Electrophoretic separation of multiple bands with beta-glucuronidase activity in human sera

An electrophoretic procedure is described which resulted in the separation of up to four bands with beta-glucuronidase activity in human sera. Initial screening of a small sample of individuals revealed persons with two, three, and four bands.Supported by Special Project Grant Number 414 of the Children's Bureau, U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare.     

Structural and immunological studies on the protoplast membrane of the yeast Candida utilis

Cell membranes of the yeast Candida utilis isolated by lysis of protoplasts have been shown to be lipoprotein in nature. Electron microscopy shows that Mg⁺⁺ is responsible for maintaining the integrity of the membrane. A close serological relationship was found between membranes and cell walls isolated from the yeast. This relationship was exhibited not only by membranes obtained by strepzyme treatment but also by those obtained from the action of helicase enzyme. No such relationship existed between membranes and whole cells. Related data have been obtained by treatment of yeasts with different digestive enzymes. All of the results suggest that the protoplast membrane possesses traces of structural cell wall material. This material is detectable by serological tests, but not by electron microscopy.     

Serological Comparison of the Three Morphological Phases of Coccidioides immitis by the Agar Gel Diffusion Method

Hyperimmune sera against spherules and against arthrospores of Coccidioides immitis were prepared by inoculation of rabbits. The antibody content of these sera was studied by the agar gel diffusion method. It was observed that antispherule pooled sera formed multiple precipitin bands with extracts of spherules and of arthrospores. The antiarthrospore pooled serum, however, failed to precipitate with the spherule extract, and formed a single band in the presence of an arthrospore solution. When the spherule and the arthrospore extracts were tested with a variety of different antisera, it was observed that the spherule preparation formed bands only in combination with anti-purified spherule pooled serum, whereas the arthrospore extract precipitated with anti-purified spherule, antiarthrospore, and anti-Histoplasma capsulatum pooled sera. It was also observed that a spherule culture supernatant solution formed five precipitin bands in combination with anti-spherule pooled sera, formed one band with pooled antiserum from rabbits with coccidioidomycosis, and did not precipitate in the presence of antiarthrospore pooled serum. Coccidioidin, however, formed two bands in the presence of any of these antisera. It was therefore concluded that extracts from the spherule phase of C. immitis differed from solutions obtained from the arthrospore and mycelial phases.     

Serology of Rubella—Comparison of Fluorescent Antibody,Complement Fixation and Neutralization Tests for Diagnosis of Current Infections and Determination of Sero-immunity

Neutralization, complement fixation (CF) and indirect fluorescent antibody (FA) assays for rubella virus were compared for sensitivity in the serologic diagnosis of infection, for demonstrating antibody in the sera of infants with suspected rubella syndrome, and in the detection of antibody elicited by past infection (determination of immunity status). The combination of CF and FA tests was shown to be the most useful for serologic diagnosis of infection, largely eliminating the need for the slower and more cumbersome interference neutralization test.Neutralizing antibodies were found to appear rapidly in the course of infection, antibodies demonstrable by immunofluorescent staining appeared slightly later, and CF antibodies were rarely demonstrable in sera collected earlier than 14 days after onset of illness. Antibodies detected by all three techniques showed good correlation in infants with clinical evidence of rubella syndrome and corresponding maternal sera. The indirect FA technique compared favorably with the neutralization test for the detection of antibody elicited by past infection (determination of immunity status) and offered distinct advantages in ease of technical performance and more rapid results. In both current and past infections, FA titers tended to be higher than neutralizing antibody titers.     

Preparation of protoplast-like structures from conidia ofFusarium culmorum

Protoplast-like structures have been formed by digestion of the cell walls ofFusarium culmorum conidia by lytic enzyme preparations ofMicromonospora AS. Under the test conditions extrusion of the protoplasts was not observed. It seems that digestion of the cell wall occurs in different stages. Digestion of the septa preceded the formation of protoplasts of the individual cells of the multicellularF. culmorum conidia. A few protoplasts survived the lytic enzyme treatment. “Protoplasts” obtained from conidia are much more stable than those obtained from young hyphae and were able to germinate with the formation of normal mycelium. Lysis of some of the protoplast bodies led to the formation of a membranous structure. The protoplasts derived from each of the constituent cells of the conidia could be isolated with the micromanipulator. No differences were found in the ability of the isolated cells to germinate.     

Sterilization of Regenerated Collagen Sutures with β-Propiolactone

Data are presented to show that β-propiolactone when properly applied is a very effective agent for sterilization of regenerated collagen sutures. The chemical sterilization is accomplished with little or none of the loss in strength encountered with heat sterilization. The finished sterile suture is obtained without any harmful residue that might be detrimental to the patient.     

Mallory Weiss Syndrome

Head injury in infants and young children may produce lesions that are relatively unique for this age group. The uniqueness is generally due to the structural immaturity of the skull, meninges and brain.“Derby-hat” and diastatic fractures are common in this age group. Spurious meningoceles result from tearing of the dura which is closely adherent to the skull. The syndrome of “delayed” concussion is more commonly manifested in children. Extradural and subdural hemorrhage may develop from lacerations of the major venous sinuses. A classical extradural hematoma may occur in the absence of fracture across meningeal arterial channels.The management of patients with head injury has been improved by the more frequent use of tracheotomy, hypothermic techniques and drugs of the “lytic cocktail.” Solutions of urea in 10 per cent invert sugar are administered intravenously to control cerebral edema in selected patients.