Biomedical subjects

H C Huber

Publications and source records attributed to H C Huber.

34 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed1975

[An attenuated strain of vaccinia virus (MVA). Successful intramuscular immunization against vaccinia and variola (author's transl)].

The attenuated MVA strain of vaccinia virus was previously shown to be innocuous and immunogenic at intracutaneous injection. It was therefore suggested for clinical trial. Preliminary results in human vaccinees are promising. The present experiments were initiated to study the intramuscular injection of the vaccine as a preferable route of administration. Histological examination was done in rabbits and monkeys. At the site of injection there were but minor inflammatory reactions considerably less pronounced than after the injection of commercial tetanus vaccine which was used for comparison. Intramuscular immunization with strain MVA repeated twice protected rabbits against an intravenous challenge with vaccinia strain Elstree; monkeys were protected against experimental smallpox. Intramuscular immunization with attenuated smallpox vaccine is suggested for clinical trial.

Animals↗

PubMed1975

[Sensitization against the antigens of the brain after experimental vaccinia infection. I. Evidence for cell-mediated immune response to brain-antigens (author's transl)].

Vaccinia virus infection was performed by scarification of the shaved skin (5 times 5 cm2) on the back of Pirbright guinea pigs. The macrophage migration inhibition test was performed with peritonealexudate cells 7, 11, 14 and 21 days after infection. Macrophage migration inhibition occurred after exposure of the cells to whole brain tissue antigen on the 7th, 11th, 14th day after infection (s. table 1). Lymphocyte transformation responses were examined by 14C-2-Thymidin uptake using blood cultures and basic encephalitogenic protein and whole brain tissue extract as antigens. A positive transformation response could be demonstrated from one to 8 weeks after infection (s. table 2). The specificity of the transformation response to brain antigen was established using control cultures stimulated with PHA or PPD. In no case stimulation occured with PPD. Stimulation with PHA was not altered. On the other hand the spontaneous lymphocyte transformation was enhanced at one week after infection and lymphocyte cultures exposed to heat inactivated vaccinia virus showed transformation from the 3th week after infection until the end of the observation period (i.e. 8 weeks) (s. table 2). The reason why cell mediated hypersensitivity to brain antigen is induced following vaccinia infection remains unknown. The most probable among several possible mechanisms seem a) the induction of virus-specific antigens on the surface of infected cells or b) the release of brain specific antigen through virus infection.

Administration, Topical↗

PubMed1975

[Sensitization against the antigens of the brain after experimental vaccinia infection. II. Humoral anti-brain antibodies and morphological changes in the CNS (author's transl)].

29 guinea pigs, strain Pirbright, were infected with vaccinia virus, strain Elstree, by the dermal route. The observation period was 14 days. Thereafter, the animals were killed and their central nervous systems (CNS) histologically and immunohistologically, the blood fluorescence-serologically examined. Histological examination revealed meningitis, ependymitis or disseminated meningoencephalitis with slight perivascular cuffing in 72% of the animals. The viral antigen was found in 3 animals (10%). It was present most often in the cytoplasma of the arachnoidal and/or ependymal cells, as well as in the cells of the vessel walls and less often in the glial and/or nerve cells. The infected cells showed no severe degenerative changes. The blood-brain-barrier displayed localized disturbances. The examination of the myelin sheaths revealed disseminated foci of disappearance of myelin fluorescence in the perivascular, paraventricular and subcortical regions. Antibodies directed against myelin sheaths, or nerve cells could be detected in the sera of 48% of the animals. The results give evidence that the vaccinia infection is capable to induce a potentially pathogenic autoimmune reaction directed against brain. Such an immunomechanism can be triggered without any signs of acute lytic infection of the CNS. The mechanism and significance of this reaction are discussed.

Animals↗

PubMed1974