A rapid objective method for measuring the yeast opsonisation activity of serum

A simple, objective semi-quantitative assay for yeast opsonisation by normal polymorphs has been developed. This depends on electronically counting the number of free unphagocytosed yeast particles on a Coulter counter. The method has been compared with the widely used microscope technique and shows excellent correlation. The sera of 112 unselected school-children gave a distribution curve consistent with 2 peaks; 7 gave values less than 2 S.D.s below the mean confirming the high incidence of this immunodeficiency.

A new semiquantitative radiometric opsonin assay. Selective measurement of opsonizing capacity of the alternative pathway

A new semiquantitative radiometric opsonin assay is described. It was found that the opsonin activity generated by incubating brewer's yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, in medium containing less than 5% human serum was exclusively complement dependent. In contrast, C. albicans was effectively opsonized in the absence of complement. Antibodies and the early classical complement pathway did not contribute to the opsonization of S. cerevisiae and neither did C5-9. The brewer's yeast assay can therefore be used for measuring selectively the opsonizing capacity of the alternative pathway. Sera from approximately 7% of apparently healthy adult controls consistently failed to generate significant opsonin activity while 8 out of 26 patients with suspected immune deficiency of unknown cause were defective in this assay. All opsonin deficient sera so far tested had haemolytically normal alternative pathway and Factor B activity.

[Study of PLi genes action on the cell wall structure of "Saccharomyces cerevisiae" Hansen (author's transl)]

A study of the composition of cell walls extracted from a wild strain and three mutant strains "smooth colony" of Saccharomyces cerevisiae had been done. It points out differences in the mannose/glucose ratio and in the concentration of some other components of the cell wall in the mutant strains. The immunological study of the cell wall shows that "smooth colonies" mutants and wild strains differs in their mannoproteins.

Immunochemical studies on the galactomannans isolated from mycelia and culture broths of three Hormodendrum strains

Six major antigenic galactomannans isolated from both mycelia and culture broths of three representative strains of three species of the genus Hormodendrum, H. pedrosoi IFO 6071, H. compactum IFO 6726, and H. dermatitidis IFO 6421, were investigated for their immunochemical properties by precipitin reaction and the passive cutaneous anaphylaxis test. We found that partial acid hydrolysis of the these galactomannans with 0.005 M sulfuric acid yielded free galactose and corresponding acid-resistant core moieties. In agar-gel double-diffusion reactions, no acid-resistant core moiety of galactomannan showed a corresponding precipitin line against homologous antiserum, indicating that the acid-labile galactofuranosyl residues were solely responsible for the precipitin activity of these galactomannans. All galactomannans and their core moieties gave sharp cross-precipitin lines against anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae serum, specific for the alpha1 leads to 3- or alpha1 leads to 2-linked D-mannopyranosyl residue. Quantitative precipitin reactions of the same antigen-antibody systems showed that all acid-resistant core moieties were completely inactive in the homologous systems but were highly cross-reactive with anti-S. cerevisiae serum. Passive cutaneous anaphylaxis tests using guinea pigs sensitized with homologous antisera or with anti-S. cerevisiae serum provided results consistent with those obtained in the in vitro assay.

[Immunologic properties of various cell fractions of a wild strain and a mutant strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Hansen]

Some fractions of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae cell wall have been prepared by the action of Helix pomatia juice on intact cells. Immunosera were obtained by injecting rabbits with these fractions. Immunofluorescence reactions, obtained with these sera, show that some fractions of mannopeptides when extracted from a "smooth-colony" mutant strain, have lost antigenic determinants.

