New hemolytic method for determination of antistreptolysin O in whole blood

A new method is proposed for the determination of antistreptolysin O, based on the properties of streptolysin O. The reduced form of the toxin is hemolytic, whereas the oxidized form is not; this activity can be restored, however, by a reducing agent. Both forms maintain the capacity to bind specific antibodies. Unlike the classical method, the assay is performed on whole blood, using the patient's own erythrocytes as revealing agents. A procedure is proposed which limits the operation to a single dilution of a microvolume of blood (0.05 ml brought to 2 ml) and to the distribution of constant quantities in test tubes prefilled with different amounts of oxidized streptolysin O. After a few minutes, a reducing agent is added, and the reading is performed as in the classical technique after sedimentation of the erythrocytes. Correlation with the traditional method (r = 0.987) is evaluated on the basis of the results of samples from hospitalized patients.

[Goldmann-Favre hyaloido-tapetoretinal degeneration]

In a sister and brother we found a case of vitreo-tapeto-retinal degeneration (macular retinoschisis, night-blindness, vitreous micro-fibrillose degeneration, abolished E.R.G., very pathological E.O.G.) and a "fruste" form of tapeto-retinal degeneration (De Lange's curve and flicker-E.R.G. both modified, E.R.G. subnormal and slight pathological changes in adaptometry). The father of these two patients suffered from tapeto-retinal degeneration which had caused complete blindness. Basing their suppositions on their personal experience and medical literature, the authors believe that the type of vitreo-retinal degeneration is best determined after examination of the mode of hereditary transmission. In the family which is presented, they believe that it is a form of Goldmann-Favre's disease with pseudo-dominance.

[Serological response in man to an anticholera vaccine made from killed vibrios and partially purified with aluminium hydroxide]

The immunizing capability of a new anticholera vaccine (choleric anatoxin + vibrios Ogawa and Inaba) was tested on a group of 113 subjects. The vaccination was carried out with two inoculations of the vaccine, administered a month apart. Testings were taken before the vaccination, before the second inoculation and 10 to 14 days after the vaccination was completed. The determination of the vibriocide antibodies was made following the test-tube method described by Verwey and al., and the research of the antitoxic antibodies following Craig's method, using a live rabbit. Eighty two per cent of the subjects vaccinated had antitoxic antibodies with a varying strength of from 10 to greater than 320 A.U. In all those subjects treated who had previously been vaccinated at the time of the cholera epidemic with traditional vaccine, the geometric average of strength in vibriocide antibodies had increased from 2,810 to 14,700.

Experiments with cholera toxin detoxified with glutaraldehyde

Studies on the production, purification, and detoxification of cholera toxin are reported. The toxin was first partially purified with aluminium hydroxide and further purification was effected with Bio Gel A-5m and Sephadex G-75. The toxins were detoxified with glutaraldehyde; the toxoids so obtained, when injected into the skin of rabbits, appeared to have no residual toxicity. All the toxins were immunogenic. The toxoid partially purified with aluminium hydroxide retained most of its immunizing capacity, but the highly purified toxoids did not retain their capacity to stimulate antibody production in rabbits.

Experiments on monkeys with cholera toxin partially purified and detoxified with formol and glycine

Cholera toxoid partially purified and detoxified with formol and glycine and inoculated in monkeys proved safe. Histological examination revealed no changes in the skin of the animals treated. Blood samples taken from monkeys immunized with 2 doses of toxoid 12 days after the second inoculation revealed appreciable levels of antitoxin in the animals that had received two 100-mug doses of toxoid. The monkeys vaccinated with toxoid, when inoculated with challenge doses of cholera toxin, had the capacity to neutralize the toxin. Detoxification with formol and glycine may be the first step towards the preparation of a highly purified, innocuous, and antigenic cholera toxoid.