Comparison of Various Methods for Preparation of Viral Serological Antigens from Infected Cell Cultures

In efforts to prepare more potent and sensitive viral serological antigens, several aspects of the production of antigens from infected cell cultures were studied. Antigens derived from whole, infected culture material and from the cellular and fluid phases were compared. Freezing and thawing, sonication, and alkaline buffer extraction were compared for effectiveness in releasing antigen from host cells. The effect of the multiplicity of infection on titers of viral antigens produced in cell cultures was studied. Generally, higher titered antigens were derived from the infected cells than from the culture fluids, but for certain viruses complement-fixing (CF) antigens derived from the culture fluids gave higher antibody titers than did cell-associated antigens. With each virus-host cell system studied, treatment with alkaline buffers extracted appreciable amounts of CF antigen from the host cells, but in some instances more antigen was released by freezing and thawing or by sonication. Extraction of infected cells with alkaline buffers was not a satisfactory method for preparation of hemagglutinating (HA) antigens for any of the viruses studied. The highest-titered HA antigens were produced from infected cells disrupted by freezing and thawing or sonication. The highest titered CF and HA antigens were produced from cell cultures infected at multiplicities of one or greater. Complement-fixing antigens produced by infecting cells in suspension and then planting had lower titers than antigens produced in parallel by infecting developed monolayers. Optimal methods are summarized for preparation of serological antigens to a variety of viruses of man.     

Antigens of Pichinde virus I. Relationship of soluble antigens derived from infected BHK-21 cells to the structural components of the virion.

Antigens detected by the complement-fixation (CF) test were prepared from BHK-21 cells infected with Pichinde virus.The preparations contained two antigens demonstrable by immunodiffusion. The antigen present in abundance was heat stable, Pronase resistant, and had a molecular weight of 20,000 to 30,000 as estimated by gel filtration. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of purified antigen demonstrated two low-molecular-weight polypeptides. An identical antigenic determinant was found by disrupting purified virus with Nonidet P-40; however, none of the viral polypeptides co-migrated with the polypeptides derived from purified CF antigen. Pronase digestion of disrupted virus did not alter antigenicity but degraded the viral peptides to sizes similar to those associated with the major CF antigen. These observations suggest that the major CF antigen of Pichnide virus is a cleavage product of the structural proteins of the virus.     

Purification and properties of mitochondrial malate dehydrogenase of Toxocara canis muscle

Mitochondrial malate dehydrogenase was purified from muscle extracts of Toxocara canis by means of Sephadex G-100 gel filtration, DEAE-Sephadex ion-exchange chromatography and 5'AMP-Sepharose 4B affinity chromatography. The purified enzyme showed an optimum pH for the reduction of oxaloacetate of 7.3 in Tris-HCl buffer and of pH 7.5-7.8 in phosphate buffer. The m-MDH showed values of 3.2 kcal/mol and 10.5 kcal/mol for the energy of activation, calculated from the Arrhenius equation. The mitochondrial enzyme was found to be more susceptible to thermal inactivation as compared with the cytosolic isoenzyme. Kinetic experiments showed that the m-MDH of Toxocara canis is inhibited by excess oxaloacetate but not by excess NADH. The apparent Km for oxaloacetate reduction was 53 microM and 0.54 mM for L-malate oxidation.     

An antigen common to a wide range of bacteria. I. The isolation of a 'common antigen' from Pseudomonas aeruginosa

In crude water-soluble extracts of Pseudomonas aeruginosa 64 antigens can be demonstrated by crossed immunoelectrophoresis in agarose with polyvalent Pseudomonas-immunoglobulin. One of these antigens cross-reacts with antigens prepared from bacteria of a wide range of taxonomic groups. Monospecific immunoglobulins to this antigen (Common Antigen) were produced by immunization with the appropriate immunocomplex extracted from agarose. Common Antigen was purified by the combination of two fractionation methods: Precipitation of the crude extract with 18% (w/v) sodium sulfate, followed by gel filtration of the supernatant on a Sephadex G-200 column. By this method, 35% of Common Antigen from the crude extract was recovered, more than half of the fractions electrophoretically pure. Electrophoresis of reduced Common Antigen on a dodecyl sodium sulfate polyacrylamide gel revealed two protein bands with apparent molecular weights of 59-62 000 and 62-65 000, respectively. The untreated antigen, however, passed a column of Sephadex G-200 with the void volumen, indicating a substance of high molecular weight (> 4-600 000).     

