Bacillus subtilis enzymes: a 7-year clinical, epidemiological and immunological study of an industrial allergen.
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Bacillus subtilis↗
Biomedical subjects
B F Goodwin
Publications and source records attributed to B F Goodwin.
RAST using crude and purified anti-IgE.
The sensitivity of the RAST using anti-IgE in 125I-labelled IgG fractions of sheep antiserum was compared to that using anti-IgE purified by immunosorbent techniques in tests with three allergens (grass pollens, Aspergillus fumigatus and the detergent enzyme "Alcalase") on sera from 248 workers in a detergent factory. Both anti-IgE reagents measure the same antibody but the RAST procedure using the crude anti-IgE reagent is less sensitive than that using the immunosorbent-purified anti-IgE in its ability to detect circulating IgE in subjects with positive skin-prick tests. In general the agreement between positive RAST and positive skin test was improved when only skin tests equal to or greater than 3 mm were considered positive. With Alcalase, antigen non-specific binding by the crude anti-IgE reagent may give false positive results. Optimal conditions for the preparation of allergosorbents with this allergen are defined. Predictive equations relating the results of RAST and skin test show that the hitherto arbitrary definition of a positive RAST result is statistically valid.
Allergens↗
Structure-activity relationships in allergic contact dermatitis.
Skin sensitization by simple chemicals involves reaction with nucleophilic groups on skin proteins or possibly on proteins in cell membranes to form haptenic groups, which act as allergenic determinants. A quantitative model for sensitization by 'alkylating agents', the RAI (Relative Alkylation Index) theory, has been devised and applied to the sensitization observed with three model series of compounds--p-nitrobenzyl halides and saturated and unsaturated sultones. Examination of chemical structures, and predictions of the types of chemical reaction that substances may undergo, can be used to assess the likely reactivity of unknown materials towards skin proteins. In addition such examinations of structure may be used to assess the likely cross-reactivity of materials. The pro-hapten concept of Dupuis & Benezra (Allergic Contact Dermatitis to Simple Chemicals. A Molecular Approach. Marcel Dekker, New York) offers an explanation for the sensitization potential of substances that do not contain chemically reactive groups prior to in vivo conversion and for cross-reactions between apparently unrelated chemicals.
Alkylation↗