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Biomedical subjects

J D Wetherall

Publications and source records attributed to J D Wetherall.

32 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

A rapid procedure for the isolation of human sex steroid binding protein.

A three stage procedure is described which provides a rapid, simple, and reliable means to isolate sex steroid binding protein from human serum. Purification is achieved by the sequential use of affinity chromatography, isoelectric focusing in granulated gels and ion exchange chromatography. Between 3--4 mg of protein can be recovered from one litre of pregnancy serum without four days. A molecular radius of 2.98 nm and an apparent molecular mass of 91 000 were obtained for the purified native protein by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. A value of 50 000 was obtained for the molecular mass of the reduced protein by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulphate. The purified protein was used to prepare a monospecific rabbit antiserum and a murine monoclonal antibody. Partial characterisation of the latter has been achieved.

Animals↗

HLA antigens and the response to influenza A virus.

An attempt was made to confirm a previously reported association between HLA type B16 and resistance to infection with live attenuated influenza A virus vaccine. No differences were found either in the ability of influenza virus to attach to fractionated white blood cells from HLB B16 subjects compared to cells from subjects of other HLA types, nor in the incidence of antibodies to three consecutive epidemic strains of influenza in sera from B16 subjects and control subjects. The association between HLA B16 and resistance to influenza could not be confirmed in a retrospective analysis of a clinical trial of a live attenuated influenza vaccine.

Adsorption↗

HLA in systemic lupus erythematosus: influence on severity.

Forty-four patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) were classified as mild or more severe on the basis of renal biopsy changes and the degree of proteinuria. The HLA phenotype A2 plus B7 was associated with the mild cases, while A1 plus B8 was associated with more severe disease. These findings suggest that immunogenetic factors are important in determining the severity of SLE and that combinations of HLA-A and -B locus antigens may be significant in HLA disease associations.

Adolescent↗

Experimental aspergillosis in rats infected via intraperitoneal and subcutaneous routes.

Normal adult rats infected via the subcutaneous (s.c.) route with viable spores of Aspergillus fumigatus develop serum antibodies, measured by passive haemagglutination and passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA), to extracts of the fungus. No significant histological abnormality was detected but s.c. inoculation in cortisone-treated animals induced the formation of granulomas frequently found in lymph nodes including those of the mesentery and paratracheal group. These granulomas were associated with the presence of both spores and fungal hyphae. Intraperitoneal inoculation of A. fumigatus spores occasionally produced lesions containing hyphae in the liver, spleen and mesenteric lymph nodes. Lesions were more frequent and extensive in cortisone-treated rats where again they were most prominent in the mesenteric lymph nodes. None of the regimes produced fatal hyphal aspergillosis. Both normal and cortisone-treated rats developed serum agglutinins but not reagins following intraperitoneal injection of spores.

Animals↗

Microsatellite analysis of genetic diversity in wild and farmed Emus (Dromaius novaehollandiae).

The emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae) occupies most regions of the Australian continent and in recent times has been farmed for meat, oil, and leather. Very little is known about the genetic structure of natural or farmed populations of these birds. We report a preliminary study of genetic variation in emus undertaken by typing birds from five farms and two natural populations at five polymorphic microsatellite loci. Genetic diversity was high for all populations and there was little evidence of inbreeding, with most populations conforming to Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium for most loci. Significant heterozygote deficiencies at one locus in a number of populations were detected and may indicate the presence of null alleles. Comparisons of allele frequencies showed little evidence of genetic differentiation either among farmed populations or between farmed and natural populations.

Animals↗

Host factors and susceptibility to influenza A infection: the effect of ABO blood groups and HL-A antigens.

The effect of two host genetic factors on the outcome of influenza A infections has been examined, ABO blood groups and HL-A antigens. A significantly higher proportion of blood group B subjects was found to have serological evidence of infection with epidemic influenza despite a high incidence of residual antibody among the volunteers. No difference was observed in the ability of subjects of different blood groups to seroconvert after receiving two doses of live attenuated influenza A vaccine, but a significantly higher proportion of blood group A vaccines seroconverted after receiving their first dose of vaccine. The association between HL-A type BW16 and resistance to infection with influenza could not be confirmed. The results are discussed in terms of an indirect association between susceptibility to influenza infection and the two host genetic factors.

ABO Blood-Group System↗