Vaccination of grasscutters with a multicomponent clostridial vaccine.

Grasscutter serum antibodies against Clostridium perfringens beta-toxin were titrated in an enzyme immunoassay. The procedure that is currently used for vaccinating domesticated grasscutters is discussed.

Diagnosis of human African trypanosomiasis and visceral leishmaniasis based on the detection of anti-parasite-enzyme antibodies.

A sensitive diagnostic assay for parasitic infections based on the detection of anti-enzyme antibodies is presented. All serum antibodies produced in response to parasite antigens are immobilized via their Fc domain on matrix-bound protein G. Incubation of the immobilized antibodies with saturating amounts of parasite extract results in the binding of all recognized antigens, including those directed against a specific and readily measurable enzyme.

Transferrin is a growth factor for the bloodstream form of Trypanosoma brucei.

A method for the selective depletion of transferrin from bovine serum is presented. Bloodstream forms of Trypanosoma brucei cannot grow in medium containing transferrin-deficient serum, whereas reconstitution with transferrin restores normal growth. We conclude that transferrin is an essential growth factor for the mammalian stage of the parasite.

Suppressive macrophages occurring in murine Trypanosoma brucei infection inhibit T-cell responses in vivo and in vitro.

Intraperitoneal injection of Trypanosoma brucei AnTat 1.1 into mice of the C3H.He, BALB/c or C57BL/6 strains resulted in impaired immune responses from day 3 onwards, as measured by the reduction in DNA synthesis in spleen cell populations stimulated with concanavalin A (Con-A) in vitro.

Analysis of Propionibacterium acnes-induced non-specific immunity to Trypanosoma brucei in mice.

Mice treated with dead Propionibacterium acnes (previously called Corynebacterium parvum), up to 30 days before infection with any of three strains of Trypanosoma brucei, were more able to limit the level of first-wave parasitaemia than untreated controls. Reduced parasitaemia was not due to enhanced phagocytosis of input parasites and was associated with a dramatic reduction in the proportion of multiplying T. brucei in the blood of treated as compared to control mice.