Specific Antigenic Components Research Articles

ПРЕПАРАТИВНОЕ ВЫДЕЛЕНИЕ СПЕЦИФИЧЕСКИХ АНТИГЕНОВ ПОЛНОГО КЛЕТОЧНОГО ЛИЗАТА M. BOVIS.

Bovine tuberculosis is a serious problem for agriculture all over the world and causes huge economic losses. At the same time, infections caused by Mycobacterium bovis not only affect animal husbandry and the food industry, but also pose a threat to public health, as M. bovis is often isolated as a pathogen of tuberculosis, especially in patients with various immune deficiencies. The situation is aggravated by the lack of simple and accessible methods for diagnosing tuberculosis in cattle, which significantly impedes the monitoring of infection and the application of appropriate preventive measures. Serological tests, due to their relatively cheap cost, rapidity, rather high sensitivity and specificity, are able to compete with the allergic test during mass examinations of cows. In the present study, we present the results on the study of the antigenic structure of mycobacteria and the isolation of the most specific antigenic components from the lysate of the M. Bovis cell wall destroyed on the Fast Prep 24 device. The developed method allows obtaining a serologically active antigenic fraction with a high degree of purity with a molecular weight of 28 kDa.

Particulates induced lung inflammation and its consequences in the development of restrictive and obstructive lung diseases: a systematic review.

Particulate matters (PMs) are significant components of air pollution in the urban environment. PMs with aerodynamic diameter less than 2.5 μm (PM2.5) can penetrate to the alveolar area and introduce numerous compounds to the pneumocystis that can initiate inflammatory response. There are several questions about this exposure as follows: does PM2.5-induced inflammation lead to a specific disease? If yes, what is the form of the progressed disease? This systematic review was designed and conducted to respond to these questions. Four databases, including Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, and Embase, were reviewed systematically to find the related articles. According to the included articles, the only available data on the inflammatory effects of PM2.5 comes from either in vitro or animal studies. Both types of studies have shown that the induced inflammation is type I and includes secretion of proinflammatory cytokines. The exposure duration of longer than 28 weeks was not observed in any of the reviewed studies. However, as there is not a specific antigenic component in the urban particulate matters and based on the available evidence, the antigen-presenting is not a common process in the inflammatory responses to PM2.5. Therefore, neither signaling to repair cells such as fibroblasts nor over-secretion of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins can occur following PM2.5-induced inflammation. These pieces of evidence weaken the probability of the development of fibrotic diseases. On the other hand, permanent inflammation induces the destruction of ECM and alveolar walls by over-secretion of protease enzymes and therefore results in progressive obstructive effects.

Relationship of immunogenicity to protective potency in acellular pertussis vaccines

Comparison of the immunogenicity response and resistance to challenge in the modified intracerebral challenge assay induced by various acellular pertussis vaccines showed that these were not closely linked. The immunogenicity assay was effective for confirming the presence of specific antigenic components and was invaluable for detecting minor components present in co-purified vaccines. However, the magnitude of antibody responses was not consistently related to antigen concentration nor did it correlate with protection in the modified intracerebral challenge assay. The immunogenicity assay detected degradation of pertussis toxin and pertactin components but not of filamentous haemagglutinin or fimbriae 2 and 3 in denatured acellular pertussis vaccines. The modified intracerebral challenge assay was effective in detecting antigen degradation in all types of acellular pertussis vaccines including those of European/North American origin but was dominated by the response to pertussis toxin. Aerosol challenge was more sensitive in detecting denaturation of filamentous haemagglutinin or fimbriae. The modified intracerebral challenge assay was the only assay that provided a quantitative indication of protective activity. Both immunogenicity and challenge assays provided useful data on acellular pertussis vaccine properties but were complementary and not alternatives.

Recognition of antigens of three different stages of the Trichinella spiralis by antibodies from pigs infected with T. spiralis

Infective muscle larvae (ML), adults (Ad) and new born larvae (NBL) of Trichinella spiralis express many immunogenic proteins which can elicit a host protective response, and may be useful in the diagnosis of Trichinella infected humans and animals. The present study was carried out to identify T. spiralis antigens recognized by antibodies from pigs infected with T. spiralis. To that end, the crude extracts of ML, Ad, NBL and ML excretory-secretory (E-S) and Ad E-S proteins were analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate polycrystalline gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). To identify antigens of T. spiralis that are recognized by host antibodies, crude extracts and E-S proteins were subjected to immunoblot with antisera derived from pigs experimentally infected with 200 or 20,000 T. spiralis ML. Searching for T. spiralis antigens with diagnostic potential, immunoblots showed that all T. spiralis antisera, regardless of the infective dose, recognized common proteins in each examined life stage with molecular weights around 20-27 kDa, 41 kDa and 197-105 kDa. Interestingly, all the common proteins were detected by T. spiralis sera throughout the infection, from 5 days post infection (dpi) to 60 dpi. These results extend our knowledge of specific antigenic components of T. spiralis. The finding of common components among all T. spiralis life stages may be useful in the preparation of parasite antigens for diagnostic use, as these antigens are relevant regardless of infection phase.

