An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for quantification of antibodies to Streptococcus mutans surface antigens

An ELISA was developed to quantitate the level of antibodies to various cell surface antigens of the Gram positive bacterium, Streptococcus mutans. Whole cells and purified cell wall components of S. mutans, lipoteichoic acid (LTA) from Streptococcus pyogenes, and dextran T 2000 were employed as coating antigens in this study. Cell walls of S. mutans were purified by mechanical disruption of whole cells followed by differential centrifugation and proteolytic enzyme treatment. Serotype-specific carbohydrate was purified from an autoclaved, lyophilized S. mutans whole cell preparation by column chromatography. LTA was prepared by Sepharose 4B chromatography of a phenol-water extract of S. pyogenes and used for detection of anti-polyglycerophosphate (PGP) antibodies. A rabbit antiserum to S. mutans 6715 (serotype g), which precipitated with purified carbohydrate antigen (RR g), gave good reactions with purified cell walls and whole cells of S. mutans 6715, less activity with RR g and low activity to LTA and dextran when tested by ELISA. Adsorption of this antiserum with whole cells of S. pyogenes resulted in antibody activity with specificity only to the serotype carbohydrate. The specificity of the antibody for homologous coating antigen was RR g greater than cell wall greater than whole cells. An antiserum to S. mutans MT573 (serotype e) contained antibody predominantly to LTA, whereas, anti-S. mutans MT703 (serotype e) reacted with both dextran and LTA; however, the activity to LTA was removed by prior adsorption of the antiserum with S. pyogenes cells. This treatment did not alter the antibody activity to dextran. To establish the sensitivity of ELISA, a purified IgG anti-serotype carbohydrate antibody was prepared by adsorption of anti-S. mutans 6715 antiserum with a mutant of S. mutans which lacks serotype carbohydrate followed by adsorption and elution of specific antibodies from S. mutans 6715 whole cells. The minimum level of sensitivity of ELISA was 12.5 ng of IgG anti-serotype carbohydrate.

Idiotype-specific T lymphocytes. I. Regulation of antibody production by idiotype-specific H-2-restricted T lymphocytes

Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) specific for MOPC-104E myeloma cells of BALB/c origin could be induced in BALB/c, (BALB/c X BALB.B)F1, and (BALB/c X BALB.K)F1 mice. (BALB/c X BALB.B)F1 CTL activity specific for MOPC-104E was effectively inhibited by anti-H-2d but not by anti-H-2b alloantiserum. However, the activity was hardly blocked by specific anti-idiotypic antibodies to MOPC-104E. For further analysis of the recognition of idiotype on target cells by CTL, the effect of those lymphocytes on anti-dextran B1355S antibody-producing B lymphocytes, which have a cross-reactive idiotype to MOPC-104E, was investigated. Lymphocytes from the CTL population did inhibit antibody production by dextran-immune spleen cells, but those from the CTL population specific for irrelevant myeloma cells (MOPC-167) did not. The (BALB/c X BALB.K)F1 CTL population suppressed the antibody production of BALB/c but not of BALB.K. This indicates that F1 cells can preferentially see H-2 antigens of immunizing myeloma cells on target B lymphocytes. The inhibition of antibody production was antigen specific and was only restricted to the PFC that were inhibitable by anti-idiotypic antibodies. The surface phenotypes of the cells that inhibited the antibody production were Thy-1+, Lyt-1-, Lyt-2+, and I-J-. These results strongly suggest that CTL specific for MOPC-104E recognize self H-2 antigens simultaneously with idiotypic determinants on B lymphocytes. Possible immunoregulatory roles of idiotype-specific CTL on antibody production systems are also suggested.

