Purification and partial characterization of an IgM-like serum immunoglobulin from Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar).

An IgM-like immunoglobulin was isolated from pooled sera collected from healthy Atlantic salmon. The immunoglobulin was purified by means of gel filtration followed by ion-exchange chromatography. It eluted from the ion-exchange column as two distinct peaks, but the two IgMs seems to be identical in their molecular natures except for net charge.

Intrathecal synthesis of antibodies to staphylococcal antigens in multiple sclerosis patients.

Human serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) antibodies against three staphylococcal antigens were measured using the ELISA technique. Antibody levels in sera from patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) were lower than those found in sera from patients with other neurological diseases (OND) and from healthy individuals (N). The CSF antibody mean titres for patients with relapsing remittent MS were about twofold higher than those found for the other groups.

The mitogenic properties of lipoteichoic acid from Staphylococcus aureus.

Lipoteichoic acid (LTA) isolated from Staphylococcus aureus Cowan I induced an in vitro blastogenic response in isolated mononuclear cells (MNC). Seventeen of 20 normal donors responded strongly, with peak response after 3-5 days of incubation. Significant stimulation was also obtained with human cord blood MNC from 3 donors, further indicating that the stimulation was due to a general mitogenic effect.

Antibodies to lipoteichoic acid from Staphylococcus aureus. Specificity of murine monoclonal and human antibodies.

Two monoclonal antibodies against staphylococcal lipoteichoic acid (LTA) were made by fusing P3X63Ag8 myeloma cells and splenocytes from mice immunized with purified LTA. Both were isotyped as being IgM kappa. Their specificities were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays indicating that both antibodies reacted with the glycerol-phosphate backbone, while one of them also had some affinity for the alanyl substituent.

Antibodies to Staphylococcus aureus peptidoglycan and lipoteichoic acid in sera from blood donors and patients with staphylococcal infections.

An enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA) was used to detect antibodies in human sera to Staphylococcus aureus peptidoglycan (PG) and lipoteichoic acid (LTA). All the sera from the blood donors contained IgG antibodies to both substances. Among the sera from 34 patients with bacteriologically verified, serious S.