bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Studies on the Bactericidal Reaction
Authors: Adler Frank L.
Published: January 2023

Summary and Conclusions

Sera from guinea pigs and rabbits of normal stock contain relatively thermostable antibodies which mediate the killing of apparently S-state cells of Salmonella typhosa by complement. The “normal” bactericidins appear to be specific for antigenic factors IX and XII, which are characteristic for the surface of S-state S. typhosa cells. An additional factor, present in all normal sera tested, depresses the bactericidal activity against S. typhosa O 901 cells and also interferes with the adsorption of the antibodies responsible for sensitization of S. typhosa O 901 cells to cells of antigenically related, apparently S-state, Salmonella species. It has been suggested that the inhibiting factor may be an antibody specific for an antigen which is prominent in determining the antigenic characteristics of the surface of R-state cells, but is also present, though less prominently, on the surface of apparently S-state Salmonella cells.
Antigens in Scarlatinal Erythrogenic Toxin Demonstrable by the Oudin Technic
Authors: Jennings Robert K.
Published: January 2023

Dick toxin contains a mixture of antigens for which specific antibodies exist in the sera of horses immunized for the production of scarlatinal antitoxin. At least eight distinct precipitin systems are represented in a mixture of commercial antitoxin and standard erythrogenic toxin employed in this laboratory. Several methods of identifying individual precipitin systems, based on the Oudin technic, have been examined: Specific adsorption of one antibody from the serum gives the most unequivocal results. Replacement of the antigen layer on agar in which zones have been established is a reliable method, but produces some unexplained effects. Agreement between the slopes of lines representing the relation between concentration of antigen and rate of migration should be used only as supportive evidence when dealing with ill-defined preparations. At least one antigen present in Dick toxin, antigen A, is derived from the heart-infusion broth used in toxin production. The erythrogenic toxin proper is represented by the fourth zone (D) in tubes containing our standard toxin and antitoxin.
Anaphylactic Reactions and Concentrations of Antibody in Rats and Rabbits: Effect of Adrenalectomy and of Administration of Cortisone
Authors: Dews Peter B. , Code Charles F.
Published: January 2023

Summary and Conclusions

The enhancing effect of adrenalectomy on anaphylaxis in rats has been confirmed. Part of this enhancement is caused by enhancement of the development of sensitivity by adrenalectomy which, however, does not appear to be due to an effect on concentrations of antibodies. Administration of cortisone, just prior to challenging, increased the resistance of adrenalectomized rats to anaphylactic shock although severe reactions still occurred. Administration of cortisone during sensitization of adrenalectomized rats reduced the development of sensitivity so that much milder anaphylactic reactions occurred.

Intact of adrenalectomized rats that received injections of cortisone produced slightly lower concentrations of hemolysins when rabbit erythrocytes were injected than similarly treated rats that did not receive cortisone.

Administration of cortisone to intact or adrenalectomized rabbits receiving daily intracutaneous injections of antigen lowered greatly the resulting concentrations of circulating antibodies and inhibited the development of cutaneous sensitivity. Adrenalectomy had some enhancing effect on cutaneous sensitivity.

Administration of cortisone produced no detectable effect on the concentration of circulating hemolysins produced in guinea pigs after either subcutaneous or intravenous injection of rabbit erythrocytes.
Immunization of Mice Against Histoplasma Capsulatum
Authors: Salvin S. B.
Published: January 2023

A method was found for obtaining constant death rates in white Swiss mice. Immunization of mice for short periods of time was accomplished by intraperitoneal inoculation with dead yeastlike cells of Histoplasma capsulatum, the broth filtrate from the growth of the mycelium, or the broth filtrate from the growth of the yeastlike cells. Subsequent intracerebral challenge revealed protection against 300–400 LD50 of H. capsulatum. Cross protection between Blastomyces dermatitidis and H. capsulatum was not noticeable in the strains tested, when acetone-dried cells of the yeastlike phase were used as protective antigens.
The Hemagglutinin of St. Louis Encephalitis Virus
Authors: Chanock Robert M. , Sabin Albert B.
Published: January 2023

The SLE hemagglutinin was rapidly destroyed, even at 1 C, in the very pH range that is optimum for its combination with chick erythrocytes. While this destruction did not occur at pH 7.9 over a period of several hours at 24 C, all activity was lost within 5 to 10 minutes at 37 C.

The pH range for hemagglutination of chick erythrocytes by freshly prepared hemagglutinin was pH 6.6 to 6.9 or 7.1, with maximum titers occurring in a range of 0.1 to 0.3 pH units. When no hemagglutination occurred in a certain pH zone, there was no evidence of combination between hemagglutinin and erythrocytes. After storage of the hemagglutinin at 4 C, the pH range first gradually broadened from 6.6 to 8.3, with maximum titers on occasion at pH 7.4 to 7.7, then shifted back to the acid side with hemagglutination occurring even at pH 6.4 and 6.5 after 5 to 9 months. The “shifting-pH-zone” phenomenon was almost completely stopped by freezing the hemagglutinin at −70 C.

Loss of hemagglutinin occurred when it was frozen at pH 7.2, but not at pH 8.0. Lyophilization at pH 8.0 was unsatisfactory. Chloroform destroyed the hemagglutinin within a few minutes, and acetone yielded a virtually insoluble precipitate from which no hemagglutinin could be recovered. Formalin in a final concentration of 0.1% destroyed the hemagglutinin within 24 hours at 4 C, but had no effect on the chick erythrocyte receptors at a final concentration of 0.25%.

