Robert A. Patnode

Ability of Lupus Erythematosus Serum to Inactivate Bacteriophage φX174 Surviving Treatment with Specific Rabbit Antibody.

Summary After 4 to 10 hours of incubation, essentially all the surviving phage in the ⊘X 174 phage-anti-phage system was sensitive to further inactivation by several sera from patients with lupus erythematosus (LE) but they were not sensitive to the enzymatic action of DNase. Phage not previously incubated with specific antiserum was resistant to LE serum and DNase. A hypothesis involving infectious nucleic acid as the underlying mechanism for this behavior is presented.

Serum protein change in response to positive tuberculin skin test in humans.

Summary Individuals who are highly sensitive to tuberculin PPD develop a statistically significant elevation in serum alpha-1 globulin during their response to a PPD skin test. The implication of this finding with respect to the mechanism involved in tuberculin hypersensitivity is discussed.