Detection of leukemic antigens by hypersensitivity assay.

Leukemic antigens were obtained from organs derived from lymphoblastic leukemia by extraction and immunosorption on columns containing anti-human tissue immunoglobulins. Guinea pigs were sensitized with these antigens and then challenged with the extracts from leukemic or normal organs and with leukemic, syphilitic or normal sera via intradermal route. It was noted that about 80% of leukemic organ extracts and over 50% of leukemic sera elicited strong dermal hypersensitivity reaction in animals sensitized with the immunoadsorbed leukemic antigen preparations.

The effect of microbial antigens on elicitation of leukemia in mice.

Repeated injections of microbial polysaccharide-nucleoproteins into mice elicited progressive hyperplasia of the reticuloendothelial system and fulminating proliferation of undifferentiated cells in the spleen, lymph nodes and liver, displaying the pathology of acute leukemia and resulting in the death of afflicted animals within a few months. It is postulated that long-lasting exposures to microbial antigens of the individuals genetically predisposed to leukemia may present a mechanism for its pathogenesis.

Studies on circulating gonococcal antibodies and antigens.

One hundred human sera obtained from acute gonococcal disease and 100 sera from nongonococcal diseases or healthy persons were concentrated four times and examined for the presence of circulating gonococcal antigens and antibodies by means of a counterimmunoelectrophoresis (CIE) and delayed hypersensitivity assay. Antibodies reacting with cytoplasmic gonococcal antigens were detected by CIE in 92% of sera received from patients suffering from acute gonococcal disease. Gonococcal antigens were found in the concentrated sera of 82.

Microbial-like antigens in human leukemia.

Antigens present in leukemic sera and organ extracts, but absent from non-leukemic sera and tissues, were detected by examining their reactions with anti-microbial antisera by means of counter-immunoelectrophoresis. Out of 110 different antisera used, 12 antisera, those produced against Micropolyspora, Coccidioides, Salmonella, Mycoplasma, Mycobacterium simiae, Absidia, pseudorabies virus and adenovirus, proved to react regularly with the leukemic sera. Absorption studies point to an immunological specificity of these cross-antigenicities.

Immune responses to soluble antigens of treponemes.

Sonicates from five cultivable treponemes were used as antigens in delayed hypersensitivity tests and macrophage inhibition assays. Immunodiffusion analysis showed that the sonicate comprised two major antigenic components which were not distinguishable in the skin tests. The sonicate antigens elicited significant cell-mediated immunity in guinea-pigs.