Natural antibodies against Pseudomonas aeruginosa in human gamma globulin preparations

A total of 191 batches of commercial human gamma globulin were studied with the aim of detecting natural antibodies by means of cross and countercurrent electrophoresis, immunodiffusion in agar gel and the passive hemagglutination test. Commercial human gamma globulin preparations were found to contain, to a greater or lesser extent, natural antibodies to the cell-wall O-antigen of Ps. aeruginosa and the antigens of its extracellular slime (capsule); the titers of these antibodies were 1 : 64 to 1 : 256 in 75-85% of cases, 1 : 512 and greater in 10-11% of cases. Commercial gamma globulin preparations also contained antibodies protecting mice from experimental Pseudomonas infection. No correlation was detected between the degree of serological activity and the protective activity of gamma globulin preparations.     

Efficacy of a Fluorescent-Antibody Procedure for Identifying Bacillus cereus in Foods

One hundred and seventeen strains of Bacillus were examined by the fluorescent-antibody technique by using the globulin fraction of serum prepared against spores of B. cereus T. All but one strain of the 59 B. cereus tested fluoresced at the exosporium surface. Fluorescent staining of B. anthracis, B. thuringiensis, and B. mycoides was also observed. Absorption of the globulin fraction with B. anthracis and B. mycoides resulted in the elimination of staining of these organisms. Absorption with B. thuringiensis ATCC 10792 removed antibodies reacting with 6 of the strains of B. thuringiensis tested. Absorption with B. thuringiensis var. galleriae removed antibodies against B. cereus to such a degree that the globulin fraction was unusable.     

Preparation of conjugates of 19s and 7s globulins of antitularemic sera for the determination of specific fluorescence ofPasteurella tularensis

Pasteurella tularensis was detected by means of conjugates of 19S and 7S globulins from antitularemic serum with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC). The serum was obtained by short-term immunization of rabbits. The capacity of both fractions to produce the immunofluorescence reaction with pure culturesof Pasteurella tularensis and the agglutinin titre of these fractions are compared here. It was found that the 19S globulin fraction which contained most agglutinating antibodies showed only weak immunofluorescence. The 7S fraction in which the agglutinin content was very low as compared with the 19S globulin fraction gave more intense fluorescence than the 19S fraction. On the basis of this finding the opinion is advanced that the agglutinating antibodies need not be the actual carrier of fluorescence due to fluorescent antibodies (FA) in the immunofluorescence reaction ofPasteurella tularensis. The different degrees of labelling with FITC of the individual globulin fractions as observed during simultaneous conjugation are also discussed. The 19S globulin fraction is regularly conjugated to a higher degree than the 7S component. The view is presented that the avirulent strains lack a certain part of the antigen structure as compared with virulent or vaccine strains (with residual virulence), the part being responsible for the positive reaction of immunofluorescence with preparations of fluorescent antibodies.     

Crossmatch difficulties following the prophylactic use of Rh immune globulin.

With increasing demand for platelet transfusion the need to use platelets from Rh-positive persons for Rh-negative individuals often arises. The administration of Rho(D) immune globulin (human) in this situation has been recommended, but may cause serologic difficulties owing to the recipient''s passive acquisition of antibodies other than anti-D.     

Inhibition of the purified sodium-potassium activated adenosinetriphosphatase from the rectal gland of Squalus acanthias by antibody against the glycoprotein subunit.

Rabbits have been immunized with purified shark rectal gland NaK ATPase and its glycoprotein component. Serum, globulin from this serum, and a purified antibody fraction from rabbits immunized either with holoenzyme or with glycoprotein inhibited NaK ATPase activity. These antibodies also inhibited a purified NaK ATPase from the electric organ of the electric eel, but to a lesser extent, suggesting some cross reactivity. Ouchterlony double diffusion showed precipitation bands between shark NaK ATPase and serum or globulin containing antibodies against the holoenzyme or the glycoprotein. The inhibition of the NaK ATPase by antibody directed against the purified glycoprotein provides some direct evidence that the glycoprotein is a subunit of the NaK ATPase.     

