Further search for virulence factors encoded by Salmonella serovar-specific plasmids.

The so called Salmonella virulence plasmids which are specifically prevalent among some of the S. enterica serovars were shown to contribute only marginally to the virulence make-up of salmonella, which is in contrast to Shigella and Yersinia spp. The experiments reported in this paper failed to find encoded plasmid factors which contribute to serum resistance, surface antigens, immunoinsufficiency or to up-regulation of chromosomally encoded factors such as toxins, surface antigens etc.

[-Cytokine level in malignant ascites and peripheral blood of patients with advanced ovarian carcinoma-].

The concentrations of various cytokines were examined by ELISA in blood and in ascites from 14 patients with advanced ovarian cancer (stage IV). The control group consisted of 6 patients with benign gynaecological disorders. Compared with patients with benign gynaecological disorders, ascites and/or plasma of patients with ovarian cancer showed significantly higher levels of IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, TNF-alpha, and sIL-2R.

Recombinant Treponema pallidum antigens in syphilis serology.

Treponema pallidum, the etiological agent of syphilis, is characterized by a paucity of surface exposed outer membrane proteins and a high content of cytoplasma membrane associated lipoproteins. At all stages of infection intense antibody responses against lipoproteins are detectable. In order to provide antigens for syphilis diagnosis the highly immunogenic lipoproteins TpN17, TpN29-35 (TpD), TpN44.

[Lymphohistiocytic infiltration of endometrial adenocarcinoma].

Mononuclear cells adjacent to endometrial adenocarcinoma were evaluated in 8 biopsies by the immunoperoxidase technique. Between benign and malignant tissue a remarkable infiltration of CD45+, CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, and CD14+ cells could be observed. B cells (CD19) and NK cells (CD57) were rare.

[Leukocyte and lymphocyte populations in peripheral blood and malignant ascites in patients with ovarian carcinoma].

Ascites and peripheral blood of 12 patients with advanced ovarian cancer (stage IV) have been investigated by two-color flow cytometry for leukocytes and lymphocyte subsets with monoclonal antibodies, against CD3, CD4, CD8, CD14, CD16/56, CD19, CD25, CD45, CD57, and HLA-DR. Ascites compared with blood showed a significant raise of CD3-positive lymphocytes (80 +/- 14% vs. 69 +/- 8%) and a significant reduction of CD57-positive lymphocytes (13.

[Effect of granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) on peripheral blood leukocytes and lymphocytes in patients with chemotherapy-induced leukopenia].

In patients with extensive chemotherapy, G-CSF abrogated leukopenia following administration of cytotoxic agents. Six women with ovarian cancer and chemotherapy-induced leukopenia received 300 micrograms Filgrastrim (r-metHuG-CSF, Neupogen 30; AMGEN, Germany) daily for 10 days. Leukocytes and lymphocyte subsets of peripheral blood were determined before, throughout and after subcutaneous injections of G-CSF by flow cytometry using monoclonal antibodies to CD3, CD4, CD8, CD14, CD16/56, CD19 and CD45.

[Determination of thyroglobulin autoantibodies using enzyme immunoassay, radioimmunoassay and passive hemagglutination].

A solid-phase enzyme immunoassay, a radioimmunoassay and the passive hemagglutination were tested for the determination of antithyroglobulin autoantibodies. The antibody-titres detected with these methods showed a good correlation. The sensitivities of the solid-phase immunoassays are four times higher than the sensitivity of the passive hemagglutination.

[Characterization of treponemal axial filament antigens using the Western blot].

Analysis by SDS-PAGE of axial filaments of cultivable treponemes showed 3 major bands: a 33/34 kD doublet and a 37 kD polypeptide. In sera from patients with various stages of syphilis, from biological false positive reactors, and from negative controls the most consistent reaction was detected against the doublet, but only sera from patients with primary or secondary syphilis reacted with the 37 kD axial filament polypeptides. About 6 weeks after antibiotic treatment sera had lost their reactivity with 37 kD antigens in agreement with decreasing antibodies in VDRL-test.

[Axial filament antigen enzyme immunoassay (AF-ELISA) in syphilis serology].

179 sera from patients with various stages of syphilis were investigated in the axial filament enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (AF-ELISA), the Treponema pallidum haemagglutination assay (TPHA), the fluorescence treponemal antibody absorption (FTA-ABS) test and the cardiolipin micro precipitation test (CMT). For the control of specificity 30 problem sera from non Treponema pallidum infected patients with a high quantity of Treponema genus specific antibodies and 40 sera from people without syphilis were also investigated. The sensitivity of the AF-ELISA (98.

[Incidence and significance of humoral antibodies in females with recurrent spontaneous abortions].

