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The action of antibodies and of the haemolytic complement system does not induce immune immobilization of Treponema pallidum, but only destroys superficial wall structures of these Gram-negative organisms. In sensitized and complement coated treponemes the immobilization is a result of the lysozyme interaction with the mucopeptide layer of the cell wall. In a lysozyme-free medium, immunologically damaged treponemes are able to repair the defects in the outer layers of their cell wall structures. Furthermore, it is shown that the long lag period in immune immobilization of T. pallidum can only partly be explained by the interaction of lysozyme with the treponemes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]