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Biomedical subjects

O Zwisler

Publications and source records attributed to O Zwisler.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1991

Vaccination of patients with encephalomyelitis disseminata.

The aetiopathogenesis of Encephalomyelitis disseminata (multiple sclerosis) is not yet fully understood. It is thought to involve an immunopathological process, with various exogenic factors considered to be possibly responsible for inducing the disease or causing acute exacerbations. In the literature the following factors are described as having the capacity to interfere directly or indirectly in immunoregulatory mechanisms: infectious diseases, gravidity, various types of trauma, non-infectious diseases, and drugs, but also physical strain and vaccinations.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

[Current trends in the development of vaccines].

The increasing knowledge of the function of bacterial toxins, of adhesion phenomena, and the structure of epitopes boost the development of new or better vaccines. This is also influenced by the synthesis of peptides and the rapid progress in the field of genetic engineering. New vaccines against bacterial, viral, and parasitic infections may be expected.

Antigens, Bacterial↗
PubMed1980

Allergic encephalomyelitis in rats - toxicity assay for pertussis vaccines.

Levine produced encephalitis in Lewis rats after injection of pertussis vaccine together with spinal cord tissue of guinea-pigs. This animal model was used as an assay for the possible side-effects of pertussis vaccines prepared from whole bacteria or with extracted antigens. Wistar and Lewis rats were injected with a mixture of guinea-pig spinal cord and cFA together with vaccines into the pad of each hind food. During a period of 25 days, the rats were observed for paralysis, ataxia, and death. Wistar rats were not found to be sensitive enough. Lewis rats were high susceptible in this model; they developed a high rate of allergic encephalopathy. DPT-vaccines prepared with soluble antigens showed a reduced neurotoxic activity. The results were compared with the histamine-sensitizing assay and the mouse weight-gain test. In these assays similar results were found. The proposed animal assay is recommended in the preclinical testing of pertussis vaccines.

Animals↗
PubMed1979

[Therapy and prophylaxis of experimental staphylococcal nephritis of the rabbit with gamma-globulin and F(ab')2-fragments (author's transl)].

Prophylactic and therapeutic effects of immunoglobulins and their combination with ampicillin were studied in an experimental bacterial nephritis model after i.v. injection of Staphylococcus aureus into rabbits. Untreated human IgG and a preparation containing F(ab')2-pieces were investigated on therapeutic effects. Both antibody preparations prevented the lethal purulent inflammation of kidneys when injected immediately before the infection. The course of the pathological process after infection was positively influenced by both immunoglobulins. The globulin containing F(ab)2-fragments was more effective. Repeated applications showed also a more significant therapeutical effect than did single treatment. Ampicillin was less effective against this resistant staphylococcus strain, in combination with immunoglobulins it was fully effective. F(ab')2-pieces of the human IgG activate the alternate pathway of the complement system, too, and are able to penetrate into cells. The antibacterial effect may be caused by this behaviour.

Ampicillin↗
PubMed1978

Preliminary results in the immunization of Irus monkeys against dental caries.

Twelve Irus monkeys were divided into four groups which were immunized with placebo, two cell wall preparations and one vaccine containing a glucosyltransferase preparation of S. mutans. After 310 days of challenge by a cariogenic diet, the caries score in all the immunized animals was below that of the controls. Furthermore, the protected animals were characterized by a high specific serum titer against the antigens used for immunization and the extension of plaque seemed to be smaller when compared with the controls.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

Oral immunization of dogs against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis.

Mongrel dogs were revaccinated three weeks after basic parenteral immunization with a DT-vaccine with 3 X 3 capsules of an enteric coated oral vaccine, which contained 500 Lf in each of the capsules. When there was a basic titer of 0.005 IU/ml serum, the titer went up to 10 IU/ml by oral vaccination. Similar levels were obtained when lozenges containing the same amount of toxoid were used for revaccination. A twofold buccal vaccination without preceding parenteral vaccination yielded no protective titers. Also a parenteral basic immunization with a diluted DPT-vaccine, followed by oral vaccination with enteric coated capsules, containing a soluble pertussis vaccine, resulted in no titers measured by bacterial agglutination test. In the cases of diphtheria and tetanus only part of the animals showed elevated titres after oral vaccination and protective titers could only be reached if rather high amounts of toxoids were administered orally. It can be concluded from the results that an oral revaccination does not confer protective immunity comparable to that conferred by parenteral vaccination.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1978

Immunodiffusion studies on Schistosoma mansoni and its host stage specific antigens. 1. Immunoelectrophoresis cross-reactions between S. mansoni adults and larval stages antigens.

IMMUNOELECTROPHORESIS was applied to evaluate the immunologic relationship between the different stages in the life cycle of Schistosoma mansoni (S.m.). The preparation of antigens and antisera was described. Separated female and male adult worms tested seem to be identical. Eggs, miracidia and cercariae from Biomphalaria glabrata and Biomphalaria alexandrina showed varying degree of cross-reactions. The maximal number of pricipitin arcs was observed, when anti-miracidia-serum was checked against all other S.m. antigens.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

Immunodiffusion studies on Schistosoma mansoni and its host stage specific antigens. 2. Immunoelectrophoresis cross-reactions between hepato-pancreas of Biomphalaria glabrata and Biomphalaria alexandrina.

IMMUNOELECTROPHORESIS was used for studies on immunological cross-reactions between both Schistosoma mansoni (S. m.) intermediate host snails Biomphalaria glabrata and Biomphalaria alexandrina. The preparation of antigens and their corresponding antisera from hepato-pancreas of S. m. infected and non infected snails was described as the homologous reactions of both snails either infected or non infected were rather similar, close immunological relationship between B. glabrata and B. alexandrina could be deduced.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

Immunodiffusion studies on Schistosoma mansoni and its intermediate host stage specific antigens. 3. Immunoelectrophoresis cross-reactions between S. mansoni stages and Biomphalaria sp. hepato-pancreas antigens.