Erythrocytes of all newly hatched chicks were regularly agglutinated in high titer, but the red cells of chickens gave lower titers or negative results. Chicken cells which were not agglutinated by the SLE hemagglutinin were agglutinated by the Japanese B hemagglutinin. Human group “O” and rhesus erythrocytes were not agglutinated, while sheep cells yielded titers that were lower than those obtained with chick cells, but higher than those obtained with pooled chicken cells. Hemagglutination with titers of the same order of magnitude occurred when the reagents were mixed at 3 or 25 C, and the red cells sedimented at one or the other temperature, but no hemagglutination occurred when the reagents were quickly brought to 37 C prior to mixing even if subsequent sedimentation was at 25 C.

For each twofold increase in concentration of erythrocytes, the hemagglutinin titer dropped threefold. When chick erythrocytes, which had been agglutinated at 25 C, were repeatedly resuspended, reversal of agglutination occurred first in the tubes with the smallest amount of hemagglutinin, and more rapidly with increasing temperature and decreasing pH. There was no destruction of receptors on the chick erythrocytes during reversal of hemagglutination. The enzyme system in cultures of cholera vibrio, which destroyed the receptors for influenza A virus on chick red cells, had no effect on the receptors for the SLE hemagglutinin.
Antigen-Antibody Precipitates in Solid Medium with Influenza Virus
Authors: Jensen Keith E. , Francis Thomas
Published: January 2023

Techniques for studying the diffusion of antigens and antibodies in an agar medium have been applied to several strains of influenza virus.

When either rabbit hyper-immune or convalescent ferret sera were mixed with agar, introduced into small tubes and the virus preparations layered upon the solid mixture, bands of precipitate formed in the appropriate tubes. This phenomenon has been shown to be strain-specific and therefore was interpreted as being due to the union of virus antigens and corresponding antibodies.

The strain-specific lines of precipitate were also obtained when the virus antigens and antibodies were allowed to diffuse toward each other from depressions in agar contained by Petri dishes.
The Antigenic Variation of Influenza B Viruses. Demonstration of an Antigenic Spectrum by Use of Titer Ratios
Authors: Jordan William S. , Gaylin Sheldon G.
Published: January 2023

Soon after the identification of influenza B virus in 1940 (1, 2), B strains of different antigenic composition were described (3–5). When epidemic influenza B recurred in 1945–46, other antigenically different strains were isolated (6–9). Most of the new strains were but distantly related to the original Lee strain and the possibility existed that mouse passage had altered the antigenic pattern of the Lee virus (8). In general, strains recovered from the same epidemic (6, 7), or during the same year (8) showed similar antigenic behavior. But at least two antigenically distinct strains have been isolated from the same epidemic, one strain, passed only through eggs, being closely related to Lee (9).

The isolation of a number of new B strains in 1949–51 (10, 11) and the growing realization of the biologic significance of antigenic and other variations among influenza viruses (12, 13) prompted several studies of the antigenic relationships between various strains recovered since the first influenza B virus was described (14–17).
A Toxic Substance Associated with the Rickettsias of the Spotted Fever Group
Authors: Bell E. John , Pickens Edgar G.
Published: January 2023

A toxic substance was demonstrated in yolk sac cultures of ten strains of the spotted fever rickettsia which were selected according to their virulence for guinea pigs, tick-host species, or etiologic relationship to the various diseases of the spotted fever group. These strains included the agents of Rocky Mountain spotted fever, boutonneuse fever, South African tick bite fever and Indian tick typhus.

Three variables are shown to affect the production of the toxic factor in yolk sac cultures of R. rickettsii. These variables were (a) incubation of infected eggs after death of the embryo, (b) dose of inoculum used to initiate the egg cultures, and (c) the length of the time of survival of the embryo after inoculation.

The toxin of R. rickettsii was found to be specifically neutralized by serums of spotted fever convalescent individuals or experimental animals. It was also found to be neutralized by serums of human beings or guinea pigs following their injection with spotted fever tick vaccine.
Growth Curves of Coxsackie Viruses in Mice, including the Temporal Development of Complement Fixing Antigens
Authors: Contreras Guillermo , Melnick Joseph L.
Published: January 2023

The antigenically distinct Coxsackie (C) viruses, Conn.-5, Nancy and Ohio-1, multiply rapidly in the newborn mouse. Twelve hours after a small dose of virus is injected, virus is present to a titer of 10−6 or more. The yields of infective virus and complement fixation (C–F) antigen are higher when a large inoculation dose is used than when a small dose is given. Texas-1 and Easton-2 viruses have a comparatively slower rate of multiplication. Following the inoculation of a small dose of virus, about 36 hours is required to reach the same infective titer that Nancy virus attains in 12 hours. However the virus titers ultimately reached are about the same as for Conn.-5, Nancy and Ohio-1 viruses, and the C–F antigen titers are higher, regardless of the amount of virus inoculated. The decreasing susceptibility after birth of the mouse within the first week of life is most marked for Ohio-1, less so for Conn.-5 and Easton-2, and not significant for Texas-1, as measured by lengthening of the incubation period and yield of C–F antigen. Methods by which satisfactory C–F antigens may be obtained for several C viruses are described. Conn.-5 and Easton-2 viruses grow readily on the presence of each other.
A Consideration of the Components Concerned in the Conglutinating Activities of Certain Complements
Authors: Rice Christine E.
Published: January 2023

