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H Kumar

Publications and source records attributed to H Kumar.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

A monoclonal antibody-based enzyme immunoassay for detecting parasite antigenemia in bancroftian filariasis.

We evaluated a monoclonal antibody-based enzyme immunoassay for detecting soluble parasite antigen in sera collected in an area in South India endemic for Wuchereria bancrofti. Filarial antigen was detected in sera from 56 of 57 microfilaremic patients, 9 of 64 aminofilaremic patients with clinical filariasis, and 11 of 70 endemic controls. Antigen was not detected in sera from patients from nonendemic areas who had a variety of other filarial and nonfilarial helminth infections. Parasite antigen titers were significantly correlated with microfilarial counts in night blood smears (r = .64, P less than .01). Negative antigen tests in patients with clinical filariasis may be explained in part by antibody-mediated clearance of circulating antigen. Antibodies to circulating W. bancrofti antigen were detected in 41 of 55 antigen-negative sera from patients with clinical filariasis. Despite this limitation, detecting parasite antigen by enzyme immunoassay provides significant advantages over previously available methods for diagnosing active W. bancrofti infection.

Antibodies

Evaluation of specific humoral immune responses in human filariasis.

Using the antigens prepared from adult worms of B. malayi and D. immitis, a total of 37 malayan and 150 bancroftian serum samples were analysed for the presence of filarial specific antibodies by counterimmunoelectrophoresis and indirect enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. It was observed that microfilaraemic cases do show good specific humoral immune responses against homologous as well as heterologous antigen. Of the two antigens used, B. malayi adult antigen was found to be superior to D. immitis antigen in the detection of filarial antibodies.

Animals

Detection of circulating parasite antigen in bancroftian filariasis by counterimmunoelectrophoresis.

We used counterimmunoelectrophoresis (CIEP) with rabbit antibodies to Dirofilaria immitis and Brugia malayi to detect soluble filarial antigen in sera collected in a Wuchereria bancrofti-endemic area in South India. Filarial antigen was detected in 38 of 38 sera from microfilaremic patients, 3 of 48 sera from amicrofilaremic patients with lymphatic pathology, and 3 of 5 sera from former microfilaria carriers with negative blood examinations 6 months or more after diethylcarbamazine therapy. One of 32 endemic control sera, 0 of 35 nonendemic sera, and 0 of 20 B. malayi sera were positive. Antigenemia was equally detectable in sera collected at night or during the day (when microfilariae are absent from the blood). Parasite antigen was also detected in the urine of patients with positive serum tests. Antibodies to circulating filarial antigen (also detected by CIEP) were absent in all but 2 antigen-positive sera but present in 22 of 45 antigen-negative sera from clinical filariasis patients and in 9 of 31 antigen-negative sera from endemic controls. Parasite antigen detection by CIEP appears to be a sensitive, specific, and practical diagnostic test for active W. bancrofti infection.

Antibodies

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Effect of spermidine on the conformation of bacteriophage MS2 RNA. Electron microscopy and computer modeling.

The structure of single-stranded RNA from the bacteriophage MS2 has been examined by electron microscopy in the presence of the polyamine spermidine. The molecules are found in two alternate conformations. The first of these can be characterized as a cruciform structure composed of three large loops approximately 500 to 700 nucleotides in size. The interior of the molecule has extensive base-paired regions which connect distant regions of the molecule; the farthest being 2500 nucleotides apart. In the second conformation, the molecules appear rod-like. Two of the large loops disappear, and these regions form, instead, extensive long-range helices. Computer modeling has been employed to explore the base-pairing potential of the sequence of bacteriophage MS2 RNA. Double-stranded regions identified by electron microscopy are shown to occur in local G + C-rich stretches of the RNA. Detailed models have been calculated for two regions of long-range contact. One of these includes the ribosome-binding site for the viral coat protein gene. The results are discussed in the context of the known role of RNA structure in the regulation of viral gene expression.

Bacteriophages