Staphylococcal Hyaluronate Lyase: Purification and Characterization Studies

Staphylococcal hyaluronate lyase (hyaluronidase) derived from a pathogenic strain of staphylococcus was purified by means of salt fractionation with ammonium sulfate and gel filtration through Sephadex G-100. Most of the enzyme activity from concentrated culture supernatant fluids of staphylococci was obtained in a fraction precipitated by 90 to 100% saturation with ammonium sulfate. A small amount of enzyme was also precipitated by 80 to 90% saturation with the salt. The hyaluronidase-rich fractions did not contain other staphylococcal enzymes, such as coagulase, protease, lipase, and staphylokinase. These enzymes were present in the original concentrates. Molecular sieving chromatography of the partially purified enzyme by filtration through Sephadex G-100 resulted in a further increase in specific enzyme activity. However, more than one active peak was obtained after gel filtration, thus suggesting that there may be more than one molecular form of the enzyme. Immunodiffusion in agar gel of the chromatographically purified enzyme fraction, with immune serum from rabbits injected with concentrated staphylococcal culture supernatant fluids, indicated that there was one major antigen. A similar antigen, giving reactions of identity with the purified material, was present in the original culture supernatant fluid.     

Production and properties of reaginic antibodies in rabbits infected with Clonorchis sinensis or Schistosoma japonicum

The production of reaginic antibodies detected by homologous passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) was demonstrated in all rabbits experimentally infected with either Clonorchis sinensis or Schistosoma japonicum. The antibodies appeared in the sera as early as 3 weeks after exposure and persisted with relatively high titers for at least 7 weeks in some animals. The antisera of rabbits infected with C. sinensis were found to be cross reactive against heterologous trematode antigens, although PCA titers were less than 3% of the titer by the homologous antigen; no cross reaction was observed between S. japonicum antiserum and the heterologous antigens. PCA activity of the antisera was completely destroyed in some samples by heat treatment at 56 C for 2 hr, but partially in the others even after heating for 6 hr. However, the physicochemical properties of these antibodies were analogous to human IgE; the PCA activity was eluted with 0.035 M phosphate buffer from a DEAE-cellulose column and recovered in the ascending portion of the IgG peak by Sephadex G-200 gel filtration. PCA activity was found in a β region in preparative agar electrophoresis.     

Serological and vaccination studies with bloodstream and culture forms of Trypanosoma musculi

Khazindar S. H. and Dusanic D. G. 1982. Serological and vaccination studies with blood-stream and culture forms for Trypanosoma musculi. International Journal for Parasitology12: 257–264. Trypanosoma musculi bloodstream forms (BSF) were collected from immunosuppressed infected mice and extracted with phosphate buffered saline (PBS). ML-15, O'Daly's and LMC media, each containing 5% fetal calf serum (FCS) and a dialysate medium were investigated to identify the medium providing the optimal growth of T. musculi culture forms (CF). Because of the ease of preparation, ML-15 containing 5% FCS was selected and the culture forms were harvested when the parasites attained concentrations of at least 1 × 10⁷ trypanosomes/ml. Cellular antigens present in PBS extracts of the BSF and CF parasites were analyzed with rabbit antisera by crossed immunoelectrophoresis and tandem crossed immuno-electrophoresis. Absorptions of rabbit antisera with CF, BSF, media and normal mouse blood extracts were performed on immunoabsorbent affinity columns prior to crossed immunoelectrophoresis to further study the unique and shared antigens of the parasites. A minimum of 13 antigens were shared by these trypanosomes. Four antigens appeared to be unique to BSF and a single antigen to CF. In immunization studies, two groups of C3H/Anf mice were immunized with the equivalent of 1 × 10⁸ frozen-thawed BSF or CF/injection. Two groups of five animals injected with PBS or uninoculated medium and one untreated group served as controls. Animals in each group received 6 injections administered at 3-day intervals. Three days following the last injection, all animals were challenged with 1 × 10⁴ BSF. Hemacytometer counts were performed every 4 days until no parasites were seen in wet blood preparations of the untreated group. None of the animals inoculated with BSF homogenate displayed parasitemias, while animals inoculated with CF homogenate were found to be infected. Parasitemias in mice immunized with CF were lower than those of the control mice.     

