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Biomedical subjects

M Rhen

Publications and source records attributed to M Rhen.

60 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Escherichia coli fimbriae recognizing sialyl galactosides.

Fimbriae recognizing sialyl galactosides (S fimbriae) were purified from an Escherichia coli strain. The S fimbriae were morphologically identical to type 1 and P fimbriae of E. coli and showed a hemagglutination that was abolished when erythrocytes were treated with neuraminidase. Hemagglutination by the purified fimbriae was inhibited by orosomucoid but not by its desialylated derivative. Of the oligosaccharides tested, sialyl-(alpha 2-3)-lactose and sialyl-(alpha 2-3)-N-acetyllactosamine had the strongest inhibitory activities. It was concluded that S fimbriae have the strongest affinity for (alpha 2-3)-linked sialyl galactosides. In the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, the hyperimmune serum to the S fimbriae reacted strongly with the homologous antigen but not with type 1, P, or nonhemagglutinating KS71C fimbriae of E. coli. Analogously, the hyperimmune sera to the other E. coli fimbriae did not react with the purified S fimbriae. The immunoprecipitation assay showed that S fimbriae on different E. coli serotypes shared immunological cross-reactivity.

Cross Reactions↗

Immunofluorescence study of fimbrial phase variation in Escherichia coli KS71.

An immunofluorescence assay was developed to study fimbrial phase variation in a pyelonephritogenic Escherichia coli strain, KS71. By using fluorochrome-labeled antibodies specific for either P, type-1C, or type-1 fimbriae of strain KS71, it was shown that in a broth culture of strain KS71 the fimbrial types mostly occurred on different cells. Only 9% of the cells carried more than one fimbrial type. The KS71 cell population was fractionated into subpopulations expressing only one of the fimbrial types or lacking fimbriae. Immunofluorescence assay of the subpopulations revealed a rapid phase variation in fimbrial synthesis. Kinetic analyses of a nonfimbriated cell population suggested that a change from one fimbrial phase to another was not totally random.

Escherichia coli↗

Three step purification of C1q by DNA precipitation, ion exchange and lectin affinity chromatography.

The difficulties associated with the isolation of pure C1q in sufficient amounts are reflected by the substantial number of isolation procedures, which are being published. The two major problems are a low yield and contaminating immunoglobulins. In addition, some isolation protocols appear to produce C1q contaminated with an inhibitor (C1q-INH). The present isolation protocol involves precipitation of C1q by DNA, chromatography using Sephadex QAE A 50 followed by Con A affinity chromatography. By this combination of purification steps maximal advantage was taken of the cationic properties and high carbohydrate content of the C1q molecule. The yield was 1-2 mg C1q per 100 ml serum. The isolated C1q was free of any demonstrable contaminants as demonstrated by Ouchterlony double diffusion and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.

Chromatography, Affinity↗

An immunofluorescence assay for complement activation by the classical pathway.

The functional integrity of classical complement pathway components was determined by an immunofluorescence (IFL) assay based on the capacity of cytoskeletal intermediate filaments (IMF) to bind C1q and to activate the complement pathway. The assay uses IMF-rich capillary endothelium of human term placentae as complement-activating substrate. IFL staining for bound C1q, C4 and C3 was demonstrated after incubation of the tissue sections with normal human sera in dilutions up to 1 : 80. Known inhibitors of C1q binding and inhibitors fo C3 convertase formation prevented binding of complement components. Eight of 100 sera from patients showed negative or reduced binding of complement whereas all of 100 control sera from healthy individuals were positive in the assay. Four negative patients' sera were studied further: 3 had markedly reduced hemolytic activity and normal levels of C3 and C4. The IFL assay for complement activation provides a simple method of evaluating complement deficiencies and of studying mechanisms and inhibitors of complement activation.

Autoantibodies↗