Resistance/susceptibility to Echinococcus multilocularis infection and cytokine profile in humans. II. Influence of the HLA B8, DR3, DQ2 haplotype.

Differences have been shown between HLA characteristics of patients with different courses of alveolar echinococcosis (AE). Notably the HLA B8, DR3, DQ2 haplotype was associated with more severe forms of this granulomatous parasitic disease. We compared IL-10, IL-5, interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and tumour necrosis factor (TNF) secretion by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) isolated from eight HLA-DR3+, DQ2+, B8+ AE patients and from 10 HLA-DR3-, DQ2-, B8- patients after non-specific mitogenic and specific Echinococcus multilocularis antigenic in vitro stimulation. PBMC from seven HLA-DR3+, DQ2+, B8+ healthy subjects and nine HLA-DR3-, DQ2-, B8- subjects were also studied as controls. PBMC from AE patients with HLA DR3+, DQ2+ haplotype secreted higher levels of IL-10 without any stimulation and after specific antigenic stimulation than did patients without this haplotype. Higher levels of IL-5 and IFN-gamma were also produced by these patients' PBMC after stimulation with non-purified parasitic antigenic preparations; however, the specific alkaline phosphatase antigen extracted from E. multilocularis induced only Th2-type cytokine secretion. A spontaneous secretion of TNF by HLA DR3+, DQ2+ B8+ AE patients was also found. These results suggest that HLA characteristics of the host can influence immune-mediated mechanisms, and thus the course of AE in humans; specific antigenic components of E. multilocularis could contribute to the preferential Th2-type cytokine production favoured by the genetic background of the host.

The antigenic composition of Neospora caninum

Neospora caninum is an apicomplexan parasite which causes neosporosis, namely stillbirth and abortion in cattle, and neuromuscular disease in dogs. Although N. caninum is phylogenetically and biologically closely related to Toxoplasma gondii, it is antigenically clearly distinct. In analogy to T. gondii, three stages have been identified. These are: (i) asexually proliferating tachyzoites; (ii) tissue cysts harbouring slowly dividing bradyzoites; and (iii) oocysts containing sporozoites. The sexually produced stage of this parasite has only recently been identified, and has been shown to be shed with the faeces from dogs orally infected with N. caninum tissue cysts. Thus dogs are definitive hosts of N. caninum. Tachyzoites can be cultivated in vitro using similar techniques as previously described for T. gondii. Methods for generating tissue cysts containing N. caninum bradyzoites in mice, and purification of these cysts, have been developed. A number of studies have been undertaken to identify and characterise at the molecular level specific antigenic components of N. caninum in order to improve serological diagnosis and to enhance the current view on the many open questions concerning the cell biology of this parasite and its interactions with the host on the immunological and cellular level. The aim of this paper is to provide an overview on the approaches used for detection of antigens in N. caninum. The studies discussed here have had a great impact in the elucidation of the immunological and pathogenetic events during infection, as well as the development of potential new immunotherapeutic tools for future vaccination against N. caninum infection.

The Host-Parasite Relationship in Neosporosis

Neospora caninum is an apicomplexan parasite which invades many different cell types and tissues. It causes neosporosis, namely stillbirth and abortion in cattle and neuromuscular disease in dogs, and has been found in several other animal species. N. caninum is closely related to Toxoplasma gondii, and controversial opinions exist with respect to its phylogenetical status. Initially, two stages of N. caninum had been identified, namely asexually proliferating tachyzoites and bradyzoites. The sexually produced stage of this parasite, oocysts containing sporozoites, has been found only recently. In order to answer the many open questions regarding its basic biology and its relationship with the host, a number of diagnostic tools have been developed. These techniques are based on the detection of antibodies against parasites in body fluids, the direct visualization of the parasite within tissue samples by immunohistochemistry, or the specific amplification of parasite DNA by PCR. Other studies have been aiming at the identification of specific antigenic components of N. caninum, and the molecular and functional characterization of these antigens with respect to the cell biology of the parasite. Clearly, molecular approaches will also be used increasingly to elucidate the immunological and pathogenetic events during infection, but also to prepare potential new immunotherapeutic tools for future vaccination against N. caninum infection.