Schistosoma mansoni: antigenic heterogeneity of excretions and secretions

The excretory-secretory antigens of adult Schistosoma mansoni were obtained by in vitro cultivation of worms in a chemically-defined medium. The protein output in this system was low, 0.2–0.4 μg of proteinworm/48 hr. The composition of the crude culture antigen (CA) was approximately 80% protein, 15% carbohydrate and 5% nucleic acid. Disc gel electrophoresis of CA revealed the presence of at least 15 protein components, many with carbohydrate moieties. Three major fractions were obtained by gel filtration on Sephadex G-200. Fraction I contained the bulk of the glycoprotein material. Immunoelectrophoresis of CA with hyperimmune rabbit serum indicated the presence of at least 6 antigens, most of which eluted in Fraction II. Serum from infected mice and monkeys, but not from rabbits and rats, reacted with CA and its fractions, especially Fraction II, on immunodiffusion analysis. Comparison of CA with other adult worm extracts by immunodiffusion techniques showed that most of the excretory-secretory antigens could be obtained by either freezing and thawing or by extraction with 3 M KCl. The P.K.-type activity of CA was considerably greater than that of a lipid-free adult worm antigen. Both Fractions I and II had the P.K.-type activity. An antigen capable of eliciting macrophage migration inhibition factor from infected rat lymphocytes was detected in CA, although the lymphocyte toxicity of CA was high at concentrations above 10 μg/ml.     

The induction of cellular immunity with soluble murine histocompatibility antigens

Soluble transplantation antigens have been prepared from various lymphoid organs of the mouse strains A and C57BL. These preparations have been partially characterized by gel filtration on Sephadex G-200 and G-100. The distribution of various antigenic activities, such as precipitation with rabbit antisera, inhibition of the cytotoxic reactions of heterologous antisera and of alloantibodies, differed considerably among the chromatographic fractions. The soluble antigen preparations retained their antigenic and immunogenic properties, as demonstrated by their ability to block the cytotoxic reactions of alloantisera and to modify tumor growth in immunized recipients. Immunization of normal recipients with the immunogenic transplantation antigen preparations led to the production of sensitized lymphocytes, capable of destroying allogeneic target cells in vitro. Sensitized lymphocytes appeared in the regional lymph nodes after a single injection of 200–300 μg of the antigen preparation, reaching a peak level between 9 and 12 days. On reimmunization, the cytolytic activity of lymph node cells increased considerably and sensitized lymphocytes also appeared in the spleens of immunized animals.     

Association of inorganic-pyrophosphatase activity with human alkaline-phosphatase preparations

1. The inorganic-pyrophosphatase activity of alkaline phosphatases prepared from human liver and small intestine was investigated at different stages of purification. 2. Both liver and intestinal preparations possessed pyrophosphatase activity at all stages of purification, and the two types of activity were not separated by gel filtration or by anion-exchange or cation-exchange chromatography. 3. After starch-gel electrophoresis of the tissue extracts, the zones of pyrophosphatase activity coincided exactly with alkaline-phosphatase zones. 4. Hydrolysis of each type of substrate was inhibited by the presence of the other, and a constant ratio of alkaline-phosphatase activity to pyrophosphatase activity was maintained during inactivation of the enzymes by incubation at 55°. 5. These results are consistent with the view that alkaline phosphatases are also inorganic pyrophosphatases.     

Complement-inactivating Proteinase(s) from Clostridium histolyticum

A proteinase fraction inhibiting the hemolytic activity of guinea pig complement was obtained from supernatant fluids of Clostridium histolyticum cultures and purified 150- to 350-fold by ammonium sulfate precipitation, Sephadex G-75 gel filtration, and diethylaminoethyl cellulose chromatography. An assay was developed based on the inactivation of hemolytic complement. Partially purified anticomplementary preparations were active against casein and were capable of "solubilizing" Escherichia coli endotoxin. Two components were found by differential heat inactivation, with complement and casein as substrates, but only one of these components was active against endotoxin. The more heat-stable activity, showing 50% inactivation at about 47 C, was characterized as to pH and ionic strength optima and sensitivity to reagents such as cysteine, beta-mercaptoethanol, ethylenediaminetetraacetate, and heavy metals.     

Soluble Antigens for Immunofluorescence Detection of Histoplasma capsulatum Antibodies

Soluble antigens from Histoplasma capsulatum in the mycelial and yeast phase were purified by gel filtration, fixed onto paper discs, and employed in an indirect immunofluorescence procedure to detect antibody in sera from individuals infected with H. capsulatum. The elution patterns of crude histoplasmin passed through Sephadex G-200 revealed two minor peaks of protein showing immunofluorescence, complement fixing, and precipitating-antigen activity. A large peak containing the pigment and other low molecular weight materials showed no serological activity. A polysaccharide antigen obtained from fragmented, deproteinized yeast-phase cells was reactive in the fluorescent-antibody test but showed no antigen activity in complement fixation or precipitin tests. Although certain sera from culturally proven cases of blastomycosis, coccidioidomycosis, and cryptococcosis reacted with the purified Histoplasma antigens, preliminary evaluation indicated that the immunofluorescence technique may be of value as a screening procedure for the serodiagnosis of histoplasmosis.     

