bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Stability and Antigenicity of Staphylococcic Toxoid
Authors: Kitching J. S. , Farrell L. N.
Published: January 2023

Summary and Conclusions

Staphylococcic toxoid is a stable product under suitable in vitro conditions. Dilution does not affect its stability.

Dilution of staphylococcic toxoid enhances its antigenicity by the intravenous route of administration. When given subcutaneously the diluted material does not appear to be a better antigen but, at least, it is as effective as unmodified toxoid in evoking antitoxic response in rabbits.

The antigenic in vivo response to toxoid roughly parallels the in vitro potency in terms of antitoxic binding units.

The addition of varying amounts of formalin to staphylococcic toxin, with subsequent incubation at 37°C., influences the rate of detoxication and loss of antitoxic binding power of the product. Between limits of 0.05 and 1 per cent formalin, the rate of detoxication was inversely proportional to the amount of formalin added, detoxication being complete within 24 hours in the case of those preparations containing 0.5 and 1 per cent formalin respectively. With lesser amounts of added formalin, detoxication was proportionately delayed. The more rapid the detoxication the smaller was the drop in potency in terms of antitoxic binding units and antigenic response in rabbits.
Complementing Activity and Ascorbic Acid Content of Guinea-Pig Serums Following Ether Anesthesia
Authors: Ecker E. E. , Pillemer L. , Wertheimer D.
Published: January 2023

In normal guinea pigs no marked changes in complement titers were observed following ether anesthesia for 30 minutes. However, a definite rise in blood serum ascorbic acid was noted after ether anesthesia.

The serums of animals fed a vitamin C deficient diet for 14 days and then etherized showed a slight rise in ascorbic acid content and a distinct improvement in the initial complement titers. No marked increase of ascorbic acid in the serum occurred after ether anesthesia. It is believed that this was due to the depletion of the ascorbic acid content of their tissues. In a final experiment on guinea pigs fed for 30 days on a scorbutigenic diet, a marked improvement in the complementing titers took place. It was technically impossible to secure accurate figures of the ascorbic acid content of the serum of these animals. In the case of normal rabbits and rats, which synthesize their own ascorbic acid, on change in complement titers was noticed after etherization.
On the Bacteriolysis by Lysozyme
Authors: Boasson E. H.
Published: January 2023

The bacteriolysis by lysozyme was studied by measuring the light-absorption of a lysing suspension, with a Moll-extinctiometer. In addition to a morphological study, this procedure was applied to the determination of lysozyme, which could be made within 5 per cent, and to a study of the influence of pH and electrolytes. The optimal pH was found to be about 6.2. The optimum is caused by an interaction of two factors: at lower pH's the action of lysozyme increases, but below pH 6.2 the visible lysis is inhibited. The same is the case in distilled water, where a phenomenon, analogous to Nakamura's alkali-phenomenon was found. High concentrations of electrolytes inhibit the primary reaction, adsorption of lysozyme. In this respect the valency of the ions is predominant. Some general remarks are made on the importance of electrostatic forces in similar reactions.
A Supplementary Report on the Importance of Clostridium Welchii as an Etiologic Factor in the Toxemia of Spreading Peritonitis Following Acute Perforative Appendicitis
Authors: Mengle Harold A. , Paxson N. F. , Bower John O.
Published: January 2023

Of the 20 dogs which were immunized and operated on as described, 13 lived and 7 died, a mortality of 35 per cent. This mortality may be compared with a control mortality previously established in earlier investigations, of over 91 per cent. The complete details are shown in table 2. While our series of animals is not so large as could be desired, yet the marked drop in mortality in this group as compared with the control group leads one to believe that the toxemia accompanying spreading peritonitis may be largely produced by the toxin of Clostridium welchii.
The Blood Groups of the Rwala Bedouin
Authors: Boyd William C. , Boyd Lyle G.
Published: January 2023

Blood-group frequencies among the Bedouin in the Syrian desert are presented. Group B was more, group A somewhat less, common than in the settled populations of Syria. Type N was strikingly infrequent.
Quantitative Studies of the Reaction of Complement Fixation with Syphilitic Serum and Tissue Extract
Authors: Wadsworth Augustus , Maltaner Frank , Maltaner Elizabeth
Published: January 2023

Titrations of complement under the conditions of the test for syphilis were made to determine the effect of the fixation period and of the different reagents, separately or in combination, upon the form of the curve representing the degree of hemolysis fifteen minutes after the addition of sensitized cells; the reaction-mixture was kept in a water bath at 37°C.

The form of the hemolytic curve was practically constant when relatively small amounts of complement were required for 50 per cent hemolysis and the concentration of serum constituents in the titration was not too low; it varied, however, when large amounts of complement were necessary for 50 per cent hemolysis. In titrations made in the presence of tissue-extract and of serum from patients with syphilis the form of the hemolytic curve varied with the concentrations of complement and of the antigen.

Under all the different conditions of these comparative titrations the experimental data could be closely approximated by the alternation formula of von Krogh with suitable constants. This furnished a means of interpolation for the 50 per cent hemolysis point. Linear interpolation may be used if log X is plotted against log , where X is the concentration of complement and Y is the degree of hemolysis.

