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Biomedical subjects

D Sompolinsky

Publications and source records attributed to D Sompolinsky.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Immunologically induced purulent anterior segment inflammation of the guinea pig eye.

A single conjunctival application of ovalbumin to inbred guinea pigs (IMM/S 209) immunized with the same antigen in Freund's complete adjuvant provoked an acute purulent inflammation of the anterior segment of the eyes with a duration of up to 1 week. Intense conjunctival injection and chemosis were followed by a purulent discharge. A corneal haze was observed regularly, and a considerable proportion of the animals developed a pronounced pannus and corneal ulcers. Tear fluid cytology revealed a rapid increase in cell concentration, from the normal level (less than 10(8)/l) to greater than 10(11)/l. Seventy to 95% of the cells were polymorphonuclear leukocytes. Histological examination revealed an acute inflammatory reaction which radiated from the conjunctival fornices to the entire anterior segments of the eyes. The process was characterized by an intense oedema, vasodilation and perivascular aggregations of polymorphonuclear leukocytes, and to a lesser extent eosinophilic granulocytes which characteristically infiltrated and penetrated the epithelial layers. Neovascularization could be observed early after challenge in the stroma of all parts of the outer eye. Ulcerations of the conjunctival and corneal epithelia were observed frequently. After a number of reiterations of the antigenic challenge, a marked infiltration with lymphocytes and basophils/mast cells was observed, and significant scarring of the conjunctival mucosa developed. In several animals, a slight, but significant co-reaction of the contra-lateral, non-challenged eye was observed.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1992

Genetic control of eosinophilia in guinea pig strains inbred for high or low bronchial allergic reactivity. 2. A genetic study of spontaneous and immunization-induced eosinophilia.

In 4 inbred strains of guinea pig the tendency to develop peripheral high-eosinophilia was shown to be genetically controlled. The development of eosinophilia with age and following immunization was examined in high- and low-eosinophilic parental strains, in F1-hybrids and in backcross offspring. The results show that probably only one or a very few segregating genes control eosinophilia, and they also indicate that different genes are involved in the determination of spontaneous (age-related) and immunization-induced eosinophilia.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Circulatory basophilia in guinea pigs with delayed-type hypersensitivity. Topical antigenic provocation induces circulatory basophilia.

Circulatory basophilia could be induced in inbred guinea pigs systematically immunized with ovalbumin and consequently provoked repeatedly with dissolved ovalbumin applied onto the mucosa of the nares or the outer eye. The degree of the increase in circulatory basophil granulocytes depended on the adjuvant used and was significantly more pronounced after immunization with Freund's complete adjuvant than with alhydrogel (Al(OH)3). The degree of basophilia was also dependent on the animal strain, but different in two strains selected for high-asthma trait.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed1992

Genetic control of eosinophilia in guinea pig strains inbred for high or low bronchial allergic reactivity.

Development of eosinophilia was studied in four strains of guinea pigs (gp), selectively bred for either high or low respiratory anaphylactic reactivity. One high-asthma strain (IMM/S 209) and one low-asthma strain (IMM/R 203) developed spontaneous high blood eosinophilia. The 2 other gp strains - one high-asthma strain (IMM/S 740) and one low-asthma strain (IMM/R 201-16) - maintained normal low levels of eosinophilic granulocytes (eos). The levels of eos in various tissues showed similar differences between the gp strains. Following immunization with ovalbumin/Al(OH)3 the levels of blood eos increased significantly only in gp of strain 209. The blood eos levels in gp of all 4 strains decreased significantly following immunization with ovalbumin in Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA).

Aging↗
PubMed1989

The source of immunoglobulin E in the fetus at term.

A high level of immunoglobulin E (IgE) in cord blood (CB) is well known to be predictive of the development of clinical allergy during early childhood. We have tried to ascertain the source of IgE in cord blood by carrying out a series of measurements of IgE concentrations in arterial and venous CB of newborns and comparing them to IgE concentrations in blood samples from both parents. We found that the concentrations of IgE in arterial and venous CB were almost completely identical in the 131 newborns examined whereas IgD concentrations were significantly higher in arterial than in venous CB. Moderate but significant positive correlations were found between IgE concentrations in maternal blood and CB; paternal blood and CB; and maternal and paternal blood. Our data suggest that CB-IgE is essentially a product of fetal lymphocytes. The positive correlations found between the IgE blood concentrations in the newborns, the mothers and the fathers, is most likely an effect of the amount and nature of the allergenic constituents in the family environment.

Amniotic Fluid↗
PubMed1989

A sensitive and wide-scale enzyme-immunoassay for human transferrin.