Properties of delta5-3beta-hydroxysteroid oxidoreductase isolated from Streptomyces griseocarneus.

Delta5-3beta-hydroxysteroid oxidoreductase was extracted in magnesium-containing Tris buffer from sonicated Streptomyces griseocarneus cells. The enzyme was partially purified (150 X) by ion exchange chromatography and gel filtration following (NH4)2SO4 fractionation. Upon gel filtration on Sephadex G-75 to G-200, the greatest part of the activity gave a peak in the fractionation range. The enzyme obtained from the gel yielded small enzyme molecules on repeated chromatography. A molecular weight of 32 to 36 000 was calculated for the activity appearing in the fractionation range of Sephadex G-75 to G-200. The enzyme is highly specific for the irreversible oxidation of the 3beta-hydroxyl group in steroids with a trans-anellated A : B ring system with either C5 or C6 double bond. Delta5-3-ketosteroids are converted into delta5-3-ketosteroids at a high rate, but the isomerase activity cannot be separated from the oxidoreductase activity either by chromatography or by selective heat inactivation. NAD, NADP, FMN or FAD did not influence the activity, but the enzyme is inactive in the absence of molecular oxygen.     

Trypanosoma lewisi: characteristics of an antigen which induced ablastic antibody

The antigen-inducing ablastic antibody was found in the plasma of Trypanosoma letwsi-infected rats which were treated with high doses of hydrocortisone acetate.The antigen (ablastinogen) was demonstrated by immunizing normal rats with hydrocortisone treated, infected rat plasma (TIRP) and testing their antiserum for ablastic antibody. Plasma from either hydrocortisone treated, uninfected rats or from untreated, uninfected rats did not induce detectable ablastic antibody.Ablastinogen in TIRP was stable to ether treatment, to heating at 37 C for 4 hr, and to heating at 56 C for 45 min, but was inactivated by heating at 100 C for 15 min. Pronase treatment (2 mg/ml TIRP) for 4 hr at 37 C inactivated the antigen in 2 out of 3 samples.Ablastinogen was not dialyzable, and gel filtration of TIRP on Sephadex G-200 in aqueous buffer (1.0 M NaCl, 0.1 M Tris-hydrochloride, pH 8.0) separated the antigen into at least 2 components. The separate components did not induce ablastic antibody, however, recombinations of the components did induce ablastic antibody in immunized rats.     

Suppressive substance produced by T cells from mice chronically infected with Trypanosoma cruzi. II. Partial biochemical characterization

Culture supernatants of splenic T cells from susceptible CBA mice chronically infected with Trypanosoma cruzi contain a suppressive substance which can inhibit the induction of delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) to a wide range of antigens. The suppressive substance is distinct from T. cruzi antigen inasmuch as the supernatant depleted of any residual T. cruzi antigen by an affinity column still retains the suppressive activity, whereas addition of T. cruzi antigens to control supernatant did not confer suppressive function. The suppressive supernatant does not contain detectable levels of IL-1, IL-2, IL-3, or IFN-gamma but a modest level of IL-1 and IL-2 inhibitory activities. However, both these inhibitory activities elute at a different position from the DTH suppressive activity on gel filtration. The DTH suppressive activity is heat labile (1 h, 56 degrees C), cryostable, but destroyed by trypsin treatment. It binds to ricin but not to lentil lectin. Sepharose 4B gel filtration and HPLC analysis in mild chaotropic agents (urea, ethylene glycol) demonstrate that the suppressive substance has an apparent Mr of 30 to 60 kDa, but full DTH-suppressive activity is retained only in an aggregated form.     

Labeling of beta-endorphin and beta-lipotropin with iodine 125

5 micrograms of human beta-endorphin were labelled with 2 mCi 125I by the chloramine T technique. After two gel filtrations on Sephadex G-15 and on Sephadex G-50 in phosphate buffer with EDTA, Trasylol and mercapto-ethanol, a pure tracer was obtained with a specific activity about 150 microCi/ug. Kept at + 4 degrees C, the tracer remained utilizable for 30 days without loss of immunoreactivity. The labelling with lactoperoxydase and the use of another gel filtration method (filtration on Aca 202) gave a 125I beta-END tracer with the same immunoreactivity. The binding of this tracer to the antibody of an anti-beta-END antiserum diluted at 1/8000 was 32% with a non specific binding of 2%. 5 micrograms of human beta-lipotropin were labelled with 0.5 mCi 125I by the lactoperoxydase method. After two gel filtrations on Sephadex G-25 and on Sephadex G-75 in phosphate buffer with EDTA, Trasylol and mercapto-ethanol, a pure tracer with a specific activity of 140 microCi/micrograms was obtained. It remained utilizable for 30 days when kept at + 4 degrees C. Gel filtration on Aca 202 did not give good purification, while gel filtration on Aca 54 was good but slower than on Sephadex G-75. The binding to antibody in absence of unlabelled beta-LPH was 32% for an anti-beta-LPH antiserum diluted at 1/4000. The non specific binding was 2.5%.     