In titrations of complement in the presence of antigen and of serum from persons with syphilis there was a linear relation between the amounts of complement and of serum required for 50 per cent hemolysis when the proper amounts of antigen were provided to yield the maximal reactions with the given quantities of serum, as well as between the quantities of complement and of antigen necessary for 50 per cent hemolysis when sufficient serum was used to yield the maximal reaction with the given quantities of antigen.

When antigen is present in too great an excess, the intensity of the reaction diminishes and may even disappear completely; but, with a considerable excess of serum, the reaction appears not to change appreciably; that is, does not diminish.

The relationships observed in these studies between serum and complement and between antigen and complement constitute a fundamental basis for the quantitative determination of the reaction.
Studies of Staphylococcal Toxin
Authors: Levine B. S.
Published: January 2023

The term adsorption is frequently encountered in the literature in connection with discussions concerning the reaction taking place between biotoxins and tissue-cells and between toxins and antitoxins. Regarding the reaction occurring between staphylohemolysin and red blood cells, Forssman (1) stated that as a rule no adsorption of the lysin by the sensitive cells takes place. He remarked further that instances in which adsorption was seemingly observed by him have no significant bearing upon the nature of the process of staphylohemolysis. However, no record is found in the literature of attempts to formulate the quantitative relationship between staphylococcal toxin and red blood cells in terms of an equation.

In order to determine the course of partial staphylotoxin-neutralization by the corresponding antitoxin, Burnet (2) carried out a number of preliminary experiments to establish the relationship between the amount of free toxin and the degree of hemolysis produced.
Group-Specific Agglutinins in Rabbit Serums for Human Cells
Authors: Battey Shirley , Stuart C. A. , Wheeler K. M.
Published: January 2023

All rabbits possessing normal group-specific β agglutinins produced immune group-specific β agglutinins. About two-thirds of the animals lacking normal agglutinins produced specific β agglutinins upon immunization.

The B1 antigen could not be demonstrated in the tissues, blood cells, or serum of rabbits incapable of producing group-specific β agglutinins.
Quantitative Studies of the Reaction of Complement Fixation with Tuberculous Immune Serum and Antigen
Authors: Wadsworth Augustus , Maltaner Frank , Maltaner Elizabeth
Published: January 2023

Summary and Conclusions

Studies of the fixation of complement by tubercle antigen and immune serum have been extended to include observations with more widely varying quantities of each reagent.

In experiments covering a wide range of concentration of complement, there was a linear relation, on the one hand, between complement and immune serum when antigen was present in sufficient amount to give the maximal reaction obtainable with the quantities of serum tested and, on the other hand, between antigen and complement when immune serum was present in sufficient amount to give the maximal reaction with quantities of antigen tested.

By determining the ratios of the slopes of the straight-line graphs representing these relationships, constant values for the specific reactive capacity of antigen with immune serum were obtained.

The normal horse serum used in diluting the immune serum had no appreciable effect upon the results.

Comparisons of complement activity were made in relation to the point of 50 per cent hemolysis because the form of the hemolytic curve may vary with experimental conditions which necessitate different volumes of complement, without, however, appreciably affecting the region near 50 per cent hemolysis. The 50 per cent point may be determined by interpolation.

These quantitative studies provide a basis for the accurate determination of the activity of immune serum and antigen in relation to each other and to complement and appear to be applicable both to experimental studies of the reactions of immune sera and antigens and to the development of practical tests for the diagnosis of disease.
The Absorption of Pneumococcal Antibody after Intramuscular Injection of Antipneumococcal Horse and Rabbit Serums
Authors: Finland Maxwell , Brown John W.
Published: January 2023

Summary and Conclusions

Type I pneumococcal antibody, contained in horse or rabbit serum, when injected intramuscularly in non-pneumonic human subjects, is absorbed into the circulation. Increasing titers of antibodies can be demonstrated in the recipient's serum during the first 48 hours, and sometimes longer, after such injections. The titers attained at 48 hours after the intramuscular injections are similar to those demonstrated at a similar interval after the intravenous injection of the same material.

After intramuscular injection, type I antibody contained in unconcentrated rabbit serum is absorbed more rapidly, higher maximal titers are reached and high titers are maintained longer than when equivalent amounts of antibody contained in concentrated horse serum are given in the same manner. Even after intravenous injection, the type I antibody appeared to be eliminated more slowly when rabbit serum was used.

Absorption after intramuscular injection of type V antibody contained in a concentrated rabbit serum and in a concentrated horse serum was also compared. The type V rabbit serum produced moderate local inflammatory reactions in the recipients and absorption in them was delayed as compared with the recipients of horse-serum.

