Study of the antibodies against measles, rubella, mumps and varicella-zoster viruses in sera from the medical staffs

For infection control against measles, rubella, mumps and varicella-zoster viruses in the hospital, it is important to assess the immunity of the medical staff against those viruses and to achieve high immunocompetence in the medical staff by vaccination. We estimated the specific antibodies against measles, rubella, mumps and varicella-zoster viruses by ELISA in 686 care workers (240 men, 446 women) of Yamagata University Hospital. The members (frequencies) without antibodies for each virus were 59 (8.6%) for measles virus, 68 (9.9%) for rubella virus, 104 (18.2%) for mumps virus and 5 (0.7%) for varicella-zoster virus. The ratios of positive antibodies, especially against rubella and mumps viruses, were higher among women than men. To see the relationship between the immunity and age, we studied the numbers without antibodies by dividing the persons by age. The numbers of negative IgG for measles virus were 45 (17.5%) in the persons age of 21-30, 8 (4.3%) in 31-40, 4 (2.4%) in 41-50 and 2 (2.7%) in over 51. The numbers of negative IgG for rubella virus were 21 (8.2%) in the persons age of 21-30, 22 (11.7%) in 31-40, 22 (13.2%) in 41-50 and 3 (4.1%) in over 51. The numbers of negative IgG for mumps virus were 35 (13.6%) in the persons age of 21-30, 39 (20.7%) in 31-40, 22 (13.2%) in 41-50 and 8 (10.8%) in over 51. The numbers of negative IgG for varicella-zoster virus were 4 (1.6%) in the persons age of 21-30 and 1 (0.5%) in 31-40. The rate of the persons without antibodies but who had received vaccination in the past were the following: 46% for measles virus, 21% for rubella virus and 21% for mumps. The results of antibodies were informed individually and the persons without antibody against each virus were recommended to receive a vaccination for each virus.     

Prevalence of antibodies against respiratory viruses in children of Koulikoro (Mali)

The prevalence of antibodies to viruses associated with respiratory illnesses (influenza, corona, R.S., adeno, parainfluenza Mycoplasma pneumoniae) has been investigated in 119 children under 3 years of age (Koulikoro region Mali) and 50 persons 15-19 years of age (Bamako/Mali). In the surveillance period (March 1982-September 1982) an outbreak of respiratory disease in association with RS virus took place. A rise of CF titer has been found in 90.8% of the children; 59.1% of them presented a fourfold or greater increase of titer. The GMT values rose from 1:7 to 1:48. Concerning influenza viruses a higher incidence of positive reactions has been observed only for H3N2 viruses. A fourfold CF rise of titer has been observed for adenovirus and mycoplasma pneumoniae in 3 cases each, for parainfluenza type I and III in 2 cases each, and for parainfluenza II in 1 case. In persons 15-19 years of age the incidence of positive CF reactions was relatively high (68%-98%), but the GMT values were moderate (1:12-1:25). These data confirm that the frequency of viral respiratory diseases is the same in tropical countries as in countries with a temperate climate.     

Neutralizing antibodies and antigens in AIDS

Until recently, much of the effort put into the development of an AIDS vaccine has focussed on the elicitation of a neutralizing antibody response. The viral target of neutralization, HIV envelope glycoprotein, has been produced in bulk through recombinant techniques, but has had little success as a vaccine. The specific epitopes to which neutralizing antibodies bind have been mapped, and although the major epitope is hypervariable, others are conserved. This allows the design of second generation vaccines. Meanwhile, vaccine studies in the SIV animal model simply using inactivated virus as immunogen have demonstrated that an effective vaccine is at least possible. A variety of HIV vaccine preparations are now under investigation and the outlook for the future is promising.Bisher konzentrierten sich die Anstrengungen zur Entwicklung einer AIDS- Vakzine auf die Induktion neutralisierender Antikörper. Die glykolisierten HIV Hüllproteine exprimieren die neutralisierenden Epitope. Diese Hüllproteine konnten durch rekombinante DNA-Techniken in größerem Maßstab hergestellt werden, ihre Verwendung als Vakzine war jedoch wenig erfolgreich. Die spezifischen Epitope, an die neutralisierende Antikörper binden, konnten mittlerweile festgelegt werden. Das Hauptepitop ist hypervariabel, andere sind jedoch konserviert. Mit diesen Kenntnissen kann jetzt die zweite Generation experimenteller Vakzine auf der Basis von HIV Hüllproteinen hergestellt werden. In der Zwischenzeit ergaben entsprechende Untersuchungen im SIV Tiermodell, daß inaktiviertes Gesamtvirus als Immunogen durchaus geeignet ist, als wirksamer Impfstoff eingesetzt zu werden. Gegenwärtig werden verschiedene HIV Vakzineentwicklungen vor allem im SIV Tiermodell auf ihre Wirsamkeit genauer untersucht. Dem Ausgang dieser Untersuchungen kann mit vorsichtigem Optimismus entgegengesehen werden.     

