ABSTRACT
A portion of the antigen I/II (spaA, B, P1) gene of Streptococcus sobrinus 6715, containing the coding sequence for the amino terminal 684 amino acids of the protein, was cloned in bacteriophage lambda GT10. Selection was by immunological detection using a polyclonal antiserum to the antigen I/II from Strep. mutans. From the amino acid sequence, peptides were synthesized, 15 amino acids in length, that covered the entire sequence. In total, 260 synthetic peptides were synthesized and evaluated for their immunogenicity in Balb/C mice. Thirty-nine peptides were immunogenic, without carrier, and the antisera generated were tested for their ability to bind cells of Strep. mutans and Strep. sobrinus in a solid-phase assay. Antisera corresponding to peptides from five regions on the I/II molecule bound cells of both bacterial species. These peptides were then evaluated for their ability to stimulate in vitro murine lymphocyte proliferation, after in vivo immunization with Strep. sobrinus cells. Two of the peptides were capable of stimulating proliferation, as determined by incorporation of [3H]-thymidine into murine lymph node cells. The sequences of these 5 peptides were then compared to sequences found in the antigen I/II from Strep. mutans (Kelly et al., 1989). As expected, there was considerable homology between the cross-reactive peptides synthesized and the analogous region from Strep. mutans. This homology was not usually contiguous and suggests that the antibodies bind a face of antigen I/II that is in an alpha-helical conformation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Subject(s)
Antigens, Bacterial/genetics , Bacterial Proteins/genetics , Membrane Glycoproteins , Nucleotides/genetics , Streptococcus/immunology , Amino Acid Sequence , Animals , Antibodies, Bacterial/biosynthesis , Antigens, Bacterial/immunology , Antigens, Surface/genetics , Antigens, Surface/immunology , Base Sequence , Cloning, Molecular , DNA, Bacterial/genetics , DNA, Bacterial/isolation & purification , Immunization , Lymphocyte Activation , Mice , Mice, Inbred BALB C , Mice, Inbred C3H , Mice, Inbred Strains , Molecular Sequence Data , Streptococcus/genetics , Streptococcus mutans/genetics , Streptococcus mutans/immunology , Vaccines, Synthetic/chemical synthesis , Vaccines, Synthetic/immunologyABSTRACT
This paper summarizes efforts to control the incidence and severity of repetitive trauma disorders associated with hand tool operations in a telecommunications manufacturing facility with 6,600 employees. Repetitive trauma disorders--including strains, tendinitis, ganglions and carpal tunnel syndrome--were the leading cause of lost time and workers' compensation expenses at this plant in 1979. The plant-wide incidence rate of OSHA reportable repetitive trauma disorders was 2.2 cases per 200,000 workhours and resulted in 1,001 lost workdays. Incidence rates as high as 4.6 were reported in some areas, but were believed to be much higher among persons who actually perform repetitive work in these areas. In the spring of 1981, the plant safety and health committee undertook a control program that included creation of a task force, a training program, improvements in the design of workstations and tooling, and management of restricted workers. During 1982, the incidence rate of repetitive motion disorders has decreased to .53 cases per 200,000 workhours and resulted in only 129 lost workdays.