Positive immediate cutaneous reactions to type V SSS were induced in occasional non-pneumonic subjects, after the intramuscular injection of homologous antibody contained in either horse or rabbit serum.
The Spread of Tubercle Bacilli in the Bodies of Sensitized and Immunized Animals
Authors: Freund Jules , Angevine D. Murray
Published: January 2023

Willis (1) studied the passage of tubercle bacilli from the skin to the regional lymph nodes of normal and previously infected guinea pigs and found that their spread was greatly retarded in the reinfected animals. He demonstrated the presence or absence of tubercle bacilli by simultaneous excision of the skin and lymph nodes and inoculation into other guinea pigs. Freund (2) later found a similar delay in the dissemination of living tubercle bacilli in guinea pigs previously injected with killed tubercle bacilli. He used cultural methods for the estimation of the number of tubercle bacilli in the tissues. His observations were recently confirmed by Saenz (3).

The question arises whether the retardation of spread of tubercle bacilli in the immunized animals is due to the local destruction of the organisms or to fixation at the site of injection. In the experiments of Freund and of Saenz, the skin at the site of injection was not examined.
Serological Studies of the Reptilia
Authors: Bond Glenn C. , Sherwood Noble P.
Published: January 2023

The hemolytic property of fresh normal animal sera for heterologous red cells has been demonstrated many times. This action is usually explained as being due to the interaction of a naturally occurring sensitizer and the complement of the fresh serum.

In previous work, it had been found that fresh snake serum is hemolytic for human erythrocytes. Subsequent work has shown that snake serum is also quite frequently hemolytic for sheep, guinea pig, and rabbit erythrocytes.

This hemolytic property of snake serum for heterologous erythrocytes of warm-blooded animals has been previously reported by Flexner and Noguchi (1), who also report that the venom of snakes does not cause hemolysis of erythrocytes since complement is lacking, but that this can be supplied by the addition of fresh snake serum.
A Simple and Inexpensive Apparatus for the Desiccation of Biological Materials from the Frozen State
Authors: Scherp Henry W. , Hughes Thomas P.
Published: January 2023

A simple and inexpensive apparatus is described for using chemical desiccants in the drying of biological materials from the frozen state.
A Study of Meningococcal Cultures from Horses Immunized against Meningococci
Authors: Cohen Sophia M.
Published: January 2023

Meningococci were isolated from eleven horses which developed endocarditis during immunization against several meningococcal strains of groups I-III and II. The cultures from ten horses were group I-III and those from eight of these animals resembled closely one of the stock strains used in immunization. The culture from the eleventh horse was mixed, but group-II microorganisms predominated. No changes occurred in the agglutinative or precipitative activities of cultures isolated repeatedly from individual horses. Of those tested, the cultures were, in general, of low virulence for mice, lacked well-defined capsules, and possessed a marked capacity to survive in sodium-chloride solutions.
The Disintegration of Bacteria by Mechanical Means
Authors: Forrester J. S. , Langner P. H.
Published: January 2023

A comparison has been made of bacterial filtrates prepared by mechanical disintegration by the low-temperature ball mill, and “sonic” oscillator on the one hand, and conventional heatkilled bacterial suspensions on the other. The standard for comparison has been intensity of intracutaneous reaction in skin-sensitive individuals. No significant differences in cutaneous reactivity have been observed in this small series when the total nitrogen of the injected material was used for a basis of quantitative standardization.
William Hallock Park
Authors: Ramon G.
Published: January 2023

On April 6th, 1939, William Hallock Park, one of the United States' most eminent and renowned scientists, died in New York at the age of seventy-five. For half a century his activity—and what activity!—accomplished magnificent results in the field of microbiology, particularly in experimental and applied immunology and applied hygiene.

After receiving the degree of Doctor of Medicine from Columbia University in 1886, William Park practiced as a specialist in nose and throat diseases. At the same time his research work on diphtheria attracted the attention of Dr. Biggs, then Professor of Bacteriology at New York University and in charge of a New York City Health Department laboratory. In 1894, at the instance of Dr. Biggs, Dr. Park was appointed head of the City Health Department's diagnostic laboratory for diphtheria. He soon became director of the Department's research laboratory.
The Rôle of Clasmatocytes in the Resistance of Rabbits to Infection with Pasteurella Lepiseptica
Authors: Webb Joseph F.
Published: January 2023

Mononuclear (clasmatocyte) accumulations, obtained by seventy-two hour pleural cavity preparation with aleuronat and starch, were definitely correlated with enhanced resistance of rabbits to intrapleural infection with Pasteurella lepiseptica. Polymorphonuclear accumulations, obtained by eighteen hour preparation of the pleural cavity with the same irritant, had slight effect on enhancing the resistance of rabbits to intrapleural infection with Pasteurella lepiseptica. Specific immune serum injected intrapleurally into normal rabbits together with an infecting dose of Pasteurella lepiseptica had a definite protective effect, but was not as effective as local mononuclear accumulations. Normal serum so applied appeared to be without protective effect. The passive intrapleural transfer of seventy-two hour pleural exudate, either alone or followed by immune serum given intravenously, failed to protect normal rabbits against approximately one hundred fatal doses of Pasteurella lepiseptica administered simultaneously. Following the intravenous injection of specific immune serum, in quantities alone unable to protect, the intrapleural administration of cell-suspensions from seventy-two hour exudates (clasmatocyte type) was superior to cell-suspensions from twenty-four hour exudates (polymorphonuclear type) in protecting normal rabbits against approximately one hundred fatal doses of Pasteurella lepiseptica given simultaneously.
Group-Specific Differentiation of the Organs of Man
Authors: Kosjakov P. N. , Tribulev G. P.
Published: January 2023

Landsteiner and Levine (1927) established that human erythrocytes possess type-specific biochemical differences in addition to the factors determinable by iso-agglutination. With the aid of sera obtained by immunizing rabbits with human erythrocytes, they succeeded in proving the presence of new, until then unknown, M and N antigens in the erythrocytes of man. Thus besides the differentiation into the O, A, B and AB groups a further subdivision into so-called types M, N and MN was introduced. The presence of the M- and N-antigens in the human erythrocytes could be established only with the aid of immune sera, since no natural isoantibodies anti-M and anti-N were found in the human organism.

