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Biomedical subjects

H M Johnson

Publications and source records attributed to H M Johnson.

At least 217 records · Page 12Linked to original sources

Antigenic relationships among strains of Vibrio parahaemolyticus.

The antigenic relationships of 79 strains of Vibrio parahaemolyticus representing 46 assigned K-types were studied by tube agglutination. Homologous titers of 46 anti-K sera ranged from 80 to 2,560. All but three sera exhibited from one to six heterologous reactions, the majority of which gave titers of </=20, but 19 sera showed cross-reactions whose titers exceeded 40. Nine reciprocal and 16 unilateral relationships were described. Some of the cross-reactions involved heat-extractable K-antigens, as determined by absorption with nonheated and heated heterologous antigens, whereas others did not involve K-antigens since absorption with the heterologous antigens had no effect on the homologous systems. On the basis of the reactions of selected antisera to the O-antigens of some of the K-strains, the cross-reactions could not be explained solely on the basis of O-specificities.

Adsorption↗

Antigenic cross-reactivity of staphylococcal enterotoxins.

The antigenic cross-reactivity of staphylococcal enterotoxins types A, B, and C was assessed using anti-A and anti-B antitoxins in the solid-phase radioimmunoassay test. Heterologous reactions were observed. At the 33% inhibition level, B was 18,000 and 5,400 times more effective as an inhibitor in its homologous system than were the heterologous enterotoxins A and C, respectively. Similarly, in the A system, A enterotoxin was 55,000 and 25,000 times more effective than were B and C toxins, respectively, in inhibiting A-anti-A reactions.

Animals↗

Staphylococcal enterotoxin B: solid-phase radioimmunoassay.

An immunoassay employing (125)I-labeled enterotoxin B and polystyrene tubes coated with specific antibody was used for assaying purified and crude enterotoxin. Antibody was adsorbed to untreated polystyrene tubes. Unlabeled enterotoxin competed with (125)I-labeled enterotoxin for antibody-combining sites. The uptake of (125)I-labeled toxin reflected the concentration of unlabeled toxin present. The test is sensitive to 1 to 5 ng of purified and crude enterotoxin B per ml, and cross-reactions with heterologous enterotoxins did not interfere with the specificity. This test possesses the combination of sensitivity and objectivity absent in current methods for assaying enterotoxin and provides a model for investigating other enterotoxin serotypes.

Animals↗

Immunochemistry of a formamide-extracted antigen from Clostridium perfringens cell walls.

The type-specific antigen of a strain of Clostridium perfringens involved in food poisoning was isolated from the cell wall by the use of hot formamide. The antigen appears to consist of polysaccharide or mucopeptide. The formamide extract was shown to be heterogeneous by gel filtration on Sephadex G-200. The serologically active fraction contained about 25% of the amount of protein present in the original formamide extract. Hexosamine, acetyl groups, and carbohydrate also were detected. The formamide extract showed a high degree of serological activity. The serological activity was increased twofold on Sephadex gel filtration.

Alkynes↗

Enterotoxin B: serological assay in cultures by passive hemagglutination.

Bis-diazotized benzidine hemagglutination with Formalinized sheep erythrocytes was adapted to the rapid and specific detection of enterotoxin B in staphylococcal culture fluids. There was complete agreement between hemagglutination inhibition (HI) and gel diffusion in detecting 8 enterotoxin B-positive cultures from a total of 68 staphylococcal cultures tested. The sensitivity of HI equals or exceeds that of gel diffusion. Also, results can be obtained in several hours, even with extremely low concentrations of enterotoxin, whereas it may require 24 hr to 1 week to obtain comparable results with gel diffusion. Problems associated with the presence of potent hemagglutinins for sheep erythrocytes in several staphylococcal culture fluids are discussed.

Amines↗

Serological studies of types A, B, and E botulinal toxins by passive hemagglutination and bentonite flocculation.

Johnson, H. M. (Robert A. Taft Sanitary Engineering Center, Cincinnati, Ohio), K. Brenner, R. Angelotti, and H. E. Hall. Serological studies of types A, B, and E botulinal toxins by passive hemagglutination and bentonite flocculation. J. Bacteriol. 91:967-974. 1966.-Formalinized sheep red blood cells (SRBC), sensitized with types A, B, and E botulinal toxoids and toxins by bis-diazotized benzidine (BDB), were tested against A, B, and E antitoxins prepared in horses and rabbits. Type B antitoxin cross-reacted with A toxoid SRBC, but the reciprocal cross-reaction was not observed. E toxin SRBC were specifically agglutinated by E antitoxin. Flocculation of antigen-sensitized bentonite particles was less sensitive in titration of antitoxin than hemagglutination. Also, reciprocal cross-reactions were observed between types A and B antitoxins. Cross-reactions in both serological tests were eliminated by titration of antitoxins in the presence of the heterologous antigens, with no inhibitory effect on the homologous antitoxins. Generally, equine antitoxins were less suitable for agglutinations, especially of antigen-sensitized bentonite particles. Types A, B, and E antitoxins were specifically inhibited by 43, 39, and 245 mouse ld(50) of their respective homologous toxins in the hemagglutination-inhibition test. A, B, and E antitoxins were specifically inhibited by 500, 950, and 1,500 mouse ld(50) of their respective homologous toxins in bentonite flocculation inhibitions. Formalinized SRBC sensitized with rabbit types A and B antitoxins by BDB were respectively clumped by as little as 0.75 to 1.3 mouse ld(50) of A toxin and 2.3 ld(50) of B toxin, whereas bentonite particles sensitized by the same antitoxins were specifically clumped by 150 ld(50) of A toxin and 630 ld(50) of B toxin. E antitoxin sensitization of SRBC or bentonite particles was not successful. Evidence is presented that indicates that the serological procedures are applicable to the detection of botulinal toxins in food.

Animals↗

Gamma-interferon is one of several direct B cell-maturing lymphokines.

Two classes of molecules often released after the interaction of T lymphocytes, macrophages and antigen are B-cell maturation factors (BMF)1-3 and immune (gamma) interferon (IFN-gamma)4-7. BMFs directly induce the maturation of resting B lymphocytes to the state of active immunoglobulin secretion, while IFN-gamma is defined by the reduction of viral infectivity in vitro. However, interferons have been shown to have a variety of effects and they have also been reported both to increase and decrease B-cell differentiation in intact animals and complex cellular mixtures in vitro. Here we show that murine IFN-gamma produced by recombinant DNA technology shows similar biological effects to BMFs from two other sources. All three preparations induce immunoglobulin secretion by both normal resting murine splenic B cells and the comparable B-cell tumour line WEHI-279.1 (refs 1, 3). IFN-gamma and the other two BMFs are not identical, however, as anti-IFN-gamma antibodies block the effects on B cells of IFN-gamma, but not those of the other two lymphokines. IFN-gamma may be one of several molecules with a direct role in driving the maturation of resting B cells to active immunoglobulin secretion.

Animals↗