Multi-factor analysis of combined effects of rifampicin and peptidoglycan of microbial origin on immune response]

Multifactorial analysis of the combined action of rifampicin and a microbial peptidoglycan on the immune response to antigens of the vaccine EV fraction 1 was performed. The results were computer-processed and the second order equations describing delayed hypersensitivity (DH) and antibody titers were derived. Nomographs or equal level curves showing interrelations of the investigated factors were plotted. The character of the combined action on DH and antibody titers was heterogeneous. The peptidoglycan had a pronounced immunostimulant action on DH and, to a lesser extent, influenced the humoral response. Conditions for the peptidoglycan use aimed at immunostimulation were optimized with application of multifactorial analysis.     

Optimal combined use of rifampicin and immunomodulator of microbial origin in experimental Q-Rickettsia infection

Multifactorial analysis of the combined use of rifampicin and an immunomodulator of the microbial origin, such as peptidoglycan, was performed on a model of experimental Q fever in albino mice. On the basis of the experimental results, statistic polynomial models describing the weight of the murine spleens and the titers of the complement-binding antibodies were designed. It was shown that the action of the immunomodulator and antibiotic was highly synergistic with respect to the chemotherapeutic activity and antibody titers. The preventive use of the immunomodulator yielded a 30-fold decrease in a rifampicin therapeutic dose. The use of the immunomodulator also provided a pronounced immunomodulating effect with respect to humoral immunity. Nomographs for optimizing the dose-time parameters of the antibacterial and immunomodulating therapy were plotted.     

Immunomodulating action of peptidoglycan of microbial origin]

The action of a high molecular weight peptidoglycan produced by Agrobacter radiobacter sp. on the functional activity parameters in leukocytes and macrophages i. e. chemotaxis and adhesion was studied. It was shown that the peptidoglycan had a stimulating action on the chemotaxis of cells of the peritoneal exudate. A marked stimulating action of the drug on the primary immune response to the tissue antigen of sheep erythrocytes was observed. The peptidoglycan stimulated the antibody titers and delayed hypersensitivity when administered in various periods after an antigenic stimulus. Multifactorial experiments on the protective action of the peptidoglycan in experimental infections were carried out. Second-order polynomial statistic models characterizing the animal survival rate were constructed and the dose-time parameters of the drug use were optimized.     

Combined action of doxycycline and mytilan on the immune response to tularemia antigen]

Combined action of doxycycline and mytilan, a natural polysaccharide, on the primary immune response to the antigen of the tularemia vaccinal strain in CBA mice was studied. The polysaccharide was used to compensate the immunosuppressive effect of doxycycline high doses on the humoral immune response. The maximum stimulation of the antibody titers as compared to the controls (more than 250 per cent) was observed when mytilan was administered simultaneously with or prophylactically 3 days prior to the antibiotic in doses of 2.5 and 25 mg/kg. The use of mytilan in combination with doxycycline high doses made it possible to compensate the antibiotic-induced decrease of DTH and even to stimulate it as compared to the controls. The highest levels of DTH (150 per cent against the control) were observed when mytilan was administered prophylactically in doses of 2.5 and 11.25 mg/kg 3 days prior to immunization. Mytilan had the highest stimulating effect on antibody production. The combined use of doxycycline and mytilan was characterized by significant stimulation of antibody production and DTH when the dose/time regimens were rational.     

Effect of doxycycline on immune response in a multifactorial experiment]

Multifactorial analysis was applied to studies on the effect of doxycycline on the primary immune response to sheep erythrocytes. The experimental factors were the following: the antibiotic dose, the antigen dose and the time of the onset of the antibiotic therapy with respect to the antigen action. Polynomial statistic models describing the delayed hypersensitivity and antibody titers within wide ranges of factor values were designed by the experimental data. It was shown that the prophylactic use of doxycycline prior to the antigenic stimulus markedly lowered the high-dose tolerance induced by high doses of the antigen.     

