Sociobiology and HLA genetic polymorphism in hill tribes, the Irula of the Nilgiri hills and the Malayali of the Shevroy hills, south India.

Two endogamous tribes of Tamil Nadu, South India, the Irula of the Nilgiri hills and the Malayali of the Shevroy hills, were studied for their sociobiology and HLA polymorphism. For sociobiological studies 166 marriages in the Irula and 368 marriages in the Malayali were recorded. The number and spatial distribution of patrilineal clans and their marriageable range (number of clans from which the brides came) were studied.

Spectrum of immune reactivity to mycobacterial (BCG) antigens in healthy hospital contacts in south India.

In an effort to study the immunological responses to antigens of tubercle bacilli, 49 tuberculin positive and 41 tuberculin negative hospital contacts aged 20-29 years (staff nurses and students working in Government Rajaji Hospital, Madurai, South India) were studied for serum antibodies (IgG, IgM and IgA classes) to BCG by ELISA and diameter of induration to PPD by Mantoux procedures. The two immunological parameters were correlated in regression analysis. The results have revealed higher anti-BCG serum antibody levels in hospital contacts than in non-contacts, significantly higher antibodies in tuberculin negative hospital contacts than in tuberculin positive hospital contacts, an inverse correlation of tuberculin reactivity and antibodies and a bimodal decline (regression) of antibodies against the increase in skin test induration.

Association of pulmonary tuberculosis and HLA in south India.

In 204 patients with smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis HLA-A10, B8 and DR2 were more frequently found than in 404 control subjects (p = 0.01); the greatest attributable risk (0.29) was associated with HLA-DR2.