Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to J Hodgson.
Haemagglutinin glycoproteins are the components of influenza virus membranes against which infectivity-neutralizing antibodies are directed. Sequence analysis of natural and laboratory-selected variant haemagglutinins indicates the regions of the molecule recognized by antibodies and by helper T cells; the identity of these regions and the relations between them are discussed.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Of the surface antigens identified by radio-iodination, two-dimensional gel analyses showed no similarities between those of Schistosoma haematobium and Schistosoma mansoni, thus providing a basis for the species specificity of these antigens described previously (Simpson, Knight, Hagan, Hodgson, Wilkins & Smithers (1985) Parasitology 90, 499-508). The surface antigens of S. haematobium were glycosylated and comprised an acidic polypeptide of Mr 17,000 as well as a complex set of polypeptides of approximate pI 6-7, which resolved in the Mr range 20,000-30,000. At least one of the lower Mr forms of this complex is also present in the adult worm. Limited cross-reaction was observed with S. mansoni infection sera and this may be due to a shared carbohydrate epitope. In contrast, extensive cross-reaction was observed using sera from mice immunized with S. bovis. This pattern parallels the species-specificity of vaccine-induced immunity. Extensive cross-reaction was also observed within cell-free translation products of m-RNA from adult worms of S. haematobium and S. mansoni by use of heterologous human infection sera. The few antigens which were species-specific may represent surface antigens.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Seven cases of asymptomatic rubella reinfection in early pregnancy are described. In each, there was a history of exposure to a rubelliform illness and low levels of rubella-specific IgM subsequently appeared in the serum. Four of the women had been immunised, after having been shown to be susceptible to rubella, one had been immunised at school without previous antibody screening, and two were uncertain about immunisation. One pregnancy was terminated and rubella virus was not isolated from the products of conception. Six pregnancies went to term and the infants showed no evidence of intrauterine infection. In a further case it was impossible to discriminate between reinfection and primary infection, and termination of pregnancy was offered.
Surface antigens of Schistosoma haematobium were identified by 125I-surface labelling of schistosomula followed by immunoprecipitation of the solubilized, labelled surfaces. The major antigens, after electrophoresis, formed a continuous smear corresponding to a molecular weight in the range 35-24 000; in addition, a 17 000 antigen was also identified. These surface antigens, in contrast to somatic antigens, were species-specific, as judged by immunoprecipitation with human anti-S. mansoni serum and serum from mice vaccinated with highly irradiated S. mansoni cercariae. S. haematobium surface antigens, however, were recognized to some extent by serum from mice chronically infected with S. mansoni. It is suggested that this cross-reactivity may reflect the heterologous immunity demonstrated experimentally between these two species, whilst the species-specificity of vaccine sera to surface antigens may mirror the highly specific immunity induced by vaccination.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Acute pancreatitis was induced in anaesthetised dogs in order to investigate the relative contribution of peritoneal ascitic fluid and thoracic duct lymph as routes of transfer of pancreatic enzymes from the inflamed gland to the blood. In eight animals the exudate from the gland was collected in a plastic bag and continuously drained away, and in a further eight it was allowed to accumulate within the peritoneal cavity. The thoracic duct was cannulated and in four of the animals of each group the lymph which drained was discarded; in the other four it was returned via a venous cannula. The initial rise of plasma amylase and lipase was probably because of the direct transfer of enzyme into veins draining the pancreas or peri-pancreatic tissues. Thereafter transfer of enzyme via the thoracic duct significantly influenced plasma concentrations of amylase and lipase. The majority of enzyme released from the gland accumulated within the peritoneal ascitic fluid, but this intraperitoneal accumulation did not appear to have a significant influence upon lymph or plasma concentrations of amylase or lipase.
A total of 468 sera were selected for the evaluation of the Public Health Laboratory Service's IgM antibody capture enzyme linked immunosorbent assay kit (MACELISA) for detecting rubella specific IgM. The results obtained were compared with those obtained by IgM antibody capture radioimmunoassay (MACRIA). Sera from patients with primary postnatal rubella, congenital rubella, remote rubella, infectious mononucleosis, and recent infection with other agents were included, in addition to sera taken after rubella immunisation and sera containing rheumatoid factor and rubella specific IgG antibody. The assay exhibited a similar ability and comparable specificity to MACRIA for detecting rubella specific IgM antibody. The Public Health Laboratory Service MACELISA can be recommended if, as for all assays that detect rubella specific IgM, all the available clinical and serological data are taken into account when the results are interpreted.
Specimens collected from 182 patients with histories suggesting chlamydial disease were examined by conventional culture and direct immunofluorescence techniques. Chlamydia trachomatis was identified by both methods in 57% of all patients. There was no significant difference between the two methods in detecting C trachomatis. Where a tissue culture service is not already established, cost analysis in individual departments may justify the use of the immunofluorescence method.
Species-specific circulating antibodies to Chlamydia trachomatis were found in 75% of 48 infertile women with damaged fallopian tubes, 47.5% of 40 parous women seeking sterilisation, 46% of 63 women seeking termination of pregnancy, 31% of 75 infertile women with normal fallopian tubes, and 24% of 72 women using barrier contraception. High titres of antibody (greater than or equal to 1/1024) were found in 46%, 15%, 16%, 8%, and 7% of these groups, respectively, and were common in those women with a history of pelvic inflammatory disease or use of an intrauterine device. Thus, although the presence of antibody to C trachomatis was correlated with tubal damage, it was not diagnostic of tubal disease, since a substantial number of pregnant or potentially fertile women also had serological evidence of chlamydial infection. However, the results show that high titres of chlamydial antibodies in infertile women indicate the need for early laparoscopy to assess tubal status.
One-hundred and eighty-six carefully selected sera were tested for rubella-specific IgM by Rubazyme-M (Abbott Diagnostics) and an M-antibody capture radioimmunoassay (MACRIA). Eleven of these sera were from cases of infectious mononucleosis, six of which gave positive results in MACRIA, while one gave a positive result in Rubazyme-M. Of the remaining 175 sera, 158 gave concordant results whilst 17 sera gave discordant results; these 17 were also tested by serum fractionation. Problems were encountered with all assay systems used. It is therefore recommended that the results of all tests for rubella-specific IgM should be interpreted with caution.
We report two cases of rubella reinfection in apparently immunocompetent young women. In both cases rubella-specific IgG had been detected on two occasions prior to an illness clinically diagnosed as rubella. Rubella-specific IgM was detected by various techniques in samples of serum collected at the time of the illness.
A commercial M antibody capture ELISA kit ( Rubenz M) for the detection of rubella specific IgM was evaluated in comparison with M antibody capture radioimmunoassay. A total of 248 sera were evaluated, including sera from cases of primary postnatal rubella, congenital rubella, infectious mononucleosis, and sera which contained rheumatoid factor. No false positive results were obtained but two high positive sera gave Rubenz M values which were below the value recommended as indicative of a positive result. We therefore propose changes in the criteria used for assessing the significance of the results obtained. These changes improve the accuracy of the assay without loss of specificity.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.