Carbohydrate specificity of the surface lectins of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Salmonella typhimurium

A large number of linear and branched oligosaccharides and several glycosides of D-mannose were tested for their inhibitory activity on the agglutination of yeast cells or guinea pig erythrocytes by three D-mannose-specific enteric bacteria possessing type 1 fimbriae. With Escherichia coli 346, the best inhibitors found are the alpha glycosides of the branched oligosaccharides alpha-D-Manp-(1 leads to 3)-[alpha-D-Manp-(1 leads to 6)]-alpha-D-Manp-(1 leads to 6)-alpha-D-Manp-(1 leads to 3)-D-Manp and alpha-D-Manp-(1 leads to 3)-[alpha-D-Manp-(1 leads to 6)]-alpha-D-Manp- (1 leads to 6)-[alpha-D-Manp-(1 leads to 2)-alpha-D-Manp-(1 leads to 3) ]-D-Manp and the trisaccharide alpha-D-Manp-(1 leads to 3)-beta-D-Manp-(1 leads to 4)-D-GlcNAc, all of which are 21-30 times more inhibitory than methyl alpha-D-mannopyranoside. The aromatic glycoside p-nitrophenyl alpha-D-mannopyranoside was also a strong inhibitor (30 times more inhibitory than methyl alpha-D-mannopyranoside), whereas the corresponding beta-D-glycoside was only a weak inhibitor (approximately as methyl alpha-D-mannopyranoside). A nearly identical pattern of inhibitory activity was observed with the fimbriae. This suggests that the combining site of the E. coli fimbrial lectin is in the form of an extended pocket on the surface of the lectin corresponding to the size of a trisaccharide and fitting best the structure alpha-D-Manp-(1 leads to 3)-beta-D-Manp-(1 leads to 4)-D-GlcNAc. Since p-nitrophenyl alpha-D-mannopyranoside is a strong inhibitor, the existence of a hydrophobic region in the combining site or close to it was assumed. The combining site of the Klebsiella pneumoniae fimbrial lectin is probably similar to that of E. coli, but that of the Salmonella typhimurium fimbrial lectin differs considerably. It appears that the combining sites of the three bacterial lectins tested exhibit preference for structures found in N-glycosylic oligomannoside units of mammalian cell surface glycoproteins.

A new method of preparing hapten-carrier immunogens by coupling with Saccharomyces cerevisiae by periodate oxidation

A new method of preparing hapten-carrier immunogens is described. The carrier used was Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast. Coupling was carried out with bovine serum albumin (BSA). BSA was conjugated with mannose residues of Saccharomyces cerevisiae cell walls, following periodate oxidation to produce aldehyde groups reactive with side chain amino groups of BSA. The coupling was stabilized and non-reactant aldehydes were blocked with sodium borohydride reduction. A hapten, 3,5,3',5'-tetraiodo-L-tyrosyl-L-tyrosine, was also coupled with the yeast. Anti-hapten antibodies were obtained in rabbit with this conjugate.

A simple and rapid flow cytometric method for routine assessment of baker's yeast uptake by human polymorphonuclear leukocytes

A new method for measuring uptake of baker's yeast (BY) by human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) using flow cytometry is described. The method correlates excellently with the visual method, is reproducible and provides a means for investigating the early phases of the phagocytic process as well as the phagocytic capacity of PMN. This quick and accurate method allows the counting of large numbers of cells, and monitoring of the process of particle uptake and has a considerable potential in the routine assessment of polymorph function in various clinical situations.

Physicochemical and immunochemical properties of a thermo-labile antigen (TLA a) from yeast cell surface

The physicochemical and immunochemical properties of a thermo-labile antigen (TLA a) which is located on the cell surface of Saccharomyces cerevisiae were studied. The sedimentation constant (S20,W) and molecular weight (sedimentation equilibrium method) were 6.26S and 68,800, respectively. The circular dichroic (CD) spectrum of TLA a had negative maxima at 210 and 221 nm, indicating the presence of alpha-structure of a polypeptide chain. The molar ratio of antibody to antigen which gave maximum precipitation was 2.7. Approximately 50% of the antigenic activity of heat-denatured TLA a was recovered when denatured molecules were dissolved in 6 M guanidine hydrochloride followed by 25-fold dilution with H2O. The amount of TLA a existing on the yeast cell surface was estimated to be 37.5 micrograms per 10.5 mg of fresh cells, corresponding to 0.36% by weight of the fresh yeast.

