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B Bizzini

Publications and source records attributed to B Bizzini.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

Transsynaptic retrograde labeling in the oculomotor system of the monkey with [125I]tetanus toxin BIIb fragment.

The injection of radioactive [125I]tetanus toxin BIIb fragment into the extraocular eye muscles of monkeys led to strong retrograde labeling of motoneurons. In addition, two patterns of weaker labeling were found: (1) discrete deposits of silver grains associated with cell soma, and (2) diffuse deposits unrelated to cell bodies. The discrete cell soma labeling was found in all areas known to make synaptic contact with the retrogradely filled motoneurons, and is indicative of transsynaptic retrograde transport. The use of tetanus toxin as a transsynaptic retrograde tracer substance is shown here for the first time at the light microscopic level.

Animals↗

[Protective effect of P40 fraction of C. granulosum against leukemia L1210 in mice].

Administration of glutaraldehyde treated L1210 leukemia cells, either alone or coupled with tetanus toxoid by means of glutaraldehyde as well as L1210 cells inactivated by mitomycin, did not induce appreciable protection against a tumorigenic dose of L1210 cells. On the other hand, injection of P40 fraction of C. granulosum induced non-specific resistance to L1210 leukemia and increased the efficiency of specific immunization by either glutaraldehyde treated L1210 cells or cells coupled with tetanus toxoid. Injection of Freund's complete adjuvant resulted in increase of rate of mortality after challenge with L1210 cells.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗

Papain-derived fragment IIc of tetanus toxin: its binding to isolated synaptic membranes and retrograde axonal transport.

The papain-derived fragment IIc of tetanus toxin, which is immunologically identical to the B-IIb fragment, has previously been shown to bind gangliosides. As could be expected from its analogy with the B-IIb fragment, the IIc fragment was also found to bind to isolated synaptic membranes and to be transported retrogradely from the axonal endings within muscle to the motoneuronal perikarya. It is concluded that the IIc fragment--like the B-IIb fragment--might also serve as a specific carrier for chemical and chemotherapeutical agents into the central nervous system.

Afferent Pathways↗

Use of the B-IIb tetanus toxin derived fragment as a specific neuropharmacological transport agent.

It has been previously demonstrated that the non-toxic B-IIb tetanus toxin-derived fragment is transported retrogradely within neurons of the rat peripheral nervous system. In the present work we have shown that when a foreign polypeptide, in this case the Ibc tetanus toxin fragment, is coupled to B-IIb by a disulfide bond, it is transported retrogradely from the axonal endings within muscle to the motoneuronal perikarya. In contrast, Ibc fragment alone was found not to be transported. From these results we draw the conclusion that fragments like B-IIb may serve as specific carriers for chemical and chemotherapeutic agents into the central nervous system.

Animals↗

Tetanus toxin.

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Animals↗

Studies on untoward reactions to diphtheria and tetanus toxoids.

Adverse reactions to diphtheria and tetanus toxoids have frequently been reported. The cause of these reactions has been attributed to different factors, including sensitization by prior vaccination. However, this explanation does not hold for primary vaccination. In this case, undesirable reactions to diphtheria toxoid are most likely due to bacterial cellular fractions present in the vaccines. In fact, we were able to demonstrate that fortuitous contact with atoxigenic diphtheria strains can induce sensitization. Consequently, vaccination should be carried out with highly purified toxoids, so as to prevent untoward reactions due to the presence of impurities. It is also preferable to detoxify purified toxins, rather than to purify crude toxoids.

Adult↗

[Breast cancer: a dynamic approach of cellular immunity and immunostimulation with an immunoadjuvant: P40 fraction. (author's transl)].

The study of the immune status of breast cancer patients with delayed hypersensitivity skin tests reveals a clear immune deficiency in comparison with a reference patients group. This immunstatus was significantly improved by an immunstimulation with the P40 fraction. The responsive capacity to an immunstimulation appears independant of the lymphnodes involvment, whereas, on the contrary, the initial degree of immune deficiency appears connected. The P40 fraction has an immunstimulant effect comparable with the BCG and has not occasioned any local or general undesirable reaction.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗

[Variations in the phagocytic potency of circulating leukocytes from rats which received a thermal injury. Effects of an immunostimulation with Corynebacterium granulosum (author's transl)].

Experiments were carried out to study in vitro the variations of phagocytic activity of circulating leukocytes from rats which received a thermal injury and were either immunostimulated or not by a single iv injection of C. granulosum. The thermal injury which was applied at about 10 percent of the body surface was of an intermediary type ; it developed towards necrosis before cicatrising on about the 30th day. Phagocytic activity was expressed as the percentage of "active" phagocytes or of those cells which phagocytosed Sta. aureus and S. typhi murium. In not immunostimulated rats, the phagocytic activity was profoundly depressed as a result of the thermal injury ; this was most marked at about 8 days after the thermal injury (close to 38% compared with 80% in control-not-burned-rats). The phagocytic potency or circulating leukocytes from burned and immunostimulated rats corresponded at about the 8th day to that of healthy rats. The reported variations are statistically significant, as assessed by the Student "t" and X2 tests. Our study showed that those rats which were burned in our experimental conditions responded favourably to the immunostimulation. It would be interesting to check whether the use of anaerobic corynebacteria in man could represent an adjunct treatment of those septic complications which are so frequent in severe burns.

Animals↗

[Investigation of the immunity status towards tetanus of a population of mechanics at the car-factory "Renault" (author's transl)].

Tetanus immunity has been studied in a population of mechanics working at the car-factory "Renault". For the study, 283 individuals were divided into 3 groups. The first group consisted of non-vaccined individuals, the second of vaccinated individuals and the third of individuals who had been boostered. The influence of different parameters on tetanus immunity status was considered, i. e. the age of the subjects, the time at which boostering was given, the serotherapy (when it was administered) and the contact with machine lubricating and cooling fluids. Clostridium tetani bacilli and spores were frequently found in aqueous machine fluids. Their presence is a potential hazard for non-vaccinated mechanics coming to contact with the fluids. Tetanus antibody levels in the sera of the tested population were determined in vivo by the toxin neutralization test. The influence on tetanus immunity of the different parameters considered in this paper was subjected to statistical analysis. From the whole population, 27% of the individuals were found to have no protection against tetanus. When age was taken into account, 53% of the individuals over 45 years old and 10% of those under 45 years old were shown to be devoid of tetanus immunity. It could be shown that younger individuals were better protected than older ones, because the formers had been immunized with adsorbed tetanus toxoid and most of the latters with fluid toxoid. Of the individuals in the third group who had received a booster injection within 15 years after primo-vaccination, 98% showed protective tetanus antibody levels in their sera in contrast to 25% when boostering had occurred more than 15 years after primo-vaccination. Contact with machine fluids was found to influence the degree of immunity of only those individuals whose boostering dated back to more than 25 years. Unexpectedly, 3 mechanics seemed to develop immunity after coming into contact with machine fluids. From the results reported here, it is concluded that tetanus immunity in vaccinated individuals should be renewed by a compulsory booster injection given every 5, 10 or, at the minimum, 15 years. Moreover, high-risk populations such as that represented by the mechanics should be immunized or boostered on commencing employment.

Adult↗