Class-specific antibody in human dermatophytosis reactive with Trichophyton rubrum derived antigen.

Dermatophyte infections induce a humoral immune response and an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect specific antibody classes against antigen derived from Trichophyton rubrum. Sera from 19 acute patients, 18 chronic patients, and 27 normal controls were evaluated. Mean IgG titers against dermatophyte antigen were significantly higher in all patients than in controls. Mean IgM levels were significantly higher in acute patients than in controls. No significant difference was detected in IgE titers between the patients and controls. These results do not reveal whether the humoral immune response has a role in the progression of the infection.

The presence of avian adenoviruses and adeno-associated viruses in healthy chickens.

Avian adenoviruses were isolated from 56 of 106 fecal and rectal tissue samples taken from apparently healthy young chickens on 4 farms. Only one isolation was made from the 37 samples from 3- and 4-week-old chicks, while the isolation frequency was 64-100% in groups 5 weeks old and older. The 56 adenovirus isolates were classified into 6 serotypes. Vurses of 3 or 4 types were found on each farm. Avian adeno-associated virus CF antigens were found, using chicken embryos coinfected with an adenovirus helper, in 2 of the 38 adenovirus isolated studied.

Potentiation of hamster tumors by normal cells or charcoal.

Admixed spleen cells from normal animals or from animals given injections of Syrian hamster type C virus significantly potentiated the growth of the transplanted D9 lymphoma of random-bred hamsters. Potentiation was measured by an increase in incidence of tumors, a shortened latent period, and a decreased 50% tumor-producing dose of tumor cells. Intermediate doses of spleen cells (10 to 100 spleen cells per tumor cell) produced the greatest potentiation. Preincubation of admixed spleen and tumor cell suspensions in vitro was unnecessary. Immunization to isoantigens was not responsible for potentiation, since growth of a transplantable carcinoma of inbred hamsters was also facilitated by normal spleen cells. In addition, normal kidney or liver cells increased the incidence of tumors transplanted by a small number of tumor cells. Potentiation did not occur when spleen cells were injected at a site remote from the tumor cells. Since the potentiating cells might act eigher as a physical barrier to host response, or by blocking normal macrophage function, we injected charcoal with tumor cells. Simultaneous treatment with charcoal facilitated the growth of the lymphoma but not that of the carcinoma. Treatment with some doses of charcoal was also effective at distant sites. Although potentiation of tumor growth by cells or charcoal may operate through different mechanisms, these phenomena should be explored in regard to outgrowth of primary tumors, tumor immunity, or enhancement of tumor growth.

Detection and serological identification of adeno-associated virus in avian adenovirus stocks.

Eleven avian adenovirus strains were tested for the presence of avian adeno-associated viruses (AAAV). Six strains contained AAAV. Electron microscopy using rabbit anti-AAAV serum was useful in detecting the satellite virus. The AAAV previously isolated from guail bronchitis virus was related to each of the six new isolates by immunoagglutination, complement fixation, immunodiffusion, and neutralization tests.

Isolation and characterization of an Avian adenovirus-associated virus.

An 18- to 20-nm virus particle was isolated from the Olson strain of quail bronchitis, an avian adenovirus. On density gradient separation the small virions were primarily found at densities of 1.39 and 1.42 g/cm(3). The majority of the infectious particles were at the heavier density. The virus had a hexagonal outline and contained single-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid. It was resistant to heating at 56 C for more than an hour and was not inactivated by treatment with chloroform or low pH. Purified virus did not agglutinate erythrocytes of various avian and mammalian species. Replication of the small particles occurred either in chicken embryos or in cultures of embryo kidney cells coinfected with an adenovirus helper. Antigenically the virus was distinct from the adeno-associated viruses types 1, 2, 3, and 4. The virus is the avian equivalent of the adeno-associated viruses of primates and lower animals.