Characteristics of the phagocytic process assessed by Coulter Counter

The phagocytosis in suspensions of heat-killed yeast cells, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, by human polymorphonuclear leucocytes was studied in vitro by means of an electronic particle counter, the Coulter Counter, and a 100-channel pulse-height analyzer, the Channelyzer. The two cell populations were separated from each other electronically by the Channelyzer. Phagocytosis was recorded as disappearence of yeast cells. Concomitantly, aggregation and swelling of the PMN-cells were observed, which increased with the concentration of the prey. The process could be inhibited by cytochalasin B and iodoacetamide. With the latter inhibitor, the analysis of the kinetics showed that ingestion, but not adhesion, was affected. The ingestion of yeast cells was augmented on increase of the initial ratio between the number of yeast and PMN cells to around 5:1, but was then reduced on further increase. A ratio of 2:1 and a reaction time of 30 min seemed suitable for studying the phagocytic process. First-order kinetics were obeyed under these circumstances.

Immunological properties of a high molecular weight component from yeast cell autolysate in dogs and evaluation of its potential role in human dextran reactions

A high molecular weight component (HMC) of autolysate from Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast cells was prepared. HMC was found to be immunogenic in dogs, inducing hemagglutinating antibody formation. Upon HMC challenge of immunized dogs, systemic anaphylactoid reactions were observed in 4/5 animals. The most prominent symptom was decreased cardiac output. Decrease in mean arterial pressure and increase in pulmonary arterial pressure were also observed. Consumption of total serum complement activity amounted to 22% of initial values. HMC also exhibited mitogenic activity in lymphocyte cultures from nonimmunized and immunized dogs. Since yeast autolysate is used as nitrogen source for Leuconostoc mesenteroides in the production of clinical B 512 dextran it is a theoretically possible trace contaminant of such solutions. Therefore, dogs hyperimmunized with HMC were also challenged with clinical dextran. No anaphylactoid signs were observed. These data suggest a negligible causal role of macromolecular contaminants derived from yeast cell autolysate in rare human anaphylactoid reactions following infusion of clinical dextran.

A defect of the alternative pathway of complement

The sera of patients defective at opsonization for yeast phagocytosis fix haemolytic complement poorly following incubation with the alternative pathway complement activators, inulin and bacterial endotoxin. This suggests that the defect lies early in the alternative pathway of complement.

Immune response against hamster erythrocytes in the low-responder mouse strains. XI. Strain difference in the effects of various microbial adjuvants

Enhancing and suppressing effects of microbial adjuvants were studied in female mice of the C3H/He, AKR and SL strains. Propionibacterium acnes, Bordetella pertussis, BCG and yeast cell wall (YCW) were chosen as adjuvants. As antigens, we chose hamster erythrocytes (HRBC) which proved to be a weak antigen for mice. Adjuvants were given on day --7, day 0 or day 3, and HRBC were injected on day 0. The results were as follows. 1) P. acnes facilitated IgM and IgG antibody production in AKR mice and suppressed IgM antibody production in SL mice, when given on day --7. When P. acnes was given on day 0, they suppressed IgM antibody production in all of the strains used. 2) When B. pertussis was given on day 0, it exhibited enhancing effects on IgG antibody production in all of the strains and a suppressing effect on IgM antibody production in SL mice. 3) BCG suppressed IgM antibody production in all strains when given on day 0. 4) YCW showed no influence on antibody production in any combination used in this work. 5) SL mice were very sensitive to suppressing effects by adjuvants. Strain differences in the expression of enhancing and suppressing effects by adjuvants appear to be under some control independent of antigen-specific immune response genes.

