[Effect of strain-producer and cultivation medium on cross antigenic activity of Streptococcus pneumoniae water soluble antigens].

AIM: Production of water soluble protein-containing antigens from various strains of S. pneumoniae during cultivation in complete and semi-synthetic culture media as well as selection of strains with cross antigenic activity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: S. pneumoniae 3, 6A, 6B, 14, 10A, 18A, 19A, 19F, 23F serotype strains were cultivated in brain-heart broth and semi-synthetic medium with addition of aminopeptide for 24 hours at 37 degrees C for the production of water soluble antigens. The antigens were obtained by a method of triple water extraction from acetone dried microbial cells. Chemical composition of preparations, electrophoresis mobility of protein-containing components of preparations and cross antigenic activity in gel immune diffusion reaction by using rabbit hyperimmune sera were studied. RESULTS: In studies of 10 pneumococcus strains from various serotypes a method of microbial cell inactivation by acetone was selected that allows to produce preparations with high protein content (25.5 - 53.1%). Electrophoretic separation of the preparations revealed difference in the preparations obtained from various pneumococcus strains in the layout of major protein lines in the 8 - 95 kDa range. The most virulent and immunogenic S. pneumoniae strain that during cultivation in semi-synthetic medium was characterized by intraspecies cross antigenic activity and in gel immune diffusion reacted with all the studied sera against 3, 14, 18C, 23F serotype strains was selected. CONCLUSION: The study resulted in the selection of a technologically simple method of production of pneumococcus antigens with high protein content and showed that only 1 of the studied preparations produced from a virulent strain with poorly expressed S. pneumoniae capsule during cultivation in semi-synthetic medium has the highest cross antigenic activity.

[Influence of nutrient medium composition on the production of capsule polysaccharide by Streptococcus pneumonia 19A serotype].

AIM: Evaluate accumulation of capsule polysaccharide by Streptococcus pneumoniae 19A strain in semisynthetic nutrient medium including various amino acid sources. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Comparative evaluation of the production of capsule polysaccharide by the strain belonging to one of the most widespread S. pneumoniae serotype (19A) was performed by using rocket immunoelectrophoresis. The bacteria were cultivated in semisynthetic liquid nutrient media of varying composition. RESULTS: Among 4 sources of nitrogen (aminopeptide, acid and pancreatic hydrolysate of casein, soy peptone) added to salt nutrient medium supplemented with glucose and vitamins, casein and soy peptone were shown to promote the maximum synthesis of capsule polysaccharide independently of the cultivation time. Supplementation of the medium with sulfates of iron, zinc and manganese, as well as pH decrease to acid values significantly reduced the level of capsule polysaccharide in the culture liquid. The maximum growth of bacteria was observed at 11 hours after the start of cultivation in a 10 L volume fermenter in semisynthetic nutrient medium with soy peptone. Accumulation of capsule polysaccharide in the culture liquid continued to the end of the observation period (24 hours) and by the end of the process reached 193 mcg/ml. CONCLUSION: Further study of influence of vitamins, carbohydrates, CO2 concentration on the synthesis of high molecular capsule polysaccharide by bacteria belonging to various pneumococcus serotypes is reasonable.

[Study of cross-activity of Streptococcus pneumoniae antigen preparations].

AIM: Study cross-activity of S. pneumoniae antigen preparations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Antigen preparations were obtained by ultrasound disintegration (from bacteria in R-form), extraction with water (from serotype 3 bacteria), cetavlon and trichloroacetic acid (from serotype 6A bacteria). Chemical composition and immunochemic properties of preparations were studied by contemporary methods as well as in experiments with direct and cross-protection of mice from infection. RESULTS: 3 of 4 preparations (except ultrasound disintegrate) had approximately 30% of protein. In immunodiffusion reaction they interacted with hyper immune rabbit sera obtained against 12 various pneumococcus serotypes--1, 3, 4, 6A, 6B, 9V, 9N, 14, 18C, 19A, 19F and 23F. In animal experiments 30 - 70% of mice were protected from subsequent infection with knowingly high dose of homologous and 3 heterologous pneumococcus strains. In immunoblotting the highest number of components serologically active with heterologous sera was formed by cetavlon extract (12 - 23). Addition of capsule polysaccharides to the preparation increased its cross-protective activity. CONCLUSION: By data set and the highest yield, water extract is reasonable for isolation of cross-reactive proteins of pneumococcus. Development of another method of extraction from cultural fluid is necessary for obtaining extracellular protein antigens. Generation of vaccines containing cross-reactive proteins of pneumococcus and capsule polysaccharides is a promising direction.