Candida albicans-induced agglutinin and immunoglobulin E responses in mice

Mice varied in their ability to make detectable antibody responses to cell surface determinants of Candida albicans depending upon the antigen preparation and the immunization schedule used. Immunoglobulin M (IgM) appeared to be the major class of antibody responsible for the C. albicans-agglutinating activity of the immune sera. Various inbred strains of mice injected with a ribosomal fraction from C. albicans produced a low titer (average, 4 to 8) of yeast cell agglutinins and a higher titer (64 to 512) of IgE antibodies detected by passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) in rats. The two kinds of antibodies appeared to be specific for different antigens because the agglutinin, but not IgE, could be removed by absorbing the serum with a polysaccharide from the cell wall of C. albicans, but the polysaccharide did not provoke the PCA reaction. C. albicans-specific IgE antibodies showed cross-reactivity (PCA) with ribosomal antigens from a strain of C. albicans and C. tropicalis, but PCA reactions could not be elicited with similar antigen preparations from other yeast species. IgE responses were also detected in over 20% of the mice infected intravenously or intraperitoneally with live C. albicans.

Protective activities of ribosomal ribonucleic acid and lipopolysaccharide of Pseudomonas aeruginosa: a comparative study

Ribosomal ribonucleic acid (RNA) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from P. aeruginosa were compared with respect to their protective activities in mice against an infection with P. aeruginosa. This study is concentrated on the protective activity of RNA. RNA isolated from purified ribosomes did not contain LPS as determined with the Limulus test. Injection of RNA with the adjuvant dimethyldioctadecylammonium bromide (DDA) protected mice against P. aeruginosa without inducing LPS-specific antibodies. C3H/HeJ mice which are relatively insensitive to the protective activity of LPS could be protected with RNA. The protective activities of RNA and LPS from a mutant strain of P. aeruginosa, PAC 605, containing defective lipopolysaccharide, were compared with the protective activities of RNA and LPS from the parent strain, PAC IR. The protective activity of LPS from PAC 605 was 1000 fold lower than the protective activity of LPS from PAC IR. RNA preparations of both strains induced similar percentages of survival. The protective activity of ribosomal RNA from P. aeruginosa was nonspecific since mice were also protected against a heterologous serotype of P. aeruginosa and against Escherichia coli. RNA from ribosomes of P. aeruginosa, E. coli and the non-lipopolysaccharide containing Saccharomyces cerevisiae had similar protective activities. No protection was obtained with the ribonucleic acid from the E. coli phage MS2. It is concluded that ribosomal RNA has protective activities distinct from those of LPS.

Augmentation of antitumor activities in hamster macrophages by yeast cell walls treated with lymphokines in vitro

The effect of the treatment of yeast cell walls (YCW) with PPD-induced lymphokines (LK) was studied. The rate of macrophage spreading increased 1 h and 24 h after incubation with YCW treated with 16-fold or 64-fold diluted LK. Phagocytosis was slightly enhanced after 1 h incubation. Cytostatic activity was obtained when incubated with YCW treated with 16-fold or 64-fold diluted LK, but not with LK of higher or lower dilution. Tumor-inhibitory effect was observed when lymphoma cells were mixed with LK-treated YCW and inoculated s.c.

Synthesis of a spore-specific surface antigen during sporulation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Antisera raised against purified yeast ascospores caused agglutination of both ascospores and vegetative cells. A spore-specific activity was obtained by absorbing out anti-vegetative activity with vegetative cells. The anti-vegetative cell activity was directed against mannan, and was probably due to exposure of some spore coat mannan at the spore surface since concanavalin A and lentil lectin also caused agglutination of ascospores. The spore-specific activity was probably determined by a protein or proteins, since extraction of spores with a mixture of sodium dodecyl sulphate and dithiothreitol markedly affected their agglutination by the spore-specific serum. The spore-specific antigen was synthesized in a soluble form during sporulation several hours before the appearance of the spore surface and the pool of soluble antigen declined as the spore was assembled. Synthesis of the soluble antigen was inhibited by adding cycloheximide at all times up to its first appearance in the sporulating cell.