Role of wall phosphomannan in flocculation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Treatment with 60% hydrofluoric acid (HF) removed most of the phosphorus and small amounts of mannan, glucan and protein from walls of two non-flocculent strains (NCYC366 and NCYC1004) and two flocculent strains (NCYC1005 and NCYC1063) of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Organisms of all strains showed increased flocculating ability following HF treatment. Flocculation of untreated organisms of NCYC1005 and NCYC1063, and of HF-treated organisms of all four strains, declined appreciably when they were washed in deionized water, with or without EDTA, and the flocculation was measured in deionized water instead of in 0-05 M-sodium acetate containing Ca2+. Treatment with 1,2-epoxypropane also caused a decrease in the flocculating ability of these organisms. Extracting the lipids from organisms of strains NCYC366 and NCYC1004 had no effect on their flocculating ability, but decreased the flocculating ability of organisms of strains NCYC1005 and NCYC1063. pH-electrophoretic mobility curves of untreated and HF-treated organisms confirmed the loss of wall phosphate by HF treatment, and indicated that HF treatment had little effect on the content of protein carboxyl groups in the outer wall layers. Mannose at 0-22 M completely prevented floc formation by organisms of strain NCYC1063; but, even at 0-33 M, it had very little effect on floc formation by HF-treated organisms of strains NCYC366 and NCYC1063. Organisms of all four strains bound fluorescein-conjugated concanavalin A to the same extent after treatment with HF as before, but this treatment led to a greatly diminished binding of of fluorescein-conjugated antiserum raised against organisms of strain NCYC366. The results indicate that phosphodiester linkages in yeast-wall mannan are not involved in bride formation through Ca2+ during floc formation and that this arises principally through carboxyl groups.

Asymmetric distribution of concanavalin A binding sites on yeast plasmalemma and vacuolar membrane

Isolated vacuoles of Saccharomyces cerevisiae did not bind Concanavalin A (labelled with tritium or with a fluorescent dye) unless the vacuoles were rendered permeable and their inner membrane surface made accessible. Yeast protoplasts, on the other hand, bound large amounts of Concanavalin A on their surface, and the number of binding sites was not increased after a gentle lysis expected to expose also the inner surface of the plasmalemma. It is concluded that both the plasmalemma and the vacuolar membrane carry Concanavalin A binding sites exclusively on the surface opposite to the cytoplasmic matrix.

Defective immune and phagocytic functions in uraemia and renal transplantation

The humoral, cellular and neutrophil responses of uraemic patients maintained by haemodialysis were compared with those of renal transplant recipients. Humoral immunity was reduced only in the transplant group. Cell-mediated immunity was abnormal in both groups but more decreased in the transplant group studied particularly within 3 months of transplantation. The neutrophil bactericidal capacities were defective cellular immunity, but fatal infections occurred only in transplant patterns over 40 years of age with combined cellular and neutrophil defects. No single test was predictive of graft survival in uraemic patients. The depressed cellular immune responses in uraemia, of the degree seen in the immunosuppressed transplant recipient, may explain the better prognosis of renal transplants compared with other organ transplants.

Anaphylactoid responses of two types of genetically different rats to horse serum and yeast

Rats selectively bred for non-reactivity to clinical dextran (NR rats) fail to exhibit the anaphylactoid reaction to systemic baker's yeast or horse serum. Rats which respond with an anaphylactoid reaction to clinical dextran (R rats) react to baker's yeast but do not react to horse serum. The widespread oedema produced in R rats by systemic baker's yeast provides yet another clear method of differentiating them from NR rats.

Colloidal gold granules as markers for cell surface receptors in the scanning electron microscope

A rapid method has been developed to visualize cell surface receptors in the SEM. Thus mannan at the surface of Candida utilis cells was localized by stabilized colloidal gold granules coated with either anti-mannan antibodies or Con A.

Hereditary deficiency of the seventh component of complement

Deficiency of the seventh component of complement has been found in the serum of a 42-yr-old Caucasian woman who has Raynaud's phenomenon, sclerodactyly, and telangiectasia. Partial deficiency was found in the serum of the patient's parents and children, indicating a pattern of inheritance of autosomal codominance. Transfusion experiments indicated that exogenous C7 had a 91-h halk-life in the patient. There was no evidence for C7 synthesis after transfusion. No C7 inhibitors were detected in the patient's serum. The patient's serum was found to support the activation of complement by both the classical and properdin pathways to the C7 stage. The addition of C7 to the patient's serum permitted it to support hemolytic reactions initiated by either pathway. No defects could be detected in plasma or whole blood coagulation. The patient's serum was deficient in opsonizing unsensitized yeast particles in serum and in the generation of chemotactic factor by antigen-antibody complexes and endotoxin. Both deficiencies were corrected by the addition of C7. These observations suggest a key role for C7 for in vitro yeast phagocytosis and chemotaxis generation. However, the patient's lack of infections indicates a relatively minor role for C7 in human resistance to infection.