Experimental data are examined which seem to indicate that four major components were involved in the conglutinating activity of horse and pig complements. As with those making up the hemolytic complex, two were heat-labile, two were heat-stable, one of the latter inactivated by zymosan, the other by hydrazine or ammonia. Larger amounts of hydrazine or ammonia were required to inactivate the conglutinative activities of horse and bovine complements than their hemolytic properties for sensitized rabbit red cells. The question of whether there are a “hemolytic” and a “conglutinative” C′4 as suggested by Blomfield is discussed.
Dextran—An Antigen in Man
Authors: Kabat Elvin A. , Berg Deborah
Published: January 2023

Native and clinical dextrans derived from strains of microorganisms synthesizing products with different ratios of 1:6 to non 1:6 linkages have been found to be antigenic in man. Three weeks after injection of 1 mg of dextran, precipitins and cutaneous sensitivities of the wheal and erythema type develop. The antigenicity of dextran in man, its occurrence in commercial sugar and its elaboration by microorganisms in the gastrointestinal tract appear to provide an explanation for the occurrence of systemic allergic reactions in man on infusion of dextran and for the occurrence of small quantities of antidextran and of cutaneous sensitivity in individuals not previously injected with dextran. The precipitin reaction between dextran and antidextran is of the usual type. Differences in the behavior of various antisera with native and clinical dextran have been interpreted in terms of the structural similarities and differences among the preparations.
Action of Mustards on Interfering, Hemagglutinating and Eluting Capacities of Influenza a (PR8) Virus
Authors: Fong Jacob , Blum Baruch
Published: January 2023

Discussion and Summary

The present investigations of the action of sulfur mustard and the chloroethylamine derivatives upon influenza A (PR8) virus have demonstrated that 5 × 10-3 M cyclo or chloro mustard caused a partial destruction of the interfering capacity of virus but did not greatly affect the hemagglutination-elution mechanism. Two earlier reports (5, 6) have shown that exposure of virus to 5 × 10-3 M mustards resulted in complete loss of viral infectivity and toxicity but little destruction of viral antigenicity. It was also observed that the extent of inactivation of viral infectivity and toxicity was a function of the concentration of mustard, and that for a given concentration of chemical, the loss of viral infectivity exceeded that of viral toxicity (5). These observations indicate that the order of loss of viral properties upon exposure of influenza virus to mustards is similar to that reported by the Henles (8, 9) for increasing doses of irradiation, namely: infectivity, toxicity, interfering capacity, hemagglutination-elution and antigenicity, in order of increasing resistance.
The Growth Curve of the Virus of Herpes Simplex on the Chorioallantoic Membrane of the Embryonated Hen's Egg
Authors: McNair Scott T. F. , Coriell L. L. , Blank H. , Gray Alan , Kaneda B. , Schermerhorn L. , Rawson Sara
Published: January 2023

An estimate of the accuracy of methods of titration of the herpes simplex virus on the CAM has been given. The pattern of growth of the herpes virus on the CAM has been described, and its similarity to the patterns of other animal viruses studied has been indicated.

Initial adsorption of virus onto the CAM occurs very rapidly, 99% or more occurring within 1 hour, with most of it within 10–15 minutes. Following this there is a continued decrease in residual seed virus at a slower rate for the next 7 hours.

The latent period varies in length (from 4–12 hours) inversely with the number of infectious units in the inoculum. During this period there is no detectable evidence of infectious virus in the host cells.

Following the latent period infectious virus becomes again detectable and increases at the rate of 10 fold every 2 hours for the next 10 hours. Following this, the rate levels off for another 6 hours, then rises again slowly.

For the first 12–18 hours of the incremental period more virus is obtained from within the membranes than can be demonstrated as having escaped from the infected cells. After this period, virus formation within the cells appears to come into equilibrium with the escape of virus from the cells.

No evidence of complement-fixing activity was found before the demonstration of infectious virus in high titer.
The Preparation and Properties of Cold Hemagglutinin
Authors: Gordon Robert S.
Published: January 2023

Three methods of preparing cold agglutinin from sera are described. The most concentrated material so obtained was studied electrophoretically, and ultracentrifugally, and the sedimentation constant, electrophoretic mobility, and approximate isoelectric points are given. Quantitative studies of the reaction of cold agglutinin with erythrocyte stromata are presented. An immunochemical study demonstrates that cold agglutinin is not identical with normal serum gamma globulin.
Quantitative Determination of Hemagglutinins for Normal and Trypsinized Human Red Blood Cells
Authors: Winn Henry J. , Dodd Matt. C. , Wright Claude-Starr
Published: January 2023

Erythrocyte stromata have been prepared by a variety of methods for use in quantitative determination of hemagglutinins for normal and trypsinized cells. The relative merit of the various methods has been discussed and a procedure for the preparation of a suitable antigen has been elaborated.

The course of agglutination as a function of the amount of normal stromata N added has been followed in rabbit anti-normal erythrocyte sera and in rabbit anti-trypsinized erythrocyte sera at pH 7.4 It has been noted that stromata are partially soluble at this pH.