IMMUNOELECTROPHORESIS was applied for cross-wise checking of the different stages in the life cycle of schistosoma mansoni with extracts of hepato-pancreas from its intermediate host snails Biomphalaria glabrata and Biomphalaria alexandrina. Only few fractions were common to non infected snail organ and parasite development stage, while more crossreactions were detected with infected snail hepato - pancreas.

Animals↗
PubMed1977

[Immunologic reaction in parasitic invasion (author's transl)].

Among the manifold immunologic events which take place during parasitic invasions, production of autoantibodies and immune complexes can play a serious role during infections with African and American trypanosomes. The importance of complement deserves new attention. The increasing level of IgE induced by helminthic infections on a humoral basis seems to be caused by separate worm allergens; its involvement in self-cure phenomena together with processes on cellular levels is discussed. Destructive processes on various development stages of schistosoma and immunological events during cutaneous leishmaniasis are also cell mediated. Variations in the antigenic behaviour of parasites and their immunological mimicry by uptake of substances from the host and their immunosuppressive action are discussed. As reasons for absence of immunity against animal parasites this action can disturb either humoral or cellular immunological procedures or both.

Animals↗
PubMed1977

Structure of tetanus toxin. I. Breakdown of the toxin molecule and discrimination between polypeptide fragments.

Tetanus toxin was digested with papain, yielding one major polypeptide (Fragment C) with a molecular weight corresponding to 47,000 +/- 5%, thus comprising about one-third of the toxin molecule. Fragment C was antigenically active, atoxic, and stimulated the formation of antibodies neutralizing the lethal action of tetanus toxin in vivo. Furthermore, a second split product (Fragment B) was isolated from the papain digest, containing two polypeptide chains linked together via a disulfide bond. Fragment B (Mr = 95,000 +/- 5%) was atoxic and showed a reaction of nonidentity with Fragment C on immunodiffusion analysis against tetanus antitoxin. The basic two-chain structure (heavy and light chain polypeptide, cf. Matsuda, M., and Yoneda, M. (1975) Infect. Immun. 12, 1147-1153) of tetanus toxin has been confirmed and the relationship between Fragments B and C within this framework has been established. Fragment C was distinguished from the light chain by electrophoresis in sodium dodecyl sulfate and by immunodiffusion analysis, indicating that this fragment constitutes a portion of the heavy chain polypeptide. Fragment B showed a reaction of partial identity with the light as well as the heavy chain from tetanus toxin. Reduction of Fragment B with dithiothreitol followed by gel chromatography yielded a fraction which was indistinguishable from the light chain portion of the toxin molecule. It is concluded that Fragment B comprises the complementary portion of the heavy chain (remaining after scission of the polypeptide bond(s) releasing Fragment C) linked to the light chain by a disulfide bond.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1977

Structure of tetanus toxin. II. Toxin binding to ganglioside.

The interaction between tetanus toxin and ganglioside containing 2 N-acetylneuraminic acid residues linked in sequence to one another has been investigated using a new method involving radioactively labeled ganglioside and tetanus toxin adsorbed to Sephadex matrix. Binding between the two components was demonstrated, and it was calculated that in the nanomolar concentration range, tetanus toxin becomes half-saturated at about 5 X 10(-8) M concentration of ganglioside. Removal of the ceramide portion from the ganglioside resulted in the complete loss of binding activity, whereas removal of the terminal N-acetylneuraminic acid residue from the intact ganglioside had no effect. Among the fragments derived from tetanus toxin (Helting, T. B., and Zwisler, O. (1977) J. Biol. Chem. 252, 187-193), only the heavy chain polypeptide exhibited a binding activity of the same order of magnitude as that observed for the native toxin. The light chain polypeptide showed no interaction with ganglioside and among the fragments derived from the toxin by digestion with papain, only Fragment C, at a high protein concentration, displayed marginal binding activity. Using monovalent antibodies directed against specific regions of the tetanus toxin molecule, it was demonstrated that antibodies directed against Fragment C uniquely interfere with the binding process. Anti-light chain serum was ineffective, as well as antitetanus toxoid serum previously absorbed with Fragment C. It is concluded that the binding site for ganglioside is located on the heavy chain portion of tetanus toxin, possibly in or near the region comprised by Fragment C.

Binding Sites↗
PubMed1977

Biochemical and technical considerations regarding the mass production of certain parasitic protozoa.

This article summarizes the most relevant biochemical knowledge about growth factors as specific essential components of culture media, and calls attention to their significance with respect to the mass cultivation of some parasitic protozoa-e.g., Trypanosoma and Leishmania spp. and amoebae. Details of recent developments and techniques of parasite fermentation are reviewed.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1975

Survey on experiences with latex-Chagas-test in various countries.

The principle of the latex agglutination technique was applied on the serodiagnosis of Chagas' disease. The latex particles coated with antigen from Trypanosoma cruzi are agglutinated by antibodies against T. cruzi in the serum of patients suffering thereof. In 11600 comparative determinations worked out mainly in a number of South American laboratories, the sensitivity of this test was compared with xenodiagnosis, CF, IFT and IHA. The latex Chagas test shows a mean coincidence of 90% with xenodiagnosis, 88% with CF, 75% with IFT, and 83% with IHA. The results indicate that the test is a useful new tool for the serodiagnosis of Chagas' disease. Also the data from CF, IFT and IHA were compared with each other. The latex Chagas test is sensitive even in the early stage of the disease. Also the specificity of the test was evaluated in other parasitic, bacterial and general diseases.

Animals↗