Immune response of adults to sequential influenza vaccination

Annual immunization against influenza is recommended for numerous individuals, but the antibody response to sequential vaccination has not been well characterized. Levels of hemagglutination-inhibition antibody were measured in adults given either two or three doses of trivalent influenza vaccine at six-month intervals. A significant rise in the number of individuals with antibody titers of greater than or equal to 40 was seen for all three antigens only after initial vaccination. Repeated vaccination was necessary to maintain adequate antibody levels only to the A/Brazil (H1N1) antigen; it did not significantly affect the proportions of individuals with protective levels of antibody to either the A/Bangkok (H3N2) or the B/Singapore 222/79 antigens. These findings do not support the current recommendation for annual immunization when the vaccine formulation has not changed.     

Vasculogenesis and angiogenesis in the subcardinal venous plexus of quail mesonephros: spatial and temporal morphological analysis

Vasculogenesis and angiogenesis are involved in a coordinated program for the development of the mesonephric subcardinal venous plexus of quail embryo. Vasculogenesis occurs between days 3 and 4 of incubation, while angiogenesis takes place from day 5 to day 7. Examination of vascular corrosion casts and whole mounts, and tissue sections labelled with specific markers to hemangioblast lineage (QH1, LEP100 and AcPase activity), allowed us to distinguish six phases in the formation of subcardinal plexus. (1) Appearance of isolated angioblast-like cells where the subcardinal plexus will form. (2) Alignment of angioblast-like cells into cellular strands. (3) Formation of compact vascular cords by association of angioblast-like strands. (4) Polygonal interconnection of vascular cords to constitute the primary subcardinal plexus. In this stage, isolated angioblast-like cells were present inside inter-vascular spaces. (5) The splitting of primary inter-vascular spaces by angiogenic sprouts to form secondary subcardinal plexus (outward angiogenesis). Isolated angioblast-like cells were not present in this stage. (6) Expansion of the secondary subcardinal plexus by insertion of slender transcapillary tissue pillars (inward angiogenesis) and angiogenic sprouts. We also describe three morphogenetic gradients during the development of the subcardinal plexus: ventral-to-dorsal, cranial-to-caudal and lateral-to-medial. Accepted: 9 November 2001     

Action of remantadine on fusion of the lipid envelope of influenza a virus with plasma and internal membranes in lymphoblastoid cells

Department of Biomembranes, Research Center for Development and Introduction of Modern Methods of Molecular Diagnosis, Ministry of Health of the USSR, Moscow. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR I. P. Ashmarin.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 109, No. 5, pp. 483–485, May, 1990.     

豚鼠脊髓运动神经元分支至股神经和腰背肌的研究——逆行荧光双标记法

应用碘化丙院-双苯甲亚胺配伍逆行荧光双标记技术对豚鼠脊髓运动神经元分支至股神经和腰背肌作了研究.结果发现股神经的运动纤维来源于同侧L1～5脊髓前角内侧核运动神经元和L4～5脊髓前角外侧核运动神经元;腰背肌的运动纤维来源于同侧相应节段脊髓前角内侧核运动神经元.在L3～5脊髓前角内侧核运动神经元中,有碘化丙啶-双苯甲亚胺荧光双标记运动神经元,占内侧核全部标记运动神经元的18.8‰.结果提示脊髓前角运动神经元具有分支分布至腰背肌和股神经的现象.     

The beta1 adrenergic effects of antibodies against the C-terminal end of the ribosomal P2beta protein of Trypanosoma cruzi associate with a specific pattern of epitope recognition

BALB/c mice immunized with recombinant Trypanosoma cruzi ribosomal P2beta protein (TcP2beta) develop a strong and specific antibody response against its 13 residue-long C-terminal epitope (peptide R13: EEEDDDMGFGLFD) that has a concomitant beta1-adrenergic stimulating activity. However, other animals that undergo similar immunizations seem tolerant to this epitope. To evaluate further the antibody response against the ribosomal P proteins, 25 BALB/c and 25 Swiss mice were immunized with TcP2beta. From the 50 animals, 31 developed a positive anti-R13 response, whereas 19 were non-responsive. From the 31 anti-R13 positive mice, 25 had anti-R13 antibodies that recognized the discontinuous motif ExDDxGF, and their presence correlated with the recording of supraventricular tachycardia. The other six had anti-R13 antibodies but with a normal electrocardiographic recording. These anti-R13 antibodies recognized the motif DDxGF shared by mammals and T. cruzi and proved to be a true anti-P autoantibody because they were similar to those elicited in Swiss, but not in BALB/c mice, by immunization with the C-terminal portion of the mouse ribosomal P protein. Our results show that the recognition of the glutamic acid in position 3 of peptide R13 defines the ability of anti-R13 antibodies to react with the motif AESDE of the second extracellular loop of the beta1-adrenergic receptor, setting the molecular basis for their pathogenic beta1 adrenoceptor stimulating activity.     

