Schistosoma japonicum: Immediate hypersensitivity reactions to egg antigen in humans and rodents

Immediate hypersensitivity reactions in schistosoma japonicum infections were examined in both man and experimental animals. In man higher reaction to soluble egg antigen than to adult worm antigen was detected by the use of the radioallergosorbent test (RAST). Blood-collecting filter paper can be used in RAST for seroepidemiological study in place of a skin test. Reaginic antibody formation against egg antigen was detected at the approximate time of egg deposition in strains of mice, Mongolian gerbils, cotton rats, and laboratory rats by the use of passive cutaneous anaphylaxis or Prausnitz-Küstner-type skin tests. At the same time circumoval precipitin tests were positive. Results with athymic nude mice suggest that these reactions are T-cell dependent. No detectable reagin synthesis against adult worm antigen was found in the animals so far examined, confirming stronger allergenic reaction to egg antigen than to that of adult worms in S. japonicum infections in man and animals.     

Epistatic,additive and dominance variation in a triple test cross of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Summary Triple test cross progenies resulting from the crossing of three testers (Kloka, UP 368 and an f₁ intermediate between them) and 24 varieties of bread wheat have been studied for plant height (cm), peduncle length (cm), ear length (cm), number of spikelets per spike and harvest index (ratio between economic and total yield). Epistasis was not significant for any of the characters studied. The testers were inadequate for plant height and for peduncle length although the testers varied considerably for these traits. Additive variance played a significant role in the inheritance of all the characters except number of spikelets per spike. The dominance variance was important for plant height, ear length and harvest index. The degree of dominance was in the over-dominance range for plant height. Complete dominance was operative for ear length, number of spikelets per spike and harvest index whereas for peduncle length only partial dominance was observed. The possibility of the isolation of the recombinants with high harvest index has been stressed.     

The antimutagenic effect of selenium on 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene and metabolites in the amesSalmonella/microsome system

The antimutagenic effect of selenium as sodium selenite, sodium selenate, selenium dioxide, and seleno-methionine was studied in the AmesSalmonella/microsome mutagenicity test using 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA) and some of its metabolites. Selenium (20 ppm) as sodium selenite reduced the number of histidine revertants on plates containing up to 100 μg DMBA/plate. Increasing concentrations of selenium as sodium selenite, sodium selenate, and selenium dioxide up to 40 ppm Se progressively decreased the number of revertants caused by 50 μg DMBA. DMBA and its metabolites 7-hydroxymethyl-12-methylbenz(a)anthracene, 12-hydroxymethyl-7-methylbenz(a)anthracene, and 3-hydroxy-7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene were mutagenic forSalmonella typhimurium TA100 in the presence of an S-9 mixture. Selenium supplementation as Na₂SeO₃ reduced the number of revertants induced by these metabolites to background levels. The antimutagenic effect of inorganic selenium compounds cannot be explained by toxicity of selenium as determined by viability tests withSalmonella typhimurium TA100. Selenium supplementation in all forms examined, except sodium selenate, decreased the rate of spontaneous reversion. Selenium as sodium selenate was slightly mutagenic at concentrations of 4 ppm or less. Higher concentration of Na₂SeO₄ inhibited the mutagenicity of DMBA. The present studies support the anticarcinogenic potential of selenium and indicate that form and concentration are important factors in this trace element's efficacy.     

Seroimmunological and parasitological surveys of leucocytozoon caulleryi infection in chickens in several asian countries

Epizootiological surveys of Leucocytozoon caulleryi infection in chickens in Japan, Taiwan, Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand were undertaken by means of the immunodiffusion test. The rate of infection of L. caulleryi confirmed by the examination of parasites in the peripheral blood of chickens coincided with that of positive antibody response in the immunodiffusion test. Antibodies against L. caulleryi were found in chickens in all the countries surveyed in the present investigation. The prevalence of L. caulleryi infection in chickens was confirmed by the immunodiffusion test. Several chickens in each country showed the presence of serum antigens of L. caulleryi at the times of serum sample collection. These results seemed to indicate that the immunodiffusion test is a method efficient enough to be applicable to the epizootiological surveys and diagnosis of L. caulleryi infection in chickens in the field. As a result, the antibodies or soluble antigens in the sera of chickens infected with L. caulleryi present, respectively, in each country may have the same immunological characters.     

Ascaris suum: specific antibodies in isolated intestinal loop washings from immunized swine.

Six pigs had been immunized with multiple dose of embryonated eggs and an isolated intestinal loop was prepared in each animal. Specific antibodies to Ascaris suum were detected in the soluble protein fraction of washings from the intestinal loops using an indirect fluorescent antibody test. The specific antibodies belonged to the IgA, IgG and IgE classes of immunoglobulins. In contrast, specific antibodies were not detected in the soluble protein fraction from the accumulated fluid from the intestinal loop of one pig. Soluble proteins from the washings of intestinal loops consisted of serum albumin, a large molecular size glycoprotein, and variable amounts of several α-globulins, transferrin, and immunoglobulins. The individual soluble protein solutions were efficiently fractionated using DEAE-cellulose, Sephadex G-200, and Sepharose 6B Chromatographic columns.