[Immunobiologic characteristics of carbohydrate-containing preparations of Haemophilus influenzae].

AIM: Comparative assessment of immunobiological characteristics of 3 antigenic preparations containing capsular polysaccharide of Haemophilus influenzae type b (CPS Hib). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The following preparations were assessed: CPS Hib obtained by using cetavlon; hydroxylamine preparation of Hib (HAP Hib); mixture of CPS Hib and lipooligosaccharide of non-typeable H. influenzae (LOS NTHi) detoxified by hydroxylamine hydrochloride. Effects of these preparations on immunophenotype of mononuclear leukocytes of mice spleen as well as on spectrum and level of cytokines in serum were studied. RESULTS: It was shown that mixture of CPS Hib and detoxified LOS NTHi has low toxicity and most protective activity during Hib challenge leading to activation of innate immunity effectors and initiation of adaptive immune response. CONCLUSION: Obtained data provide perspective for development of preparation able to protect from infections caused by both capsular and acapsular strains of H. influenzae.

[Subtyping of lipooligosaccharides of non-typeable haemophilus influenzae isolated from children with bronchopulmonary diseases].

AIM: Subtyping of lipooligosaccharides (LOS) of non-typeable strains of Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) isolated from children with bronchopulmonary diseases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Lipooligosaccharides obtained from 62 acapsular strains of H. influenzae were studied by vertical SDS-electrophoresis in PAAG. RESULTS: Majority of LOS formed electrophoretically mobile components in low molecular mass zone. Obtained results allowed to differentiate 23 subtypes of LOS. Lipooligosaccharides of majority of strains (67.7%) belonged to one of 10 main subtypes, 30.6% of strains belonged to mixed subtypes because they had signs of 2-3 subtypes. CONCLUSION: Strains possessing LOS of three subtypes--VI, VII, and X--were significantly more prevalent in pediatric patients (p < 0.05). More than one third (43.5%) of studied NTHi strains belonged to these subtypes.

Effect of cycloalkyl glycosides of muramyl dipeptide on antibacterial resistance of mice and cytokine production by human mononuclear cells.

Beta-cyclohexylmethyl-, beta-cyclohexylethyl-, and beta-4-tert-butyl-cyclohexyl glycosides of muramyl dipeptide were shown to increase the resistance of mice to intraperitoneal infection with cultures of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. These compounds increased the production of cytokines by mononuclear cells from healthy donors. Beta-cyclohexylethyl glycoside of muramyl dipeptide was more potent than muramyl dipeptide and other derivatives in increasing in vivo antibacterial resistance and in vitro production of interleukin-1beta, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and interferon-gamma;. This glycopeptide had a strong stimulatory effect on the production of interleukin-4 and tended to stimulate the synthesis of interferon-alpha. Beta-cyclohexylmethyl glycoside of muramyl dipeptide was most potent in stimulating the production of interleukin-4. Biological activity of beta-4-tert-butyl-cyclohexyl glycoside of muramyl dipeptide was lower than that of other glycosides of muramyl dipeptide.

[Influence of the different detoxifying agents on toxic characteristics of Haemophilus influenzae lypooligosaccharides].

