Systematic isolation of transducing phages for Myxococcus xanthus.

Six new phages active on Myxococcus xanthus have been isolated from cultures of myxobacteria. The six are all capable of transduction, and they fall into three groups. Members of one group have long contractile tails, have a characteristic neutralization antigen, and resemble the previously described M×4. Members of a second group, exemplified by M×8, have very short tails and a characteristic antigen. M×9, the sole member of the third group, has a very short tail and a characteristic antigen. Phage M×8, which is active on fruiting as well as nonfruiting strains of M. xanthus, can transduce auxotrophic, antibiotic resistance and motility markers in M. xanthus. Although crude lysates of M×8 contain 58-nm diameter particles with a tail and 29-nm particles without tail, only 58-nm particles can form plaques and transduce. The plaque-forming particles of M×8 possess a single DNA molecule of 56,000 base pairs with a buoyant density of 1.726 g/cm³, virtually identical to that of the DNA from its host.     

Transformation of a rat cell line by an adenovirus 7 DNA fragment

A clonal rat embryo cell line, 3Y1, was transformed by the HindIII-I·J fragment of adenovirus 7 DNA (left 8.1% of whole Adz DNA), one of the partial digestion products with HindIII, and by whole Ad7 DNA. Most, if not all, of the nucleotide sequences of the HindIII-I·J fragment were present in cells transformed by Ad7 HindIII-I·J fragment, whereas approximately the left two thirds of the viral DNA genome was present in cells transformed by Ad7 whole DNA. These results indicate that the transforming gene of adenovirus 7 is located in HindIII-I·J fragment and is mapped at the left 8% end of the adenovirus 7 genome.     

A cell-free model of the encephalomyocarditis virus-induced inhibition of host cell protein synthesis.

When preincubated extracts from Krebs-II cells were supplemented with total poly(A)-containing RNA isolated from encephalomyocarditis virus-infected Krebs-II cells, two phenomena characteristic of EMC virus infection of these cells in vivo were observed: (i) preferential translation of viral rather than cellular, mRNA, and (ii) a general inhibition of protein synthesis, relative to the synthesis in samples where the poly(A)-containing RNA from uninfected cells served as the template. The first effect could not be explained by an irreversible functional inactivation of cellular templates and seemed to result from a direct interference of viral RNA with the translation of cellular mRNA. The second effect was due primarily to the presence of double-stranded RNA.     

Study of the HLA system in Burkitt's lymphoma

Seventy-eight patients with Burkitt's lymphoma and seventy controls from Ghana were typed for HLA-A, B, C and DR antigens, to determine whether there is an association between the HLA system and Burkitt's lymphoma. Increased relative risk was observed in Burkitt's lymphoma patients with DR7, HLA-A1 and B12 (BW44).     

Immunologic mechanisms in hypersensitivity pneumonitis: I. Evidence for cell-mediated immunity and complement fixation in pigeon breeders' disease

Immunologic studies were performed on 5 patients with pigeon breeders' disease. Intradermal injection of pigeon serum produced an immediate wheal-and-flare reaction within 15 minutes and a secondary Arthus-type reaction within 4 to 8 hours. Immunofluorescent studies of the secondary reaction site showed IgG, C3, and C4 in 2 patients. Patients' sera produced multiple precipitin bands with pigeon serum when reacted by double diffusion in gel. IgG antibody isolated from each of the patients' serum formed precipitating immune complexes that fixed large amounts of complement (C4) when added to fresh human serum. Peripheral blood lymphocytes from 4 of the 5 patients produced macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) when challenged with dilute pigeon serum. These studies are the first to show complement fixing antibodies and macrophage MIF production by lymphocytes from patients with hypersensitivity lung disease and suggest that both humoral and cellular immunity may be important in the pathogenesis of these disorders.     

Cell-mediated immunity in leprosy and transfer of delayed hypersensitivity reactions

Eighty-nine patients with leprosy, 65 classified as lepromatous and 24 as tuberculoid, were examined in this study. Skin test responses to protein antigens and dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) were depressed in lepromatous patients compared to controls. Tuberculoid patients did not exhibit a significant depression to microbial antigens, but they showed a definite depression in the ability to be sensitized with DNCB. The transfer of delayed hypersensitivity reactions to tuberculin, trichophytin, and lepromin (Fernandez and Mitsuda reactions) was accomplished in lepromatous and indeterminate leprosy patients using viable lymphocytes from donors presenting positive reactions to these antigens. The lepromin reaction was also transferred to patients with South American blastomycosis and cutaneous leishmaniasis. The positive reactions of adoptive immunity were confirmed by histologic examination of skin biopsies.     

Isolation and characterization of entomopox virions from virus-containing inclusions of Amsacta moorei (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae)

Preparations of Amsacta moorei entomopox virions were obtained from virus-containing inclusions (VCI) by using a carbonate-thioglycolate solution (pH 10.7–11.5). The virions possessed a uniform coat (“halo”) surrounding the viral envelope and exhibited an RNA polymerase activity. The “halo” could be removed by prolonged exposure to the carbonate-thioglycolate solution. Virions obtained by this treatment, however, possessed low infectivity and no detectable RNA polymerase activity. Removal of the “halo” by trypsin resulted in virions which possessed RNA polymerase activity and relatively high infectivity.Preparations of particles with and without the “halo” were similar in percent DNA, protein per OD₂₆₀, number of particles per OD₂₆₀, and RNA polymerase activity. Particles without the “halo,” however, were less dense (1.262 g/cm³) in CsCl than those with the “halo” (1.282 g/cm³) and 15–45 times more infective.Parallel studies of “nonhaloed” Amsacta virions (trypsin-treated) and vaccinia virions showed that both viruses contained similar amounts of protein per OD₂₆₀, but Amsacta virions contained only 36% of the DNA found in vaccinia.     

Lymphoma arising in an adenolymphoma

A malignant lymphoma that originated in association with an adenolymphoma (Warthin's tumor) of the parotid salivary gland is reported. The occurrence of lymphomas in salivary glands is discussed briefly.     

Chromosome abnormalities in chronic lymphocytic leukemia revealed by TPA as a mitogen

Bone marrow and peripheral blood cultures of chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients were mitogenically stimulated with TPA (12-0-tetradecanylphorbol-13-acetate). Clonal cytogenetic abnormalities were detected in frequencies varying from 15% to 100%, in five of the six patients studied. Parallel studies with pokeweek mitogen showed a much lower level of stimulation and only two abnormal clones were detected. The chromosome abnormalities described in this study are similar to those reported in CLL by other authors, particularly with respect to trisomy 12 and deletion 11q. A significant frequency of hypodiploidy and chromosome deletion was also detected in this study, and further studies are underway to determine the significance of these findings.     

Chronic myelogenous leukemia in the monosomic cell line of a fertile turner syndrome mosaic (45,X/46,XX)

Malignancy in patients with constitutional chromosome abnormality is of interest not only because it permits insights into the relationship between chromosome abnormality and cancer, but also because it provides opportunities to address such questions as the clonality and evolution of tumors. We report Ph¹-positive chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) in a 50-year-old mosaic (45,X/46,XX) Turner syndrome patient whose leukemia was restricted to the monosomic cell line. Our extensive cytogenetic studies of this patient demonstrated that non-leukemic normal cells persisted in the marrow and were able to proliferate during a period of temporary suppression of the leukemic clone following aggressive treatment.