Neutralizing antibodies and the course of HIV-induced disease

The capacity to neutralize the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in vitro was examined in 52 sera obtained from 23 seropositive individuals in addition to 7 negative control sera. Neutralization was measured as the activity of a serum to protect MT-4 cells against the cytopathic effect of HTLV-IIIB. Virus neutralization depended on HIV antibodies. Some sera had HIV neutralizing antibody titers of several thousands. All serum samples had been titrated in two ELISAs based either on disrupted HTLV-IIIB or on a bacterially synthesized polypeptide (ENV-80) of gp41 as a test antigen. The correlation of neutralizing activity of the sera with ELISA titers was low. A correlation of serum neutralizing titers with the stage of the disease could not be observed. However, in a longitudinal study with 6 patients over up to 22 months an increase in neutralizing antibodies seemed to protect against progression of the disease. The implications of these findings for antibody treatment and vaccine development are discussed.     

Cross-reactivity of monoclonal antibodies and sera directed against lipid A and lipopolysaccharides

Summary The cross-reactive capacity of monoclonal and polyclonal lipid A antibodies was tested with rough and smooth lipopolysaccharides (LPS). The antibodies represented different specificities recognizing epitopes in the hydrophilic lipid A backbone. In none of the various assay systems applied did the antibodies react with complete rough or smooth-form LPS. Cross-reactions, in general, were only detected with the most rudimentary rough LPS tested, i.e. Re-LPS. A variety of reactivities with other LPS was shown not to be related to lipid A antibodies; such reactivities were present in rabbit sera as well as in crude ascites. These results underline the need for careful checks on the origin of reactivities observed. In addition, rabbit antisera raised with R- and S-LPS were screened for lipid A reactvity using synthetic lipid A and partial structures as antigens. No cross-reactivity of LPS antibodies with lipid A was detected in these sera.

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Kreuzreaktion monoklonaler Antikörper und Antisera gegen Lipid A und Lipopolysaccharid (LPS)

Zusammenfassung Die Kreuzreaktion monoklonaler und polyklonaler Lipid A-Antikörper mit R- und S-Form LPS wurde getestet. Eingesetzt wurden Antikörper unterschiedlicher Spezifitäten, die Epitope im hydrophilen Bereich von Lipid A erkennen. In keinem der verschiedenen Testsysteme reagierten die Antikörper mit komplettem R- oder mit S-LPS. Kreuzreaktionen traten im allgemeinen nur mit der kleinsten Rauhform auf, dem Re-LPS. Eine Reihe von Reaktionen mit anderen LPS wurde nicht durch die Lipid A-Antikörper sondern durch andere Faktoren verursacht: derartige Reaktionen wurden sowohl mit Kaninchenseren als auch mit ungereinigtem Ascites beobachtet. Die Ergebnisse zeigen die Bedeutung sorgfältiger Überprüfung der Herkunft von beobachteten Reaktionen. Weiterhin wurden Kaninchenseren gegen R- und S-LPS mit synthetischen Lipid A-Antigenen auf Lipid A-Reaktivität untersucht; es wurde keine Kreuzreaktion der LPS- Antikörper mit Lipid A beobachtet.