[Hypersensitivity to "Candida albicans" and other fungi in patients with chronic urticaria]

Considering the high incidence of chronic urticaria among female patients and the frequent difficulty in identifying the etiologic factor of factors the author decided to investigate the possible role of Candida albicans and other yeasts usually found as contaminants in certain foods and beverages or purposely cultivated for industrial products, as the sensitizing agents leading to the clinical picture of chronic urticaria. One hundred female patients with urticaria which had persisted for more than 6 weeks were selected and investigated, disregarding those with dermographism or cholinergic and cold urticaria. Aside from a careful history and laboratory tests to complement the physical examination that could rule out chronic bacterial infectious foci, intestinal parasitic infestation and thyroid disorders, intradermal skin tests with standard doses of Candida albicans and Saccharomyces cerevisiae and other common environmental and food allergens were done. The patients' age ranged from 4 to 70 years. The skin tests sites were examined for Type I reactions at 15 and 20 minutes; for Type III reactions at 8 and 12 hours; and for Type IV reactions at 48 and 72 hours. When tested with Candida albicans antigen, 35% had Type I/III reactions and 60% presented Type IV reaction. When Saccharomyces cerevisiae antigen was used for testing, 29% had Type I/III reactions and none presented Type IV. Forty-nine of the sixty patients who presented Type IV reaction to Candida albicans had in the past significant vaginal discharge (or vaginal symptoms: burning, itching) that obliged the patients to consult a gynecologist, but only ten had stained smears and cultures from the vaginal secretions and four were told to have a monilia vaginal infection confirmed by the microbiological tests, although forty of them received Nistatin therapy at the time of the gynecological complaints. At the time the patients were seen by the allergist, complaining about urticaria, only four had symptoms and signs of monilia infection and were confirmed by culture: one presented oral moniliasis following broad-spectrum antibiotic, two had vaginal moniliasis developing right after their menstrual period; one had intestinal and cutaneous manifestations (perineal and crural) developing also after broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy. All the four patients had exacerbation of the urticaria while undergoing the monilia infection. After 1-2 weeks of elimination diet, each patient was challenged with yeasts-containing foods (bread, buns, sausages, beer, wines, grapes, cheese, vinegar, tomato catsup). Twenty-five patients (71%) of the group who positively reacted with a Type I/III reaction when tested with Candida antigen, showed a positive provocation test (reappearance of urticaria) and twenty patients (69%) of the group who reacted with Saccharomyces had a positive challenge test...

An analysis of the Phagocytic potential of multinucleate foreign body giant cells

Multinucleate giant cells were collected by subcutaneous implantation of plastic films into mice. The attached cells were challanged in vitro with staphylococci, yeasts and sheep erythrocytes treated with either glutaraldehyde or isologous or heterologous antiserum. Cells containing more than seven nuclei rarely phagocytized yeasts or staphylococci, and the uptake and ingestion of sheep erythrocytes treated with heterologous antiserum was equally infrequent. Many sheep erythrocytes treated with isologous antiserum or glutaraldehyde attached to giant cells. When the adherent erythrocytes were related to the increased size of the multinucleate cell by dividing the number attaching by the number of nuclei in the giant cell, a progressive relative reduction was demonstrated as the nuclear content increased. It is suggested that these phenomena are due to the loss of surface receptors subsequent to fusion during the formation of multinucleate cells.

Immunological responses to Candida albicans II. Amyloidosis in mice induced by candidiasis

Candida albicans infection in the mouse thigh rapidly induces amyloidosis in mice of the C57BL/Ks strain; amyloid is induced more slowly and to a lesser extent by viable candida in C3H and AKR mice, and by both viable Saccharomyces cerevisiae and heat-killed C. albicans in C57BL/Ks mice.