[Antibodies to group A streptococcal polysaccharides in erysipelas]. / Izuchenie antitel k polisakharidu streptokokka gruppy A u bol'nykh rozhei

In determination (in the precipitation reaction in agar gel) of antibodies to the polysaccharide (streptococcus, group A) in the sera of patients suffering from erysipelas there were revealed antibodies against the specific determinant of polysaccharide A. An increase in antibodies in the patients with primary and repeated erysipelas was observed from the second week of the disease; in patients suffering from relapsing erysipelas their titre was increased from the first days of the disease and persisted at this level during the whole observation period (4 weeks). The majority of the patients suffering from relapsing erysipelas 4 weeks and 6 to 12 months after the relapse displayed no changes in the serum antibody level, or its slight fall was seen. The duration of persistence of antibodies to polysaccharide A in testing at the remote periods after the relapse apparently depended on slow reduction of their level and was not associated with any new infection with streptococcus, since the great percentage of the patients studied at this period were subjected to bicillin-5 therapy. The data obtained served as an additional confirmation of participation of hemolytic streptococcus of group A in the development of erysipelas.

[Clinical evaluation of delayed and immediate hypersensitivity to antigens of the connective tissue, myocardium and hemolytic Streptococcus in patients with rheumatic fever]. / Klinicheskaia otsenka immunologicheskikh reaktsii zamedlennogo i nemedlennogo tipa k antigenam soedinitel'noi tkani, miokarda i gemoliticheskogo Streptokokka u bol'nykh revmatizmom

The results of a study of some humoral and cellular immunological reactions to antigens of the myocardium and connective tissues of cardiac vlaves, as well as to those of the haemolytic Streptococcus in rheumatic patients are presented. Antibodies to 4 antigens were deter mined, to cellular form of immunity was examined by the method of leucocytes migration inhibition. The studies have indicated that in rheumatism, hupersensitivity of a delayed and non-delayed type manifests itself. The activity of the inflammatory process, its severity, the nature and severity of carditis are to a great extent reflected by the connective tissue antibodies to the basic substance, especially to the structural glycoprotein of the valves. In cases of the most unfavourable clinical forms of the rheumatic process the signs of streptococcal sensitization and autoallergy to both musclular and connective tissue cardiac structures are especially vivid.

[Production of sera for determining group A Streptococcus using the precipitation in gel reaction]. / Poluchenie syvorotok dlia opredeleniia streptokokka gruppy A pri pomoshchi reaktsii pretsipitatsii v gele

The sera of rabbits immunized with the culture of streptococcus, group A, treated with pepsin were studied by the immunodiffusion methods. The sera intensively reacted with the polysaccharide of the streptococcus, group A, but not with the polysaccharide of the streptococcus of A-variant and with the proteins contained in the hyfrochloric extracts of group A. Some of the sera contained antibodies to polyglycerophosphate and antigen E4 which could be eliminated by sorption of the sera with the culture of the streptococcus of A-variant treated with pepsin. Despite the sorption, individual sera reacted with the hydrochloric extracts obtained from the streptococcus, group L, or the S. aureus. The sera reacting with the polysaccharide of group A could be used for the identification of streptococcus, group A, by the method of precipitation in gel. The advantages of the method consist in its simplicity and distinct result, which can be obtained in two hours.

[Cross-reacting epithelial antigen of ectodermal origin in mouse tumors]. / Perekrestnoreagiruiushchii antigen épiteliia éktodermal'nogo proiskhozhdeniia v opukholiakh myshei.

Cross-reacting antigen (CR-antigen) previously found by indirect immunofluorescence in cell elements of murine multilayer epithelial cells (except corneal epithelium) to play the role of antigenic label of cover epithelia of ectodermal origin was found in mice tumor cells, related histogenetically with multilayer epithelium (transplantable proventricular cancer, two strains of squamous-cell cervical cancer in mice). CR-antigen was observed in transplantable breast adenocarcinoma and in transplantable mice teratocarcinoma.

[Antibodies to heart valve fibroblasts in the sera of rheumatic patients]. / Antitela k fibroblastam klapanov serdtsa v syvorotkakh bol'nykh revmatizmom

The antibodies reactive in immunofluorescence with the fibroblasts of human and bovine heart valves were isolated from the rheumatic patients' sera with the aid of immunoadsorbent prepared from human heart valve tissue. No reaction between the antibodies and the fibroblasts of the interstitial connective tissue of the myocardium was observed. It seems that the fibroblasts of the heart valves and the myocardium contain different antigens; the presence of common antigenic components in human and bovine valve fibroblasts is shown.

[Immunofluorescent study of antibodies to streptococcus group A polysaccharides in connective tissue sections]. / Izuchenie antitel k polisakharidu streptokokka gruppy A metodom immunofliuorestsentsii na srezakh soedinitel'noi tkani

Purified antibodies against a specific determinant of group A streptococcal polysaccharide were obtained. These antibodies were investigated by the immunofluorescent method on tissue sections of the heart and heart valves. No cross-reactions between group A streptococcal polysaccharide and mammalian connective tissue were revealed.

Immunodiffusion method for identification of group A streptococci.

The development of a method suitable for identification of group A streptococci by microprecipitation in gels is described. The method is based on preparation of specific sera containing high antibody levels agains the antigenic determinant characteristic of group A streptococcal polysaccharide. In a comparative study with a counterimmunoelectrophoresis method, the proposed test proved to be specific, easily read, and less complicated. Results were obtained in 2 h.

[Distribution of a cross-reacting antigen common to epithelium and group A streptococci in human and animal tissues]. / Rasprostranenie perekrestno reagiruiushchego antigena, obshchego dlia épiteliia i streptokokka gruppy A, v tkaniakh cheloveka i zhivotnykh

With the aid of pure antibodies to polysaccharide of streptococcus, of group A, there was revealed by the method of indirect immunofluorescence with the use of pure antibodies to rabbit immunoglobulins (labeled with fluoresceine isothiocianate) localization of the cross-reacting antigen common for streptococcus and tissues of man and animals in the cells of surface epithelium of the ectodermal origin (the skin, salivary ducts, oral mucosa, esophagus, inferior portion of the rectum, uterine cervix, and the elements of the thymus epithelium). Detection of the cross-reacting antigen was of interest in connection with the study of the mechanisms of development of chronic pathological processes in man associated with streptococcus infection and investigation of the structure, function and pathology of the thymus.

A cross-reactive antigen of thymus and skin epithelial cells common with the polysaccharide of group A streptococci.

Investigation of antibodies to the specific determinant of streptococcal group A polysaccharide in indirect immunofluorescence experiments has revealed the existence of a cross-reactive antigen in the epithelial cells of the thymus and skin. This CR antigen is contained by the epithelial cells of man and animals of different species. It has been demonstrated in all the individuals studied including animals producing antibodies to the polysaccharide of Group A streptococci. The principal cause of autoimmune thymitis characteristic of rheumatic fever and other autoimmune processes is probably damage done to the thymus by autoantibodies resulting from immunization with microbial cross-reactive antigens shared by the thymus. Reaction of the autoantibodies with thymic antigens may affect the immunosuppressive function of the thymus and the maturation process of suppressor T cells. These events probably constitute the basic stage in the development of an autoimmune process.