The solubility of erythrocyte stromata has been determined in saline and in normal rabbit serum at various hydrogen ion concentrations and has been shown to be minimal at pH 5.5.

Quantitative estimation of total antibody for normal and trypsin treated cells has been carried out in both homologous and heterologous antisera at pH 5.5, and a moderately high degree of precision has been realized.

Results obtained by quantitative methods parallel those obtained in routine absorption studies, and offer strong support for the original contention that there are antigenic differences between normal and trypsin treated cells.

It has been suggested that incomplete antibodies in rabbit antiserum to human red cells agglutinate trypsinized cells because of the capacity to act as divalent molecules in reactions with such cells. Serologic similarities between these systems and those found in human sera in certain types of hemolytic anemia suggest a similar explanation for the incomplete antibody present.
Multiplication of Coxsackie Virus in Adult Mice Exposed to Roentgen Radiation
Authors: Cheever F. S.
Published: January 2023

Swiss white mice weighing 10 to 12 g were exposed to whole body roentgen radiation 24 to 120 hours before the intraperitoneal inoculation of the Powers strain of Coxsackie virus. Nonirradiated control mice were injected with virus at the same time. At regular intervals thereafter mice from each group were sacrificed and the viral content of selected organs determined.

In general, virus could be demonstrated over a longer period of time in the organs of the irradiated mice as compared to the controls, and with rare exceptions the former yielded a consistently higher viral titer. When the amount of X-radiation was varied higher concentrations of virus were demonstrated in the organs of mice receiving greater exposure. In contrast to these findings the increase in mortality rates among the irradiated mice was irregular and at best moderate. Irradiation of mice 48 hours after inoculation of the virus was not followed by a demonstrable increase in either virus yield or mortality rate as compared to non-irradiated control animals.
Precipitin Production in Chickens
Authors: Makinodan Takashi , Ruth Royal F. , Wolfe Harold R.
Published: January 2023

An attempt has been made to identify the cell types involved in antibody production. Histological and nucleic acid determinations were made upon the spleen and serological determinations upon the serum of chickens injected intravenously with crystalline beef serum albumin. The following results were obtained in the spleen following injection of antigen: The wet and dry spleen weights increased to maximums on the 3rd day. The hemoglobin concentration was not increased on the 3rd day. The concentration of DNA decreased to a minimum on the 2nd day. The concentration of PNA increased to a maximum on the 3rd day. The total amount of DNA per spleen increased to a maximum on the 3rd day. The total amount of PNA per spleen increased to a maximum on the 4th day. The numbers of reticular cells, prolymphocytes, and lymphocytes decreased to minimums on the 4th, 2nd, and 3rd days respectively. The numbers of blast cells and proplasmacytes increased to maximums on the 3rd day, and the number of plasmacytes increased to a maximum on the 4th day. Antibody first appeared on the 4th day and reached its peak on the 8th day. The changes in the cell population of the spleen were reflected in peripheral blood smears. Unusual pycnotic and highly vacuolated plasmacytic cells appeared in both the spleen and the peripheral blood smears. The sequence of changes in spleen weight, DNA and PNA concentrations and contents, plasma cell proliferation, and serum antibody concentration strongly suggest that the cells of the plasmacytic series are involved in the synthesis of antibody protein.
The Action of Fat-Acids on Trichomonas Vaginalis
Authors: Frank Henry G. , Reiner L.
Published: January 2023

In studying the in vitro action of over 100 compounds on the motility of trichomonads, MacDonald and Tatum (1) observed that anionic, as well as cationic, surface-active agents are effective in immobilizing and disintegrating this organism. In view of the close chemical relationship between fat-acids and synthetic anionic surface-active agents, it seemed of interest to compare their activity on trichomonads. Trussell and Johnson (2) studied the trichomonacidal effects of various acids including a few fat-acids. Though these workers were conscious of the fact that variation of the hydrogen-ion concentration affects the viability of trichomonads and that it also may affect the action of acids on this organism, they made no efforts to control the pH value of their test-mixtures. Since the trichomonacidal concentrations of acids were determined by these workers at different pH values ranging from 4.1 to 6.3, comparison of the activity of fat-acids with each other and with that of surface-active agents at close to neutral pH value is impossible.
Tissue Culture Studies of Venezuelan Equine Encephalomyelitis Virus
Authors: Gajdusek D. Carleton , Anslow Ralph O. , Hubbell Elizabeth J. , Yager Robert H.
Published: January 2023

VEE virus, classified as a neurotropic agent, will survive and multiply in human uterine tissue fragments.

The virus has been carried through 15 subcultures in human uterine tissue and has retained its pathogenicity for mice by intracerebral inoculation. This represents a total dilution factor of the original virus of at least 10−43.

Tissue culture flasks as here used are not as sensitive an indicator of virus infectivity as is the intracerebrally inoculated mouse.