Thein vitro activity of the microsomal fraction isolated from the spleen and the lymph nodes after immunization of the donor

The microsomal fraction from the spleen (after perfusion) of immunized rabbits incubated for 20 min at 37° C under usual conditions in the presence of energy sources incorporates¹⁴C-labelled amino acids both into the solubilized (by adding deoxycholate), and into the nonsolubilized part (15%). The cell supernatant incorporates under these conditions the¹⁴C-labelled amino acids into total proteins in the absence of microsomes but in a lower degree. The cell supernatant contains gamma globulin detectable by immunoelectrophoresis. Gamma globulin obtained by specific precipitation of the solubilized microsomal fraction with antigamma-globulin serum had an measurable radioactivity. The precipitate of gamma globulin obtained from the supernatant of the incubation medium in the same manner (after removing the microsomes) had a specific activity twice as high. On separating the microsomal fraction extract and the incubation medium supernatant on DEAE cellulose most fractions show on extinction maximum at 260 nm in the first case and at 280 nm in the second case. The microsomal fraction isolated from the spleen and lymph nodes of immunized pigs-48 and 72 h after revaccination, when incubatedin vitro, incorporated¹⁴C-labelled amino acids into total protein. After ultrasonic disintegration in 0.14m NaCl and filtration through a Sephadex G 25 column it is specifically precipitated with the antigammaglobulin serum. Gamma globulin isolated after incubation of the microsomal fraction had a measurable radioactivity. AntiHSA antibodies determined by adsorption on immunosorbent did not possess significant radioactivity. Only the concentrated supernatant of the incubation medium showed minute radioactivity of 75–94 counts/min /ml. The problem of investigating the formation of nascent specific antibodies on a subcellular levelin vitro during the early period of secondary response to the antigen is discussed, in particular the problem of their detection. An erratum to this article is available at .     

Possibility of purifying cholera toxin (choleragen) and its antibodies by an immunosorption method]

A study was made to establish the possibility of using an immune adsorbent based on polyacrylamide gel with the concentration of T = 10% and C = 25% for the purification of cholerogen and antibodies to it. For the isolation of cholera toxin the gamma globulin fraction of antitoxic serum was incorporated into the adsorbent; for obtaining antibodies an adsorbent with partially purified cholerogen was used. Desorption was made with 3 M sodium rhodanide solution. The yield of cholerogen was 41%, and the yield of antibodies was 4.5%. The non-specific sorption of the immune adsorbents was insignificant.     

Mouse serum inhibition of cytotoxicity of goat antibodies against mouse thymocytes]

It is shown that the serum of Balb/c, C57Bl/6 and F1(C57Bl/6 x CBA) mice inhibits cytotoxicity of goat antithymocyte antibodies. The addition of the serum into the incubation medium increases the proportion of alive cells from -5% up to 95%. Cytotoxicity was also inhibited by the globulin fraction of the mice serum. It is suggested that normal mice serum contains factors which block cytotoxicity of antibodies against antigen host determinants.     

Determination of the internal association constant as a measure of the affinity of erythocyte-fixed antibodies that interact with mono- and multivalent antigens]

The fraction of antibody-bound determinants of a polyvalent antigen is determined by the fraction of free antigen molecules and the valence of the antigen. The internal association constant for antibodies fixed onto erythrocytes can be found by the suspension method, the index obtained in this process being similar when both monovalent and polyvalent antigens are used. The sensitivity of the antibody-erythrocyte diagnostic preparation in the passive hemagglutinin test depends on the affinity of the active centers of antibodies.     

