[Investigations about the immunobiology of m-proteins of Streptococcus pyogenes. IV. Cell-mediated immunity of rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) against streptococcal antigens (author's transl)]. / Untersuchungen zur Immunbiologie von M-Proteinen des Streptococcus pyogenes IV. Mitteilung: Zellvermittelte Immunität mit Streptokokkenangigenen ei Rhesusaffen (Macaca mulatta).

Cell-mediated immunity was tested in monkeys (Macaca mulatta) immunized with highly purified M-proteins by means of the lymphocyte transformation reaction. Lymphocytes from immunized and nonimmunized monkeys were stimulated with PAL-M-Proteins. IC-M-proteins were completely free of mitogenicity and no lymphocyte stimulation was to be found after immunization with 1.6 mg. Erythrogenic toxins of strain NY5 were able to stimulate lymphocytes of monkeys unspecifically.

Antistreptococcal antibodies, rheumatoid factors and haptoglobin in apes and monkeys.

Sera of 157 baboons (Papio hamadryas and P. anubis) 21 chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) five orang utans (Pongo pygmaeus) three mountain gorillas (Gorilla gorilla beringei) and three gibbons (Hylobates lar lar) were examined for the content of antistreptolysin O, antidesoxyribonuclease B, for the presence of rheumatoid factors as well as for the level and type of haptoglobin. The mean antistreptolysin O titer (AST) in baboons was 106 ASU +/- 18 in dextransulfate absorbed sera ("real" AST) and 182 ASU +/- 34 in non-absorbed sera. The mean decrease after absorption was 20% (i.e., 20% inhibitor + 80% antistreptolysin O), a value that is lower than previously found in rhesus monkeys (55%) or in man (40%). Raised values of anti-DNase B were found in two baboons only, and none of the sera of that species displayed presence of rheumatoid factors. In chimpanzees, the mean AST was 68 +/- 29 in absorbed and 87 ASU +/- 57 in non-absorbed sera. Anti-DNase B was raised in three animals, and in two cases the increase was correlated with raised AST. Of 19 chimpanzee sera examined, 13 were found to contain antigammaglobulins ("rheumatoid factors") the titers of which reached 1:64 or more. All primate sera tested so far showed haptoglobin type 1-1 or Hp 1-1-like patterns. The haptoglobin level in chimpanzees and baboons was comparable to that established in man; in rhesus monkey, on the other hand, much lower values (40-62 mg/100 ml) or ahaptoglobinemia were observed. The sera of all monkeys and apes tested so far showed a very low (undiluted, or up to 1:10 titer at most) agglutinating activity against T4-antigen-carrying streptococci. This is in agreement with our observations made previously which indicated that human or animal sera of haptoglobin type 1-1 agglutinated streptococci to a much lower degree than type Hp 2-2 or type Hp 2-1 sera.

[Immunohistology of the antibody-formation against M-protein of Streptococcus pyogenes in Macaca mulatta (author's transl)]. / Immunhistologie der Antikörperbildung gegen M-Protein von Streptococcus pyogenes bei Macaca mulatta.

The immunohistology of the antibody synthesis against M proteins of Streptococcus pyogenes (group A streptococci) was studied in rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta). For the immunoelectron microscopic detection of antibody producing cells peroxidase-labelled M protein was used. Cryostat sections of glutaraldehyde-fixed lymphoid organs were incubated with the peroxidase-conjugate followed by 3,3'-diaminobenzidine and H2O2. The labelled tissue sections were further processed for the electron microscopy. Two sites of specific labelling were observed: 1) The cell membrane of lymphocytes and transformed lymphocytes and 2) the endoplasmic reticulum of plasma cells, proplasmocytes and transformed lymphocytes.

[The immunobiology of M-proteins of Streptococcus pyogenes. III. Immunization of rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta)]. / Untersuchungen zur Immunbiologie von M-Proteinen des Streptococcus pyogenes

Rhesus monkeys were used for the examination of immunogenicity of various preparations of M-antigens of Streptococcus pyogenes, types 1, 12, and 19. The antigens were applied in various dosages, but always with alumniumhydroxide as adjuvant. The challenge infection was provided by the homologous type, in some cases by an additional heterologous type. After intravenous infection all the animals fell ill, as the high dose of infective agents led to poisoning. The majority of immunized animals, however, did not show an increase of antistreptolysin titers with the type 1-infections - a sign of the absence of any reproduction of the injected streptococci in the animal organism. This behaviour was also observed in animals where no protective antibodies (bactericidal and long-chain antibodies) were verified before the infection. The electrocardiographic findings also indicate the protective effect of M-protein vaccines. In all control animals changes were seen which indicated an acute myocarditis. Normal electrocardiograms were obtained from the monkeys which had been immunized and afterwards infected. The administration of antigen every two weeks over a period of one year did not lead to the occurrence of any visible allergy in the skin test. The lymphocyte transformation test showed an increased rate of transformation in some immunized and infected animals, but this is not type-specific.

[Normal antistreptolysin titres and demonstration of rheumatoid factors in rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) (author's transl)]. / Antistreptolysin-Normaltiter und Nachweis von Rheumafaktoren bei Rhesusaffen (Macaca mulatta)

Rhesus monkeys are often used as experimental animals. Many clinical and biochemical parameters are known but there are only few papers dealing with the normal values of antistreptolysin O (ASL). Informations about antistreptococcal antibodies are necessary in order to follow the course of immunization and infection experiments. When non-absorbed sera were used, the mean value of antistreptolysin O in clinically healthy rhesus monkeys (Macacus rhesus) amounted to 178 +/- 52 ASU. After absorption with dextran sulphate, the mean value was 90 +/- 20 ASU. Absorption with dextransulphate is a necessary prerequisite to exact determinations of antistreptolysin titres because it removes unspecific inhibitors of streptolysin O. In the sera of rhesus monkey more inhibitors were present than in human sera. On an average, in monkeys 55% of the material reacting with streptolysin O was an inhibitor, compared with about 40% in human sera. As a result of common infections with streptolysin O-producing streptococcal groups C and G antistreptolysin titres can frequently be seen to increase above the average normal value. Using non-absorbed and dextran sulphate absorbed sera, respectively 350 and 200 ASU must be regarded as the normal upper limits for serum antistreptolysin-titres.