AIM: To study toxicity of lypooligosaccharides (LOS) of non-typable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) strain and products of their detoxication obtained using different reagents. MATERIALS AND METHODS: LPS was obtained from the NTHi strain grown on solid brain-heart infusion nutrient medium using previously described method of isolation and purification of LOS. Obtained LPS was treated in same conditions by one of the 3 detoxifying agents: anhydrous hydrazine (AH), alkali (NaOH), and hydrochloric hydroxylamine (HH). Toxicity of LOS and its detoxified derivatives was measured on outbred mice which were administered 0.5 ml of actinomycin D intraperitoneally 1 day before immunization. Death of animals was assessed on day 2 after immunization. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was used for study the influence of detoxifying agents on physico-chemical properties of LOS. RESULTS: As a result of treatment of NTHi No.45 LOS by different detoxifying agents, 3 preparations of detoxified LOS (d-LOS) and 3 preparations from precipitates (nd-LOS) were obtained. Preparation d-LOSAH was the least toxic. Toxic properties of nd-LOSHH did not reliably change. PAAG electrophoresis showed that virtually all detoxified preparations were characterized by higher migration of lypooligosaccharide components compared to original LOS of NTHi No. 45, which indicates the lowering of LOS molecular weight after treatment by detoxifying agents, associated with elimination of lipid A higher fatty acids. CONCLUSION: Analysis of effects of detoxifying agents indicates the need to select individual conditions for treatment by each of them.

[Associated synthesis of some secreted pathogenicity factors of Klebsiella pneumoniae].

The study was carried out to evaluate the substrate specificity and activity of proteases secreted by strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae with various degree of virulence. The process included cultivation of the strains in semi-synthetic medium, after which the biomass was inactivated and the supernatant was separated from bacterial cells through centrifugation. Elastase-, trypsin-, and chymotrypsin-like proteolytic activity was measured in the supernatant and in all fractions obtained through gel-filtration, followed by DEAE-sepharose purification. Regardless of the degree of virulence, all the studied strains of K. pneumoniae secreted only one proteolitic enzyme, which was elastase with molecular weight of about 21 kDa. Addition of glycoprotein--the main structural component of eucaryotic cells--into the culture medium in the beginning of incubation, increased protein, polysaccharide, and lipopolysaccharide synthesis; proteolythic activity in the supernatant fluid increased from 7,476 to 15,731 mU/ml. The increase was associated with an elevation of polysaccharide synthesis from 173 to 349 mg dry weight. However, proteolythic activity per 1 gr of polysaccharide did not increase; it was 43.3 and 45.1 units, respectively. Thus, proteolytic activity increased in direct propotion to the increase of polysaccharide synthesis into the culture medium.

[Influence of the aminopeptide concentration on the growth of Haemophilus influenzae, type b, and the synthesis of its capsular polysaccharide].

The influence of the aminopeptide concentration on the growth of H. influenzae b culture and the synthesis of H. influenzae b capsular polysaccharide was determined. The maximum amount of capsular polysaccharide was accumulated at the concentration of aminopeptide in the culture fluid reaching 50 ml/l. An increase in the aminopeptide concentration led to a decreased amount of synthesized polysaccharide and an increased amount of biomass. The decrease of the aminopeptide concentration to 10 ml/l resulted in decreased amounts of both biomass and synthesized polysaccharide.

[Influence of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide and hemin concentrations on the growth of Haemophilus influanzae type b and the synthesis of capsular polysaccharide].

In the process the cultivation of H. influenzae, type b, in semisynthetic nutrient medium with aminopeptide base the growth of the bacteria and the synthesis of capsular polysaccharide were shown to depend on the concentrations of aminopeptide, nicotinamide adenine nucleotide (NAD) and hemin. An increase in the concentrations of NAD and hemin stimulated the growth of H. influenzae and inhibited the synthesis of capsular polysaccharide. Similar effect was observed in the simultaneous increase of NAD and hemin concentrations. At elevated concentrations of NAD and hemin and the content of aminopeptide equal to 350 mI/l the maximum weight of biomass was achieved. The increase of hemin concentration had no influence on the growth of H. influenzae, type b, and the synthesis of capsular polysaccharide.

