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S Blumer

Publications and source records attributed to S Blumer.

10 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1973

Specific immunodiffusion test for blastomycosis.

A specific immunodiffusion test for blastomycosis has been developed. The test permitted the detection of approximately 80% of 113 proven cases of blastomycosis. Two diagnostically important precipitins designated A and B were frequently recognized in patients with blastomycosis. Routine use of reference sera containing the A and B precipitins in immunodiffusion tests would permit the specific diagnosis of blastomycosis without the need for parallel tests with coccidioidin and histoplasmin.

Antigens, Fungal↗
PubMed1968

Value and interpretation of serological tests for the diagnosis of cryptococcosis.

MAXIMAL SEROLOGICAL DIAGNOSIS OF CRYPTOCOCCOSIS MAY BE ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH THE CONCURRENT USE OF THREE TESTS: the latex agglutination (LA) test for cryptococcal antigen, and the indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) and tube agglutination (TA) tests for Cryptococcus neoformans antibodies. These tests were applied to 141 serum and cerebral spinal fluid specimens from 66 culturally proven cases of cryptococcosis and to 42 sera from normal subjects and from patients with other systemic mycotic diseases. The LA test was sensitive and completely specific; of the sera from proven cases, 55% were positive. With the TA test, 37% of the specimens were positive and the test was highly specific. With the IFA test, 38% of the specimens were positive and the test appears to be the least specific of the three. Cross-reactions were most evident with blastomycosis and histoplasmosis case sera. When the three tests were used concurrently, 87% of the cryptococcosis case specimens were positive and permitted a presumptive diagnosis of C. neoformans infections in 61 (92%) of the 66 patients whose specimens were examined.

Amphotericin B↗
PubMed1968

Development and use of a polyvalent conjugate to differentiate Histoplasma capsulatum and Histoplasma duboisii from other pathogens.

Previous investigations have demonstrated the existence of five Histoplasma capsulatum serotypes. Available specific fluorescent-antibody reagents stain only four of the five serotypes. Antibodies produced against the most complete H. capsulatum serotype were labeled with fluorescein isothiocyanate to develop a reagent specific for H. capsulatum that was reactive with all the known serotypes. The unadsorbed reagent not only stained all the H. capsulatum serotypes, but it also stained cultures of Blastomyces dermatitidis, H. duboisii, several Candida species, and a variety of other fungi. Adsorption of the conjugate with antigens of C. albicans produced a reagent that intensely stained only H. capsulatum, H. duboisii, and B. dermatitidis. Differentiation of B. dermatitidis from the Histoplasma species was accomplished by application of a B. dermatitidis specific fluorescent antibody to antigens positive with the H. capsulatum reagent. At present, differentiation of H. capsulatum from H. duboisii may be accomplished only by animal inoculation. Our data substantiate the antigenic relationships hypothesized earlier, and they indicate that H. capsulatum shares at least two antigens with the other fungi that were studied.

Antibodies↗
PubMed1966

Occurrence of serotypes among Histoplasma capsulatum strains.

Kaufman, Leo (Communicable Disease Center, Atlanta, Ga.), and Sharon Blumer. Occurrence of serotypes among Histoplasma capsulatum strains. J. Bacteriol. 91:1434-1439. 1966.-Extensive studies with a fluorescent antibody specific for the yeast form of Histoplasma capsulatum indicated that, although most strains of H. capsulatum stained intensely, others stained weakly and some did not stain. These observations suggested that antigenic variants of the fungus existed. To test this hypothesis, reciprocal cross-staining and adsorption procedures were performed with fluorescein-labeled antiglobulins to four strains of H. capsulatum. Fifty-six strains of H. capsulatum and 11 strains of H. duboisii were studied. The data indicate that at least five serotypes of H. capsulatum occur. One is closely related antigenically to H. duboisii and Blastomyces dermatitidis.

Adsorption↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Mononuclear blood cell sulfidoleukotriene generation in the presence of interleukin-3 and whole blood histamine release in honey bee and yellow jacket venom allergy.

Cross-linking IgE on basophils is known to cause both sulfidoleukotriene (sLT) generation and histamine release. We recently developed an ELISA to determine sulfidoleukotriene generation by blood mononuclear cells which employs pretreatment with IL-3 to enhance leukotriene generation (cellular antigen stimulation test, CAST). Here, we compared the CAST and whole blood histamine release in response to honey bee/yellow jacket venom (BV/YJV) in 23 patients clinically suspected of type-I allergy to these venoms. Of these, 17 were diagnosed as "definitive venom allergics," defined by a positive skin test at 100 ng/ml of venom or less. The six in whom such skin reactivity was absent were labelled "suspected venom allergics." Both venoms stimulated sulfidoleukotriene generation and histamine release also from control individuals (n = 10). In patients, insect venoms generally stimulated histamine release and sulfidoleukotriene generation in excess of the mean + 3 SD of values obtained with control individuals. However, about half of the patients reacted predominantly with either histamine release or sulfidoleukotriene generation. No overall correlation was found between threshold doses necessary to stimulate sulfidoleukotriene generation (ThsLT) and histamine release (ThHist). (Linear correlation coefficients between ThsLT and ThHist were -0.02 for honey bee venom and 0.13 for yellow jacket, n = 23). Both findings are in contrast to the concept that these responses occur in parallel. From results with "definitive venom allergics," CAST sensitivity was calculated as 100% for honey bee venom and 83% for yellow jacket, and that of the histamine release assay as 62.5% for honey bee venom and 50% for yellow jacket. Specificity of the CAST was calculated as 77% for honey bee venom and 100% for yellow jacket, and that of the histamine release assay as 44% for honey bee venom and 60% for yellow jacket. Thus, CAST results are closer to skin test results than to those of the whole blood histamine release assay.

Animals↗