THE IMMUNOLOGICAL SPECIFICITY OF THE EUGLOBULIN AND PSEUDOGLOBULIN FRACTIONS OF HORSE AND H^MAN SERUM

That portion of horse and human serum globulin precipitated by 33 per cent saturation with ammonium sulfate and precipitated on subsequent dialysis was taken as euglobulin; and the fraction precipitated between 33 and 50 per cent saturation and remaining in solution on subsequent dialysis was taken as pseudoglobulin. The sera of rabbits injected with either of these antigens gave precipitation with both. However, two distinct and fraction-specific antibodies could be demonstrated by absorbing the sera with the one antigen, and testing the supernatant fluid with the other. The experimental results are adequately explained on the basis that there are at least two antigenically distinct globulins in serum which we may term globulin I and globulin II and which are largely associated with so called euglobulin and pseudoglobulin respectively. The ordinary methods of salting out and dialysis do not effect complete separation and each globulin preparation contains a trace of the other antigen. The antisera to these euglobulin and pseudoglobulin preparations therefore contain antibodies to both antigens. Each protein solution precipitates all the antibody specific for the one antigen and in addition, by virtue of the trace of contaminating protein, precipitates a portion, and only a portion of the antibody specific for the other antigen. The fact that antisera to whole serum contain these same fraction-specific antibodies suggests that this immunological specificity is an inherent property of two globulins present as such in serum and is not an artifact induced by their precipitation and purification. Lipoids extracted from the globulins by ether, petroleum ether, and alcohol give no demonstrable reaction with antisera to these globulins; antisera absorbed with a large excess of lipoid are not affected as regards their reactivity with the original protein; and globulins extracted with ether and petroleum ether at room temperature are not affected as regards their reactivity with antisera. It is concluded that the immunological specificity of the globulin fractions as evidenced by the precipitation reaction is not determined by lipoids associated with the protein.     

Toxocara canis: Some characteristics of larval precipitating antibodies in rat serum

1972. Toxocara canis: Some characteristics of larval precipitating antibodies in rat serum. International Journal for Parasitology 2: 471–479. Serum from rats infected with 1000 T. canis eggs had larval precipitating antibodies present at least between 21 and 183 days post infection. The precipitating antibodies in whole serum were stable to heating at 60°C for 1 h and excretory pore precipitates developed in serum treated with 2-mercaptoethanol.

Fractionation of serum on G-200 and DEAE-cellulose and analysis of the fractions by immunoelectrophoresis indicated the fraction containing fast 7S globulin was primarily responsible for precipitating activity. Purified precipitating antibodies were stable to heating at 70°C for 15 min.

No skin fixing antibodies were detected in immune sera employing both a homologous and heterologous PCA text.     

Inhibition of Ca2+ uptake into fragmented sarcoplasmic reticulum by antibodies against purified Ca2+, Mg2+-dependent ATPase.

Rabbit antiserum was prepared against a partially purified Ca2+, Mg2+-dependent ATPase [EC 3.6.1.3] of the SR isolated from chicken skeletal muscle. The gamma-globulin fraction of antiserum contained antibodies which combined with the purified ATPase and the SR vesicles. Binding of the antibodies strongly inhibited active transport of Ca2+ ions into the SR, but not passive leakage of Ca2+ ions from the SR. The antibodies scarcely affected the ATPase activity.     

Characterization of fractionated polyclonal antibodies for immunoaffinity chromatography

Polyclonal anti-BSA antibodies were ractionated by stepwise elution from an immobilized BSA column by decreasing pH or increasing the concentration of NaSCN. The binding affinities of each fraction and original globulin under physiological conditions and their dependence on pH and ionic environments were compared. Fractions with high association constant under physiological conditions did not necessarily show antigen binding affinity over a wide pH range, but they retained a high affinity at higher ionic strength of NaSCN. Consequently, by combining these two fractionation procedures, a fraction with high affinity and which dissociated at moderate pH was obtained. It is clear that high affinity is not always incompatible with ease of dissociation accompanying a change in conditions.     

Use of polysaccharides to remove lipids from the protein globulin fraction of baker's yeast

The precipitation of lipid-protein complexes from the baker's yeast protein globulin fraction by polysaccharides (gum arabic and arabinogalactan) was investigated. Lipid-protein complexes were precipitated more readily with the polysaccharides under study than with other globulin fractions components. A method for the removal of lipids from the globulin fraction of baker's yeast by precipitation of the lipid-protein complexes with polysaccharides is suggested.     

Immunological study of antisera to to artificial O-antigen of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

O-sera were obtained by immunizing rabbits with artificial antigens: polysaccharide extracted from the lipopolysaccharide of P. aeruginosa (strain No. 868; 03a, 3d, 3e), or the high-molecular-weight or low-molecular-weight fraction of this polysaccharide, complexed with a natural protein (human IgG or rabbit globulin). The antisera to these antigenic complexes were highly O-specific. Antisera to the complexes of polysaccharide-protein and high-molecular-weight fraction-protein were more active in the passive haemagglutination reaction, slide agglutination test and immunodiffusion test in agar gel than was antiserum to the low-molecular-weight fraction-protein complex. The artificial antigens prepared and employed in the study are apt to be used for the preparation of monospecific immune sera.     