The tissue fragments in such cultures contain considerably more virus than the supernatant fluids.
Inherent Immunizability to Tetanus Toxoid, Based on Studies in Pure Inbred Mice
Authors: Ipsen Johannes
Published: January 2023

Ten inbred mouse strains from Roscoe B. Jackson Memorial Laboratories were tested for immunity to tetanus toxin after treatment with graded doses of alum-precipitated tetanus toxoid. Some strains required about 0.005 ml toxoid to obtain a given immunity in 14 days, while other strains required a dose of toxoid 10 to 30-fold higher. The former are characterized as having high immunizability, the latter group as having low immunizability. All ten strains required the same median lethal dose of tetanus toxin when not immunized. It is concluded that susceptibility to toxin is distinct from immunizability.
Neutralizing Antibodies Against Certain Viruses in the Sera of Residents of India
Authors: Smithburn K. C. , Kerr J. A. , Gatne P. B.
Published: January 2023

Blood samples obtained from indigenous residents of 38 localities in 6 states in India have been tested for neutralizing antibody against each of 15 different viruses known or believed to be arthropod borne.

All tests with yellow fever, Bwamba fever, and Bunyamwera viruses were negative. A small number of sera were found which neutralized Ilhéus or Semliki Forest viruses, but neither of these agents appears to be of much importance in the localities sampled.

Six of 211 sera neutralized St. Louis encephalitis virus. The same sera also neutralized West Nile virus. The interpretation of this result is not attempted.

Antibodies against dengue types 1 and 2 and West Nile viruses were found in sera from residents of many localities; in some localities the incidence of protection was quite high. Significant numbers of the sera neutralized Zika, Uganda S, Nitaya, Japanese B, or Murray Valley virus. Six of 26 sera from donors living in the Sorath district of Saurashtra were protective against Russian spring-summer encephalitis virus.

The question of possible group-specific reactions is discussed.
Isolation of a Cytopathogenic Agent from an Infant with a Disease in Certain Respects Resembling Roseola Infantum
Authors: Neva Franklin A. , Enders John F. , Chang Yinette
Published: January 2023

An agent cytopathogenic in tissue cultures for cells of human origin was isolated from the feces of a 2 year old patient, R.S., with a 3 day febrile illness characterized by a skin eruption. Development of neutralizing and complement fixing antibodies reacting with the agent was demonstrated in the patient's convalescent serum. Preliminary serologic studies indicated that the agent isolated from patient R.S. and the group of cytopathogenic agents isolated from other patients with an epidemic exanthem illness were not related. The agent from R.S. characteristically induced a peculiar type of nuclear degeneration in roller cultures of human embryonic skin-muscle, foreskin, uterine and kidney tissues. Clinical features of the illness in patient R.S. suggest that the disease may have been roseola infantum.
Growth of Neurotropic Viruses in Extraneural Tissues
Authors: Smith Wayne M. , Evans C. A.
Published: January 2023

Evidence has been presented showing that MM and W. E. E. viruses can be propagated in roller tube tissue cultures of immature rhesus testes. Maximum titers of virus occurred at 48 hours in the case of MM virus and at 3 or 4 days with W. E. E. virus. Parallel titrations in mice and in tissue culture of medium from infected cultures, showed similar end-points with MM virus, but moderately dissimilar results with the virus of W. E. E. More of the latter virus was required to infect tissue cultures than to infect mice.

Differences between the type and severity of fibroblastic cytonecrosis in tissue cultures infected with MM and with W. E. E. viruses are briefly described. A moderate number of normal appearing cells remained in cultures infected with MM virus; in W. E. E. cultures all cells in the zone of outgrowth were degenerated. Normal cells could not be found after the infection had run its course.
A Factor of Complement Inactivated by Histamine or Ethylenediamine
Authors: Brumfield Helene P.
Published: January 2023

Either histamine or ethylenediamine inactivates a factor of guinea pig complement which is essential to immune hemolysis. Complement inactivated by these agents contains the four known hemolytic components. This factor (called C′6) is heat stable and present in the end piece of complement. These characteristics and the similarity of inactivating agents for C′6 and C′4 indicate a close relationship between these fractions. However, titrations of individual sera from seven mammalian species suggest that C′6 is an entity rather than a part of C′4. The ratio of C′6 to C′4 showed no quantitative relationship among the species.
Mannitol Negative Varieties of Shigella Flexneri Serotypes
Authors: Ewing W. H.
Published: January 2023

The results of biochemical and serological studies with cultures of mannitol negative Shigella flexneri 1b, 2a, 3, and 4a are reported. The results indicated that the mannitol negative variety previously referred to as the Saigon bacillus, S. saigonensis, B. rabaulensis, S. rio, etc., are S. flexneri 4a cultures. Hence, no special epithet nor special subserotype designation is needed for cultures of this serotype.

Mannitol negative varieties of S. flexneri 1b and 2a are described, apparently for the first time.

It was clear that none of the mannitol negative S. flexneri varieties had claim to separate status in a system of classification and that they should be looked upon as variants of the parent types.

Two types of modified form variation in S. flexneri cultures were studied and discussed. Form variation appeared to occur more frequently in S. flexneri 4a strains than in other S. flexneri serotypes.

