Survival of Borrelia burgdorferi in blood products

The incidence of Lyme disease is rapidly increasing in the United States. To assess the potential of transmission of the disease through blood transfusion, we studied the survival of Borrelia burgdorferi in blood products under blood bank storage conditions. Two units of whole blood, separated into red cells (RBCs), fresh-frozen plasma (FFP), and platelet concentrates (PCs), were inoculated with B. burgdorferi (strain B31) in concentrations of approximately 3000 organisms per mL of RBCs and FFP and 200 organisms per mL of PCs. Products were then stored under blood banking conditions and sampled at several storage times. The viability of the spirochete in blood components was determined by darkfield microscopic examination of cultures in modified Kelly's medium. The organism was shown to survive in RBCs (4 degrees C) and FFP (below -18 degrees C) for 45 days and in PCs (20-24 degrees C) for 6 days. The results of this study do not exclude the possibility of transmission of Lyme disease through blood transfusion.

Digital fluorescence imaging of fusion of influenza virus with erythrocytes

Fusion of influenza virus with human erythrocytes at pH 5.2 was followed by fluorescence microscopy using a cooled slow-scan CCD camera. The high sensitivity of the CCD permits repetitive digital imaging of the same cells with minimal photobleaching. The experimental conditions were such that only a small number of virus particles were adsorbed per cell. Quantitative analysis of the data indicated that for most cells only a single fusion event took place. This was, however, sufficient to cause haemolysis within 30 min at 20-22 degrees C for about 60% of cells. There was a highly variable time lag between fusion and haemolysis. The lateral diffusion coefficient of virus particles on the cell surface when bound at pH 7.4 was less than 2 x 10(-13) cm2.s-1. The technique should be of value for more detailed studies of the dynamics of viral and other membrane fusion events.

[The hemagglutinating properties and adsorption on erythrocytes of Coxsackie B-3 viruses and their selected bentonite variants]

The paper is devoted to the study of the Coxsackie B-3 viruses and their bentonite variants passaged on the primary and transplanted cell cultures for their hemagglutinating (HA) properties and a degree of adsorption on erythrocytes. It is shown possible to detect the HA activity of the Coxsackie B-3 viruses which are passaged on the transplanted cell cultures: the variant Abent has the hemagglutinating activity relative to human and rabbit erythrocytes. The variant Abent+ of the Coxsackie B-3 virus passaged on the cell culture Vero is established not to be absorbed on erythrocytes. The variant Abent and the initial population of the Coxsackie B-3 virus are adsorbed on the human erythrocytes by 90-99%. Coxsackie B-3 virus and its bentonite variants reproduced on the primary cell culture of human embryonic fibroblasts and possessing the hemagglutinating activity are 100-1000 times better adsorbed on human erythrocytes than the viruses passaged in the transplanted culture.

Growth and endotoxin production of Yersinia enterocolitica and Enterobacter agglomerans in packed erythrocytes

Since 1987, the Centers for Disease Control investigated six cases of transfusion-associated sepsis. All six patients developed septic shock after receiving units of packed erythrocytes (PRBCs) contaminated with Yersinia enterocolitica (five patients) and Enterobacter agglomerans (one patient); three of the blood recipients died. We studied the growth and endotoxin production of Y. enterocolitica and E. agglomerans in units of PRBCs stored at 4 degrees C for 60 days. When PRBCs were inoculated with 0.1 to 1.0 CFU of these organisms per ml, both Y. enterocolitica and E. agglomerans entered log-phase growth 2 to 3 weeks after inoculation; generation times were 15 and 22 h, respectively. Endotoxin was first detected at 3 weeks following inoculation, and the concentration paralleled the log phase of growth of the strains tested. These data show that prolonged storage of PRBCs at 4 degrees C provides conditions that allow these two organisms to grow and subsequently produce high concentrations of endotoxin.

The morphological features of Aegyptianella bacterifera: an intraerythrocytic rickettsia of frogs from Corsica

Study of ultrathin sections and freeze-fracture replicas of erythrocytes containing Aegyptianella bacterifera (Rickettsiales; Anaplasmataceae) revealed that the organisms develop within a membrane bound vacuole in the erythrocyte cytoplasm. The organisms divide by binary fission to produce about 12 rickettsiae in a mature inclusion. The organisms have gram-negative cell envelopes. The distribution of intramembranous particles within the outer and plasma membranes of A. bacterifera is similar to that of other rickettsiae and gram-negative bacteria such as Escherichia coli. The definition of the genus Aegyptianella should be broadened to include rickettsiae measuring up to 5 microns in length prior to division which develop within membrane bound inclusions in erythrocytes of their hosts.