[Mechanism of action of N-acetylglucosaminyl-N-acetylmuramylalanyl-D-isoglutamine on the nonspecific anti-infection resistance of mice]. / K mekhanizmu deistviia N-atsetilgliukozaminil-N-atsetilmuramilalanil-D-izoglutamina na nespetsificheskuiu protivoinfektsionnuiu rezistentnost' myshei.

The stimulating influence of glucose-containing muramyldipeptide (GMDP) on the nonspecific resistance of mice was shown to depend on the features of the pathogenesis of the infection. Thus, the intraperitoneal injection of GMDP increased the survival rate of mice infected with Escherichia coli, but had no stimulating effect on the resistance of the animals to Salmonella typhimurium natural infection in whose pathogenesis macrophages played an essential role. Experiments demonstrated that GMDP was capable of enhancing the ingestive function of macrophages, but did not increase their bactericidal activity with respect to this infection.

[The adjuvant effect of synthetic glycopeptides on humoral immune response to thymus-dependent antigen]. / Ad"iuvantnoe deistvie sinteticheskikh glikopeptidov na gumoral'nyi immunnyi otvet na timuszavisimyi antigen.

The comparative study of 5 analogs of muramyldipeptide (MDP) on primary and secondary immune response to bovine serum albumin has been studied. The adjuvant activity of the MDP analogs has been shown to be closely connected with their structure. Thus, the replacement of glutamine by aspartic acid leads to the loss of adjuvant properties, and the replacement of L-alanine by its stereoisomer causes a perceptible decrease in these properties. The most active analog of MDP is GlcNAc-MurNAc-Ala-D-Glu-NH2 which produces a stimulating effect when introduced parenterally (subcutaneously and intraperitoneally) in a dose of 1 microgram, and orally in a dose of 100 micrograms.

[Capacity of triterpene glycosides from holothurians to stimulate antibacterial resistance in a model of experimental murine salmonellosis]. / Sposobnost' triterpenovykh glikozidov iz goloturii stimulirovat' antibakterial'nuiu ustoichivost' na modeli éksperimental'nogo sal'monelleza myshei.

When injected intraperitoneally into mice in doses of 40.0-0.4 microgram, Cucumarioside, the preparation of triterpene glycosides obtained from sea cucumbers (Cusumaria japonica), enhanced the resistance of the animals to the subsequent challenge with Salmonella typhimurium. The study of the duration of the persistence of salmonellae in mice receiving the preparation in a dose of 0.001 microgram revealed a decrease in the contamination of their organs. The same dose of the preparation stimulated the phagocytic activity of peritoneal exudate cells with salmonellae showing decreased cytopathogenic action. This suggests that Cucumarioside enhances nonspecific protective factors, activates the macrophagal system and facilitates the development of complete phagocytosis.

[Immunity indices during the vaccinal therapy of protracted forms of dysentery in children]. / Izuchenie nekotorykh pokazatelei immuniteta pri vaktsinoterapii zatiazhnykh form dizenterii u detei.

The results obtained in the study of the dynamics of systemic and local immunity characteristics in children with prolonged and chronic dysentery under the influence of vaccinal therapy are presented. The vaccine, containing soluble antigenic complexes isolated from Shigella sonnei cells by disintegration with hydroxylamine, was introduced intrarectally in doses of 2-4 mg. The course of treatment consisted of 5-6 administrations. The vaccinal therapy resulted in an increase in the level of immunoglobulins and the titer of specific antibodies, particularly IgA, in sera and fecal filtrates. These data coincided with an increase in the number of IgA-producing cells in bioptic samples of the mucous membrane of the large intestine. The vaccinal therapy contributed to the cessation of the release of bacteria in 82.5% of the patients.

[Persistence of pneumococci in mice]. / Persistentsiia pnevmokokka u myshei.

The sensitivity of different mouse strains to Str. pneumoniae, serotype 6, under the conditions of intraperitoneal and intranasal infection has been studied. The time course of distribution of pneumococci in the organs has been shown and differences depending on the methods of infection have been revealed. The pathomorphological and immunomorphological changes in the organs and tissues after the introduction of the infective agent by different methods have been established.