The finding of the M- and N-factors in the erythrocytes served as the starting point for the further search of these factors in other cells of the human tissues and organs.
The Effect of Temperature and Drying Upon the M- and N-Factors of the Human Blood
Authors: Kosjakov P. N. , Tribulev G. P.
Published: January 2023

In a previous report (1) we evolved a method, establishing that cells of human liver, kidney, muscle and brain possess not only a group-specific but also a type-specific bio-chemical differentiation similar to that found in the erythrocytes.

The method which enabled us to prove convincingly the presence of M- and N-antigens in human tissues and organs, also permitted a study of their stability against various physicochemical influences. While the physico-chemical properties of the group A and B antigens could be considered sufficiently clarified, in the M- and N-factors these properties remain almost unknown.

By using the method of selective absorption, Boyd and Tayian (1935) found that boiling of human erythrocytes seemed to destroy the power of their M- and N-antigens to react specifically with corresponding antibodies. The influence of low temperature upon M and N has not been reported in literature available to us.
Chemical and Immunological Studies of the Pneumococcus
Authors: Brown Rachel
Published: January 2023

Summary and Conclusions

By the use of ultrafiltration and repeated fractional alcoholic precipitations in the cold in the presence of sodium acetate, highly purified preparations of the type specific substances have been obtained from broth-culture filtrates of pneumococci of types I through XXXII. Comparison of the nitrogen-, phosphorus-, and acetyl-content and of the optical rotations and relative viscosities of such materials with previously reported data indicates a similar degree of purification.

Types I, IV, V, XII, and XXV contained the largest amounts of nitrogen, about 5 per cent. Ten other type preparations probably represented nitrogen-free carbohydrates. Type I alone had an appreciable amount of amino nitrogen, 2 per cent, as noted by other workers (5). Significant amounts of phosphorus were found in some of the preparations, as much as 6 per cent in types XXVIII and XXXII. The acetyl-content was negligible in types III and VIII, but in other types it varied, reaching 15 and 16 per cent in types IV and XI. The optical rotation was greatest for type I and almost negligible for type XXIII preparations. Twenty-five of the type specific carbohydrates were dextrorotatory and seven were levorotatory. The type-III solution had the highest relative viscosity and type VIII the next. Nine of the preparations gave qualitative tests for uronic acids and 20 for amino sugars. Before hydrolysis only type V showed reducing properties which persisted under mild conditions. After hydrolysis all of the preparations reduced Fehling's solution. Ammonium sulfate and basic lead acetate were the most generally effective of all the precipitants examined. In the properties studied, the preparations of the specific carbohydrates of types VIa and VIb (XXVI) could not be differentiated; but types XV and XXX were slightly different.

All of the preparations precipitated homologous immune sera in dilutions as high as 1:4,096,000 or 1:8,192,000.
Biological Reactions of Malignant Neoplasms
Authors: Walker Ernest Linwood , Handman Marion Sweeney
Published: January 2023

Cultures of Salmonella typhi murium were separated into saline soluble and saline insoluble parts. From the saline soluble portion there were precipitated alcohol, acetic acid and ammonium sulfate insoluble fractions; and by evaporation an alcohol soluble fraction was recovered. In addition to these fractions the definite biologic compounds, polysaccharides, nucleoproteins and nucleic acid were separated from the cultures.

Preliminary tests by the Shwartzman phenomenon showed that all of these fractions are capable in proper combinations of eliciting reactions, and of acting either as preparatory or as intravenous provocative agents.

In the treatment of mice bearing sarcoma 180 only the nucleoprotein, the polysaccharides and fractions containing appreciable amounts of one or both of these substances were found capable of producing reaction in the tumors. Complete regression of this sarcoma treated with the more active fractions was obtained up to 100 per cent in individual experiments, with an average of 25 per cent in all experiments. Tumors affected but not completely destroyed by the same fractions averaged 74 per cent. It has been possible to affect total regression of sarcoma 180 in a maximum percentage with sublethal doses of the active fractions.

The reaction of the several strains of carcinoma to injections of active bacterial fractions was much less than that of sarcoma 180; few of the tumors underwent complete and permanent regression, but a considerable proportion of them showed hemorrhage, partial regression or regression followed by recurrence.