Genetic parameters for natural antibody isotype titers in milk of Dutch Holstein‐Friesians

The objective of the present study was to estimate genetic parameters for natural antibody isotypes immunoglobulin (Ig) A, IgG1 and IgM titers binding the bacterial antigens lipopolysaccharide, peptidoglycan and the model antigen keyhole limpet hemocyanin in Dutch Holstein‐Friesian cows (n = 1695). Further, this study included total natural antibody titers binding the antigens mentioned above, making no isotype distinction, as well as total natural antibody titers and natural antibody isotypes IgA, IgG1 and IgM binding lipoteichoic acid. The study showed that natural antibody isotype titers are heritable, ranging from 0.06 to 0.55, and that these heritabilities were generally higher than heritabilities for total natural antibody titers. Genetic correlations, the combinations of total natural antibody titers and natural antibody isotype titers, were nearly all positive and ranged from ?0.23 to 0.99. Strong genetic correlations were found between IgA and IgM. Genetic correlations were substantially weaker when they involved an IgG1 titer, indicating that IgA and IgM have a common genetic basis, but that the genetic basis for IgG1 differs from that for IgA or IgM. Results from this study indicate that natural antibody isotype titers show the potential for effective genetic selection. Further, natural antibody isotypes may provide a better characterization of different elements of the immune response or immune competence. As such, natural antibody isotypes may enable more effective decisions when breeding programs start to include innate immune parameters.     

Multifactorial analysis of combined use of an antibiotic and peptidoglycan of microbial origin in experimental plague]

The combined effect of doxycycline and microbial peptidoglycan was studied with multifactorial analysis. The drugs were used preventively and therapeutically. The preventive use of doxycycline in the subtherapeutic doses in combination with the immunomodulator resulted in a significant increase in the survival rate rather than the average life-span (ALS) of the experimental animals. The therapeutic use of the drugs was more efficient than the preventive one and resulted in higher survival and ALS. By the results of the experiments polynomial statistic models of the second order were developed and the equal level curves characterizing the survival rate and ALS were plotted. The dose-time regimens of the combined use of doxycycline an peptidoglycan were optimized.     

Comparative multifactorial analysis of combined administration of injection and peroral forms of an antibiotic with a microbial immunomodulator in experimental anthrax

Comparative efficacy of the use of injection and oral dosage forms of rifampicin in the subtherapeutic doses in combination with peptidoglycan , an immunomodulator of microbial origin, was studied in respect to experimental anthracic infection with application of multifactorial analysis. It was shown that the antibiotic and immunomodulator had a pronounced synergistic effect. Polynomial statistic models were developed and nomograms or equal level curves defining the survival rate and average life-span (ALS) of the experimental animals within a wide range of the antibiotic and immunomodulator doses and the peptidoglycan dosing time were plotted. The combined use of the injection rifampicin in the subtherapeutic doses and the immunomodulator provided a significant increase in the survival rate and ALS, whereas the use of the oral antibiotic in combination with the immunomodulator increased only the ALS and not the survival rate. Multifactorial analysis proved to be an optimal methodical approach to comparative study of various antibiotic dosage forms used in combination with immunomodulators under experimental conditions.     

Biological characteristics of peptidoglycans of group A streptococcus and some other bacterial species. I. Tolerance and effect of antibody in fever response, and heart damaging effect in rabbits.

Induced tolerance to the pyrogenic action of group A streptococcus peptidoglycan decreased after one week and was no longer detectable after the second week. However, one or two further doses of peptidoglycan rapidly restored the tolerance. The passive transfer of plasma from rabbits tolerant to streptococcus peptidoglycan to nontolerant animals failed to transfer tolerance. Antiserum to streptococcus peptidoglycan neutralized the pyrogenic effect of not only streptococcus but also staphylococcus and pneumococcus peptidoglycan; it did not influence the febrile response to endotoxin. Histopathologic changes in the rabbit heart produced by the intravenous injection of staphylococcus or pneumococcus peptidoglycans were similar and were characterized by various stages of degeneration and necrosis. The changes were less pronounced than after streptococcus peptidoglycan. Antiserum to streptococcus peptidoglycan had modest or no counteracting effect on the development of heart alterations after staphylococcus or pneumococcus peptidoglycan.     