Serum samples from 70 patients with two or more early spontaneous abortions and, for comparison, sera from 20 healthy and fertile women were assayed by indirect immunofluorescence for the presence of antibodies to sperms and genital organ antigens and for non-organ specific and organ specific antibodies. All sera were tested for thyreoglobulin antibodies by hemagglutination. The frequency of sperm antibodies and autoantibodies was significantly higher in patients with recurrent abortions than in the control group.

[Clinical, immunologic and therapeutic aspects of endangiitis obliterans].

In the period of 1975-1983 twenty-three patients with thromboangiitis obliterans were examined at the Surgical Clinic of the Medical Academy of Magdeburg. The diagnosis was established clinically, angiographically histologically and immunologically. In 7 out of 12 patients histology revealed inflammatory vascular alterations including lymphocyte infiltrates throughout the entire vessel wall and also in the perivascular area.

[Determination of immune complexes in the serum of pregnant patients and puerperal females with EPH gestosis].

We analyzed the blood sera from 100 patients with EPH gestosis and from 50 women with normal pregnancy to explore the immunological reactions during gestosis. The sera of cord blood were included in the investigations. We determined the circulating immune complexes by conglutinin and C1q solid phase radioimmunoassay and by polyethyleneglycol precipitation.

[Detection of circulating immune complexes in patients with EPH gestosis or intrauterine fetal growth retardation].

Sera from 19 patients with EPH gestosis, 22 patients with hypotrophic newborns, and a control group of ten women with normal pregnancy and fetuses were studied for the presence of circulating immune complexes. Both the C1q solid-phase radioimmunoassay and the polyethylene glycol precipitation test revealed significantly higher levels of circulating immune complexes in both groups of patients.

[Effect of drugs on superoxide formation by neutrophilic granulocytes].

The in-vitro influence of drugs on the superoxide production of human neutrophils was investigated. The superoxide production is inhibited by colchicine, g-strophanthin, propranolol, fluphenazine and stimulated by levamisole and lithium. The superoxide production is inhibited or stimulated by chloramphenicol, hydrocortisone and amphotericin B in concentration dependent manner.

[Detection and differentiation of autoantibodies to extractable nuclear antigens with immunoenzyme tests].

Nuclear antigens were extracted from calf thymus with phosphate-buffered saline The 60-80% ammonium sulfate fraction (ASF) of thymus extract contained SS-B-, the 30-60% ASF Sm- and U1-RNP-, and the chromatographically purified 30-60% ASF only Sm antigen. With these fractions enzyme immunoassays were developed for quantitative determination of Sm-, U1-RNP-, and SS-B autoantibodies. Out of 144 sera with antinuclear antibodies 85% were positive in the enzyme immunoassays, 41% in immunofluorescence tests on liver sections (12% speckled, 29% homogeneous immunofluorescence pattern), and 10% in Ouchterlony tests.

[Pathogenetic mechanisms in autoimmune diseases].

In addition to an earlier review [Z. ges. inn.

[Animal experiment studies of the modification of pregnancy by heterologous antibodies to placental antigens].

Pregnancy impairment in mice with abortion and fetal resorption was caused by rabbit antibodies to total mitochondrial, mitochondrial membrane and microsomal fractions of mouse placentas injected intraperitoneally at 12-14 days of gestation. Antibodies to cytosol and soluble mitochondrial constituents were ineffective. According to the marker distribution in the biologically active and inactive fractions membrane-bound antigens are thought to be responsible for the abortigenic effect.

[Effect of drugs on granulocyte motility].

The in-vitro influence of drugs on the chemokinesis and chemotaxis of neutrophils was investigated in order to prevent additional drug-induced motility impairment of cells in cases of already existing host defense disorders and for an eventual specific treatment of motility defects. Granulocyte motility is unimpaired by penicillin, ampicillin, carbenicillin, streptomycin, nystatin, and cyclophosphamide. The chemokinesis and chemotaxis of neutrophils are inhibited by erythromycin, oxytetracycline, doxycycline, chloramphenicol, hydrocortisone, g-strophanthin, digoxin, and digitoxin and in higher concentrations also by sulfonamides, gentamycin, prednisolone, methylprednisolone, dexamethasone, and phenylbutazone.

Pregnancy impairment in mice by antibodies to subcellular placenta fractions.

The administration of rabbit antibodies to whole mitochondria, mitochondrial membranes, or microsomes of mice placentas at 12-14 days of gestation resulted in abortion or fetal resorption, whereas antibodies to administered cytosol, mitochondrial matrix, or the mitochondrial intermembrane fraction were ineffective. From the distribution of marker enzymes in the biologically active and inactive fractions the abortigenic antigens are thought to be membrane-associated. Because of insurmountable cross-reactivities of the heterologous antisera, the immunopathogenesis of abortion could not be adequately clarified.