The literature on the subject of mannitol negative varieties of S. flexneri was reviewed.
Experimental Studies in Trichomoniasis
Authors: Kelly Dorothy R. , Schumacher Alberta , Schnitzer R. J.
Published: January 2023

Intramuscular or intra-abdominal immunization of mice with live cultures of Trichomonas vaginalis produced marked protection against reinfection by both these routes, but the immunity against subcutaneous reinfection was much less pronounced. Immunization of mice by the subcutaneous route conferred immunity against the intramuscular, but not against subcutaneous or the intra-abdominal reinfection. The healing of the primary subcutaneous lesion was followed by a period of residual immunity of at least 4 weeks' but less than 7 weeks' duration.
Erythrocyte-Sensitizing Substances from Rickettsiae of the Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever Group
Authors: Chang R. Shih-Man , Murray Edward S. , Snyder John C.
Published: January 2023

Erythrocyte sensitizing substances, ESS, have been derived from ether extracted suspensions of yolk sac membranes infected with various members of the Rocky Mountain spotted fever group of rickettsiae. Tests on normal and immune sera indicate that the ESS from different strains are common to the entire RMSF group. A slight antigenic overlap between RMSF and typhus was ocassionally encountered in the ESS tests, but otherwise the typhus-ESS were clearly different from the RMSF-ESS. Antibodies to ESS of the RMSF group occurred regularly in human and rabbit convalescent sera, but not in guinea pig sera.

The ESS test has certain advantages over the complement fixation and the Weil-Felix tests.
Studies on the Mechanism of Inactivation of Human Complement by Plasmin and by Antigen-Antibody Aggregates
Authors: Lepow Irwin H. , Wurz Leona , Ratnoff Oscar D. , Pillemer Louis
Published: January 2023

The inactivation of C′2 and C′4 of human complement by streptokinase-activated plasmin and by antigen-antibody aggregates requires the presence of a factor which differs from plasminogen but which has all of the known properties of C′1. The similarity between this factor and C′1 is shown by the following data: Complete inactivation of the factor in normal serum heated at 56°C for 30 minutes; nearly complete inactivation at 52°C for 30 minutes.Nearly complete inactivation of the factor in Ca++-depleted serum heated at 37°C for 2 hours.Absence of the factor in R1; presence of the factor in R2, R3 and R4.Absence or marked depletion of the factor in serum treated with streptokinase or with immune aggregates.Correlation between C′1 titer and presence of the factor in heated R2 and in preliminary purification of R2.Absence of a correlation between the presence of the factor and the amount of plasminogen or plasmin in the system.

Ca++ potentiates the inactivation of C′2 and C′4 of human complement by streptokinase-activated plasmin and, to a lesser extent, by antigen-antibody aggregates. Ca++ spares the amount of factor (C′1) required for the inactivation of C′2 and C′4 at a given concentration of streptokinase or of antigen-antibody. At least in part, this sparing effect is attributable to the greater stability of the factor (C′1) in the presence of Ca++.

A method is described which is useful for the study of factor requirements for the inactivation of complement by plasmin and by antigen-antibody aggregates. The method employs R1 as substrate and as an incomplete enzyme system. The role of a given factor is determined by its ability to initiate or potentiate the inactivation of C′2 and C′4 in R1 in the presence of streptokinase or of antigen-antibody aggregates.

An interrelationship between the plasmin and antigen-antibody-complement systems is proposed in which it is postulated that the inactivation of C′2 and C′4 of human complement by plasmin and by antigen-antibody aggregates is the result of conversion of an enzyme precursor (C′1) to an active enzyme.
The Uptake of Radioactive Phosphorus by Mouse Lymph Nodes During Sensitization to a Foreign Protein
Authors: Pinkus Hermann , Albert S. , Johnson Ralph M.
Published: January 2023

Changes in weight, histologic structure, and uptake of radioactive phosphorus in the lymph nodes of mice were examined and correlated with precipitin titers in the blood serum following first and second injections of horse serum. The results of the study indicate that phosphorus turnover in lymph nodes of normal mice is intimately and specifically associated with immunization processes taking place in the animals.
Studies on the Propagation in Vitro of Poliomyelitis Viruses
Authors: Scherer William F.
Published: January 2023

The host cell population and the size of the virus inoculum were selected as variables in the propagation of viruses in mammalian cells in vitro, to learn the effect of each upon virus yield. As a model cultural system, strain HeLa cells and poliomyelitis viruses were employed since cells and virus can be readily and accurately quantitated. The yield of poliomyelitis virus, Type 1, 2 or 3 at the time of destruction of from 90 to 100 per cent of strain HeLa cells was determined by the population of host cells, and not by the size of the virus inoculum. The time required for total destruction of cells to occur was indirectly related to the quantity of virus in the inoculum; it was prolonged from 1.4 to 1.9 times by a reduction in the temperature of incubation from 36°C to 30°C even though equal quantities of virus were produced at each temperature. The yield of poliomyelitis virus, Type 1, 2 or 3, per strain HeLa cell was found upon calculation to range in these experiments from 1.7 to 3.4 log TCID50 (geometric mean, 2.5 log TCID50).
The Hemagglutinin of Western Equine Encephalitis Virus: Recovery, Properties and Use for Diagnosis
Authors: Chanock Robert M. , Sabin Albert B.
Published: January 2023

A specific hemagglutinin for chick erythrocytes was recovered for the first time from 2 recently isolated strains of WEE virus, but could not be demonstrated for a well-established laboratory-adapted strain. The hemagglutinin was no longer demonstrable after the freshly isolated virus had undergone more than 6 consecutive intracerebral passages in mice. The potency of hemagglutinin in the supernatant fluids of centrifuged brain suspensions increased with storage at 4 C, maximal titers requiring 1 to 7 days for development.