Yeast opsonisation and complement in children with liver disease. Analysis of 69 cases

Opsonisation of heat-killed bakers yeast and C3 and C4 concentrations were determined in sera from 69 children with liver disease and 39 controls as simple screening procedures for abnormalities in the complement system. Where significant defects in these moieties were encountered, the activity of the following was measured: total haemolytic complement, C4, C5, total alternative pathway, factor B and D activities were measured. Complement activation was detected by the presence of C3d in EDTA plasma samples. Yeast opsonisation, C3 and C4 concentrations and activities of all complement components measured were significantly (P less than 0.001) reduced in all of 10 children with fulminant hepatic failure (FHF) and six with chronic active hepatitis (CAH). There was no consistent relationship between complement deficiency and standard tests of liver function. C3 breakdown products were identified in plasma from five patients with CAH and complement deficiency but not in three patients with complement deficiencies associated with FHF. Complement concentration and activity improved in children recovering from FHF and in CAH treated by immunosuppressants. Yeast opsonisation index was raised significantly without parallel increase in C3 or C4 concentration in eight of nine children with biliary atresia before surgery and 11 of 13 with alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency regardless of age or the presence of active liver disease. Yeast opsonisation indices became normal after successful surgery in patients with biliary atresia.

Impaired opsonization by serum from patients with chronic liver disease

Serum opsonization of two organisms, E. coli and yeasts (S. cerivisiae), was examined in 68 patients with chronic liver disease (CLD). Impaired opsonization for yeasts was found in seven (29%) of 24 patients with chronic active hepatitis, six (27%) of 22 with alcoholic cirrhosis and five (23%) of 22 with primary biliary cirrhosis. Opsonization for E. coli was normal in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis but impaired in seven (29%) patients with chronic active hepatitis and three (14%) of those with alcoholic cirrhosis. The defect of opsonization in chronic active hepatitis was found mainly in patients with histological evidence of active disease. A deficiency, rather than antagonism or inhibition, of normal opsonization factors was responsible, but could not be related to reduced levels of serum complement factors of either the classical or the alternative pathway present in 45% of the patients with chronic active hepatitis, 71% with alcoholic cirrhosis and 18% of those with primary biliary cirrhosis. Serum from two of 11 patients with impaired opsonization antagonised the function of normal polymorphonuclear leucocytes, and polymorphonuclear leucocytes from six of seven patients had slightly reduced phagocytosis/killing of E. coli opsonized in normal serum. Defects of serum opsonization, complement activity and polymorphonuclear leucocyte function may be causes of the increased susceptibility to bacterial infection in patients with CLD.

Effect of interferon on human neutrophilic granulocytes

The in vitro influence of interferon (IFN) on various functions of human neutrophilic granulocytes was investigated. It was observed that the attachment and engulfment of opsonized yeast particles by human neutrophilic granulocytes were enhanced after preincubation in vitro with IFN for 30 min. The same result was obtained whether the particles were opsonized with fresh normal serum (complement) or with specific antibodies. However, after incubation of the granulocytes with IFN for 3 h the phagocytosis rate was somewhat decreased. Nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) reduction by resting granulocytes was slightly, although not significantly, increased by preincubation with IFN for 30 min, but their NBT reduction during phagocytosis of E. coli was significantly increased. No major effects of preincubation with IFN were observed on spontaneous or random migration of granulocytes.

A feasibility study to determine if microbicidal activity can be measured in dexamethasone-treated macrophage cultures

Dexamethasone action severely limits the ingestion of Saccharomyces cerevisiae in cultures of murine peritoneal macrophages. In spite of this inhibitory response, numbers of viable yeasts sufficient for microbicidal studies can be recovered shortly after their limited ingestion from lysed steroid-treated phagocytes.