Our experimental results do not support the conception of a single, special bacterial substance active in the Shwartzman phenomenon and against malignant neoplasms; on the contrary, they locate these functions in the ordinary proteins and carbohydrates of the bacterial cell. This finding reconciles the conflicting results of previous attempts to separate the active substance.
The Time Factor in Solubility of Precipitates in Excess of Antigen
Authors: Boyd William C.
Published: January 2023

A number of workers have postulated an increasing firmness of union between antigen and antibody with the passage of time (cf. 13, 3). Burnet (2) found that the compound of staphylococcal toxin or toxoid with antitoxin became irreversible within five minutes, in the sense that addition of toxoid, for example, after that time no longer set any toxin free. In some cases the evidence for increasing firmness of union seems convincing; in others, as in the case of the experiments of Martin and Cherry (10), it is possible to think of other explanations for the results obtained (cf. 14).

Well founded or not, the conclusions based on such experiments have probably influenced opinion in regard to a similar but independent question, viz., the solubility of specific precipitates in excess antigen. It is well known that sufficient excess of antigen mixed with the specific antiserum will in practially all cases prevent precipitation (“inhibition zone”).
A Comparative Study of Antigens for the Gonococcal Complement Fixation Test
Authors: Torrey John C. , Montu Elizabeth
Published: January 2023

Of the four methods for producing gonococcal antigen for the complement fixation diagnostic test which have been compared, a “dissolved” antigen prepared by a modified Price method is recommended because of superior sensitivity, immediate availability and stability.

In view of our finding that strains of gonococcus vary greatly in anticomplementary property, in the sensitivity and breadth of valence exhibited by their protein fraction, the importance of careful selection of strains employed in the antigen is stressed. A Price-type antigen prepared with two strains selected in reference to the above attributes has given the best results in an extensive series of comparative tests.
Experimental Immunization of Mice with the Virus of Epidemic Influenza
Authors: Eaton Monroe D.
Published: January 2023

Mice were inoculated intraäbdominally with active or inactive influenza-virus and tested for immunity 14 days later with an intranasal dose between 1 and 10 MLD. The averaged results of a number of experiments show that the minimal immunizing dose of active virus of epidemic influenza (strain PR8) is approximately 250 intranasal MLD and of formolized inactive virus the equivalent of about 8000 intranasal MLD.

A similar result with active and inactive virus was obtained with the strains Melbourne and PR8 grown in chick-embryo tissue-culture.

The minimal immunizing dose of formolized virus-suspensions containing a small residuum of active virus is not appreciably greater than that of preparations containing no active virus except when the proportion of active virus exceeds 1 per cent of the total amount of virus.

Centrifugation at 27,500 rpm sediments the immunizing material from formolized suspensions as completely as the active virus from untreated suspensions.
Experimental Immunization of Mice with the Virus of Epidemic Influenza
Authors: Eaton Monroe D. , Beck M. Dorthy
Published: January 2023

Mice inoculated intranasally with mouse-adapted strains of influenza-virus develop immunity, within 14 days, only when rather severe lung-lesions have been produced. An inapparent infection with a mouse-passage strain does not result in immunity.

After intranasal inoculation with tissue-culture or ferret-passage strains of virus, mice may become immune to the homologous mouse-passage strain without having had visible lung-lesions as a result of the immunizing procedure.

With the ferret-passage strains 1/100,000 of an MLD suffices to produce immunity while with the mouse passage strains 1/10 to 1/100 of an MLD is required.

Per unit of infected tissue, mouse-passage strains are much more virulent for mice than are ferret-passage or tissue culture strains, but the former possess only a little more immunizing capacity by the intranasal route than ferret-passage or tissue-culture virus.
The Electrophoretic Analysis of Several Hyperimmune Horse Sera
Authors: van der Scheer J. , Wyckoff Ralph W. G. , Clarke Frank H.
Published: January 2023

Electrophoretic analyses have been made of hyperimmune sera against 15 antigens of bacterial origin. In some of these sera antibody is expressed by an increase in amount of the normally present γ-globulin. In others its appearance is accompanied by the development of a new T component.
Studies on the Detectability of Pneumococcal Capsular Polysaccharide in Urine: Influence of Variations in pH
Authors: de Gara Paul F. , Bukantz Samuel C.
Published: January 2023

Summary and Conclusions

The influence of pH upon the detectability of pneumococcal capsular polysaccharide in normal urine was determined for types I, II, III, IV, V, VII, VIII, and XIV. Solutions of polysaccharide of these types, ranging in concentrations from 1:25,000 to 1:1,600,000 were made in three aliquots of freshly voided urine, adjusted respectively to a pH of circa 6.0, 7.0, and 8.0. Employing the same solutions of antibody for precipitation, it was found that increasing alkalinity, in all experiments, permitted the detection of lower concentrations of pneumococcal capsular polysaccharide in urine. Studies on the urine of a patient convalescing from a pneumococcus-III pneumonia confirmed the experimental observations. Accordingly, it seems advisable to adjust voided acid urines of pneumonia patients to a pH between 7.0 and 8.0 before performing the precipitative test for the detection of capsular polysaccharide.
Studies on the Immunization of Adults with Diphtheric Toxoid
Authors: Bunch C. P. , Morrow R. C. , Timmons J. R. , Smith D. T.
Published: January 2023

