New Methods of Morphometric Analyses on Scyphozoan Jellyfish Statoliths Including the first Direct Evidence for Statolith Growth Using Calcein as a Fluorescent Marker.

Statoliths are the only hard structures in the gelatinous bell of most scyphozoan medusae and investigations on these structures could promote investigations of the understudied population dynamics and phylogeny of jellyfish. We examined the statoliths of Aurelia aurita jellyfish of different ages by light microscopic and microtomographic measurements supplemented by scanning electron microscopy. The morphometric analyses confirmed that statolith numbers and sizes increase during jellyfish development and revealed that newly-formed statoliths had similar shapes that may change during statolith growth.

Inhibition of superoxide production in human polymorphonuclear leukocytes by oral treponemal factors.

The inhibition of superoxide (O2-) production by human peripheral blood polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) in the presence of oral treponemes, their cellular components, and their culture supernatants was investigated. Superoxide production was inhibited 56% by a 25-microgram/ml phenol extract of a human clinical isolate. Inhibition by culture supernatants of both the clinical isolate and a reference strain was related to the bacterial phase of growth and viability, though inhibition also persisted in the decline phase.

Rapid and direct detection of herpes simplex virus and varicella-zoster virus antigens in clinical specimens by staphylococcal reagent and membrane filtration.

Herpes simplex virus was detected rapidly and directly in 31 and varicella-zoster virus in two of 50 clinical specimens using specific antisera, stabilized staphylococci rich in protein A and membrane filtration. Microscopical examination of the cells retained on the filter membrane revealed attached staphylococci only on cells harbouring viral antigens but not on non-infected cells or cells from healthy donors. Infected cells treated with negative control sera and stabilized staphylococci and subsequently subjected to membrane filtration were also devoid of the marker.

Rapid detection of herpes simplex virus and varicella-zoster virus in clinical specimens by the use of Staphylococcus aureus rich in protein A.

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 1 and type 2 and varicella-zoster virus (VZV) were detected in cytospin preparations from clinical material by using specific antisera and Staphylococcus aureus, Cowan 1 strain, rich in protein A (SRA). Virus was isolated in tissue culture from 22 of the 30 specimens submitted for examination. Eighteen isolates showed cytopathic effect characteristic of HSV infection and 4 of VZV.

Modulation of human lymphocyte transformation by bacterial products and leukocyte lysates.

Blast transformation of human peripheral blood lymphocytes by PHA is shown to be modulated by lipoteichoic acid (LTA) of Streptococcus mutans, by a cell-sensitizing factor of Actinomyces viscosus, as well as by a frozen and thawed extract of human leukocytes (LE). While small amounts of LE (5-50 micrograms/10(6) cells) significantly enhanced PHA-induced transformation, higher amounts showed a lesser effect on the blastogenic response. Both LTA and the A.

The use of Staphylococcus aureus rich in protein A in the detection of herpes simplex virus antigens.

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 1 antigens were detected in infected human embryonic lung cells with the aid of specific antiserum and Staphylococcus aureus rich in protein A. When such staphylococci carrying specific anti-HSV IgG on their surface were interacted with various suspension of virus, a reduction in the initial virus titre of about 65% was obtained. However, no direct coagglutination was observed between cell-free supernatants of HSV or HSV-infected cells and sensitized staphylococci.

Coagglutination and indirect hemagglutination in the detection of an excreted immunologically active substance from Leishmania.

The methods of coagglutination and indirect hemagglutination were used to detect the production of the immunologically active excreted factor (EF) of Leishmania. Staphylococci, rich in protein A and sensitized with specific anti-Leishmania antibodies, coagglutinated with supernatant fractions of cultures, thus enabling continuous monitoring of the excretion of EF by multiplying parasites. Papain-treated human red blood cells, sensitized with crude or purified EF, also agglutinated with the coagglutination reagent.

Bacteriolytic activity of human gingival exudate.

We investigated the bacteriolytic activity of gingival crevicular fluid (CF) on 14C-labeled Streptococcus faecalis, Streptococcus mutans, Staphylococcus aureus, and on whole dental plaque. CF was collected from 100 healthy donors pooled and centrifuged at 200 g. CF supernate and a frozen and thawed extract of the pellet were interacted with the different bacterial strains, while Streptococcus faecalis and Staphylococcus aureus released 60% and 75% of the radioactive label, only 38% of it was solubilized from Streptococcus mutans, following their incubation with the CF supernate.