In vitro effect of hydrocortisone on the attachment and ingestion phases of immunoglobulin G- and complement component 3b-mediated phagocytosis by human neutrophils

The fluorescence quenching method (FQ method) was used to investigate the effect of hydrocortisone on the attachment and ingestion phases of immunoglobulin G (IgG)- and complement component 3b (C3b)-mediated phagocytosis by human neutrophils (PMNs). The results were compared with metabolic activity (O2- release) of the phagocytes. When the PMNs were treated with 5 X 10(-5) M hydrocortisone or more, both IgG-mediated and C3b-mediated interactions decreased. The number of intracellular particles decreased as the total number of PMN-associated particles decreased, indicating an effect mainly on particle attachment. This was substantiated by the fact that pretreatment of the PMN with cytochalasin B resulted in a hydrocortisone dose-related decrease of interacting particles. The FQ method made it possible to quantify the stimulus-phagocyte interaction in relation to the metabolic response. Superoxide anion release decreased at the highest concentration of hydrocortisone used (5 X 10(-3) M), which merely reflected the decreased number of interacting particles. No reduction in metabolic activation was obtained when the superoxide anion release was correlated with the number of interacting yeast-IgG particles. The results indicate that hydrocortisone primarily affects the binding capacity of Fc and C3b receptors, resulting in decreased metabolic activation. The effector functions, e.g., ingestion and metabolic activation, were not affected by hydrocortisone in this study.

Murine immunosuppression with mycoviral dsRNA

The effect of three different size molecular weight species of mycoviral dsRNA on the immune response to sRBC was tested in C57Bl/6 mice. The various dsRNA species were extracted from electrophoresis polyacrylamide-agarose slab gels. Their molecular weights ranged from 1.0 x 10(6) daltons to 3.5 x 10(6) daltons. All three sizes of mycoviral dsRNA significantly (p less than 0.0001) suppressed the hemolytic antibody titer of mice 8 days after immunizations with 15 micrograms dsRNA/mouse and 10(8) sRBC when compared to control mice which received only sRBC. No immune suppression was observed in any of the mice challenged with a second sRBC immunization 60 days after the first inoculations. Hemagglutination titers at this time were typical of a secondary antibody response to sRBC. In conclusion these three molecular weight mycoviral dsRNA species appeared to be potent immunosuppressors when approximately 15 micrograms/mouse were used.

Preparation of product-specific antisera by gene fusion: antibodies specific for the product of the yeast cell-division-cycle gene CDC28

Antisera with specificity for the product of a yeast cell-division-cycle (CDC) gene were prepared by immunizing rabbits to a novel hybrid polypeptide. A segment of the yeast gene CDC28 was fused to the Escherichia coli lacZ gene, which encodes beta-galactosidase, by insertion of yeast sequences into the plasmid pBGF1. pBGF1 contains the lac promoter-operator and most of the lacZ gene. An EcoRI site, 16 codons upstream from the carboxyterminus of the beta-galactosidase coding region, served as a convenient splicing site for the heterologous sequences. To insure that an open reading frame be maintained between the two gene segments for some portion of the fusions, the CDC28-encoding segments were first subjected to limited digestion with nuclease BAL31 to produce random junction points. A hybrid polypeptide encoded by such a continuous open reading frame was purified from E. coli by preparative SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and used to immunize rabbits. The resulting antisera were shown to have specificity for CDC28 gene product synthesized by cell-free translation of yeast mRNA.

Mitogenic effect of the mannans from Saccharomyces cerevisiae on mouse spleen lymphocytes

The DNA synthetic activities of mannans isolated from two Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains were examined in vitro using spleen cells obtained from normal or nude BALB/c strain mice. A highly branched mannan isolated from the S. cerevisiae wild type strain induced a greater increase in mitogenic activity than those displayed by the mannan of the S. cerevisiae X2180-1A-5 mutant strain which possessed fewer branching moieties. Acid-hydrolyzed wild type strain mannan with two-thirds of the molecular weight of the parent intact mannan showed weak mitogenicity. Increases in the DNA synthetic activities of nude and normal spleen cells were almost the same as that of wild type strain mannan, while nylon wool column-passed spleen cells obtained from both normal and nude mice did not show mitogenicity with this mannan. The results indicated that the mitogenic activity was responsible for the highly branched structure of the wild type strain mannan, and that this mannan is a B-cell mitogen.