The reaction between WEE hemagglutinin and erythrocytes from newly hatched chicks was maximal at pH 6.1, weak at pH 6.0, 6.2, and 6.3, and absent at pH 5.9 and 6.4 at room temperature. When the mixtures were reshaken at 10 and 30 minutes, a 2- to 4-fold increase in hemagglutinin titer resulted. While the receptors for this hemagglutinin were uniformly present on the erythrocytes of newborn chicks, they occurred irregularly on the erythrocytes of adult chickens and sheep. No receptor-destroying enzyme was associated with WEE hemagglutinin and the union between the hemagglutinin and red cells was much firmer than was the case with SLE, Jap B, and West Nile hemagglutinins, since resuspension of erythrocytes agglutinated by the WEE hemagglutinin did not reverse the reaction.

WEE hemagglutinin was rapidly destroyed at pH 6.1, the pH for reaction with the erythrocyte, but not at pH 6.4 to 8.0. When hemagglutinin was stored at pH 8.0 at 4 C or -70 C no loss in potency was detected over a 7-month period.

The normal serum inhibitor for the WEE hemagglutinin was absent from the protein fraction of human serum precipitated by acetone. In rabbit serum a small amount of normal inhibitor was still detectable in the acetone-precipitated fraction. Hemagglutination-inhibition tests with the acute and convalescent phase serum specimens from 7 patients who suffered from encephalitis due to western equine virus yielded distinct and specific diagnostic results.
Studies on Immunity in Anthrax
Authors: Wright George G. , Green Thomas W. , Kanode Ralph G.
Published: January 2023

Methods have been presented for alum-precipitation of the protective antigen of Bacillus anthracis. The product induced effective immunity in rabbits, guinea pigs, and monkeys. Significant immunity persisted for more than three months in rabbits and for more than 14 months in monkeys. Immunity in monkeys was effective against both intracutaneous and respiratory challenge. Alum-precipitated antigen deteriorated slowly when stored at 4°C, but considerable potency remained after storage for approximately two years. The product was devoid of toxicity when tested in mice, guinea pigs, rabbits, and monkeys. Injection of the antigen into man was well tolerated; no serious reactions were encountered and moderate local reactions were infrequent.
The Immunologist and the Evil Spirits
Authors: Magill Thomas P.
Published: January 2023

One of the Association's few requirements of the president is acceptance of the honor of addressing its members at the annual meeting. Selection of the topic of discussion, which is left to the discretion of the speaker, is difficult because of the varied interests of the group. Moreover, the choice of topics appears to be limited because it is the consensus of most interested persons that infections, for all practical purposes, have been eliminated. It is conceded, perhaps, that a few things of academic interest remain to be done, such as synthesis, by the chemists, of antibodies, and ferreting-out, by combined activities of chemists and mycologists, of Ehrlich's “therapia sterilisans magna.” But it is generally assumed that the chief problems have been solved. Those obvious conclusions, however, are orderly deductions by well informed minds. The honor of addressing the Association this year falls to one with a simple mind.
Inactivation of Tobacco Mosaic Virus by Rabbit Antiserum
Authors: Rappaport Irving , Siegel Albert
Published: January 2023

Quantitative precipitin analysis of rabbit antiserum to TMV revealed antibody-antigen ratios which plotted as a curve, and suggested a ten-fold change in R from 0.2 at equivalence to 2.0 in extreme antibody excess. An explanation was offered for this large ratio change in which it was assumed that all of the antigenic sites on the virus particle were not satisfied in antibody excess, because of steric hindrance in the precipitates.

The virus was shown to be specifically and rapidly inactivated by antibody. Through the serum dilution range examined, specific inactivation was a function of the antibody-antigen ratio. Virus aggregation occurred, but accounted for little or none of the reduced lesion count. The extent of aggregation, at any one ratio, was a function of the total concentration of the reactants. Virus-antibody aggregates were infectious if they contained one or more viable particles. The inactivation data together with the UV multiplicity studies further suggested the possibility that only a minute fraction of the total viral population was infectious.

An hypothesis, based on the interpretation of the quantitative precipitin reaction, was presented to explain the inactivation results. It was assumed that the same conditions for steric hindrance which operated in the precipitin reaction were encountered during inactivation to prevent an antibody from combining at a specific virus site necessary to initiate a lesion.
Analysis of Pox-Virus Antigens by Means of Double Diffusion
Authors: Gispen R.
Published: January 2023

Technics of double diffusion in tubes with an agar gel have been applied to the study of various pox-virus antigens. The diffusion pattern of vaccinia antigen against standard vaccinia serum is composed of 3 to 6 zones of specific precipitation on different levels. Two of the corresponding fractions (I and III), which are distinctly precipitated, should be considered as major fractions. The other, more faintly precipitated minor fractions, were not always present (2, 2′, 4 and 5). Elementary bodies play no role in this precipitation. There is no essential difference between the patterns of vaccinia, neurovaccinia, rabbit-pox, smallpox and alastrim diffusing against standard vaccinia serum. Only the minor fraction 2 of a vaccinia suspension could be distinguished from the minor fraction 2′ of an alastrim suspension by mixing the suspensions of the two strains (differential test). As higher concentrated vaccinia suspensions may show both 2 and 2′ fractions, this is not a point of differentiation.

