Specific immune response in the respiratory tract after administration of an oral polyvalent bacterial vaccine

An oral killed polyvalent bacterial vaccine was assessed in a double-blind trial involving healthy volunteers. Three courses of oral vaccine were given over a 2-month period; each course contained 10(10) Haemophilus influenzae and 7 X 10(9) Staphylococcus aureus organisms. Immunity was assessed by monitoring antibody in saliva and serum over a 3-month period. No evidence of a nonspecific effect on immune parameters (immunoglobulin levels and Escherichia coli antibody) was detected in saliva or serum. An increase in H. influenzae antibody in saliva was detected in 55% of subjects receiving the vaccine compared with 6.7% of the placebo group. Antibody was associated with immunoglobulin A (IgA), IgG, and IgM, but the greatest increases over preimmunization levels were detected in the IgA class. No increase in serum antibody levels was detected. Subjects with higher preimmunization levels of salivary antibody to H. influenzae were less likely to respond to the oral bacterial vaccine. No increase in S. aureus antibody was detected in saliva or serum.

Dermatitis herpetiformis: a comparative assessment of skin and bowel abnormality

We reviewed 18 patients with a clinical diagnosis of dermatitis herpetiformis who were being treated with dapsone and were on an unrestricted diet. Diagnosis was confirmed by finding IgA deposits in the dermal papillae of unaffected skin. Dapsone was discontinued and biopsy of affected skin was carried out when the typical rash reappeared. The biopsy findings were graded according to the severity of the histological changes. Small bowel tissue from each patient was examined and graded by stereo- and routine microscopy. Thirteen specimens (72%) were stereomicroscopically abnormal; all 18 showed villous atrophy, either partial or subtotal; and in 13 (72%) the interepithelial lymphocyte count was increased. No correlation was found between the histological severity of the skin and the small bowel lesions. Seemingly the severity of the skin rash in dermatitis herpetiformis is no guide to the degree of small bowel abnormality.

Madagascarin, a New Pigment From the Leaves of Harungana madagascariensis

Extraction of the leaves of Harungana madagascariensis Poir. (Guttiferae) gave β-sitosterol, quercetin, diisopropyl 4,4'-methylenedicarbanilate (probably an artefact), and a new pigment, madagascarin. Mainly by spectroscopic methods the structure of the latter was established as 2,7'-biemodyl (1,3,8,l?,6',8'-hexahydroxy- 6,3'-dimethyl-2,Z'-bianthraquinone).

Effect of monosodium n-alkylsalicylates on spores of Bacillus subtilis

The effects of several monosodium n-alkylsalicylates on washed spores of Bacillus subtilis have been examined. None of the compounds was sporicidal, but in general they prevented dormancy induced by incubating the spores in water. This effect was related to the position in the ring and size of the alkyl groups substituted on the salicylic acid nucleus.

Antimicrobial activity of sodium n-alkylsalicylates

The activities are reported of sodium salts of several n-alkylsalicylic acids against Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Mycobacterium phlei, and Candida albicans. The acids had alkyl substituents of 1 to 18 carbon atoms in the 3, 4, or 5 positions relative to the carboxyl group of salicylic acid. Generally, the antimicrobial properties were typical of anionic surface-active agents although the salicylates are more potent than most of these, particularly against S. aureus.