Conditioning factor affecting growth in plant cells in culture

Crude extracts of conditioning factor (CF) of plant cell cultures were obtained by dialysis filtration of Daucus carota L. plant cells. The lyophilized extract is stable in freezer. It is resistant to boiling, to acid or alkaline pH, it is strongly hydrophilic and it is species-unspecific. After Sephadex filtration CF shows a molecular weight of approx. 700 daltons. The effect of CF on the increase of plating efficiency can be mimicked by Brassinosteroid. However, these compounds act in a different way and show a synergic effect when tested together.     

Grouping antigens of four Lactobacillus species and their characteristics.

Antigenic analyses of Lactobacillus bulgaricus, Lactobacillus lactis, Lactobacillus brevis and Lactobacillus buchneri were carried out by double immunodiffusion in agar. Antigens were extracted from whole cells and cell wall preparations with cold trichloroacetic acid. Most strains of the four species possessed antigen 9 in their cell walls. Another antigen, antigen 10, was found in the cell walls of all the strains of L. brevis and L. buchneri, and in some strains of L. lactis, but not in L. bulgaricus. Fractionation of the antigens was attempted using the cell wall extracts of L. lactis L-10 with only antigen 9 and of L. brevis X-1 with both antigens 9 and 10. The partially purified fractions of antigen 9 and of the complex of antigens 9 and 10 were obtained by zone electrophoresis. However, antigen 10 from the complex could not be separated by the same method or gel filtration on Sephadex G-100 since the two antigens 9 and 10 of the complex always behaved together. The fraction of antigen 9 consisted almost entirely of glycerol and glucose as sugar components, the molar ratio being 2: 1. The complex of antigens 9 and 10 also consisted of the same sugars, and the molar ratio of glycerol: glucose was 4: 1. Inhibition tests indicated that the immunodominant component of antigen 9 was a-methylglucoside (glucose), and most probably the determinant is a glycosylated glycerol teichoic acid. It was considered that the determinant of antigen 10 is a glycerol teichoic acid although glucosamine and galactosamine inhibited effectively the reaction between antigen 10 and its antibody.     

Purification and characterization of subtilisin inhibitors 'Marinostatin' produced by marine Alteromonas sp.

The four novel peptide subtilisin inhibitors, which have been named Marinostatin B-1, B-2, C-1 and C-2, were purified from the culture supernatant fluid of a marine bacterium, Alteromonas sp. A combination of Diaion HP-20 and CM-cellulofine ion exchange column chromatographies, Sephadex G-25 gel filtration and preparative high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) were employed. Final preparations gave a single peak on HPLC. The molecular weights by gel filtration of Marinostatin B-1 and C-1 were estimated to be 1500, and those of B-2 and C-2 were 1700. All the inhibitors were stable in acidic (pH range 4–6) but less stable in alkaline solutions (pH 10). The metal ions Co²⁺ and Fe²⁺ repressed the inhibitory activity by 30 and 20%, respectively. The four inhibitors had inhibitory effects on serine proteases like α-chymotrypsin.     

KCl-Extractable surface antigens of Schistosoma mansoni: immunological characterization and applicability in immunodiagnosis

A Schistosoma mansoni antigen preparation was obtained by extraction of adult worms with a 3 M KCl solution. An indirect immunofluorescence reaction on cryostat sections of adult worms showed that the extracted antigens mainly originated from the tegument. The complex antigenic composition of the tegument extract was shown by immunoelectrophoresis against serum from infected mice and immunized rabbits, which gave up to 9 and 17 precipitation lines, respectively. When we compared the use of adult worm antigens and the tegument antigen preparation in the DASS and ELISA tests for immunodiagnosis of human schistosomiasis, the average sensitivity of the tests with the two preparations was about equal, although considerable differences between individual sera occurred. Analysis of tegument antigens, fractionated by gel filtration, showed that the main serological activity of the tegument antigen preparation was due to high molecular weight antigens.