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J C Travis

Publications and source records attributed to J C Travis.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Effect of Santoquin on humoral immune function in mice: lack of interference with selenium utilization.

Santoquin (0.25% by weight) in the diets of mice receiving adequate dietary selenium (1.0 parts/10(6] reduced the humoral immune response, as monitored by the plaque-forming cell assay, to levels exhibited by mice maintained on selenium-deficient diets (0.005 parts/10(6)). Mice exhibiting this suppression of immunity had levels of blood glutathione peroxidase, serum selenium, and liver DNA, RNA and protein similar to mice receiving selenium only. Therefore, it was concluded that Santoquin is not immunosuppressive by interfering with selenium metabolism or general tissue function, but by other unknown mechanisms.

Animals↗

Ability of Vibrio vulnificus to obtain iron from hemoglobin-haptoglobin complexes.

It has been suggested that the normal serum protein, haptoglobin (Hp), serves a bacteriostatic role by binding free hemoglobin (Hm), thus making heme iron unavailable for bacterial growth. Previous studies showed that, unlike Escherichia coli, Vibrio vulnificus was able to overcome this Hp-blocking effect. We report here a study on the iron-withholding property of the three major human Hp phenotypes, Hp 1, 2, and 2-1. Results of experiments with human serum showed that V. vulnificus C7184 was able to obtain iron from Hm bound to Hp types 1 and 2, but not that bound to Hp 2-1. E. coli 2395-80, on the other hand, was unable to overcome the blocking effect of any Hp phenotype. Using purified Hp 1, we also demonstrated that, although V. vulnificus was unable to grow in a deferrated medium without an additional iron source, it was able to grow with the addition of the Hm-Hp complex.

Haptoglobins↗

The association of Hp 1 and sickle cell disease.

The distribution of gene frequencies and types for haptoglobin (Hp) were studied in a normal black population and one with sickle cell disease. The statistical analysis of our findings indicated a significant association between sickle cell disease and the Hp 1 type.

Anemia, Sickle Cell↗

Role of heme compounds and haptoglobin in Vibrio vulnificus pathogenicity.

An induced peritonitis model was employed in mice to determine whether heme-containing molecules enhance the lethality of infections by Vibrio vulnificus. The lethality of intraperitoneal (ip) inocula of the bacteria was increased by concurrent injections (ip) of hemoglobin, methemoglobin, or hematin, but not by myoglobin. Similar results were obtained in mice with phenylhydrazine-induced hemoglobinemia, in which after ip injections of V. vulnificus, a direct correlation between lethality and levels of plasma hemoglobin was observed. In vitro studies indicated that the growth of V. vulnificus, which was limited in an iron-poor medium, was enhanced by the addition of hemoglobin in a manner similar to an inorganic iron source, ferric ammonium citrate. These results suggest that V. vulnificus is capable of extracting iron from hemoglobin for use as a nutrilite, thereby promoting growth and increased lethality in the in vivo models. Further studies with human serum cultures demonstrated that the growth of V. vulnificus was not decreased when hemoglobin added to the serum was completely complexed with haptoglobin; these results are in opposition to those with cultures of Escherichia coli. These results are discussed relative to the capacity of V. vulnificus to produce fatal human infections.

Animals↗

Trace metal analysis by laser-enhanced ionization in flames.

We review atomic flame spectrometry of metals based on the selective laser-enhancement of the rate of atomic ionization. A discussion of basic principles, prior literature, and instrumentation is followed by an overview of analytical figures of merit for the technique, and a look at its present status and areas for future development.

Lasers↗

Structure and evolution of artiodactyla haptoglobins.

1. Artiodactyla haptoglobins (Hps), goat, sheep and cattle (family Bovidae), and pig (family Suidae) were structurally characterized. 2. The polymeric Hp systems of goat, sheep and cattle were similar to the polymeric human Hp system, while the monomeric system of pig was more comparable to the monomeric human form. 3. All members of the Artiodactyla (family Bovidae) examined exhibited a large polypeptide subunit, comparable to that of the beta subunit of human Hp. 4. In addition, a small subunit, similar in molecular weight to the human alpha 2 subunit, was demonstrated. Pig Hp was shown to have two subunits, one slightly larger than the human beta subunit and the other intermediate in size to the human alpha 1 and alpha 2 subunits. 5. Immunoelectrophoretic and immunodiffusion studies indicated complete cross reactivity among the polymeric Artiodactyla Hps. 6. The polymeric Hps do not, however, cross react with the monomeric pig Hp.

Animals↗

Immunochemical comparison of human and goat haptoglobin and alpha 2-macroglobulin.

1. A non-haptoglobin alpha 2-globulin was observed in the plasma of goats (Capra hircus) after inflammatory stresses. 2. This stress reaction protein exhibited an electrophoretic mobility and molecular weight similar to goat haptoglobin. 3. Complete immunological cross-reactivity was demonstrated between the goat protein and human alpha 2-macroglobulin. 4. The functional and evolutionary significance of these observations are discussed.

Animals↗

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Cognition↗