Various procedures for the immunization of adults with diphtheric toxoid have been advocated in the literature. From these and from our observations on ninety Schick-positive subjects, we have sought an easy regime for routine use. It is not yet clear as to whether Schick-positive, toxoid-sensitive individuals should be left uninoculated. A simple program of intracutaneous injections has rendered twenty-six out of twenty-seven such subjects Schick-negative, leaving only one to undergo a series of graded subcutaneous doses. The plan we have adopted for the whole group is as follows: Do a Schick-test on the group to be immunized.Do a Moloney-test on the Schick-positive individuals.Give the M neg. and M + reactors the routine 2 ml of undiluted toxoid in 1 ml subcutaneous doses with an interval of one month.Give the M ++ and M +++ reactors three 0.1 ml intracutaneous injections of toxoid used for the Moloney-test (i.e., a 1:100 dilution of toxoid) at weekly intervals.Perform Schick-tests three to six months after the last injection.If any M ++ or M +++ subjects remain Schick-positive, inoculate these with a series of graded subcutaneous injections.
Notes on the Bacteriology, and on the Selective Action of B. Influenzae Pfeiffer
Authors: Roos C.
Published: January 2023

Summary and Discussion

B. influenzae can be found in every case of true clinical influenza. To isolate this organism, which is most abundant in the earlier stages of the disease, it is necessary to exercise care in obtaining a suitable specimen, and since growth requirements of this organism are quite rigid, special selective culture media, such as those suggested by Avery (24) and also by Fleming (25), carefully prepared and adjusted to reaction are essential for successful work.

The various strains of B. influenzae apparently do not differ in kind. This is indicated by the cross agglutination, absorption, and protection tests with strains isolated at different localities during the recent pandemic as well as with those from the epidemic of a few years ago—1915 to 1917.

The toxic substances of B. influenzae show a marked action on the bronchorespiratory tract, thereby predisposing these organs to extensive invasion by the organism itself or to secondary infections.

No marked increase in virulence of B. influenzae has been obtained by passages through laboratory animals. This, in the first place, may be due to the relative insusceptibility of these animals to the infection of this organism; secondly, to the probability that the invasive power of the organism is very limited, infection apparently taking place only when the initial toxicity is severe enough to facilitate such invasion.

No bacteremia is produced by B. influenzae in laboratory animals by a dose approximating a minimum lethal dose regardless of the mode of injection chosen. Rabbits receiving intracranial injections will either die of acute toxemia and show no organisms in the blood stream or lungs, or where such infection passes into the sub-acute stage there is apparently a chance for a few of the organisms to get into the blood stream and to be transferred to such organs as the lungs when these have been rendered susceptible by the toxic substances of the organism.

The pathologic lesions in the rabbit, gross and microscopic, in many respects resemble those of influenza in human beings as observed during the past pandemic.

The injection of B. influenzae into the rabbit intravenously results in a rapid and marked decrease in the polymorphonuclear cells.
The Serological Reactivity of Nucleic Acid
Authors: Lackman David , Mudd Stuart , Sevag M. G. , Smolens Joseph , Wiener Maria
Published: January 2023

The reaction of nucleic acids with certain antibacterial sera has been studied and the following points made: Nucleic acids give a specific precipitate with certain antisera, in particular equine antipneumococcic sera.The reactive substance is in the euglobulin fraction of the serum.The reaction is sensitive to changes in ionic strength. Also for a given ionic strength there is a difference in the amount of precipitate obtained when different ions are present.The reaction is specifically inhibited under suitable conditions by purine nucleotides, purine nucleosides and purine bases. Pyrimidine bases show only weak inhibition and pentoses and phosphates do not inhibit the reaction at all.
Acid Hydrolysates of Casein to Replace Peptone in the Preparation of Bacteriological Media
Authors: Mueller J. Howard , Johnson Everett R.
Published: January 2023

The traditional use of “peptone” for the preparation of culture media for the growth of pathogenic bacteria often presents certain obvious disadvantages. On the one hand, its presence seriously interferes with the isolation in pure form of the various products of bacterial growth,—toxins, specific carbohydrates, etc. Again, the preparation of toxoids for prophylactic use from a medium which contains peptone is not without risk, for there are instances on record of severe reactions even to the minute amounts injected when it is employed as a diluent in the Schick test. An additional drawback lies in the variation between lots of peptone, even of the same brand, which is inevitable and due to the methods of production.

It appears that too often these commercial products have been considered as chemical entities, the word “peptone” being used to imply a conception almost, if not quite as definite as “salt” or “glucose.”
Report of a Trial of a New Schick-Toxin
Authors: Cameron G. D. W. , Gibbard J.
Published: January 2023

A change in the specifications for the preparation of diphtherial toxin for use in the performance of the Schick-test has been advocated by Taylor and Moloney (1). The material they propose for use in this test differs from that specified by the Permanent Commission on Biological Standards of the League of Nations and incorporated in the Regulations under the Food and Drugs Act of Canada, in that it is made from “fresh” toxin (less than one year old and free from preservative) and that it has twice the toxicity and a lower antitoxin combining power (one dose neutralized by 1/1250, but not by 1/1500 unit of antitoxin). It is their contention that such material will increase the percentage of interpretable reactions, especially in those cases where the individual is a reactor to diphtheric protein.