Toxoplasma IgG and IgA,but not IgM,antibody titers increase in sera of immunocompetent mice in association with proliferation of tachyzoites in the brain during the chronic stage of infection

Toxoplasma IgG and IgA, but not IgM, antibody titers were significantly higher in immunocompetent mice with cerebral proliferation of tachyzoites during the chronic stage of infection than those treated with sulfadiazine to inhibit the parasite growth. Their IgG and IgA antibody titers correlated significantly with the amounts of tachyzoite-specific SAG1 mRNA in their brains. In contrast, neither IgG, IgA, nor IgM antibody titers increased following two different doses of challenge infection in chronically infected mice. Increased antibody titers in IgG and IgA but not IgM may be a useful indicator suggesting an occurrence of cerebral tachyzoite growth in immunocompetent individuals chronically infected with Toxoplasma gondii.     

Effect of specific antibodies on active immunity development in those inoculated with an antirabies vaccine

The study of the effect of gamma globulin introduced in different doses (0.5 and 0.25 ml/mg) in combination with Fermi rabies vaccine (observations on humans were made) and with cerebral rabies vaccine inactivated by UV irradiation (in animal experiments) demonstrated that the injection of the higher doses of gamma globulin resulted in lower geometrical mean of antibody titers. Therefore, in combined administration of rabies vaccine and gamma globulin for postexposure rabies prevention it is advisable to reduce the dose of gamma globulin by one-half.     

Yellow Fever Vaccine: Direct Challenge of Monkeys Given Graded Doses of 17D Vaccine

In rhesus monkeys a wide dosage range of 17D yellow fever (YF) vaccine extending to a level even below that recommended for vaccination of man elicited an immune response providing solid protection to challenge with virulent YF virus. Forty-three of 45 monkeys vaccinated with 10(2.3) or greater weanling mouse mean lethal doses of 17D vaccine were resistant to challenge 20 weeks later with virulent Asibi strain YF virus. Monkeys given graded doses of lesser amounts of vaccine were progressively more susceptible to challenge. With a vaccine dose >/= 10(2.3) weanling mouse mean lethal doses, plaque neutralization (PN) seroconversion rates were 90% or greater, whereas hemagglutination-inhibiting (HI) and complement-fixing (CF) seroconversion rates were unrelated to vaccine dosage and were generally in the range of 20 to 80%. Ninety-six percent (51 of 54) of immune monkeys had PN titers >/=0.7 log(10) (fivefold) neutralization index as compared to approximately 55 to 65% who showed HI or CF titers >/=2 log(2) (fourfold) neutralization index. After challenge with Asibi strain YF virus, antibody titers of all three tests increaed equally. In rhesus monkeys PN antibody titers were well correlated with YF immunity, whereas HI and CF antibody titers were not.     

Production and characterization of a monoclonal antibody to the O-acetylated peptidoglycan of Proteus mirabilis.

A monoclonal antibody (PmPG5-3) specific for the O-acetylated peptidoglycan of Proteus mirabilis 19 was produced by an NS-1 myeloma cell line and purified from ascites fluid by a combination of ammonium sulfate precipitation and affinity chromatography. The monoclonal antibody (an immunoglobulin M) was characterized by a competition enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to be equally specific for both insoluble and soluble O-acetylated peptidoglycan but weakly recognized chemically de-O-acetylated P. mirabilis peptidoglycan, the non-O-acetylated peptidoglycans from Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis, and the peptidoglycan monosaccharide precursors N-acetylglucosamine and N-acetylmuramic acid dipeptide. The monoclonal antibody did not react with D-alanine or lipopolysaccharide isolated from P. mirabilis. Based on this evidence, the binding epitope on the P. mirabilis peptidoglycan is predicted to be linear and to comprise the glycan backbone, including both the N- and O-acetyl moieties. Monoclonal antibody PmPG5-3 was used to localize the O acetylation of the P. mirabilis peptidoglycan by immunoelectron microscopy. Murein sacculi of P. mirabilis were heavily and randomly labelled with the immunogold, whereas very little labelling and no labelling were observed on the sacculi isolated from de-O-acetylated P. mirabilis and E. coli, respectively. Based on the apparent pattern of immunogold labelling, a physiological role for peptidoglycan O acetylation in P. mirabilis is proposed.     

