An immunological investigation of a family with chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis

Chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis in two siblings of consanguineous parents suggested an autosomal recessive transmission of the disease. We evaluated the two affected persons and 21 members of their kindred for an inherited immunological defect. Six members of the kindred, including both patients, had negative skin-delayed hypersensitivity to Candida. The lymphocytes of both patients and three asymptomatic relatives had diminished in vitro blastogenic response when cultured with Candida albicans. Because the defect occurred in clinically unaffected relatives, we concluded that the lack of blastogenic response to C. albicans was not the only determinant for or may be unrelated to the clinical manifestations of the disease.

A1 weak B phenotypes found in two generations of a Romanian family: A1Bx versus cis AB complex

Three 'A1 weak B' blood groups found in two generations of a Romanian family were studied with quantitative and thermodynamic assays in order to determine if they derive from 'A1Bx' or from 'cis AB' genotypes, what cannot be achieved by the genetics.

Incidence of serum anti-DNA precipitins in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus by counterimmunoelectrophoresis

The technique of counterimmunoelectrophoresis (CIE) has been adapted for detection of serum precipitins to calf thymus (CT) DNA in patients with SLE, discoid LE, miscellaneous connective tissue and infectious diseases, and control populations. Of seventy-eight LE patients, 58% demonstrated anti-ss DNA precipitins, and 20% exhibited anti-ds DNA precipitins. Good correlation was noted between the presence of ss DNA precipitins and ss DNA binding values determined by the more sensitive ammonium sulphate precipitation assay. Depressed total serum haemolytic complement activity in CH50 mu/ml was noted in 64% of sera exhibiting ss DNA precipitins and 38% of those with negative ss DNA precipitins. There was a strong association, however, between ds DNA precipitins and depressed serum complement levels. Although less sensitive than primary binding assays, CIE can be used as a rapid and simple screening test for detection of circulating anti-native and denatured CT DNA precipitins. CT DNA serum precipitins are present in a significantly higher percentage of SLE patients when compared with other disease states and normal control populations.

A cold auto-agglutinin of anti-B specificity in an A1B patient

A high titre cold auto-agglutinin with anti-B activity was found in the serum of an A1B group individual. The B/anti-B reaction was thermodynamically investigated and quantitative analysis of the patient's B antigen revealed no abnormality.

Cad antigen: comparative study of 50 samples

50 Cad (+) blood samples were tested using various anti-Cad reagents. Results demonstrated a wide Cad antigenic expression, even among the members of one family. In particular experimental procedures, almost all Cad (+) cells were polyagglutinable.

[The Cis AB complex of the ABO system]

Members of six unrelated families from Japan, France, Belgium and Poland were studied in parallel. Major immunological features characteristic of the phenotype produced by the Cis AB complex are the following: 1) The red cell A reactivity is close to normal, is beyond the values of agglutination scores by Helix and by anti-A from B; likewise, with percent agglutination measurements, A reactive appears hiher than that of A2B cells; one sample only is slightly detected by anti-A from Dolichos. 2) The B reactivity, on the contrary, is lower than that of normal AB cells. A single sample is detected by anti-B from A1. All samples are well detected by anti-B from AW, Aend, Ax, Am but none is detected by anti-B from ABx, Cis AB, or by an auto-anti-B. Under standard conditions, percent aggutination is around 80, very close to that of normal AB cells, thus differentiating Cis AB from AB3 (some of which only reach this figure), and from ABx which are very far from this value. 3) An abnormally high reactivity to anti-H antibody is observed, higher than that of normal A2B, similar to that of A2 red cells. 4) Among secretors, A substance is found to be normal or in excess, H substance is in excess, while B substance is only detected by Cis AB red cells inhibition. 5)An anti-B antibody was identified in the samples studied; however, we recently received from Germany a Cis AB samples, the serum of which did not contain anti-B antibody. By these main characteristics, the studied samples seem to be identical; however, agglutination kinetics and thermodynamic methods show that they differ by their reaction with a same anti-B antibody in standard conditions. The reactive structures of the various samples are indeed different from one family to another. The main point is that identical values were observed in all samples within a same family. Thus, the various Cis AB can be considered as different families mutants.

[Cold agglutinin with anti-B specificity in an A1B subject]

A high titre cold autoagglutinin with anti-B specificity was found in the serum of an A1B group individual. It was associated with a low titre anti-I. This anti-B agglutinated most cells having a B antigen (normal B, A1B, A2B, from adult and cord bloods, B3), but failed to agglutinate Bx Cis-AB and Bh cells. Nevertheless, all these cells absorbed the anti-B SER at low temperatures. Fixation elution tests were also positive on the patient's cells and three consecutive absorptions on these cells completely removed the anti-B activity. The Coombs test was positive with anti-complement anti-globulin when the cells were sensitized by the serum at 4 degrees C. It was negative when the cells were sensitized at 37 degrees C. The patient did not show any sign of haemolysis. The anti-B was a IgM Kappa. Its reaction with normal B cells had an enthalpy change of - 36-000 cal./mole, i.e. very different from O ANd A individuals, but similar to that of the erythrocytic I antigen - anti-i antibody reaction. Quantitative measurements showed the erythrocyte B antigen similar to that of control A1B cells.

Numbers of Giardia in the feces of infected children

Estimates were made of the number of Giardia in 1,090 stools from 15 infected children over periods of 1 to 3 months. Three patterns of excretion were observed: 1) high, with the parasite abundant in nearly all stools; 2) low, with the parasite detectable in only 40% of the stools and scanty when present; and 3) mixed, with periods of 1 to 3 weeks of high excretion alternating with generally shorter periods of low excretion, and an overall average of about 60% of stools positive. The presence and relative numbers of Giardia in the feces apparently were unrelated to either the consistency of the stools or frequency of defecation. Attempts to increase parasite excretion with purgatives were, on the whole, unsuccessful.

Agglutination kinetics. A method for quantitative red cell antigen assays

A simple, sensitive and highly reproducible method is described using a particle counting procedure for the study of agglutination percentage of red cells as a function of time. The method may advantageously be used for the current study of zygosity and other antigenic variations especially in family investigation.

Comparison of Candida-delayed hypersensitivity skin test size with lymphocyte transformation, migration inhibitory factor production and antibody titer

There is conflicting evidence concerning the correlation of <i>in vitro </i>lymphocyte transformation (LT) with migration inhibitory factor (MIF) production, <i>in vivo </i>delayed hypersensitivity and antibody formation. In the present study, both normal controls and patients with mucocutaneous candidiasis were assessed for delayed (cell-mediated) hypersensitivity to Candida antigen by skin testing, antigen-induced LT and MIF production. Specific anti-Candida-precipitating antibody levels were determined by counterimmunoelectrophoresis. A significant correlation (p < 0.001) was observed between the size of the skin reaction and the level of Candida <i>in vitro </i>lymphocyte stimulation. Although there was positive qualitative correlation between both delayed skin reaction size and LT compared to MIF production, no significant quantitative correlation with MIF production was observed.