The following brief report outlines our experience in a trial of material prepared according to Taylor and Moloney's specifications.
The Occurrence of Salmonella O-Antigens in Coliform Organisms
Authors: Schiff F. , Bornstein S. , Saphra I.
Published: January 2023

Five cultures of coliform organisms are described which contain Salmonella antigens. The flagellar antigens of these bacteria have no relationship to Salmonella.

One O-antigen was found to have the same formula as that of S. onderstepoort. Once the complete O-antigen of S. worthington, and in four cases components of the O-antigens of S. worthington, S. poona and the O-antigen I were found. In four strains there were residual non-Salmonella antigenic components.
Concerning the Mechanism of Anaphylactic and Tryptic Shock
Authors: Rocha E Silva M.
Published: January 2023

Recently, we have described the effects produced by trypsin upon the mammalian smooth muscles (guinea-pig intestine, guinea-pig uterus, rabbit, cat and dog intestines, virgin uterus of the rat and mouse intestines (1–3)), as well as the circulatory effects produced in rabbits, cats and dogs by trypsin injected intravenously (2, 4). In experiments of perfusion of guinea-pig lungs we have demonstrated the ability of trypsin to liberate histamine from the tissues, and suggested that this may offer a basis for understanding the pharmacological effects of trypsin (4). The constancy of the phenomenon of “desensitization” observed on repeated additions of the same small dose of trypsin strongly suggested that the action of trypsin was an indirect one, probably through the intermediary of a tissular active substance—histamine—set free under the action of the ferment.
Antitoxin-Formation after Intravenous or Subcutaneous Injection of Plain or Alum Diphtheric Toxoid
Authors: Freund Jules , Bonanto Mary V.
Published: January 2023

It is a widely accepted opinion that when toxins or toxoids are used to immunize horses the subcutaneous route is more effective than the intravenous (1). Neill, Sugg and Richardson (2) found that also in guinea pigs antitoxin-formation is stimulated more readily by intracutaneous or subcutaneous than by intravenous injection of diphtheric toxoid. The experimental data on which these conclusions are based were not reported by the authors. Watanabe (3) reported that hens which received intravenous injections of purified diphtheric toxoid or tetanal toxin produced more antitoxin in a shorter time than those which received subcutaneous injections. The titer of antitoxin was maintained for a longer period of time in hens which were immunized by the intravenous route. When bacterial suspensions are employed as antigens the vascular route is the more effective one. Schultz and Swift (4) observed this relationship in rabbits immunized with non-hemolytic streptococci.
Dissociation of the Aggregates Obtained on Adding Beef-Heart Lipoid to Wassermann-Positive Sera
Authors: Bier Otto , Trapp Ewald
Published: January 2023

The salt-dissociation method has proved applicable to the recovery of the Wassermann reagin, not only from syphilitic but also from leprous sera. The significance of this finding for the interpretation of the immunological response in leprosy is briefly discussed.

Preliminary experiments on the preparation of purified solutions of the Wassermann reagin are also reported.
Repeated Vaccination of Man Against the Virus of Equine Encephalomyelitis
Authors: Beard Dorothy , Finkelstein Harold , Beard J. W.
Published: January 2023

The content of neutralizing antibodies has been studied in the serum of man following primary vaccination against the Eastern and Western strains of virus of equine encephalomyelitis. The titer of antibodies effective against the Eastern strain in most instances diminishes so rapidly that within 6 to 9 months the serum possesses little or no more immunizing capacity than that taken before vaccination. In no instance was the titer maintained for this period at the level observed 2 weeks following initial vaccination. In contrast, antibodies for the Western strain, though diminishing markedly in a few instances, were maintained in general at a relatively high level for the same period. One instance of four was found in which antibodies induced by subclinical infection before initial vaccination and augmented by the primary vaccination were lost at about the same rate as those produced in normal individuals by vaccination alone.

Response to revaccination with a single dose resulted in every case in the induction of antibodies such that serum taken after 7 days neutralized 100,000 to 1,000,000 infectious units of virus of either strain. This reaction with respect to the Eastern strain was much more rapid than that following the first vaccination. The degree of response to both antigens was markedly greater than that seen at the initial vaccination.

General reactions to revaccination were more marked than to first vaccination, though still relatively mild.