We describe an ELISA technique for human transferrin. The test has a lowest detection limit of 2 micrograms/l and a wide range. It is specific for human transferrin and its reproducibility proved acceptable in both intra-run and between-day examinations. Results obtained by radial immunodiffusion and by ELISA were strongly correlated (n = 51; y = 0.92x + 16.1; r = 0.90). The cost in Israel for disposables and chemicals for triplicate examination is $0.55 per sample. This is 7-8 times less than the cost of a determination, using commercial immunodiffusion plates. This assay is of particular value where the sample size is limited, e.g. samples of 1-4 microliters are sufficient for the determination of transferrin in tears. The transferrin concentrations in arterial and venous cord blood were shown to be essentially identical and similar to that in adult blood.

Amniotic Fluid↗
PubMed1988

Non-occurrence of Mycoplasma genitalium in clinical specimens.

Five hundred and thirteen clinical specimens, mainly from patients with urogenital inflammations, were examined for Ureaplasma urealyticum and mycoplasmas, including cultures for Mycoplasma genitalium. The study yielded 95 isolates of Ureaplasma urealyticum, 37 isolates of Mycoplasma hominis and two isolates of Mycoplasma fermentans, but no growth of Mycoplasma genitalium was obtained. It was concluded that Mycoplasma genitalium is a relatively rare inhabitant of the human urogenital tract in Israel.

Female↗
PubMed1987

Isolation of Legionella pneumophila from calves and the prevalence of antibodies in cattle, sheep, horses, antelopes, buffaloes and rabbits.

The lungs of 139 calves presented for autopsy and 29 healthy slaughtered calves were examined for Legionella by culture and by direct immunofluorescence (DIF) with fluorescein-conjugated antisera. About 17% of the cadaver lungs and 4% of lungs from slaughtered animals were positive by DIF. Legionella organisms were only isolated from the lungs of two cadavers (L. pneumophila, serogroup 1). In a prevalence study of antibodies to Legionella in domestic and wild animals of various species, titers of greater than or equal to 64 were demonstrated by indirect immunofluorescence in sera of 10% of dairy cattle, 5% of beef cattle, 4% of sheep, 22% of antelopes, 35% of horses, 36% of buffaloes and 0% of laboratory rabbits. The isolation of Legionella from lung tissue is evidence for a possible etiologic role of Legionella spp. in natural pathology of animals.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Experimental allergic conjunctivitis in inbred guinea pig strains with high respectively low bronchial allergic reactivity.

Inbred guinea pigs selected for high (IMM/S) respectively low (IMM/R) responsiveness to ovalbumin (OA) as measured by induced respiratory anaphylaxis, were investigated for atopic immune responses of their conjunctival mucosa. IMM/S animals sensitized either by inhalation of OA, or by instillation of antigen into the conjunctival sac, developed regularly an acute ocular inflammatory response to topical (conjunctival) challenge with the allergen. A minimum of 1 microgram OA dropped repeatedly into the conjunctival sac was enough for both ocular and systemic sensitization of the animals, but the minimal dose of effective challenge was considerably higher. In IMM/R animals, ocular hypersensitivity was not achieved by inhalation of OA, but after topical administration of the antigen some of the IMM/R strains could be challenged to ocular anaphylactic responses of the same intensity as observed in IMM/S animals. The conjunctivae of both IMM/S and IMM/R animals could be sensitized passively by intraperitoneal injection of guinea pig sera containing homocytotropic antibodies to OA, but topical administration of such sera had no effect.

Administration, Inhalation↗
PubMed1986

Serological cross-reactions between Rickettsia typhi, Proteus vulgaris OX19, and Legionella bozemanii in a series of febrile patients.

The sera of 19 patients with a febrile disease of undetermined etiology were positive in the indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) to Legionella bozemanii serogroup 1 (Lb) and Rickettsia typhi (Rt). To both antigens, high titers of IgG-class and IgM-class antibodies were demonstrated. Several of the patients also had positive IFA and Weil-Felix reactions to Proteus vulgaris OX19 (PX 19). A sharp reduction of the serotiters to all three antigens was achieved by absorption of the sera with any one of the organisms. We demonstrated, by crossed immunoelectrophoresis with an Lb extract and a rabbit reference anti-Lb serum, that a heat-stable and trypsin-resistant antigen (antigen no. 1) reacted consistently with patients' sera that had been incorporated into an intermediate gel. Sera from five patients with high-titer IFA reactions to Rt, but no reaction to Lb, showed no interaction with antigen no. 1.

Antigens, Bacterial↗
PubMed1986

Exposure to Legionella in geriatric institutions.

