Preparation and properties of Vibrio cholerae antifimbrial antibody

The presence of fimbriae on the Vibrio cholerae strains used was assessed by pellicle formation, haemagglutination activity and electron microscopy. Fimbrial suspensions were prepared by shearing them off the organisms, then separating them from other components by absorbing them on to rabbit red blood cells. Rabbits were then immunized with the fimbrial-red cell suspensions and the antibodies evoked were titrated by haemagglutination inhibition, agglutination, vibriocidal and immobilization techniques.     

Inhibition of Helicobacter pylori haemagglutination activity by human salivary mucins

Thirty isolates of Helicobacter pylori from gastric biopsies agglutinated human erythrocyte suspensions. Crude mucin preparations derived from saliva of 20 different donors were examined for their ability to inhibit haemagglutination. All mucin preparations exhibited strong inhibitory activity. Removal of sialic residues from mucin preparations by treatment with neuraminidase resulted in a substantial reduction of their inhibitory activity. The mucin preparations had no bactericidal or aggregation activity for H. pylori. These results are discussed in the context of the role of mucins in colonization of the gastric mucosa by H. pylori.     

Inhibition of Helicobacter pylori haemogglutination activity by human salivary mucins

Abstract Thirty isolates of Helicobacter pylori from gastric biopsies agglutinated human erthyrocyte suspensions. Crude mucin preparation derived from saliva of 20 different donors were examined for their ability to inhibit haemagglutination. All mucin preparations exhibited strong inhibitory activity. Removal of sialic residues from mucin preparations by treatment with neuraminidase resulted in a substantial reduction of their inhibitory activity. The mucin prepations had no bactericidal or aggregation activity for H. pylori . These results are discussed in the context of the role of mucins in colonization of the gastric mucosa by H. pylori     

Studies on haemagglutination by the EMC-MM-Columbia SK-group of viruses

Summary When MM and Columbia SK virus were propagated in the chick embryo, the virus disappeared from the allantoic fluid and from the embryonic brain tissue after 6 to 9 chorioallantoic passages. Amniotic passages, however, resulted in a gradual increase of the mouse infectivity titre of the amniotic fluid and of the fluid of the regularly observed subcutaneous edema of the embryos, though after 22 passages the ID50 titre was still 3 logs lower than that of the original mouse brain suspension. The virus was present not only in amniotic fluid, but also in allantoic fluid and throughout the whole embryo. In spite of the pretty high mouse infectivity titres, the extra-embryonic fluids failed to produce haemagglutination of sheep red cells, whereas low haemagglutination titres could be obtained with suspensions of embryonic brain tissue. No evidence was obtained, that a non-specific inhibitor was responsible for the inability to produce haemagglutination. The virus present in egg fluids is only partially adsorbed, which is in contrast with the almost complete adsorption of virus in mouse brain suspension. The adsorption of a relatively small amount of virus might be one of the factors responsible for lack of haemagglutinating ability. It is suggested, that another coinciding factor, which is necessary for the initiation of the haemagglutination might be present in the central nervous system lesion.Third publication: Antonie van Leeuwenhoek17, 137, 1951.     

Preliminary characterization of cell-free K99 antigen isolated from Escherichia coli B41.

The K99 antigen of Escherichia coli B41 was isolated by isoelectric precipitation from heated bacterial suspensions. Chromatography and immunoabsorption experiments suggested that the mannose-resistant haemagglutinating activity of partially purified preparations of antigen was K99. The antigen was partially susceptible to bacterial proteases and was inactivated by periodate oxidation. Haemagglutination inhibition experiments with sugars and absorption of K99 with antisera to human blood groups A and B substances suggested that K99 contains a terminal alpha-linked N-acetylgalactosamine moiety, which is involved in the haemagglutination reaction, and an adjacent terminal alpha-linked galactose moiety, which plays no part in the reaction.     

