Isabel C. Shekarchi

Evaluation of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for mumps virus antibodies.

Summary Pre- and postvaccination sera from individuals who had been vaccinated with live Jeryl-Lynn vaccine were assayed for mumps antibodies by using serum neutralization (NT), enzymed-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), hemolysis-in gel (HIG), hemagglutination inhibition (HI) and complement fixation (CF) techniques. ELISA was found to be equally specific and somewhat more sensitive than NT. HIG was less sensitive than either of these two and, with some specimens, less specific. However, it was more sensitive than HI. CF gave several low positive readings which were interpreted as false positive since they were found in prevaccination sera and other tests failed to detect antibodies in these samples. The ELISA mumps test can be used in place of the more expensive and time consuming neutralization test for screening epidemiology, documenting immunity and establishing the serological diagnosis.

Persistence of heterologous bone marrow in mice as function of x-ray dose.

Summary Bone marrow from species closely and distantly related to the mouse was injected after various X-ray doses to the total body. Rat, hamster, guinea pig, and rabbit bone marrow persisted in normal, nonirradiated mice for not more than 1 day. The minimum X-ray dose that would permit persistence of rat, hamster, guinea pig, and rabbit bone marrow in mice for more than 3 days was 400, 600, 1150, and 1500 r. respectively. The minimum X-ray dose that permitted (a) temporary transplantation of rat and hamster bone marrow in mice was 500 and 600 r, respectively, and (b) prolonged transplantation of rat and hamster bone marrow in mice was 800 and 950 r. respectively. The significance of these findings is discussed.