The safety and therapeutic effectiveness of human red cells stored at -80 degrees C for as long as 21 years

Human red cells frozen by various methods have been stored in the frozen state at -80 degrees C for as long as 21 years. This report discusses: red cells frozen with 42 percent weight per volume (wt/vol) glycerol in an ionic medium in a polyvinylchloride (PVC) plastic bag using the Cohn method; red cells frozen with 45 percent wt/vol glycerol in a low ionic medium in a PVC plastic bag using the Huggins method; red cells frozen with 40 percent wt/vol glycerol in an ionic medium in a polyolefin plastic bag using the Meryman-Hornblower method; and red cells frozen with 40 percent wt/vol glycerol in an ionic medium in a standard 600-ml or an elongated 800-ml PVC plastic primary collection bag with an adapter port using the Naval Blood Research Laboratory (NBRL) method. After frozen storage for as long as 21 years by the four methods described above, the thawed red cells were deglycerolized with 50 to 150 ml of 12 percent sodium chloride and 1.5 to 2.0 l of sodium chloride-glucose or sodium chloride-glucose-phosphate solution. After washing and storage at 4 degrees C for 24 hour, the red cells had a mean freeze-thaw-wash recovery value of 90 percent, a mean 24-hour posttransfusion survival value of 85 percent, a mean index of therapeutic effectiveness of 75 percent, normal or slightly impaired oxygen transport function, and minimal hemolysis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Relationship between secretion of the Anton blood group antigen in saliva and adherence of Haemophilus influenzae to oropharynx epithelial cells

Inhibition of adherence of bacteria to epithelial cells contributes to a reduction of infections by these bacteria. We have shown that the Anton blood group antigen, the erythrocyte receptor for Haemophilus influenzae (van Alphen et al. 1986, FEMS Microbiol. Lett. 37, 69-71), occurs in saliva, that the occurrence is not related to the secretor state of the donor of the saliva and that saliva containing Anton antigen could not inhibit the adherence of H. influenzae to oropharynx epithelial cells. Anton antigen was detected in saliva samples of 14 donors by immunoblotting with two different anti-Anton sera. The amount of Anton antigen correlated with the ability of H. influenzae to adhere to the epithelial cells of the donor of the saliva: 4.1 +/- 0.1 Anton antigen units for donors with more than 50 H. influenzae per cell and 1.6 +/- 0.5 units for donors with less adhering epithelial cells. No correlation between the amount of Anton antigen in saliva and secretor status of the donor was observed. Adherence of H. influenzae to epithelial cells was not inhibited by saliva of secretors (N = 11) or non-secretors (N = 3). The same saliva did not inhibit the interaction of the bacteria with Anton antigen bearing erythrocytes as measured by haemagglutination inhibition. This indicates that the amount of Anton antigen in saliva is probably too low to interfere with the interaction of H. influenzae with oropharynx epithelial cells and erythrocytes.

Neuraminidase-enhanced attachment of Bacteroides intermedius to human erythrocytes and buccal epithelial cells

Bacteroides intermedius strains strongly agglutinated only neuraminidase-treated erythrocytes. The neuraminidase-dependent hemagglutinating activity of B. intermedius was abolished by heating or treating with protease. The adherence of these microorganisms to human buccal epithelial cells was enhanced by neuraminidase pretreatment of the cells (P less than 0.01).

Influenza C virus esterase: analysis of catalytic site, inhibition, and possible function

The active site serine of the acetylesterase of influenza C virus was localized to amino acid 71 of the hemagglutinin-esterase protein by affinity labeling with 3H-labeled diisopropylfluorophosphate. This serine and the adjacent amino acids (Phe-Gly-Asp-Ser) are part of a consensus sequence motif found in serine hydrolases. Since comparative analysis failed to reveal esterase sequence similarities with other serine hydrolases, we suggest that this viral enzyme is a serine hydrolase constituting a new family of serine esterases. Furthermore, we found that the influenza C virus esterase was inhibited by isocoumarin derivatives, with 3,4-dichloroisocoumarin being the most potent inhibitor. Addition of this compound prevented elution of influenza C virus from erythrocytes and inhibited virus infectivity, possibly through inhibition of virus entry into cells.

