Margret Huber

Long-lasting, Specific Immunologic Unresponsiveness Associated with Cryptococcal Meningitis

A sensitive radioimmunoassay and an antibody class-specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were used to determine whether patients cured of cryptococcosis responded normally to immunization with cryptococcal capsular polysaccharide (CPS) and type III pneumococcal polysaccharide. 10 normal volunteers and 8 patients who had been cured of cryptococcal meningitis and who had been cured of cryptococcal meningitis and who had no serious underlying diseases were immunized with both antigens. Geometric mean titers to CPS measured by radioimmunoassay were 1:1 in both groups before vaccination, but were 1:3 in patients and 1:119 in controls following immunization (P less than 0.01, Students t test). Analysis of the class-specific response to immunization with CPS found little anti-CPS IgG or IgA. Geometric mean postvaccination IgM titers were 1:31 in patients and 1:238 in controls (P less than 0.01). Responses to immunization with type III pneumococcal polysaccharide were similar in patients and controls, with IgA, IgM, and IgG mean titers of 1:1129, 1:369, and 1:158 in patients and 1:1504, 1:1039, and 1:163 in controls (P greater than 0.2 for each antibody class). Cured cryptococcal meningitis is often associated with prolonged specific immunologic unresponsiveness.

Presence of A-Equi-2 hemagglutinin and neuraminidase antibodies in man.

Summary Serum antibodies to envelope antigens of A/Equi-2 virus were determined in persons of various ages with no known exposure to human A2/Hong Kong/68 virus. Antibody to neuraminidase and hemagglutinin antigens was observed predominantly in persons born before 1900. These results raise the possibility that A/Equi-2 influenza virus originated in the human host. The authors thank Dr. David W. Alling for his review of this manuscript.

Immunization of Volunteers with Soluble Antigens of Adenovirus Type 1

Summary Vaccination with non-infectious, type-specific and group-specific soluble antigens of adenovirus type 1 induced neutralizing antibody in adult volunteers. As compared with non-immunized controls, ocular challenge of volunteers immunized with both preparations was followed by a significant reduction in throat and rectal virus shedding. There was almost complete suppression of illness in volunteers receiving type-specific antigen. It is difficult to interpret the illness pattern in the man who was given group-specific antigen. These findings suggest that soluble antigens of adenovirus type 1 may provide effective immunization in this disease.

Persistence of Neutralizing Antibody in Adult Volunteers Immunized With Adenovirus Soluble Antigens

Summary Eleven of 15 men given the type-specific antigen of adenovirus 1 and 10 of 10 men given type-specific antigen of adenovirus 2 developed significant levels of homotypic neutralizing antibody. All 17 men who were given the group-specific antigen of either adenovirus 1 or 2 developed antibody. Measurable levels of these antibodies persisted for extended periods of time.

RELATIONSHIP OF THE ADENOVIRUS ERYTHROCYTE-RECEPTOR-MODIFYING FACTOR TO THE TYPE-SPECIFIC COMPLEMENT-FIXING ANTIGEN.

Summary The similarity in elution characteristics of the ERM factor and type-specific CF antigen following fractionation of adeno-virus type 1 and type 2 suspensions by chromatography with DEAE-cellulose; the formation of only a single precipitation line in agar-gel double diffusion tests with purified material containing both activities; and the type-specific serologic reaction of both antigens indicated that the type-specific CF antigen was the carrier of the ERM factor.

Frozen Cells as Nuclear Source in the L. E. Cell Phenomenon

Summary 1) Cold (minus 50°C) injury applied to leukocytes in the presence of the L.E. cell factor results in production of a large amount of L.E. material. This material usually exerts chemotaxis and, in the presence of fresh phagocytes at 37°C, allows the formation of great numbers of typical L.E. cells. In the absence of the L.E. cell factor, no L.E. material nor L.E. cells are formed. 2) The large mass of this unique material which can thus be produced now lends itself to analytic methods and experimental procedures not previously applied.