 hour. Guinea pig serum was from a nonimmune animal. Each tube contained 12 drops of the specified serum and about 9000 V. cholerae cells. Plate counts were made at intervals to determine the number of bacteria in each tube.

Data:

Number of V. cholerae

Hour of Counting- 6PM

Heated Goat Serum- 8640

Guinea Pig Serum- 9600

8 drops guinea pig + 4 drops goat serum- 10,200

Hour of Counting- 7:30 PM

Heated Goat Serum- 4320

Guinea Pig Serum- 2160

8 drops guinea pig + 4 drops goat serum- 0

Hour of Counting- 10 PM

Heated Goat Serum- 6480

Guinea Pig Serum- 3600

8 drops guinea pig + 4 drops goat serum- 0

Hour of Counting- 10 AM

Heated Goat Serum- Very high

Guinea Pig Serum- Very high

8 drops guinea pig + 4 drops goat serum- 0

Questions

1. How is serum obtained from blood?

2. What accounts for the results Bordet observed?