Information value of the indices of the nonspecific resistance of the body

A number of nonspecific resistance characteristics in mice, such as the total number of peritoneal exudate cells, the percentage and absolute number of macrophages, their cytochemical activity in the spontaneous tetrazolium test and cytochemical capacity, have been studied by comparison with the resistance of the animals to tularemia infection induced by Francisella tularensis, Ga?ski?'s vaccinal strain 15. Of these characteristics, the cytochemical capacity of peritoneal exudate macrophages, i.e. the total cytochemical activity of macrophages contained in a unit of volume, has been the most informative as regards the level of nonspecific resistance to this infection. Other characteristics under study cannot serve as criteria for the evaluation of the nonspecific resistance of the body to F. tularensis.     

Immunogenic activity of synthetic brucellosis antigens

Experimental data obtained in this investigation indicate that the conjugation of Brucella protective antigen with a polymer carrier essentially increase the immunogenic properties of the antigen. Synthesized vaccinal preparations can be of interest for practical use, as these preparations, while inducing the development of intense immunity, do not impede the diagnosis of brucellosis by serological reactions. The comparative study of the conjugates of Brucella antigen with different carriers shows that the conjugated preparation obtained on the basis of modified dextran possesses high protective potency, which makes it possible to regard this carrier as very promising for further use.     

Synthetic studies of polyene macrolide antibiotics. 3. Hydrogenation of methyl-6-deoxy-2,3-O-isopropylidene-4-methylene- alpha-L-lyxo-hexopyranoside

Experimental conditions of hydrogenation of the title compound are found (excess of Raney catalyst in benzene solution, 5 degrees C, 2h) to afford methyl 4,6-dideoxy-2,3-O-isopropylidene-4-C-methyl-alpha-L-mannopyranoside, the key intermediate in the synthesis of C33-C38 fragment of amphotericin B, with the yield as high as 57%.     

New aspects of isolation and purification of thyroxine-binding globulin from human biological fluids

Based on the new data concerning the multicomponent system of thyroxine-binding proteins in human plasma, some methodological aspects of isolation and purification of thyroxine-binding globulin (TBG) were examined, and a simple two-step procedure for TBG purification was developed. Normal human blood serum, retroplacental serum and amniotic fluid were used as TBG sources. The procedure includes affinity chromatography and adsorption chromatography on a hydroxyapatite column. A biospecific adsorbent was synthesized by stepwise binding of epichlorohydrin and thyroxine to Sepharose. The yield of pure TBG varied from 60 to 80%, depending on the TBG source used. The properties of TBG preparations from retroplacental serum and amniotic fluid were identical; both preparations contained a pregnancy-associated molecular variant, TBG-1. Two novel serum thyroxine-binding proteins were detected, isolated and partly characterized.     

Purification and physico-chemical properties of the sex steroid-binding globulin of human blood

A new technique for purification of the human sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) is described. This technique includes affinity chromatography of blood serum on cortisol-Sepharose, (NH4)2SO4 fractionation, gel filtration on a Bio-Gel P-300 column and chromatography on a concanavalin A-Sepharose 4B column. From 21 of retroplacental serum 10 mg of pure SHBG (25% yield) has been obtained. Upon gel filtration SHBG behaved as a biopolymer with Mr of 120,000. The molecular weight of SHBG as determined by electrophoresis was shown to be equal to 50,000. SHBG has a sedimentation constant of s20, w of 4.7S, pI of 5.75, extinction coefficient A1%(280,1cm) = 10,5 and association constants of 4.5 X 10(8) and 3.5 X 10(6) M-1 for 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone and cortisol, respectively. The amino acid and carbohydrate contents of SHBG were determined.     

Synthetic studies in the series of polyene macrolide antibiotics. 6. Synthesis of methyl-2,4,6-trideoxy-2,4-dimethyl-alpha-altro- hexopyranoside, the C33-C38 fragment of amphotericin B

The synthesis of methyl 2,4,6-trideoxy-2,4-dimethyl-alpha-L-altro-hexopyranoside, having the configuration of the C33-C38 fragment of amphotericin B, is described.     

Gingkolides and bilobalide: structure, pharmacology, and synthesis]

The review summarizes data on the structure, pharmacology properties and synthetic investigations of ginkgolides and bilobalide occurring in the ginkgo tree (Ginkgo biloba L.). Ginkgolide B is a powerful antagonist of platelet activating factor.     

Autoantibodies to Human Thyroid Peroxidase in Immunoassay and Immunoaffinity Chromatography

A biochemical system of radioimmunoassay of human thyroid peroxidase (TPO) with the use of specific autoantibodies was developed for the first time. This system includes lyophilized preparations of human autoantibodies to TPO, radioiodinated TPO, standards prepared from pure TPO, and the solid-phase protein A as a precipitating agent. An analytical system was used to study the TPO distribution in fractions of thyroid tissue homogenate. Differences in TPO concentrations in mitochondria, microsomes, and supernatant fluid depending on thyroid pathology and tissue storage conditions were found. The behavior of immobilized anti TPO autoantibodies in immunoaffinity chromatography of this microsomal antigen was studied.