Antagonism of serum of mice infected with chloroquine-resistant 'NS' line to the antimalarial action of chloroquine

Chloroquine (CQ) solution was separately mixed with the serum of mice infected with chloroquine-resistant 'NS' line (SMNS), the serum of mice infected with chloroquine-sensitive Plasmodium berghei ANKA strain (SMCS), and the serum of normal mice (SM). These mixtures were then used in treating mice inoculated with P. berghei ANKA strain. The results obtained on d 5 after drug-serum administration showed that the erythrocyte infection rates in the SMNS + CQ, SMCS + CQ, and SM + CQ groups were 32, 16, and 14% respectively. There were significant differences with respect to parasitemia between the SMNS + CQ group and the SMCS + CQ or SM + CQ group (P less than 0.05), suggesting that SMNS may be antagonistic to the antimalarial action of chloroquine. Further study showed that when the 'NS' line lost resistance to chloroquine, the antagonism of SMNS to chloroquine disappeared. The antagonism rates of SMNS to chloroquine, piperaquine, hydroxypiperaquine and pyronaridine were 75, 56, -5, and -17% respectively, a trend similar to that of the results from cross-resistance tests on chloroquine-resistant P. berghei ANKA strain. The results indicate that drug-resistant malaria parasites may produce and release a certain 'specific anti-drug substance'.

Neutral red-labeled influenza virus loses photosensitivity during absorption to host cells but not to erythrocytes

Neutral red (NR)-labeled influenza virus is extremely photosensitive. Unlike NR-labeled picornaviruses which lose their photosensitivity only after penetrating the host cell, NR-labeled influenza virus loses most of its photosensitivity during adsorption at 4 degrees C. We demonstrate that the underlying reaction occurs within seconds of adsorption and that it is irreversible, i.e., NR virus eluted from chick embryo cells after adsorption is hardly photosensitive anymore. In contrast to this, NR virus adsorbed to and eluted from erythrocytes retains its original photosensitivity. We suggest that the loss of photosensitivity during adsorption of NR virus to host cells reflects a conformational change in the virion which is not elicited by adsorption to red blood cells.

Detection and quantitation of Anaplasma marginale in carrier cattle by using a nucleic acid probe

Cattle which have recovered from acute infection with Anaplasma marginale, a rickettsial hemoparasite of cattle, frequently remain persistently infected with a low-level parasitemia and serve as reservoirs for disease transmission. To fully understand the role of these carriers in disease prevalence and transmission, it is essential that low levels of parasitemia can be accurately detected and quantitated. We have developed a nucleic acid probe, derived from a portion of a gene encoding a 105,000-molecular-weight surface protein, that can detect A. marginale-infected erythrocytes. The probe is specific for A. marginale and can detect 0.01 ng of genomic DNA and 500 to 1,000 infected erythrocytes in 0.5 ml of blood, which is equivalent to a parasitemia of 0.000025%. This makes the probe at least 4,000 times more sensitive than light microscopy. Hybridization of the probe with treated blood from animals proven to be carriers of anaplasmosis showed that parasitemia levels were highly variable among carriers, ranging from greater than 0.0025 to less than 0.000025%. Parasitemia levels of individual animals on different dates were also variable. These results imply that, at any given time, individuals within a group of cattle may differ significantly in their abilities to transmit disease.

In vitro erythrocytopathic activity of an aplastic anemia-inducing feline retrovirus

Although feline leukemia viruses (FeLV) cause a spectrum of proliferative and anti-proliferative diseases in vivo, in vitro studies demonstrating cell lineage-specific pathogenic properties of feline retroviruses have been rare. We describe here an efficient in vitro system that demonstrates the selective cytopathic effect of a molecularly cloned anemogenic FeLV (FeLV-Sarma-subgroup C; FSC) on erythroid progenitor cells. Forty-eight-hour coculture of normal feline bone marrow mononuclear cells with an underlayer of FSC-infected feline fibroblasts (FeF) resulted in infection of 60% to 90% of marrow mononuclear cells and pronounced depletion of early erythroid progenitor cells (BFUe). The dramatic depletion of BFUe was specific for FSC and did not occur in marrow cells infected with a molecularly cloned nonanemogenic subgroup A FeLV (FeLV 1161E; F6A). The ablation of BFUe by FSC in vitro paralleled both the decrease in BFUe and the induction of aplastic anemia in vivo. This combination of marrow cell infection by coculture and colony-forming unit (CFU) assessment by methylcellulose assay provides a reliable in vitro technique for studies of mechanisms involved in retrovirus-induced marrow aplasias.