Electroimmunochemical analysis of plasma membrane vesicles from Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Plasma membrane vesicles of Saccharomyces cerevisiae were extracted with 1% (w/v) Triton X-100 and the solubilized proteins examined by crossed immunoelectrophoresis using rabbit antibodies against the vesicles. Solubilization was shown to be nonselective and 23 immunoprecipitates were observed reproducibly. Four glycoproteins were identified by interaction with concanavalin A and lentil lectin, either immobilized on agarose beads in an intermediate gel or incorporated in the free form in the first dimension gel. One glycoprotein was stainable by the periodic acid--Schiff procedure. None of the glycoproteins had their origin in the cell wall. Five amphiphilic proteins were identified on the basis of charge-shift and hydrophobic interaction crossed immunoelectrophoresis as well as [14C]Triton X-100 and Sudan black B binding. Three of the amphiphilic proteins were also glycoproteins. Based on the carbohydrate content and amphiphilic properties of the proteins, purification schemes using concanavalin A-Sepharose and phenyl-Sepharose were proposed. Trial separations using 1-mL columns were monitored by fused rocket and crossed immunoelectrophoresis.

Yeast opsonization in newborn infants and its relationship to parental atopy

Sera from 30 of 303 (9.9%) unselected term newborn infants were deficient in their ability to opsonize heat-killed baker's yeasts, an incidence which is almost double that seen in adults. Genetic influence is important in some since the mothers of 10 infants with defective opsonization showed the same defect, but it was not related to the sex or race of the infant or to the atopic state of the parents. In others the defect could be due to a functional maturation delay of the complement system, but not to inhibitory factors in neonatal serum since correction of opsonization was achieved with subopsonizing amounts of normal sera. Significantly more infants had sera with high opsonizing capacity (greater than 80% yeasts phagocytosed) when compared with adults; perhaps antibody independent immune mechanisms like this are important in the newborn. This study shows that a common specific immunodeficiency which may predispose to severe infection or atopy can be identified at birth.

Differences in the ingestion mechanisms of IgG and C3b particles in phagocytosis by neutrophils

A prominent feature of the surface interaction between the phagocyte and particles coated with IgG and C3b is its remarkably discriminatory character. IgG primarily promotes ingestion whereas C3b primarily promotes attachment. However, in several systems the C3b molecule is reported to cause membrane pertubation as efficiently as the IgG molecule. In this study we have used yeast particles coated with specific IgG or C3b as preys in a newly developed phagocytic assay. The number of particles interacting with polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMN) was correlated with effector responses monitored as percentage ingested particles, superoxide anion production, and sensitivity of the ingestion process to cytochalasin B. During phagocytosis only 60% of PMN-associated yeast-C3b particles were ingested compared with 95% of yeast IgG. In cytochalasin B treated PMN, where ingestion was virtually abolished, attached yeast IgG-induced superoxide anion production whereas the same number of attached yeast C3b did not. Attempts to induce superoxide anion production in the C3b system failed by increasing incubation time, number of added particles or by increasing the concentration of the opsonizing protein. A low concentration of cytochalasin B (1 μg/ml) decreased the IgG-dependent ingestion to 65% without affecting the C3b-dependent ingestion. The results indicate the existence of different ingestion processes in PMN—one more `basal' ingestion process represented by the C3b-promoted ingestion independent of membrane activation and another `active' ingestion process represented by the IgG-promoted ingestion dependent on membrane activation and an active response of the PMN.

The cytotoxic effect of mouse macrophages stimulated in vitro by a beta-1,3-D-glucan from yeast cell walls

Macrophages stimulated by an insoluble beta-1,3-D-glucan from yeast cell walls were able to destroy tumour cells as measured by the release of radioactive label from prelabelled 14C-thymidine cells. Target cells were B-16 melanoma, P-815 mastocytoma, and the L-929 cell line. A significant target cell killing by macrophages stimulated by glucan was observed after 72-96 h. The cytolysis of L-929 cells was investigated in some detail. No stable soluble cytolytic factor appeared to be released into the medium during the stimulation of macrophages by glucan, since cell-free spent medium had no cytotoxic effect on L-929 cells. The densities of the macrophage monolayers were critical for an effective target cell killing; dense cultures showed more cytotoxicity than less dense cultures. The kinetics of the development of macrophage-mediated cytotoxicity suggests a minimum stimulation period of 4 days for maximal cytolysis.