Passive-active immunisation of neonates of HBsAg positive carrier mothers: preliminary observations.

Screening of pregnant women for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in three areas of Holland led to the identification of HBsAg carriers, 20 of whom were subsequently delivered. Within two hours after birth all infants received hepatitis B immune globulin (0.5 ml/kg body weight) and, after randomisation, hepatitis B vaccine (10 micrograms) was given either at 0, 1, and 2 months of age or at 3, 4, and 5 months of age, the latter concomitantly with DPTP vaccination. Eighteen infants complying with the protocol were followed up for at least six months. No side effects were observed after either passive or active immunisation. All infants developed high concentrations of anti-HBs antibodies; no interference of high dose passive immunisation with active immunisation was observed. Concentrations of anti-HBs at three months were significantly lower in infants given delayed active immunisation than in those given early active immunisation. These data suggest that passive-active immunisation against hepatitis B virus infection is well tolerated by neonates under 3 months of age and that both early and late active immunisation in combination with passive immunisation will result in excellent anti-HBs production.     

The effect of human gamma globulin on tbe production of antibodies to the surface antigen of the hepatitis B virus in an experiment on animals

The biological assay for the determination of HBsAg in gamma globulin is proposed. The assay is based on the immunizing action of immune complexes and some specific features of secondary immune response. For this purpose, the highly purified preparation of HBsAg is injected into guinea pigs. Subsequently the animals receive human gamma globulin. An increase in the titer of anti-HBsAg antibodies in the animals preimmunized with the antigen is indicative of the presence HBsAg in human gamma globulin. In accordance with another variant of this assay, human gamma globulin is introduced into mice and 21 days later the animals are immunized with HBsAg. The appearance of anti-HBsAg antibodies in the animals, previously treated with gamma globulin, on day 4 after the injection of the antigen indicate that the animals experience the second penetration of HBsAg, i. e. its presence in previously injected human gamma globulin.     

Mature Amaranthus hypochondriacus seeds contain non-processed 11S precursors

Amaranth is a dicotyledonous plant whose major seed storage proteins are globulins and glutelins. An unique feature of amaranth seeds is the presence of a fraction named albumin-2, that is extractable with water only after an exhaustive extraction of globulins and albumin-1. In this work, we tested the hypothesis that albumin-2 fraction could be constituted by a non-processed 11S globulin (proglobulin). To this end, the gene encoding the amaranth 11S subunit was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. Subsequently, the recombinant proglobulin and albumin-2 purified from seeds were treated with a sunflower vacuolar processing enzyme (VPE). A 55 kDa component of albumin-2 was specifically cleaved into 38 and 17-15 kDa polypeptides, as a consequence of this endoproteolytic cleavage a change of the oligomeric state from trimeric to hexameric was observed. Amaranth 11S globulin fraction was not modified under these proteolysis conditions. Using VPE-specific antibodies, it was shown that amaranth expresses a 57 kDa VPE, and that both developing and mature amaranth seeds have VPE activity, although the increase of this activity during amaranth seed development is higher than that observed for sunflower seeds. These results confirm the presence of unprocessed 11S precursors in mature amaranth seeds; this phenomenon cannot, however, be attributed to low VPE activity during developing of amaranth seeds.     

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.     

Effect of anti-sperm gamma globulins on metabolism of human spermatozoa.

Rabbits were immunized with saline extracts of human spermatozoa Presence of antibodies to spermatozoa was confirmed by Ouchterlony gel diffusion, microscopic sperm agglutination, and immunofluorescent techniques. Anti-sperm gamma globulin significantly decreased the average oxygen consumption of 10⁸ washed human spermatozoa. Sperm incubated in the presence of anti-sperm gamma globulin had a significantly lower rate of lactic acid accumulation than sperm incubated in normal rabbit gamma globulin. It appears that anti-sperm antibodies can influence both aerobic respiration and glycolysis of washed human spermatozoa.