The major precipitation zone I is lacking in the diffusion patterns of the seven cowpox strains and the ectromelia strain. Cross tests, however, show that cowpox possesses a fraction (I) with the same diffusion properties as fraction I of vaccinia, but distinguished by a more limited reactivity in vitro; whereas fraction I of vaccinia is precipitated by vaccinia and cowpox serum, fraction (I) of cowpox is only faintly precipitable with cowpox serum and not at all with vaccinia serum.

A simple serological method of differentiation between cowpox and vaccinia based on this point of distinction has been described.
Immunoelectrophoretic Studies on Serum Proteins
Authors: Williams Curtis A. , Grabar Pierre
Published: January 2023

The immunoelectrophoretic method has permitted the definition of a large number of human serum antigens. At least 16 of the more important constituents have been detected with a hyperimmune horse serum. The complete spectrum of serum antigens with any given serum, however, must be obtained by varying the relative concentrations of human serum and the homologous antiserum. Not only can the various constituents be placed in the principal electrophoretic groups characteristic of serum, but their individual mobilities can be determined with remarkable reproducibility. There is only slight variation from one normal serum to another, most frequently in the patterns of the α-2 globulins. Special attention is called to a component of high mobility, well in advance of albumin. This constituent has been named ρ (rho = rapid). Another antigen, component-X, with the same mobility as albumin, is of some interest inasmuch as it is not contained in ethanol preparations of serum albumin. Among the α and β globulins multiplicity is most striking. At least two α-1 globulins, five α-2, four β-1, and at least one β-2 have been detected. The heterogeneity of the albumin is still under investigation. Evidence to date would indicate that the γ globulin, far from being homogeneous, is a group or family of antigenically related, but chemically, physically and biologically different proteins. The immunoelectrophoretic method is demonstrated to be of value to the study of normal antigen mixtures and of pathological and other modifications of these antigens. It is concluded also to be of particular interest for the control of fractionation of such mixtures.
Passive Cellular Transfer of Hypersensitivity to Serum Antigens in Rabbits
Authors: Tremaine Mary M. , Jeter W. S.
Published: January 2023

Passive cellular transfer of hypersensitivity to serum antigens from donors sensitized to the point of typical Arthus reactions has been demonstrated. The reactions in passively sensitive animals appeared about 5 hours after testing and increased to a maximum in 18 to 24 hours. Injection of cells into recipients by intravenous, intraperitoneal, subcutaneous or intracutaneous routes resulted in positive transfer. Successful transfer after multiple washing and determinations of nitrogen and antibody values on washings does not support the concept that transfer was due to mechanical carry-over of circulating antibody. Cutaneous reactivity in recipients could be demonstrated within a few hours after transfer and increased to a maximum between 2 and 5 days. Circulating antibody could not be demonstrated in the sera of recipients by either precipitin test or sensitization of guinea pigs for anaphylactic shock.
An Immunogenic Antigen of Low Toxicity Derived from Shigella Sonnei
Authors: Johnson Richard B.
Published: January 2023

A purified antigen was derived from Shigella sonnei by diethylene glycol extraction.

It exhibited the chemical properties of a carbohydrate-lipid-complex but displayed a low toxicity with an LD50 in mice greater than 10 mg. It showed good immunogenic capacity in mice.
Micromethods for the Study of Proteins and Antibodies
Authors: Stavitsky Abram B. , Arquilla Edward R.
Published: January 2023

The procedures for and applications of the hemagglutination and inhibition reactions with bis-diazotized benzidine-protein conjugated cells have been described. These include special features which influence their applicability, the relative sensitivity of the tannic acid, BDB, and Coombs' methods, and recently discovered general applications. The latter include the estimation of concentrations of proteins in complex mixtures in tissue extracts and serum and the precise measurement of proteins by conversion of hemagglutination to a hemolytic reaction. It was concluded that for most purposes the hemagglutination reaction with tannic acidprotein cells was preferable to that with BDB cells. The major exception was that of systems in which the tannic acid method yielded non-specifically agglutinable cells.
The Interaction of Bwamba Virus with Homologous Immune Serum
Authors: Black Francis L. , Clarke Delphine H.
Published: January 2023

A study has been made of the conditions governing the reactions of Bwamba fever virus with homologous immune serum. The neutralization reaction was found irreversible. Treatment of immune serum with virus was not found to reduce the neutralizing titer, but treatment with particulate C-F antigen did lower the specific complement fixing power of the serum. When dilute serum was used the process of neutralization was found to continue over a period of several hours. The rate of this process varied with the temperature, but was largely independent of heat labile complement and divalent cations. A fraction of virus that was more slowly neutralized than the remainder could be removed from suspension by centrifugation at moderate speed.
Effect of Estrogen and Cortisone on Immune Hemoantibodies in Mice of Inbred Strains
Authors: Stern Kurt , Davidsohn Israel
Published: January 2023

Estrogen was found to enhance significantly the production of immune hemolysin for sheep red cells in C57BL mice, whereas in C3H mice a moderate inhibition of hemolysin titers was noted in estrogen-treated animals. Cortisone was much more effective in depressing antibody titers for sheep red cells in mice of strain C3H than in those of strain C57BL. Normal, untreated C57BL females showed significantly higher hemolysin titers than did C57BL males. On the other hand, no such difference was found in males and females of strain C3H. The implications of these findings were discussed in relation to the innate difference in immune response characterizing C57BL and C3H strains and in connection with the hormonal physiology of these strains. Some generalizations were made regarding the effect of hormones on immune responses.