Rapid assay for antibodies to Varicella-Zoster virus (VZV) using a VZV-HEM preparation

A freeze-dried, formalized-erythrocytes-bound VZV antigen for indirect haemagglutination, VZV-HEM, was prepared. It was used to test serologically 46 children, all of them patients of Prague paediatric clinics, with a known history of chickenpox. For comparison, the same sera were tested by the indirect haemagglutination reaction with freshly prepared VZV antigen and by ELISA. All three serological tests gave congruent results in 97.8% of cases. The advantages of the VZV-HEM assay are results obtainable within 2 hours of serum dilution and simplicity. The assay is especially suitable for emergency testing the immunity of persons at risk.     

消杀型纳米催化剂抗病毒作用的研究

本文探讨112种消杀型纳米催化剂吸附与灭活病毒的功效,为开发新型抗病毒纳米材料提供理论依据。我们将各种纳米催化剂与副流感病毒、人疱疹病毒Ⅰ型、腺病毒1型及5型作用一定时间后,分别以血凝试验及观察CPE变化的方法判断纳米材料对各种病毒的吸附与灭活作用,并在电子显微镜下观察纳米材料对病毒的吸附情况。结果在所检测的112种纳米催化剂中,用血凝试验分别筛选出强吸附力催化剂 29 种、中吸附力催化剂 36 种、弱吸附力催化剂47种。其中,13 种强吸附力催化剂对副流感病毒的吸附率在 87.5%~93.75%之间,并以 AB 24的抗病毒效果最好。     

The Adaptive Significance of Tetrapod Gait Selection

At the slow walk tetrapods avoid lateral couplets gaits to minimizesupport by ipsilateral bipods. Most of them use the lateralsequence because tripods then make larger triangles than forthe diagonal sequence. Of the running symmetrical gaits thesingle foots (in each sequence) permit the smoothest and fastesttravel without suspensions. The trot and pace allow two legsto thrust in unison, the former giving the most stability toanimals not placing the feet well under the body and the latteravoiding interference for long legged runners. The bound andhalf bound are most used by small agile mammals for bursts ofspeed and for maneuvering on rough terrain by a series of leaps.Such animals use the extended suspension. Large cursors on openterrain usually select the shorter more economical, gatheredsuspension. The fastest runners use both suspensions to gainlong strides. At moderate speed the transverse gallop has theadvantages over the rotary gallop that both bipods and tripodsare more stable and that interference may be avoided. At highspeed using both suspensions, none of these advantages pertains.The rotary gallop may then increase maneuverability.     

In vitro haemagglutination and attenuation of microfilarial motility by haemolymph from individual blackflies (Simulium ornatum) infected with Onchocerca lienalis

Two in vitro tests were used to investigate the effect of Onchocerca lienalis Stiles infection on the haemolymph of Simulium ornatum Meigen. The first of these examined the effect of infected haemolymph on the motility of fresh O. lienalis or Brugia pahangi Buckley & Edeson microfilariae. Incubation of haemolymph from individual flies with fresh microfilariae was performed in the wells of Terasaki micro-tissue culture plates. Motility of both species of parasite was found to be significantly attenuated when compared to worms incubated in control haemolymph groups. The second assay was that of agglutination of cat erythrocytes in the presence of haemolymph from individual flies, also performed in Terasaki plates. This test demonstrated significant increases in the rates of haemagglutination in the haemolymph of O. lienalis infected blackflies. The titre appeared to increase during the initial 5 days of infection up to a level of 1/32+, but then fell between day 5 and 7 to a maximum level of 1/2. The proportion of flies exhibiting haemagglutination also rose following infection. Despite the apparent absence of melanization and encapsulation, simuliids may have at least two humoral haemolymph components available to them for parasite regulation; a fast-acting factor responsible for rapid parasite death, and more specific agglutinins, possibly lectins. The role of the latter in defence is as yet unclear.     