A study of seroreactivity to six Legionella species (L. pneumophila, L. longbeachae, L. micdadei, L. gormanii, L. dumoffii and L. bozemanii) performed in two geriatric hospitals, a day club for the aged and a group of aged with independent life styles revealed a high prevalence of seropositivity in the hospitals. A titer of 1:256 to at least one antigen was obtained in 30.5% of the patients and 35.7% of the staff members from one hospital, 12.1% of the patients and 17.2% of the staff members from a second hospital, 9.1% of the day club attendants, and in none of the 26 old people living in their own households. A second study of the possible source of Legionella spp. in three geriatric hospitals was performed. Three strains of L. pneumophila [serogroup (SG) 1, 3 and 6] were isolated from water, one water sample was positive for L. pneumophila SG 1-4 (pool), by direct immunofluorescence staining only. In a survey of seroconversion to Legionella antigens, 105 new patients were investigated on their arrival day and over a 2-year period; 24% of the patients who could be followed up significantly seroconverted to at least one of the Legionella antigens. Although the findings proved that Legionella existed on the premises of two hospitals, and the high prevalence of seropositivity to Legionella spp. indicated intramural exposure to the agents of legionellosis at one hospital, we found no evidence linking these agents to patient illness.

Aged↗
PubMed1986

Legionellosis in animals in Israel.

The lungs of 139 deceased and 29 slaughtered calves were examined for Legionella by culture and by direct immunofluorescence (DIF) with fluorescein-conjugated antisera. About 17% of the cadaver lungs and 4% of lungs from slaughtered animals were positive by DIF, but only two L. pneumophila serogroup 1 strains were isolated from the lungs of two cadavers. In a prevalence study of antibodies to Legionella in domestic and wild animals of various species, titers of 1:64 were demonstrated by the indirect immunofluorescence technique in the sera of 10% of the dairy cattle, 5% of the beef cattle, 4% of the sheep, 22% of the antelopes, 35% of the horses, 36% of the water buffaloes and none of the laboratory rabbits. The isolation of Legionella from lung tissue is the strongest indication so far reported of the possible role of Legionella spp. in animal disease.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Encapsulation and capsular types in isolates of Staphylococcus aureus from different sources and relationship to phage types.

The relationship of capsular types of Staphylococcus aureus to type of infection, carrier state, and phage type was studied in a collection of 477 isolates from 380 infection sites. Capsular polysaccharides were demonstrated by precipitation and agglutination with 11 monospecific antisera. When only one isolate from each infection was considered, 63% were of type 8 and 16% were of type 5. Of all the isolates tested, over 90% were encapsulated. We did not demonstrate any marked difference in the distribution of capsular types between isolates from the blood stream or purulent processes and isolates from healthy carriers or food. Most isolates from bovine mastitis milk had nontypeable capsules. The capsular type seemed stable in culture, and encapsulation had no apparent influence on susceptibility to phages. Of 27 phage-propagating strains maintained via culture transfer on artificial media over many years, 16 (59%) produced capsules. A striking association between certain phage patterns and capsular types was demonstrated.

Antigens, Bacterial↗
PubMed1985

Septicemia with two distinct strains of Staphylococcus aureus and dwarf variants of both.

A patient with erythema multiforme developed septicemia with two strains of Staphylococcus aureus. Six blood cultures, obtained during 14 days, yielded a mixture of both strains. The strains differed in the ability to hemolyze human erythrocytes, in the production of beta-lactamase and in the susceptibility to antibiotics and bacteriophages. Following therapy with gentamicin, a Dwarf colony variant auxotrophic for vitamin K, tryptophan and p-aminobenzoic acid appeared in some of the blood cultures. This variant was apparently derived from one of the offending strains (phage Type 55/71). From other blood cultures, a different type of Dwarf colony variant was obtained; this variant was of the same phage type as the other offending S. aureus strain (Type 85). The metabolic deficiencies of this strain were not unraveled. Both events, the double infection with distinct S. aureus strains, and the emergence of Dwarf variants during antibiotic therapy, are unusual in clinical practice, and will be detected only if laboratory staff pays particular attention to the possible occurrence of such events.

Aged↗
PubMed1985

Legionnaires' disease: new etiologic agents.

Two patients with pneumonitis due to legionellosis are described. The etiologic diagnosis was based on high titers of immunoglobulin (Ig)M class antibodies (1/2048 and 1/512) detected by indirect immunofluorescence. The etiologic agents were presumed to be Legionella bozemanii in one case and either L. bozemanii or L. longbeachae in the other. Both patients made an uneventful recovery. Infections with these organisms have not been described in Israel previously.

Aged↗