Significance of Chlamydia pneumoniae (TWAR) in Atherosclerotic Lesions

The discovery by the group of investigators in the epidemiology and pathobiology departments at the University of Washington’s School of Public Health in Seattle that specific antigenic components of Chlamydia pneumoniae are present in atherosclerotic lesions presents intriguing possibilities concerning the multifactorial nature of the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Starting in 1986, this group, headed by Professor Grayston, has been studying this relatively recently identified member of the Chlamydia genus. They quite recently found evidence that the specific antibodies to this pathogen can be identified serologically in the blood of many victims of coronary heart disease and/or myocardial infarction. This supports the results of Saikku et al reported in Lancet in 1988, which were confirmed by the University of Washington group led by Professor Grayston in 1991 and extended in a larger group of patients by Saikku and coworkers in 1992. Now they report very strong evidence that the organism is lurking in the lesions …

血清学的方法によるコガタアカイエカの捕食性天敵の調査 : 1. コガタアカイエカ体成分中の特異抗原の検出

Detection of specific antigens in the extracts of Culex tritaeniorhynchus (abbr. Ct) was attempted, with the aim of determining natural predators of Ct by an immunological method through electrosyneresis (ES method). According to the ES method, both antisera prepared against the extracts of the 4th-instar larvae and adults of Ct caused precipitation with immunogen upto 2,048 fold dilution. These antisera contained antibodies cross-reactive to the extracts of the larvae and adults of Anopheles sinensis (abbr. As). Anti-Ct antisera after absorption by As extracts showed no cross-reactivity to As extract nor to the extracts of 22 species of arthropods inhabiting rice fields. Absorbed anti-Ct antisera reacted only with the extracts of larvae and adults of Ct, and immunoelectrophoresis with these antisera detected multiple specific antigenic components. By the ES method with absorbed anti-Ct antisera, the body constituents of Ct were detected from the nymphs of Pantala flavescens (Odonata : Libellulidae), the larvae of Hydaticus sp. (Coleoptera : Dytiscidae) and Hydrochara sp. (Coleoptera : Hydrophilidae) 24hr after feeding on a single 4th-instar larva of Ct and from the adults of Lycosa pseudoannulata (Araneae : Lycosidae) and Tetragnatha vermiformis (Araneae : Tetragnathidae) 24hr after feeding on a single adult female of Ct.

Shared and specific allergenic and antigenic components in the two sexes of American cockroach—Periplaneta americana

The whole body extracts (WBEs) of female and male cockroaches (Periplaneta americana; Pa) were prepared separately to study the specific and/or shared allergenic and antigenic components in the two sexes. These two extracts were skin-tested on 170 respiratory allergy patients and 52 (30.6%) of them elicited a markedly positive cutaneous reaction (2+ to 4+) to any one or both the WBEs. Of these 52 patients, 32 (61.5%) produced a 2+ to 4+ response to only one, and the remaining 20 (38.5%) to both the extracts. In female and male RASTs to Pa both the extracts produced dose-related inhibition. Using rabbit anti-Pa female serum: (1) immuno-diffusion experiments resulted in lines of identity with the two extracts, and (2) the two-dimensional immunoelectrophoresis of Pa female and Pa male WBEs elicited 12 and nine precipitin peaks, respectively. In partial purification studies, only fraction Pa(F)III (approximately 50 kD) of Pa female WBE and Pa(M)I (greater than or equal to 600 kD) and Pa(M)III (approximately 50 kD) fractions of Pa male WBE revealed significant allergen activity both on skin testing and also in RAST inhibition studies. These results provide evidence for the presence of shared as well as specific allergenic and antigenic components in the two sexes of American cockroach.

Specific and shared antigenic components of Taenia saginata oncospheres

Taenia saginata oncosphere components were analysed by double diffusion. Antigenic components in saline or detergent (Triton x-100) extracts of T saginata oncospheres were identified using a rabbit polyclonal serum directed against the oncosphere and compared with extracts prepared from the metacestodes and proglottids of T saginata and six other helminths commonly found in cattle. There were seven antigenic components found in the saline extract of the oncospheres, of which six were shared with the metacestodes and proglottids. None of these components was consistently different from those of the other six helminths. However, one of the four components in the detergent extract of the oncospheres was present in neither of the extracts of other stages of T saginata nor in extracts of other helminths. This may be of diagnostic significance.