Aspirin-Interleukin-3 Interrelationships in Patients With Anti-Phospholipid Syndrome

PROBLEM: Previously we reported on the generation of experimental anti-phospholipid syndrome (APS) in mice. These models were employed to evaluate the efficacy of various novel therapeutic modalities including interleukin-3 (IL-3) and low dose aspirin. The efficacy of the latter was found to be interrelated. Low dose aspirin is capable of inhibiting the activity of the enzyme cyclooxygenase which is responsible for the metabolism of arachidonic acid towards the production of prostaglandins. This shifts the metabolism of arachidonic acid to the other pathway and leads to an overproduction of leukotrienes. The leukotrienes act as stimulators of IL-3 production, a positive cytokine in pregnancy which enhances placental and fetal development. In the current study we evaluated the IL-3 levels in pregnant women with APS and expanded our knowledge on the interrelationships between aspirin, arachidonic acid metabolites and IL-3 in the human system. METHODS: IL-3 levels were recorded in the serum of pregnant women with APS and compared to a control pregnant group. In addition peripheral blood mononuclear cells from healthy subjects were incubated with different concentrations of aspirin or with arachidonic acid metabolites (Leukotriene B4, C4 or PGE₂), and IL-3 production in the culture fluids was evaluated. RESULTS: Serum level of IL-3 in pregnant patients with primary APS, APS secondary to SLE and SLE was lower in comparison to the control group. The in vitro studies revealed that only low dose aspirin (10 mg/μl) stimulated IL-3 production while higher doses of the drug failed to induce the cytokine generation. Leukotriene B4 and C4 were stimulatory whereas PGE₂ acted as inhibitor of IL-3 production. CONCLUSIONS: The serum level of IL-3 is decreased to pregnant women with primary or secondary APS. Low dose aspirin is capable of stimulating EL-3 production in vitro most probably through an elevation of leukotriene production, which may explain its beneficial activity in preventing the manifestations of APS.     

Effect of age on serum immunoglobulin G subclass antibody responses to inactivated influenza virus vaccine

We previously reported an age-associated impairment of serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody responses to inactivated influenza virus vaccine. The present study extends these observations by examining the IgG subclass distribution of vaccine responses measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay in healthy adults aged <40 (young), 40–64 (middle-aged), and ?65 (elderly) years. Serological responses in all age groups showed antibodies that were predominantly IgG1 and secondarily IgGS. Influenza antigen-specific IgG4 titers did not change following vaccination, and antibodies of the IgG2 subclass were not detected in any serum specimens. Aging was associated with a significant impairment of IgG1, but not of IgGS, antibody production. Relative differences in the magnitude and frequency of response between IgG1 and IgGS subclasses, which were present in young and middle-aged adults (viz., IgG1 > IgGS), were less apparent in the elderly. This observation was confirmed in a second analysis of IgG subclass-specific responses in a separate cohort of elderly vaccinees. These results suggest that the age-related impairment of humoral responses to inactivated influenza virus vaccine is primarily accounted for by differences in IgG1 antibody production, and that IgGS antibodies make up a larger proportion of the overall serologic response in the elderly than they do in younger persons. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Eccentric visual acuity in patients with macular disease

A series of cards each containing a two dimensional array of identical Snellen "E's" was used to determine best eccentric visual acuity in patients with macular disease having Snellen visual acuity of 20/70 or worse. Each "full field E" card simultaneously presents the same letter to foveal and parafoveal areas. This test can therefore determine quickly if potentially useful vision is present in any area of the central visual field. In our study of 37 eyes, 70% demonstrated potential visual acuity at least two times better than visual acuity measured by conventional methods, and 20% demonstrated at least a fourfold improvement. This suggests that most patients with macular disease do not spontaneously employ their best remaining area of retina for fixation.     

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N8) Virus Spread by Short- and Long-Range Transmission,France, 2016–17

We detected 3 genotypes of highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N8) virus in France during winter 2016–17. Genotype A viruses caused dramatic economic losses in the domestic duck farm industry in southwestern France. Our phylogenetic analysis suggests that genotype A viruses formed 5 distinct geographic clusters in southwestern France. In some clusters, local secondary transmission might have been started by a single introduction. The intensity of the viral spread seems to correspond to the density of duck holdings in each production area. To avoid the introduction of disease into an unaffected area, it is crucial that authorities limit the movements of potentially infected birds.