     

Neutralizing antibodies to hepatitis C virus in perinatally infected children followed up prospectively

Little is known about the presence and role of neutralizing antibodies (NtAbs) in perinatal hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Using HCV pseudoparticles, NtAbs were studied longitudinally in 12 HCV-infected children with or without evidence of acute hepatitis during the first year of life. Broadly reactive NtAbs of maternal origin did not prevent vertical HCV transmission or progression to chronicity. NtAbs against homologous genotype or subtype appeared during the chronic phase and were more abundant and sustained in children with acute hepatitis. Cross-reactive NtAbs were present in both groups of children, but their appearance did not correlate with better control of viremia or HCV clearance.     

Leukocyte antibodies in human sera and in immune rabbit sera

A study of leukocyte antibodies is presented using (1) the sera of rabbits immunized with human leukocytes, and (2) the sera of three patients screened forthe presence of such antibodies from among 36 patients with hematologic disease,31 of whom (including the 3 studied in detail) had received multiple transfusions.The following technics are described and were employed: Leukoagglutination,leukoprecipitation including tube and agar-plate methods, agglutination ofantigen-coated tanned and untanned sheep erythrocytes, the effect of antiseraupon phagocytosis of heat-killed staphylococci by leukocytes, and upon ameboidmotility of leukocytes.

The leukoagglutinin test gives reliable clearcut results providing that appropriate controls are included and certain criteria adhered to, in order to facilitatethe recognition of clumping due to other factors than true antigen-antibodyunion.

No leukoprecipitins were detected in human sera with the technics used inthis study. Immune rabbit sera, on the other hand, gave two reaction-lines inagar media, when set up against leukocyte extract.

Immune rabbit sera reacted strongly with antigen-coated tanned sheep redblood cells. Human sera did not so react. One of the three selected human serareacted with antigen-coated untanned erythrocytes, suggesting the presence of apolysaccharide antigen extractable from human leukocytes and capable of stimulating antibody formation in the human. Immune rabbit sera, and otherhuman sera, did not react in this test.

A suggestive but perhaps not a conclusive effect upon phagocytosis of bacteriaby leukocytes exposed to human leukocyte antibody for 1 hour could be demonstrated.

By means of ameboid motility studies, a cytotoxic effect of the human antiseraupon human leukocytes could be demonstrated after 18 hours of incubation, butnot after 3 hours. This was interpreted as evidence of a delayed reaction.

Certain cardinal points from a clinical and theoretical standpoint with regardto the genesis of leukocyte antibodies in man are briefly reviewed. A possibleanalogy between leukocyte antibody formation and the homograft reaction isdiscussed. It is suggested that the rarity of leukocyte iso-antibody formationfollowing transfusion is related to the fact that the intravenous pathway may bea poor route of immunization for these antigens.

Submitted on April 4, 1957 Accepted on July 1, 1957     

Correlation between pertussis toxin IgG antibodies in postvaccination sera and subsequent protection against pertussis

All acellular pertussis vaccines contain pertussis toxoid and induce protection against pertussis. This study investigated the relation between the postvaccination levels of pertussis toxin (PT) serum IgG and protection against pertussis. PT IgG was determined in sera obtained 21-77 days after the third vaccination from 813 children who received 3 doses of pertussis toxoid. The children were followed for 21-33 months after vaccination for the occurrence of pertussis. Of the children, 126 were exposed to pertussis in their households. The median PT IgG concentration was 79 U/mL in those who developed severe pertussis (>/=21 day of paroxysmal cough), 156 U/mL with mild pertussis (<21 days of paroxysmal cough), and 246 U/mL in those who did not develop pertussis (79 vs. 246, P<.0001). Corresponding values in the 687 children with no household exposure were 99, 124, and 155 U/mL, respectively (99 vs. 155, P<.0001). Thus, there is a highly significant correlation between the level of vaccine-induced serum PT IgG and protection against pertussis.     

Influence of maternal antibodies on neonatal immunization against respiratory viruses.