Cross-reacting and specific antigenic components in cystic fluid from metacestodes of Echinococcus granulosus and Taenia solium

Sera from confirmed patients of 5 hydatidosis, 67 neurocysticercosis and 89 other parasitic diseases were tested for specific antibody (IgG) levels by ELISA to cystic fluid antigens from metacestodes of Echinococcus granulosus (HF) and Taenia solium (CF). All hydatidosis sera reacted positively to both HF and CF while neurocysticercosis sera did in 49.3% to HF and 85.1% to CF. The frequencies of cross-reactions were lower in other parasitic diseases to both antigens. By SDS-PAGE, protein bands of 64, 35, 22 and 7 kilodaltons (kDa) were found common in HF and CF. SDS-PAGE/immunoblot exhibited that hydatidosis sera reacted crossly to CF at 135, 110, 100, 86, 64, 45, 39, 35 and 24 kDa bands while neurocysticercosis sera did to HF at 135, 100, 86, 64, 52, 39, 35, 29 and 24 kDa bands. These results indicated that protein bands of 135, 100, 86, 64, 39, 35 and 24 kDa were major common components in HF and CF. Protein bands of 7 kDa in HF and 15, 10 and 7 kDa in CF did not react crossly and were specific components in respective antigens.

Exocellular components of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis: identification of a specific antigen

Yeast forms of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis grown in liquid medium produced exocellular components. Immunodiffusion reactions and immunoprecipitations of 131I-radiolabeled antigenic components with sera from patients having paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) were used to monitor the isolation of specific constituents. Components having the main antigenic activity (fCon A) were isolated by exclusion from a Bio-Gel P30 column, followed by successive binding of eluted material to a Sepharose-concanavalin A column, and elution. The product contained, from sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis, a minor 43,000-molecular-weight (MW) component (gp43), a polydisperse high-MW glycoconjugate, and a diffusely migrating 55,000-MW glycoprotein (gp55). Other components, including a 72,000-MW glycoprotein, were irregularly expressed. The high-MW glycoconjugate complex contained, on the basis of methylation and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance data, a branched structure of mainly mannopyranosyl units. These were nonreducing ends, 6-O-, 2-O-, and 2,6-di-O-substituted, and the specific rotation of +16 degrees indicated that the glycosidic configurations of the units were alpha and beta in a ratio of ca. 1:1 (concanavalin A binding indicated that nonreducing ends or 2-O-substituted units or both of alpha-D-mannopyranose were present). A small proportion of nonreducing end units of D-galactopyranose were also present in this polysaccharide. gp55 is a glycoprotein containing a complex carbohydrate moiety with fucose, mannose, galactose, and glucose, either as terminal nonreducing units or substituted in positions indicated by methylation data. Both PCM and normal human sera precipitated the high-MW glycoconjugate from 131I-labeled fCon A preparations, whereas gp55 was unreactive with human sera. gp43 was a specific antigenic component of P. brasiliensis culture filtrates which could be isolated in a pure form by gel filtration column chromatography (Sephadex G150) or by Sepharose-patient immunoglobulin G affinity chromatography. 131I-labeled gp43 reacted equally well with 10 PCM sera and hyperimmune rabbit serum against the band E antigen of Yarzabal at a 10(-3) dilution. At the same dilution, no reaction was detected with sera from normal individuals and from patients with other mycoses. Similarly, only PCM sera and the hyperimmune anti-E serum gave precipitin lines with gp43 in the less sensitive immunodiffusion tests. gp43 consisted of three components, with pI 6.7, 6.4 and 6.2, all of which reacted with PCM serum.

Antigenic relatedness of equine herpes virus types 1 and 3.