The transfer of genes encoding production of mannose-resistant haemagglutinating fimbriae from uropathogenic enterobacteria

Two hundred and thirty-seven bacterial strains, isolated from patients with urinary tract infections, were examined for the presence of plasmid-determined fimbrial adhesins. Ninety-nine strains were capable of producing mannose-resistant haemagglutination. Seventeen of these strains possessed transferable resistance plasmids and 11 of these were also able to transfer the mannose-resistant haemagglutination gene, suggesting that it was carried on the R plasmid or had been mobilized by it.     

Utilization of Neuraminic Acid Receptors by Mycoplasmas

Erythrocytes and H-HeLa cells were treated with neuraminidase and then compared with untreated cells for their ability to adsorb to mycoplasma colonies or be agglutinated by suspensions of the mycoplasmas. Of the 17 mycoplasma serotypes examined, only 4 were found to use neuraminic acid receptors; these were Mycoplasma pneumoniae, M. gallisepticum, M. synoviae, and mycoplasma WR1. Not all strains of a serotype behaved alike. Thus, removal of receptors on erythrocytes for one strain of M. gallisepticum required at least 100 times the concentration of neuraminidase needed to remove them for another strain. The mechanism of attachment of erythrocytes to mycoplasma colonies does not appear to be the same as that for attachment to mycoplasmas in suspension.     

Chromatography of cell suspensions: a simple method for the determination of pyridine nucleotides

Aliquots of Escherichia coli cell suspensions which were synthesizing radioactive pyridine nucleotides from radioactive nicotinic acid were applied directly to chromatographic paper. Application of cell suspensions to paper stopped all pyridine derivative interconversions instantly. Chromatography then extracted all intracellular pyridine derivatives quantitatively.The results obtained by this procedure compared favorably to those obtained by chromatography of perchloric acid extracted or heat treated cell suspensions. Only very small assay volumes were needed, and the manipulations involved in determining pyridine nucleotides were minimized.     

An immunogold-silver staining method for detection of cell-surface antigens in light microscopy

An immunogold-silver staining technique for detection of cell-surface antigens in cell suspensions was developed. Leukocyte cell suspensions were first incubated with monoclonal antibodies directed against cell-surface antigens and then with colloidal gold-labeled goat anti-mouse antibodies. Cytocentrifuge preparations of the cell suspensions were immersed in a physical developer containing silver lactate and hydroquinone as reducing substance. The preparations were then counterstained and mounted. In light microscopy, cells reacting with the monoclonal antibodies showed dark granules on their surface membrane. An optimal morphology, as revealed by a May-Grünwald-Giemsa counterstain, permitted accurate cell identification. The labeling was influenced by the gold particle diameter and the concentration of the gold reagents, by the duration of incubation in the physical developer, and by the composition and temperature of this medium. The T-cell subsets enumerated with this method in the peripheral blood of normal adults were identical to those found with other methods. The sensitivity of the technique was comparable with that of immunofluorescence microscopy. This immunogold-silver staining procedure proved to be a reliable tool for detection of cell-surface antigens in light microscopy.     

Usefulness of the passive hemagglutination micromethod in the diagnosis of whooping cough

Studies on modification of diagnostic test for pertussis have been continued, they were practically restricted to an application of passive haemagglutination micromethod. Six hundred and twenty eight sera from children suspected to be infected with Bordetella and 38 sera of control children suffering from non-infectious diseases were tested. Despite of the fact that higher titers were obtained with method using red blood cells preserved in Alsevier solution, the passive haemagglutination micromethod may be used in field studies especially during pertussis epidemics what was confirmed by statistical analysis.     

The Preservation of Bacteriophage by Drying

SUMMARY: Two bacteriophages were stored a t room temperature after being dried and recoveries of them were compared with those from broth suspensions which were stored at 4°. The T, phage of Escherichia coli was recovered without loss from both broth and dried material after 30 months. Some loss of C phage of Bacillus meguteriurn occurred on drying but recoveries from the desiccates were much higher than from the broth suspensions after prolonged storage.     