Aplastic crisis due to human B19 parvovirus infection in red cell pyrimidine-5'-nucleotidase deficiency

Two siblings with chronic hemolytic anemia due to red cell pyrimidine-5'-nucleotidase (P-5'-N) deficiency, presented within a few days of each other with a febrile illness and pancytopenia. The cause of the aplastic crisis was an acute infection with human B19 parvovirus (B19 HPV) as proven by immunoelectron microscopy and DNA hybridization. This is the first report on the association of B19-HPV-related aplastic crisis with P-5'-N deficiency.

Changes in the specificity of blood groups induced by enzymes from soil fungi

Three strains of Cunninghamella elegance (C. elegance), Penicillium simplicissimum (P. simpl.), and Aspergillus niger (A. niger) were isolated from soil that produced the enzymes acting on blood groups A and B red cells. Culture filtrates from these fungi contained alpha-N-acetyl-D-galactosaminidase as an A-decomposing enzyme, which resulted in an almost complete loss of A specificity and an enhancement of blood group H activity as measured by elution tests using monoclonal antibodies. They also contained an alpha-D-galactosidase and an alpha-L-fucosidase, which partially destroyed the blood group B specific activity, but did not influence the blood group H specific activity.

De novo and salvage biosynthesis of pteroylpentaglutamates in the human malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum

Plasmodium falciparum was shown to synthesize pteroylpolyglutamate de novo from guanosine 5'-triphosphate (GTP), p-aminobenzoate (PABA), and L-glutamate (L-Glu). The parasite also had the capacity to synthesize pteroylpolyglutamate from both intact and degradation moieties (p-aminobenzoylglutamate and pterin-aldehyde) of exogenous folate added into the growth medium. The major product was identified as 5-methyl-tetrahydroteroylpentaglutamate following exposure to pteroylpolyglutamate hydrolase and oxidative degradation of the C9-N10 bond in the molecule and identification of products by reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography. Inhibition of pteroylpentaglutamate synthesis from the radiolabelled metabolic precursors (GTP, PABA, L-Glu) and folate by the antifolate antimalarials, pyrimethamine and sulfadoxine at therapeutic concentrations, may suggest the existence of a unique biosynthetic pathway in the malaria parasite.

46-53 kilodalton glycoprotein from the surface of Plasmodium falciparum merozoites

A 46-53 kDa glycoprotein antigen of Plasmodium falciparum merozoites has been identified using a murine monoclonal antibody that inhibits infection of human erythrocytes in vitro. Immunofluorescence screening with the antibody of greater than 250 isolates of the parasite finds the inhibitory epitope expressed by only 18% of strains. The glycoprotein is metabolically labelled with methionine, cysteine, histidine and glucosamine but incorporates little lysine or leucine. It is synthesized early in schizogony and remains, without any apparent processing, on the surface of released merozoites where it is demonstrated by immuno-electronmicroscopy and also by vectorial radio-iodination.

Adsorption of LLCMK2 cell-grown Sendai virus onto human red blood cells and its release from the virus adsorbed cells

An early stage of virus adsorption was studied in a system of Sendai virus metabolically labeled with [3H]leucine in LLCMK2 cells and of human red blood cells (RBCs). The efficiency of viral release from the virus-bound RBCs by incubation at 37 C depended on the number of virus particles which had been used for adsorption onto the RBC at 4 C. When 7.8 x 10(2) virus particles were previously adsorbed onto the RBC at 4 C, most of the viruses were dissociated from the RBC at 37 C. In the case of adsorption of 3 to 12 virus particles per RBC, however, most of the viruses were not dissociated from the RBC by incubation at 37 C. Such RBC-bound viruses were released by incubation with various bacterial neuraminidases (Clostridium perfringens, etc.) or with a large number of LLCMK2 cell-grown Sendai virus (LLCMK2-Sendai) particles, but not released by treatment with hemagglutinin-neuraminidase protein (Sendai-gp) isolated from egg-grown Sendai virus.

N-acetylneuraminyllactose-binding fibrillar hemagglutinin of Campylobacter pylori: a putative colonization factor antigen