Antiserums prepared in specific pathogen free (SPF) ponies were used in direct and indirect immunofluorescence, immunodiffusion, complement fixation and serum neutralization procedures to study the interrelationships of the three types of equine herpes viruses (EHV-1, EHV-2, and EHV-3). Equine cell cultures infected with each type virus fluoresced when stained with homologous conjugated antiserum. In reciprocal tests EHV-1 and EHV-3 cross-fluoresced, but EHV-2 did not cross-fluoresce. Non-infected cell cultures did not fluoresce when stained with the 3 conjugates. EHV-1 and EHV-3 cross-fluoresced in reciprocal indirect fluorescent antibody tests, but no cross-fluorescence was shown with EHV-2. Antigens representing each type of equine herpes virus reacted with their homologous antiserum in the immunodiffusion test. In reciprocal tests, a common line(s) of identity formed with EHV-1 and EHV-3; however, the precipitin line(s) was not common with EHV-2. Antigen prepared from noninfected embryonic mule skin (EMS) cell cultures did not react with any of the antiserums. Specific complement-fixing antibodies were present in antiserums when tested against their homologous antigens. In reciprocal complement fixation tests EHV-1 and EHV-3 crossreacted, but no cross-reactivity was shown with EHV-2. Significant levels of neutralizing antibody were in an antiserum when tested against homologous virus, whereas cross-neutralization was not detectable in reciprocal tests. These studies indicate that each type of equine herpes virus contains specific antigenic components, and EHV-1 and EHV-3 share a common antigen(s) that is not shared with EHV-2.

Pathogenic and Serologic Studies of Japanese Quail Infected With JM Strain of Marek's Disease Herpesvirus

Japanese quail were inoculated with Marek's disease herpesvirus at 1 day of age, and a second group of the same age was infected by contact with inoculated quail. A third group raised in our laboratory as a source of hatching eggs was accidentally infected with Marek's disease (MD). All quail were observed and examined for periods up to 360 days; the usual clinical signs of MD were not observed. However, the birds were susceptible to MD infection because of the evidence that: 1) The MD-specific agar gel-preceipitation (AGP) antigen was found in the feather tips or feather follicular epithelium of some of them; 2) the MD-specific AGP antibody was found in 6 of 57 exposed to MD; and 3) the virus was recovered from 4 MD-exposed birds by subpassage of their kidney cultures into quail embryo fibroblasts. The specificity of the AGP antigen or antibody in MD-infected quail was examined by the line of identity and cross-absorption tests. The antigen specificity was tested against similar to 700 sera from chickens and quail. Although most of these sera reacted with quail-positive antigen (QPA) prepared from MD-infected quail, some sera from infected or uninfected normal chickens reacted nonspecifically with QPA and with an antigen prepared from normal quail. By gel filtration on Sephadex G-150, the specific antigenic component could be separated from the nonspecific component(s) in QPA.

A Monoclonal IgM With Antibodylike Specificity for Phospholipids in a Patient With Lymphoma

Abstract Both murine and human myeloma proteins have been shown to have antibodylike activity for serum lipoproteins. We studied a 58-yr-old woman (M.L.) with a lymphoma and a VDRL titer of 1:4096 and a nonreactive FTA-ABS. Serum electrophoresis revealed an M-component which was shown to be IgM-kappa by immunoelectrophoresis and 2-mercaptoethanol treatment of the serum reduced the VDRL titer to 1:64. Immunoelectrophoresis (IEP) of the purified IgM against sonicates of the specific components of the VDRL antigen (cardiolipin, lecithin, cholesterol) produced a precipitin line with both cardiolipin and lecithin. All IgM in the serum could be removed by absorption with cardiolipin, and elution experiments demonstrated the specificity of this reaction. A quantitative precipitin test demonstrated that at the point of equivalence, 0.009 mg of antigen (cardiolipin) reacted with 0.4 mg of IgM (antibody). Additional studies showed that purified IgM (M.L.) gave a positive reaction with nine of 15 phospholipids tested. Similar studies on sera from 50 normal individuals, ten patient’s sera without M-components giving false positive VDRL reactions, and serum from one patient with a congenital absence of IgA and IgG and increased IgM showed no evidence of such a precipitin reaction with any phospholipid tested. Thus, it appeared that the IgM-kappa monoclonal protein behaved like an antibody directed against specific phospholipid antigenic components. The role of lipid antigens in the initiation of such neoplastic and immunologic abberrations should be further investigated and monoclonal proteins screened more extensively against such antigens.

Counterimmunoelectrophoresis with Adenovirus Type-Specific Anti-Hemagglutinin Sera As a Rapid Diagnostic Method

Abstract The complex antigenic properties of adenovirus-soluble complete and incomplete hemagglutinins were utilized to study the specificity of adenovirus anti-hemagglutinin sera in immunodiffusion and counterimmunoelectrophoresis tests. Pentons, penton dimers, fiber dimers, and/or dodecons of adenovirus types 2, 3, 5, 7a, 8, and 11 were extensively purified by ion-exchange and exclusion chromatographies. Components were determined to be purified proteins by immunologic, electron microscopic, and polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic criteria. Specific antigenic components were identified by immunoelectrophoresis and by various biologic characteristics. Rabbit antisera prepared against these hemagglutinating components were type-specific in standard serologic, Ouchterlony immunodiffusion, immunoelectrophoretic, and counterimmunoelectrophoretic tests. Counterimmunoelectrophoresis was particularly well suited to a rapid identification and typing of adenovirus isolates for diagnostic purposes.

