Subject(s)
Bacterial Vaccines/immunology , Meningitis, Meningococcal/prevention & control , Neisseria meningitidis/immunology , Polysaccharides, Bacterial/immunology , Antibodies, Bacterial/analysis , Child , Child, Preschool , Humans , Immunoglobulin G/immunology , Immunoglobulin M/immunology , Time FactorsABSTRACT
Asplenic persons are at risk for the development of overwhelming sepsis from certain encapsulated bacteria, including meningococci. Since it is not known if asplenic persons can have antibody responses, this study compared such responses following bivalent groups A and C meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine in 22 asplenic subjects and healthy control subjects. There were no adverse reactions to the vaccine. Antibody responses were measured using a solid-phase radioimmune assay; results were compiled for both seroconversions and changes in mean antibody titers of IgG, IgA, and IgM classes. Subjects who underwent splenectomy for trauma and control subjects with spleens showed a polyclonal antibody response to both vaccine antigens. Those persons who underwent splenectomy for nonlymphoid tumors had nearly as good a response as normal subjects. By contrast, asplenic subjects with lymphoid tumors who had received prior chemotherapy and radiotherapy had poor responses to both antigens. It is concluded that meningococcal vaccine is immunogenic in asplenic persons, with the aforementioned exceptions, and that this vaccine should be routinely administered to such persons.
Subject(s)
Antibodies, Bacterial/analysis , Bacterial Vaccines/immunology , Neisseria meningitidis/immunology , Polysaccharides, Bacterial/immunology , Splenectomy , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Antibody Formation , Female , Humans , Immunoglobulins/immunology , Male , Meningococcal Infections/prevention & control , Middle Aged , Radioimmunoassay , Splenectomy/adverse effects , VaccinationSubject(s)
Diphtheria Toxoid/therapeutic use , Diphtheria/prevention & control , Tetanus Toxoid/therapeutic use , Tetanus/prevention & control , Adolescent , Adult , Age Factors , Antibodies, Bacterial/analysis , Antitoxins/analysis , Child , Diphtheria Toxoid/adverse effects , Humans , Middle Aged , Rural Health , Tetanus Toxoid/adverse effectsSubject(s)
Bacterial Vaccines/standards , Neisseria meningitidis/immunology , Polysaccharides, Bacterial/standards , Adolescent , Adult , Antibodies, Bacterial/biosynthesis , Bacterial Vaccines/adverse effects , Bacterial Vaccines/therapeutic use , Blood Bactericidal Activity , Female , Humans , Male , Meningococcal Infections/prevention & control , Polysaccharides, Bacterial/therapeutic use , RadioimmunoassayABSTRACT
A technique is described for the direct exposure of cell cultures to airborne virus enabling quantitation of the virus in concentrations as low as one plaque-forming unit per liter of air.
Subject(s)
Air Microbiology , Culture Techniques , Viruses/isolation & purification , Animals , Arboviruses/isolation & purification , Cell Line , Chick Embryo , Encephalomyelitis, Equine , Equipment and Supplies , Guinea Pigs , Lung , MethodsABSTRACT
Chikungunya virus was quantitatively assayed by counting immunofluorescent foci after infection of BHK21/C13 cell monolayers. The speed and efficiency of virus attachment to cells were markedly enhanced when augmented by centrifugal force. By this procedure, a proportionality was obtained between the number of immunofluorescent foci and the volume of inoculum. Virus penetration into cells was linear and complete within 15 min at 35 C. From observations on the sequential development of viral antigen within cells and immunofluorescent focus counts, foci of infected cells may be enumerated as early as 16 hr after inoculation of cell monolayers. A linear function was demonstrated between immunofluorescent focus counts and relative virus concentration. The immunofluorescent assay was comparable in sensitivity but more precise and rapid than virus assays based on the intracerebral inoculation of suckling mice or on plaque counting. By the immunofluorescent procedure, the 50% neutralizing end point of antiviral serum was rapidly and quantitatively determined.