Campylobacter pylori is the causative agent of gastritis and possibly of peptic and duodenal ulcers in adults. Histological observations show C. pylori attached to gastric epithelium as well as in the mucus layer of the stomach. We found that clinical isolates of C. pylori possess a cell-bound hemagglutinin detectable with human erythrocytes (all phenotypes tested) and those of a variety of animal species. The C. pylori hemagglutinin is antigenic, heat sensitive, and destroyed by pronase and papain but resistant to pepsin and trypsin. The hemagglutinin has fibrillar morphology; C. pylori-erythrocyte interaction displays very intimate contact, which is typical of fibrillae-mediated attachment. Fibrillae were removed from C. pylori by solubilization with N-octylglucose. After partial purification and removal of N-octylglucose by dialysis, the protein reaggregated, with the assembly of fibrillar structures. Hemagglutination inhibition was observed with the sialoproteins fetuin, alpha 2-macroglobulin, and glycophorin A but not with asialofetuin or asialoglycophorin A. The erythrocyte receptor was more sensitive to destruction by a neuraminidase specific for the N-acetylneuraminyl-alpha(2-3)-galactopyranosyl [NeuAc(2-3)Gal] sequence than one specific for NeuAc(2-6)Gal. Hemagglutination-inhibition assays with N-acetylneuraminyl-alpha(2-3)-lactose [NeuAc(2-3)-lactose] and NeuAc(2-6)-lactose confirmed that the C. pylori hemagglutinin preferentially binds to the NeuAc(2-3)Gal isomer of NeuAc-lactose. Based upon the above-described properties of the C. pylori fibrillar hemagglutinin, we conclude that this antigen should be designated as a putative colonization factor antigen.

Attachment of influenza C virus to human erythrocytes

Binding experiments with radioactively labelled influenza C virions were carried out to investigate the interaction of the virus with human erythrocytes. The erythrocytes from any of 35 different individuals were found to contain influenza C virus-binding sites though their number was variable among the individuals and was much less than that on mouse, rat and chicken erythrocytes. Attachment of influenza C virus to human erythrocytes was inhibited completely by prior treatment of the virus with anti-HE monoclonal antibody having a strong haemagglutination inhibition activity. Pretreatment of erythrocytes with neuraminidase or the neuraminate-O-acetylesterase of influenza C virus resulted in a marked reduction in the level of virus binding. Thus it appears that human erythrocytes have a low level of O-acetylated sialic acid-containing glycoconjugates that can interact specifically with the HE glycoprotein of influenza C virus. Proteolytic digestion of erythrocytes with ficin, bromelain or V-8 protease inhibited virus binding almost completely, suggesting that the erythrocyte receptor for influenza C virus is a glycoprotein. In contrast to these enzymes, trypsin treatment of erythrocytes reduced virus binding by only about 50%, and alpha-chymotrypsin treatment did not inhibit at all. It was also found that treatment of erythrocytes with monoclonal antibody to the M or N blood group antigen greatly inhibited virus binding to the cells. These results, taken together, suggest that most influenza C virus receptors on human erythrocytes, if not all, reside on glycophorin A which is known to possess the M or N blood group activity.

[Use of reconstructed Sendai virus envelopes for the microinjection of proteins into monolayer cells]

It has been shown that biological microinjection, that is, fusion of protein-charged human erythrocytes with monolayer cells may be achieved by means of reconstructed Sendai virus consisting of envelope structures but devoid of nucleoid. Sendai virion envelopes reconstructed by dialysis possessed no infectivity, interferon-inducing, or interfering activities. The use of 125I-IgG demonstrated that erythrocytes are loaded with protein by 35%-40% and that each of the monolayer L929 cells is fused on the average with 4 loaded erythrocytes.

Colony opacity, hemadsorption, hemolysis, and mitogenicity are not associated with virulence of Mycoplasma pulmonis

Colony opacity, hemadsorption and hemolysis of erythrocytes, and the ability of whole mycoplasmal cells to induce a blastogenic response when incubated with C3H/HeN or C57BL/6 mouse lymphocytes were examined for 18 strains of Mycoplasma pulmonis to determine if any of these characteristics could be associated with virulence in vivo. Although there were differences among strains in each of these characteristics, none of these parameters were associated with virulence.

Coupling of foot-and-mouth disease virus to sheep red blood cells using tannic acid for immunological assays

A technique for coupling foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) to tanned sheep red blood cells (SRBC) is reported. Different parameters influencing the procedure were studied. Subtypes C2, C3, O1 and A24 were used as antigens, and guinea pig hyperimmune sera obtained were tested for specific antibody in passive hemagglutination (PH), passive hemagglutination inhibition (PHI) and passive immune hemolysis (PIL) assays. Fresh and SRBC stored in Alsever's solution showed similar behavior when used as indicator cells. Optimal sensitization of erythrocytes was achieved using tannic acid 1:20,000 and 20 micrograms of purified virus/ml at pH 7.6. Specificity of the reaction was confirmed by PH and PHI in homologous and heterologous systems. The coupled antigen-antibody complex was sensitive to complement mediated lysis in a PIL test.