Detection and titration of anti-tetanus antibodies by passive hemagglutination]

Human red cells O Rh + are coated with purified tetanus toxoid, by means of chromic chloride as coupling agent. With this reagent and by passive haemagglutination technique, antitetanus antibodies can be automatically screened and titrated in blood donnors plasmas, on Groupamatic equipments. Comparative results of three techniques: counter immunoelectrophoresis; manual passive haemagglutination; automatic passive haemagglutination are given, 4, 92 percent among the 1.219 tested blood donnors plasmas have an antibody greater than or equal to 5 U.I., 16, 24 percent have a titre between 1 and 5 U.I.     

Immunological Methods for the Detection of a Coryneform Isolated from Ratoon Stunted Sugarcane

A coryneform bacterium, isolated from ratoon stunted sugarcane, has been obtained in pure culture. Its identification by immunological means was investigated. Optimum conditions for the light microscopic observation of bacterial agglutination by specific antiserum, immunofluorescence and the microcapillary haemagglutination of IgG-sensitized erythrocytes by the bacterium were established. All three assay procedures are simple and rapid. By comparison, more samples can be handled at any one time bythe microcapillary haemagglutination method. Based on bacterial agglutination, the antiserum is specific for the coryneform isolated from ratoon-stunted sugarcane.     

Characterization of strain specific typing antisera for genetic monitoring of inbred strains of rats

Strain-specific typing antisera (SSTA) were prepared for six inbred strains of rats by using a pooled immunization protocol. The SSTA were used in both a haemagglutination assay and a complement dependent microcytotoxicity assay to compare the usefulness of the two test systems. Both assays were simple, reliable and repeatable, and each system had distinct advantages and disadvantages. The haemagglutination assay was faster and required less specialized equipment than the microcytotoxicity assay. On the other hand, interpretation of results in the microcytotoxicity assay was easier and more objective. It was concluded that SSTA could be used with the microcytotoxicity assay and/or the haemagglutination assay to provide a simple and effective genetic monitoring method for inbred strain of rats.     

Mouse monoclonal antibodies to swine blood group antigens

Eight mouse hybridomas with haemagglutination capacity to swine blood group antigens were obtained, three of them producing antibodies capable of being used as blood group reagents. Two detected the Ba factor and another the Fa factor. The others gave non-specific and weak reactions or cross-reaction with antigens present in more than one system. We conclude that mouse monoclonal antibodies are also suitable for use in swine as a complement of polyclonal reagents.     

Effect of intestinal erythrocyte agglutination on the feeding performance of Triatoma brasiliensis (Hemiptera: Reduviidae)

Triatoma brasiliensis is an important vector of Trypanosoma cruzi in Brazil. The feeding efficiency on its hosts depends on several parameters including the maintenance of the ingested blood at low viscosity, which could be modulated by the anterior midgut (crop) anticoagulant and haemagglutinant activities. In the present study, we characterized T. brasiliensis crop haemagglutination activity and evaluated its importance in the feeding process. Soluble crop contents (SCC) of T. brasiliensis were able to agglutinate rat, mouse and rabbit eryhtrocytes, but had no activity on cattle and Thrichomys apereoides, a rodent species commonly associated with T. brasiliensis in the wild. The haemagglutination was characterized by the immediate formation of several clusters of erythrocytes connected by flexible elastic-like fibers. The feeding efficiency of T. brasiliensis on rat (agglutinated by SCC) was almost double that from T. apereoides (not agglutinated by SCC). The influence of haemagglutination on feeding was confirmed by artificially feeding bugs on a diet composed of cattle or rat erythrocytes. The bugs fed on cattle erythrocytes had lower ingestion rates in comparison to those fed on rats. The results indicate that, in addition to other parameters, haemagglutination brought about by SCC has an important role in the feeding efficiency of T. brasiliensis.