血清リポ蛋白質分離分析の一新法

The objective of this study is to establish a method of lipoprotein structure analysis. A preparative polyacrylamide gel (PAG) block electrophoresis of serum lipoproteins was combined with either antigenic component analysis or lipoprotein lipid analysis to constitute a systematic study system. In this work, workability of the formulated system has been evaluated applying it to some clinical and experimental studies.Lipoprotein PAG block fractions evoked immune mechanism in rabbits, and the mechanism was employed to determine antigenic structure of canine and human serum lipoproteins. Five antigenic components were identifiable in canine serum lipoproteins by our hands. Albuminlipoprotein contained one specific antigenic component which does not show cross reaction with antisera from any other lipoprotein species. Alpha-1 lipoprotein consisted of two antigenic components, and both of them are common with those of alpha-2 lipoprotein. Alpha-2 lipoprotein consisted of three components; two of them were common with the alpha-1, and another was common with beta lipoprotein. Beta lipoprotein had two components; one was common with the alpha-2, and another was specific to the beta itself. In renogenic hyperlipoproteinemia, unusual lipoproteins were revealed frequently by PAG block electrophoresis, though they were not detectable on paper electrophoretograms. Several abnormal lipoproteins were identified through antigenic structure analysis, though total antigenic component analysis has not been completed in this study period. For example, an antigenic component other than ordinal apolipoprotein B component was detectable in the beta lipoprotein from a young-femals patient with advanced renal lesion. From methodological view point, these results seem to prove conclusively that lipoproteins are separated as structural-functional units effectively. As evidenced in this work, PAG block electrophoresis of serum lipoprotein combined with immunological techniques will be effective in characterizing unusual lipoproteins with which we may encounter. Lipoprotein lipid analysis was proved also to be an effective analytical method to characterize lipoproteins, especially as combined with other methods. Presently workable procedure by our hands consists of lipid extraction from lipoproteins separated with PAG block electrophoresis with chloroformmethanol, partial purification of extracts, thinlayer chromatography, detection of lipids on thin-layer plate with phosphomolybdic acid, and densitometric scanning of the chromatogram. Loss of the lipid moiety during electrophoresis is estimated as not more than those during manipulation after electrophoresis.

Antigenic deletion in cervical neoplasia

Using an indirect immunofluorescence antibody technique, specific antigen charges have been followed in pre-invasive and invasive cervical carcinoma. Two specific antigenic components of squamous epithelium have been studied, an intercellular surface antigen and a basement membrane antigen. In histologically normal epithelium, intercellular and basement membrane antigens can be shown. Inflammatory conditions, age, pregnancy and cyclic activity do not affect antigenic status. Both intercellular and basement membrane antigens are deleted in frank invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix, but in pre-invasive lesions antigen deletion occurs to a varying extent and is proportional to the increasing severity of the pre-invasive lesions. Using an indirect immunofluorescence antibody technique, specific antigen charges have been followed in pre-invasive and invasive cervical carcinoma. Two specific antigenic components of squamous epithelium have been studied, an intercellular surface antigen and a basement membrane antigen. In histologically normal epithelium, intercellular and basement membrane antigens can be shown. Inflammatory conditions, age, pregnancy and cyclic activity do not affect antigenic status. Both intercellular and basement membrane antigens are deleted in frank invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix, but in pre-invasive lesions antigen deletion occurs to a varying extent and is proportional to the increasing severity of the pre-invasive lesions.

Relevance of antigenicity of Candida albicans growth phases to diagnosis of systemic candidiasis.

The antigenicity of the two growth phases of Candida albicans has been compared by using crossed immunoelectrophoresis and double-diffusion techniques. Qualitative and quantitative differences in antigenic composition between the phases have been revealed and moreover a specific mycelial antigenic component demonstrated.It is postulated that the use of specific mycelial antigens for routine diagnostic precipitin testing in patients with suspected systemic candidiasis would give more reliable results than at present obtained with yeast cell antigens.