[Interrelation of the toxicity and capacity of pertussis vaccines to alter the body immune response to heterogenetic antigens]. / Vzaimosviaz' toksichnosti i sposobnosti kokliushnykh vaktsin izmeniat' immunnyi otvet organizma na nerodstvennye antigeny.

The influence of immunization with pertussis vaccines differing in toxicity on the intensity of the formation of antibodies to heterologous antigens (S. typhi Vi-antigen) and on the resistance of the body to natural infection (S. typhimurium) was studied in mice. The toxicity of pertussis vaccines was found to be related to their capacity for changing immune response to heterologous antigen. In mice showing pronounced toxicosis the injection of pertussis vaccine resulted in a decrease in their capacity for Vi-hemagglutinin formation. The appearance of a definite degree of resistance ot S. typhimurium was observed in mice previously immunized with pertussis vaccine possessing pronounced toxic properties. Nevertheless, the appearance of enhanced resistance to infection was observed only in the animals previously immunized with a nontoxic preparation.

[Sensitivity of different mouse strains to Streptococcus pneumomiae serotype 3]. / Chuvstvitel'nost' razlichnykh linii myshei k Streptococcus pneumoniae serotipa 3.

The sensitivity of different mouse strains to Str. pneumoniae, serotype 3, after the intraperitoneal injection of the infective agent was studied. These experiments revealed that the animals under study, so far as their susceptibility and sensitivity were concerned, formed a single group, highly sensitive to this serotype. The sublethal dose of the pneumococcus was determined. The distribution of pneumococci in the organs during a definite time interval was shown and the fact of the prolonged carriership of the capsular forms of the pneumococci was established.

[Biological properties of the antigens isolated from Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 3]. / Izuchenie nekotorykh biologicheskikh svoistv antigenov, vydelennykh iz Streptococcus pneumoniae serologicheskogo tipa 3.

The protective activity of polysaccharide-containing antigens of Str. pneumoniae, serotype 3, was studied. The protective properties of the preparation were shown to be directly related to the quantitative content of carbohydrate substances, and the preparation was shown to be capable of inducing specific resistance. The study revealed that the resistance of mice to infection with the virulent strain of Str. pneumoniae, serotype 3, did not ensure the rapid elimination of the infective agent from the body. The antimicrobial effect of the preparation was due to the presence of protein, not subjected to deproteinization.

[A comparative study of the immunological properties of peptidoglycans of different origins]. / Sravnitel'noe izuchenie immunologicheskikh svoistv peptidoglikanov razlichnogo proiskhozhdeniia.

The action of peptidoglycans (PG) of different origin has been experimentally studied in vivo. In these experiments PG of bacterial origin, such as blastolysin (BL), and synthetic PG, viz. muramyldipeptide (MDP) and its analog glucosaminylmuramyldipeptide (GMDP) have been used. Their toxicity, allergenic action, their effect on the phagocytic activity of peritoneal exudate macrophages (PEM), the accumulation of antibody-producing cells in the spleen, antibody titer in the blood serum and delayed hypersensitivity to nonbacterial antigens have been determined. As revealed in this study, BL does not differ from MDP in its toxicity and allergenic action. The phagocytic activity of PEM under the influence of BL only insignificantly differs from their activity under the influence of MDP, but is lower than under the influence of GMDP. The adjuvant action of BL is somewhat higher than that of synthetic PG.

[Cultivation of Haemophilus influenzae, serotype B, in amino peptide-based semisynthetic nutrient medium]. / Kul'tivirovanie Haemophilus influenzae serotipa B na polusinteticheskoi pitatel'noi srede na osnove aminopeptida.

The work shows the possibility of the cultivation of H. influenzae, serotype b, in semisynthetic nutrient medium with amino peptide as the only source of amino acids, glucose--as the main source of carbon and energy and containing, in addition, the necessary growth factors and vitamins.