Vaccines that successfully prevent severe infant respiratory virus diseases should induce protection at a very young age because of the low age of patients who are hospitalized owing to these viruses. Candidate respiratory virus vaccines are being tested in infants who are na?ve to infection but seropositive to the viral agents because they possess maternal IgG antibodies (Abs). Transplacental maternal Abs may be partially protective against disease caused by respiratory virus infections. Carefully conducted studies have shown that these Abs can also profoundly suppress or enhance infant immune responses to immunization. The mechanisms underlying regulation of immune responses to viruses by maternal Abs are under investigation. This article explores the current knowledge regarding the effect of maternal Abs on respiratory virus and measles virus immunization, and it reviews the current approaches to overcoming Ab-mediated immunosuppression.     

Searching for antibodies against Trichinella spiralis in the sera of patients with fever of unknown cause

Human cases of trichinellosis are often difficult to identify because the signs and symptoms of the disease, if the infection produces any at all, are non-specific, being similar to those observed in several other infectious diseases. In an investigation of Mexican patients with fever of unknown aetiology, attempts were made to develop a serodiagnostic test for the detection of antibodies specific for Trichinella spiralis. The excretory and secretory products of T. spiralis larvae (from the muscle tissue of experimentally infected rats) were used as the antigens in an enzyme-linked immuno-electrotransfer blot assay. The sera tested came from patients with fever of unknown cause (N=250), patients confirmed to have infectious or parasitic diseases other than trichinellosis (N=134) and 168 apparently healthy subjects. Overall, 4% of the samples from the febrile group, 1.8% of those from the healthy subjects but none of the sera from those with 'other diseases' reacted with the antigens of interest (of 45, 49 and 55 kDa). The results not only confirm that human infection with T. spiralis may be asymptomatic but also indicate that such infection may be mis-diagnosed.     

丙型肝炎患者血清中高变区1(HVR1)抗体的检测与分析

目的　了解丙型肝炎患者体内抗ＨＶＲ１ 的产生情况,并探讨其与病情发展及预后的关系．方法　用含ＨＶＲ１ 序列的合成肽对４５ 例急、慢性肝炎患者血清中抗ＨＶＲ１ 作了ＥＬＩＳＡ 检测,并对所有血清作ＨＣＶＲＮＡ 检测．结果　急性丙型肝炎患者血清中抗ＨＶＲ１ 阳性率为７０－６ ％ ,与慢性丙型肝炎患者早期血清（１２－５ ％ ） 相比差异显著性（ Ｐ＜ ０－０５） ,而且两者的平均抗体滴度相差亦非常显著（４－２ ±０－６ ｖｓ ２－８ ±０－７ ,Ｐ＜ ０－０１） ． 慢性丙型肝炎现症患者血清抗ＨＶＲ１ 的阳性率为７２－７ ％ ,其中抗ＨＶＲ１ 阳性血清中ＨＣＶＲＮＡ 的阳性率也很高（７５－０ ％ ） ．结论　ＨＣＶ 感染早期抗ＨＶＲ１ 的产生及其滴度的高低可能与疾病的转归有关;慢性丙型肝炎患者体内抗ＨＶＲ１ 的存在可能反映了ＨＶＲ１ 变异引起的免疫逃避．     

Significance of isolated anti-HBs antibodies in subjects not vaccinated against hepatitis B viruses

The significance of isolated anti-HBs antibodies in subjects not vaccinated against the hepatitis B virus (HBV) was investigated in 13 healthy blood donors. All were European and none had any risk factor for hepatitis B infection. Serological assays included HBV-DNA and anti-preS 2 antibody determinations which were all negative. After injection with hepatitis B vaccine (Hevac B), only one out of the 13 subjects exhibited an anamnestic response in favor of secondary immunization. Neutralization tests for serum anti-HBs antibody were positive in only 6 subjects. Our data suggest that in most cases isolated anti-HBs positivity does not correspond to true antibody; booster injection of HBV vaccine seems to be the best way of verifying that antibodies are really protective.