Problems posed by the preparation of specific anti-cytomegalovirus immunoglobulins

The authors describe the preparation of a first batch of intravenous cytomegalovirus (CMV) immune globulin at the Nancy Regional blood transfusion centre. Immune plasmas were selected from 3 640 healthy volunteer blood donors on the basis of CF antibody titers to CMV (Kolmer's method modified) of, at least, 1:8; plasmas from approximately 10% of the donors were therefore selected. The 68 liters of pooled immune plasma had à CF antibody titer of 1:16 (CMV antibody titers of 1: 10 000 and 1: 640 when tested in the ELISA assay and passive hemagglutination assay respectively). Intravenous immune globulin was produced from pooled plasma by Cohn fractionation and treatment with pepsin at pH 4; 4.8 liters of immune globulin were prepared and divided in 96 doses of 50 ml each. The final product was found to have a CMV antibody titer of 1: 32 (CF) 1: 50 000 (ELISA) or 1: 2 560 (passive hemagglutination). Recent reports on the preparation of CMV immune globulin are briefly reviewed.     

Antibody production in rats vaccinated with inactivated Sendai virus (author's transl)

Adult male and female rats were inoculated with tween 80-ethylether-formalin-ultraviolet inactivated Sendai virus (Sv-V) and examined for the production of hemagglutination inhibition (HI) antibody. There were no significant differences in the antibody titers between males and females, and among the various routes of inoculation except for the intranasal which was not effective. The antibody became detectable 7 days after a single inoculation with 10(5) HAU of Sv-V. The antibody titer, which had its peak 21 days after the inoculation, persisted for 200 days and declined gradually thereafter. The HI antibody titers were correlated with inoculated Sv-V doses and a predominant booster reaction with the vaccine was observed. Maternal antibodies were detected in sucklings born to dams hyperimmunized with the vaccine. The titers were similar to those of the dams until 3 weeks after birth but declined rapidly after weaning at 4-week-old. The titers of fetuses and neonates before suckling were significantly lower than those of the sucklings.     

Action of hydrocortisone on the cytotoxic reactions in delayed hypersensitivity to microbial antigens

A study was made of the effect of hydrocortisone (HC) injected to animals with delayed hypersensitivity (DH) to BCG antigens on the cytotoxic activity of lymphocytes and production of lympho- and macrophage toxins. The cytotoxic test with the use of sensitized lymphocytes and preparation of lympho- and macrophage toxins were performed in vitro in the presence of specific microbial antigens. It was shown that HC exerts the most intense inhibitory action on the production of macrophage toxin. High doses of the hormone also inhibited the production of lymphotoxin. At the same time the cytotoxic activity of lymphocytes of the lymph nodes in DH was not inhibited by the employed doses of HC. No reduction was seen either in the sensitivity of autologous adhesive cells (macrophages) used as target cells for studying the cytotoxic activity of lymphocytes.     

GnRH-A免疫与母兔生殖激素浓度的变化

目的探讨促性腺激素释放激素类似物（GnRH-A）对动物生殖功能调节的效果和作用机制。方法 24只日本大耳白兔分为四组,分别在实验Ⅰ组（EG-I）、实验Ⅱ组（EG-II）和实验III（EG-III）组兔的颈背侧注射1.0 mL（100、100和50μg/mL）GnRH-A抗原,实验II组和实验III组于第3周以原剂量加强注射一次,用ELISA法测定血清GnRH抗体效价、促卵泡刺激素（FSH）和促黄体生成素（LH）含量。结果注射GnRH-A后10 d实验组兔均出现GnRH抗体,而对照组未检测到;EG-I在第30天达到高峰,而EG-II和EG-III于40～50 d至峰值,但在实验结束时（70 d）实验组均高于对照组,40～70 d时EG-II显著高于EG-I和EG-III。30～50 d时EG-II的LH明显高于EG-I和EG-III及对照组。EG-II和EG-III的FSH浓度在40 d达到峰值,但EG-II高于EG-I、对照组及EG-III,EG-I和对照组无显著差异。结论兔体内注射GnRH-A可以明显提高GnRH抗体效价,增强LH和FSH的合成与分泌,加强注射效果更明显,且与注射剂量相关,持续时间为40 d左右。     