The findings constitute evidence of the transient nature of at least one immunological factor in resistance to the virus. This finding in connection with results of direct investigation on the duration of immunity in vaccinated animals indicates the advisability of a second course of vaccination within one year under conditions of continued exposure to the virus. The height of the response to this second vaccination indicates the possibility that the interval between the second and subsequent vaccinations may safely be much longer than that between the first and second.
Antigenic Differentiation Among Strains of Paramecium Aurelia
Authors: Bernheimer Alan W. , Harrison James A.
Published: January 2023

The members of a population of paramecia derived from a single cell, ordinarily considered pure, are likely to differ widely in their susceptibility to the immobilizing action of a given antiserum. The available data reveal no relationship between this difference in susceptibility and periodic nuclear reorganization. Paramecium aurelia is antigenically heterogeneous. The eighteen strains studied fall into four groups, A, B, C and D, of which D is heterogeneous. There exist relationships between the serological group and the mating variety. Each of the six strains of group A belongs to variety 1. Both strains of group B belong to variety 2. Group C contains two strains of variety 2 and two of variety 3 while group D contains six strains, all of variety 2.
An Electrophoretic Examination of Digested Sera
Authors: van der Scheer J. , Wyckoff Ralph W. G. , Clarke F. H.
Published: January 2023

A series of electrophoretic and chemical analyses has been carried out upon peptic digests of diphtheric and tetanal antitoxins and upon these antitoxins heated under similar conditions in the absence of pepsin. The results of these analyses show that the first step in antitoxic digestion is the disappearance of albumin and a replacement of T by a new “γ” component. Prolonged digestion leaves this “γ” unaffected but reduces the amount of other, electrophoretically inhomogeneous, material in the digest. Similarly digested pneumococcal antiserum did not develop a “γ”-peak; though it retained a considerable precipitative titer it had lost almost all its mouse-protective capacity.
Studies with H. Pertussis
Authors: Flosdorf Earl W. , Bondi A. , Dozois T. F.
Published: January 2023

By intradermal testing in normal and immunized animals it has been shown that both the thermolabile and the thermostable toxins of H. pertussis are definitely although weakly antigenic in rabbits but apparently not in human beings. In normal animals, and in a few humans tested, the agglutinogen shows no primary toxicity but in immunized rabbits and human beings an immune response lasting a day or two is obtained. The toxins, on the other hand, produce a primary toxic reaction in normal animals which lasts for one week and longer; the thermolabile toxin (TLT) produces necrosis. In immunized animals the prolonged primary toxic reaction to the toxins is not shown; the reaction appears as a non-necrotic lesion of duration corresponding to the immune response produced by the agglutinogen. The above-mentioned effects were produced in animals immunized slowly and in a prolonged series of injections either by the subcutaneous or intravenous route with either live or formalin-killed whole organisms or sonic extracts. The presence of antitoxin in the sera of the immunized animals was determined by neutralization tests in the skin of normal rabbits. By this procedure no antitoxin could be detected in human hyperimmune or in convalescent sera containing agglutinins. Both toxins were obtained from both phase III and IV and para-pertussis organisms, but in much smaller amounts than from phase I strains. By neutralization tests the toxins from the several phases and in para-pertussis were shown to be related in antigenic specificity. The fallacy of using toxicity as a sole criterion in evaluation of strains suitable for the preparation of vaccines is discussed. The possible use of the various components of H. pertussis as reagents in dermal tests for susceptibility, in diagnosis and as immunizing agents is discussed.
Influence of Collodion Particles on the Visible End-Point in Antibody Titrations
Authors: Eisler Daniel M.
Published: January 2023

Collodion particles combined with autolysates of pneumococcus, meningococcus and gonococcus were agglutinated when the suspensions were mixed with antibacterial sera. The titers obtained in this manner were much greater than could be obtained by comparable mixtures of organisms and antisera, whole organisms, collodion particles and antisera, or autolysates and antisera. There is apparently an optimal concentration of collodion particles requisite for obtaining maximal titers from antisera. Titers obtained in non-specific reactions were lower than those obtained by specific mixtures of autolysates, collodion particles and antisera. It was found by experiment that the most satisfactory titers were obtained by allowing collodion particles to remain suspended in autolysate. It is suggested that no washing of the particles be made to free them of “excess” antigen in view of the fact that antigenic substances other than adsorbable proteins might be present. The phenomenon of increased titer effected by use of collodion particle-autolysate antigens was observed with both low- and high-titered sera.
The Antigenic Structure of Hemolytic Streptococci of Lancefield Group A
Authors: Zittle Charles A.
Published: January 2023

The yield of the M-substance from undried whole streptococci is shown to be about 4 per cent, half of which is nucleic acid and half the type-specific M-protein. The nucleic acid is shown to be in the free state and to be the principal, and in some cases the sole, contaminant. It accompanies the protein on precipitation with acid in salt-like combination. The M-protein is separated from the nucleic acid by half-saturation with neutral ammonium sulfate; several successive precipitations are required to reduce the phosphorus-content from 3.0 to 0.1 per cent or less. Some of the properties of the purified protein are described. An interesting property of the M-protein is its considerable increase in solubility at elevated temperatures. The utilization of this property for purification is possible for the rare cases where considerable protein contamination accompanies the M-protein. The M-proteins studied are from strains 1048 (untyped) and 1685 (type 3). Similar chemical properties have been found. In the precipitin-reaction with antiserum to whole streptococci the 1685 M-protein gives a strong cross-reaction with 1048 antiserum, the 1048 M-protein appears to give less cross-reaction with 1685 antisera. A quantitative study of the precipitation of these proteins with a 1048 antiserum was made. Good absorption of protective antibodies from homologous streptococcal antisera is obtained with the 1048 M-protein. The preparation of 1685 M-protein studied was poor in this respect.