Inflammatory lesions and bone resorption induced in the rat periodontium by lipoteichoic acid of Streptococcus mutans.

Severe inflammatory lesions were induced in the periodontal tissues of the rat following the intragingival injection of lipoteichoic acid (LTA) from Streptococcus mutans. There was no difference in the severity and distribution of the lesions between nonimmunized rats and animals immunized against LTA after antigenic challenge. The lesions are characterized by the occurrence of granulation tissue, massive infiltration of PMNs, abscess formation, bone resorption, and new bone formation.

Comparison and evaluation of fluorescent antibody techniques in the detection of herpes simplex virus in oral infection.

This article deals with the reliability and applicability of fluoroscopy in the diagnosis of herpetic lesions of the oral cavity. The reported results are based on a clinical experiment performed on fifty-two lesions suspected to be of herpetic origin. Three different methods were compared for detection of the possible presence of the virus--cytologic, virologic, and immunofluorescent.

Excretion of liver antigens in the urine of patients with hepatic diseases.

Liver antigens were detected in the urine of 4 of 42 patients with various liver diseases. The urine of 25 healthy subjects and patients with diseases not affecting the liver was devoid of antigens in detectable amounts. The presence of hepatic antigens in the urine did not correlate with severity of jaundice and SGOT levels but correlated with parenchymal necrosis and was associtated with a high mortaltiy.

Experimental allergic sialoadenitis. IX. The regional lymph nodes after antigenic challenges of the parotid glands in rats.

The regional lymph nodes of the parotid gland of rats were examined histologically. The nodes were removed from untreated animals or rats given instillations of BSA or saline into the parotid duct. Anti-BSA antibodies were assessed in the saliva and serum.

Experimental allergic sialoadenitis. VII. Reactivity of the parotid gland to antigenic challenge in passively immunized rats.

Rats were passively immunized by an intraperitoneal injection of homologous anti-BSA serum and their salivary glands were challenged 20 min or 24 hours later with BSA by the intraductal route. Immune complex sialoadenitis developed only when challenge was early. It is concluded that immunoglobulins are transferred from the circulation into the salivary glands and are relatively rapidly cleared by a mechanism yet unknown, possibly by salivary flow.

Antigenic identity of alpha-macrofetoprotein and acute phase protein in the rat.

Antisera were raised in rabbits against rat embryonic blood and inflammatory serum. The antisera, made specific by absorption procedures, were cross reacted with embryonic blood and inflammatory serum. A reaction of identity between alpha-macrofetoprotein and acute phase protein was demonstrated.

Alpha-M-fetoprotein in serum of rats after experimental manipulation in the oral cavity.

Alpha-M-fetoprotein (AMFP) was detected in the serum of rats subjected to intraoral manipulations, i.e., instillations into the parotid gland and injections into the gingival mucosa of saline or foreign proteins.

Antibodies in the saliva after antigenic challenge of the parotid gland of systemically sensitized rats.

Anti-BSA antibodies were detected in the parotid saliva of untreated rats. In non-sensitized animals, the parotid duct of which was repeatedly instilled with saline or BSA, the antibody titers rose significantly. Introduction of BSA into the parotid gland of sensitized animals was followed by a significant rise in salivary but not in circulating antibodies.

Placental antigens and fetoproteins in the urine of rats - indicators of resorption of conceptuses.

Placenta-specific antigens and alpha-fetoprotein were detected in the urine of rats with induced abnormal pregnancies. Moreover, in those cases, in which the presumptive diagnosis of intrauterine fetal death or resorption was made, urinary excretion of placental antigens persisted for at least 5 days.

Alpha-foetoprotein in rats with nephrotoxic serum nephritis.

Alpha-foetoprotein was detected by double immunodiffusion in the serum and urine of rats with nephrotoxic serum nephritis. The livers of these animals were essentially normal but immunohistologically AFP was demonstrated in hepatocytes. Furthermore, fixation of AFP was also found in the glomeruli of these nephritic animals.