Editorial comment

A single injection of Cyclophosphamide (CY) in a dose of 300 mg of CY/kg of mice resulted in enhanced delayed hypersensitivity (DH) when administered between at least 7 days prior to and 15 days after intracutaneous (ic) immunization of sheep red blood cells in Freund's complete adjuvant. The maximal enhancement occurred when CY was applied 8 hr before the antigen. Using the latter interval, the effect of varying the dose of CY before ic or intraperitoneal (ip) injections of antigen was studied. Combined with ic immunization, increasing doses of CY resulted in increasing DH. The ip route of immunization needed CY in amounts of at least 100 mg/kg to augment DH to a detectable level. The enhancing effect of lower doses of CY was more pronounced when the interval between immunizing and eliciting injections was reduced. Administration of 300 or 200 mg of CY/kg before ip immunization suppressed the antibody formation, when measured S and 7 days later. A dose of 100 mg of CY/kg caused a suppression of antibody formation on Day 5, but an enhancement on Day 7. With this dose, a maximal enhancement of DH was found on both days. The results suggest that CY interferes with more than one regulatory mechanism of the immune response.     

Effect of immunization of channel catfish with inactivated trophonts on serum and cutaneous antibody titers and survival against Ichthyophthirius multifiliis

Two trials were conducted to determine the effect of immunization of channel catfish with inactivated trophonts on serum and cutaneous antibody titers and survival against Ichthyophthirius multifiliis Fouquet (Ich). In trial I, catfish were immunized intraperitoneally (IP) with: 1) 1% formalin-inactivated trophonts, 2) 3% formalin-inactivated trophonts and 3) freeze-thawed trophonts. Positive and negative control catfish were immunized with live theronts and 5% bovine serum albumin (BSA), respectively. At day 14, 28 and 50 post-immunizations, no statistical difference was noted in serum or cutaneous anti-Ich antibody titers to formalin-inactivated trophonts or freeze-thawed trophonts. The survival of catfish challenged with live theronts ranged from 33.3% to 43.3% for the formalin-inactivated or freeze-thawed trophonts at 50 d post-immunization. The survival of catfish immunized with live theront and BSA was 93.3 and 0%, respectively. In trial II, catfish were IP immunized with sonicated trophonts at doses of 1) 5 trophonts or 10.2 microg protein g(-1) fish, 2) 10 trophonts or 20.4 microg protein g(-1) fish, 3) 20 trophonts or 40.8 microg protein g(-1) fish, and 4) 5% BSA as the control. Fish immunized with 10 or 20 trophonts g(-1) fish showed highest serum (1/210 to 1/480) and cutaneous antibody titers (1/48 to 1/52), respectively, at 22 d post-immunization and survival (63.3-60.0%). The fish immunized with 5 trophonts g(-1) fish had titers of 1/52 and 1/12 for serum and cutaneous antibody and survival of 23.3%. BSA immunized catfish had background titers and a survival of 6.7%. There was a significant correlation between doses of sonicated trophonts used to immunize and catfish survival (correlation coefficient = 0.859, p < 0.01). These results indicate that doses of sonicated trophonts, but not formalin-inactivated or freeze-thawed trophonts provided both serum and cutaneous antibody responses and survival to live trophont challenge.     

Serological follow-up study on the antibody levels to Epstein-Barr virus-determined nuclear antigen (EBNA) patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) after radiation therapy

Serological follow-up studies for up to 4 years on the levels of IgG antibody to EBV-determined nuclear antigen (EBNA) were carried out on 36 patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). The serum levels of IgA antibody specific to EBV capsid antigen (VCA) were also measured in some of the patients. The titers of EBNA antibody were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and those of IgA antibody to VCA were measured by the indirect immunofluorescence method. The EBNA antibody titers in most sera from the patients before radiation therapy were found to be at least 4 times the mean values in the sera of healthy control adults. Within 2 to 8 months after completion of therapy by 4-MV liniac X-ray irradiation with total doses of 60 to 80 Gy, the titers of EBNA antibody in the sera of 6 patients had returned to normal levels, and low levels of EBNA antibody were maintained for a long time after therapy. These serological data were associated with a good clinical prognosis without recurrence or metastases. But in 6 patients, the patterns of change in the EBNA antibody levels were different: the levels remained high after therapy or first decreased to the normal level and then rose to at least 4 times this level. These 6 patients showed recurrence or metastases. The patterns of change in the EBNA antibody levels were well correlated with those of change in the levels of IgA antibody specific to VCA.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)