PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

R J Arko

Publications and source records attributed to R J Arko.

49 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1975

Acquired and natural immunity to gonococcal infection in chimpanzees.

Despite the fact that gonorrhea is our most common reportable infectious disease, little is known about natural and acquired resistance to Neisseria gonorrhoeae. With the chimpanzee model, which mimics human gonococcal infection in signs, symptoms, and host response, a natural resistance to gonococcal challenge was found. One aspect of this natural resistance became evident when the cervix and oral pharynx resisted more gonococci than the urethra. Natural resistance was also shown when environmental factors were found to influence resistance to gonococcal pharyngitis. In addition to natural resistance a postinfection-acquired immunity to the gonococcus was demonstrated. Following gonococcal pharyngitis, this anatomical location successfully resisted more gonococci than were initially resisted. Similarly, more gonococci were successfully resisted in rechallenging the urethra. These findings are related to the clinic situation and suggest possible new approaches to gonorrhea control.

Animals↗
PubMed1972

Neisseria gonorrhoeae: experimental infection of laboratory animals.

Experimlental Neisseria gonorrhoeae infections were established in five species of small laboratory animals (rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, mice, and rats) after subcutaneolusly implanted chambers were inioculated with gonococci. The chamber fluid was easily available for study or culture. A systemic immune response was indicated by hemnagglutination assay.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Neisseria gonorrhoeae: vaginal clearance and its correlation with resistance to infection in subcutaneous chambers in orally immunized estradiol-primed mice.

The rate of clearance of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in vaginal specimens harvested from inbred Balb/c and outbred (Institute of Cancer Research [ICR]) white mice, previously primed with saline or beta-estradiol and then challenged with live gonococci, was determined. Survival of gonococci was significantly (P < 0.05) better in estradiol-primed mice from both inbred and outbred lines at 24 h after challenge. Vaginal clearance of gonococci from ICR mice parenterally primed with a gonococcal PI-B synthetic peptide and then orally immunized with gamma irradiated, protein-III deficient gonococcal cells was significantly (P < 0.001) faster than in corresponding nonimmunized, estradiol-primed controls. The more rapid vaginal clearance in the orally immunized mice was correlated with an elevated subcutaneous chamber ID50% (> 100,000 colony forming units) determined for the same groups of mice. Peptide-primed mice orally immunized with irradiated Escherichia coli cells demonstrated a chamber ID50% of < 100 CFU and were significantly (P < 0.01) slower to clear gonococci following vaginal challenge. High levels of specific IgA and IgG antibodies to gonococci were detected by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in vaginal wash specimens from orally immunized mice. However, high antibody titers were not always predictive of an increased resistance to vaginal challenge. These models may be helpful in providing more economical and accessible in vivo methods for screening certain gonococcal vaccine candidates before more expensive testing in chimpanzees or humans.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Characteristics of toxic shock syndrome toxin 1-induced lectin-like activity and inhibitor(s) in rabbit serum.

In adult rabbits intravenously injected with toxic shock syndrome toxin 1 (TSST-1) or staphylococcal enterotoxin B, serum lectin-like activity (detectable by cation-dependent agglutination of bacteria) developed. This activity was sensitive to heat, trypsin, and formaldehyde but resistant to neuraminidase or galactose oxidase. Formaldehyde-fixed Propionibacterium acnes or Escherichia coli cells reactive with plant lectins provided sensitive targets for titration of serum agglutination activity that was competitively blocked with D-galactose, D-glucose, D-mannose, and alpha-L-fucose. The lectin-like activity, partially purified by affinity chromatography, was a protein of approximately 76,000 Da with an isoelectric point of 5.4. Both lectin-positive and normal serum contained agglutination inhibitors that were absorbed by protein A-producing staphylococci. S protein may be the origin of this lectin-like activity. In vitro exposure of peripheral-blood mononuclear cells to TSST-1 (1.0 micrograms/mL) and to lectin-positive serum induced rapid cell clumping and subsequent "activation" to a larger blast form expressing receptors for buccal epithelial cells. The interaction of toxin/lymphokine-activated mononuclear cells with glycoproteins and/or other antigens selectively expressed by tissues in various organ systems may play a role in target cell pathology in rabbits dying with toxic shock syndrome.

Agglutination Tests↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Tissue fluid penetration and anti-treponemal activity of trospectomycin (a new spectinomycin analog) in the rabbit syphilis model.

The antitreponemal activity of trospectomycin (a novel 6'-propyl analog of spectinomycin) was correlated with concentrations in serum and tissue chamber fluid in a cutaneously-infected rabbit model of syphilis. After single-dose intramuscular (im) injections of trospectomycin, spectinomycin hydrochloride, and aqueous procaine penicillin G(APPG), concentrations of the drugs in paired specimens of serum and tissue fluid were determined and correlated with response of Treponema pallidum-infected lesions. Lesions responded most rapidly in APPG-treated animals. Rapid response correlated with more prolonged levels of APPG in both serum and tissue fluid. Trospectomycin, when given in single doses exceeding 40 mg/kg, surpassed penicillin in peak serum levels (greater than 60 micrograms/ml at 1 hr) but not in duration of activity. Higher and prolonged concentrations of trospectomycin in tissue fluid correlated with more effective clearance of treponemes from cutaneous lesions. Animals treated with less than 40 mg of trospectomycin/kg or with 20-80 mg/kg of the parent compound (spectinomycin hydrochloride) had cutaneous lesions that were persistently darkfield-positive, as confirmed by three or more consecutive smears.

Animals↗