Structural studies of a teichoic acid from Streptococcus agalactiae type III.

An unusual type of teichoic acid has been isolated from Streptococcus agalactiae type III. It has the same backbone as the lipoteichoic acid from Streptococcus faecalis, but is devoid of fatty acid residues, a phosphatidyl group, and substituents in the poly(glycerol phosphate) side-chain. The following structure, with n approximately 20, was determined mainly with the aid of n.

Intravenous immunoglobulin in the treatment of neonatal sepsis: therapeutic strategies and laboratory studies.

IGIV appears to have a promising future in treating and perhaps preventing neonatal bacterial infections. However, all IGIV lots do not contain equal amounts of pathogen-specific IgG with functional opsonic activity. To ensure effective therapy it will be important to inform physicians that the IGIV lots available for use contain functional antibacterial antibody to the responsible pathogens.

Analysis of the immune response to papain digestion products of tetanus toxin.

Tetanus toxin was degraded by papain and the previously characterized Fragment B and Fragment C were isolated. The induction of protective immunity against tetanus toxin was subsequently investigated in two animal models using Fragment B and Fragment C, as well as conventional tetanus toxoid for comparison. In guinea pigs, Fragment B showed an immunizing potency similar to that recorded for an equal amount of tetanus toxoid, whereas Fragment C was considerably less efficient, on an equal weight basis.

Serotype determinant protein of Neisseria Meningitidis. Large scale preparation by direct detergent treatment of the bacterial cells.

Neisseria meningitidis Group B microorganisms, inactivated with phenol and harvested by centrifugation, were subjected to direct treatment with various detergents to solubilize the serotype determinant proteins localized in the outer membrane. Analysis of the data showed that extraction of the cells with detergents provided yields of the serotype protein substantially exceeding those obtained by simple salt extraction of the bacteria. Routinely, more than 2 mg of end product per g of cell mass (wet weight) may be recovered by the present method.

Extracted protective antigen of Bordetella pertussis. I. Preparation and properties of the solubilized surface of components.

Bordetella pertussis microorganisms were treated with several extracting agents followed by ultracentrifugation to remove particulate matter. Analysis of the resulting supernatants by SDS gel electrophoresis showed one major component after simple salt extraction, and much more complex, although consistent pattern following detergent treatment. The yield of the solubilized protein in detergent extracts exceeded by far the values recorded for salt extracts.