Isolation and characterization of the serotype g carbohydrate moiety from an enzyme lysate of Streptococcus mutans 6715 cell walls

The serotype-specific carbohydrate moiety of Streptococcus mutans was isolated by mild degradation of purified cell walls with a cell-wall lytic enzyme. Cell walls of serotype g S. mutans strain 6715 were digested with M1 enzyme, an endo-N-acetylmuramidase purified from culture supernatants of Streptomyces globisporus strain 1829. The enzyme lysate of the cell walls was applied to a CM Sephadex C-25 column to remove the M1 enzyme from the cell wall lysate and then subjected to Sephadex G-100 column chromatography. Carbohydrate antigens with serotype g specificity, designated M1g, and a peptidoglycan--polysaccharide complex lacking serotype specificity (M1PG) were separated. Purified serotype g antigen was also obtained by autoclaving the S. mutans 6715 whole cells in saline at 120 C for 30 min. The extract was applied to a DEAE Sephadex A-25 column to remove nucleic acids and teichoic acids. The unbound peak fraction was concentrated and re-chromatographed on a Bio-Gel P-100 column. The void volume fraction contained serotype g carbohydrate and was designated RRg antigen. M1g and RRg antigens formed a band of identity with anti-serotype g serum by immunodiffusion. These antigens were composed mainly of galactose, glucose, and rhamnose at an approximate weight ratio of 8 : 4: 1, while constituent sugars of M1PG consisted of rhamnose and glucose, with no detectable galactose. M1g also contained peptidoglycan residues other than threonine, an interpeptide bridge component of the native cell wall peptidoglycan. Marked inhibition of the quantitative precipitin reaction between M1g and anti-serotype g serum was obtained with melibiose and galactose, which suggests that the immunodeterminant of the serotype g carbohydrate is an alpha-linked galactose-glucose terminal linkage.

Idiotype-specific T lymphocytes. I. Regulation of antibody production by idiotype-specific H-2-restricted T lymphocytes

Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) specific for MOPC-104E myeloma cells of BALB/c origin could be induced in BALB/c, (BALB/c X BALB.B)F1, and (BALB/c X BALB.K)F1 mice. (BALB/c X BALB.B)F1 CTL activity specific for MOPC-104E was effectively inhibited by anti-H-2d but not by anti-H-2b alloantiserum. However, the activity was hardly blocked by specific anti-idiotypic antibodies to MOPC-104E. For further analysis of the recognition of idiotype on target cells by CTL, the effect of those lymphocytes on anti-dextran B1355S antibody-producing B lymphocytes, which have a cross-reactive idiotype to MOPC-104E, was investigated. Lymphocytes from the CTL population did inhibit antibody production by dextran-immune spleen cells, but those from the CTL population specific for irrelevant myeloma cells (MOPC-167) did not. The (BALB/c X BALB.K)F1 CTL population suppressed the antibody production of BALB/c but not of BALB.K. This indicates that F1 cells can preferentially see H-2 antigens of immunizing myeloma cells on target B lymphocytes. The inhibition of antibody production was antigen specific and was only restricted to the PFC that were inhibitable by anti-idiotypic antibodies. The surface phenotypes of the cells that inhibited the antibody production were Thy-1+, Lyt-1-, Lyt-2+, and I-J-. These results strongly suggest that CTL specific for MOPC-104E recognize self H-2 antigens simultaneously with idiotypic determinants on B lymphocytes. Possible immunoregulatory roles of idiotype-specific CTL on antibody production systems are also suggested.

Combining site specificities of mouse hybridoma antibodies to dextran B1355S

The combining sites of 12 mouse hybridoma antibodies to dextran B1355S have been characterized by quantitative precipitin assay. All antibodies preferentially bind the immunizing antigen B1355S and two other class I dextrans, B1498S and B1501S, but show substantial differences in the extents to which they cross react with class I dextrans, suggesting their clustering into five groups. Three myeloma proteins, CAL20 TEPC1035, J558, and MOPC104E, which bind dextran B1355S, each fall into a different group. There appears to be a substantial, but imperfect, correlation of DH region structure and individual idiotypic determinants with dextran binding patterns. Proteins with RY DH segments and IdI (J558) idiotypes are in groups 1 or 3, and proteins with YD DH segments and IdI (MOPC104E) idiotypes are exclusively in group 5. However, identical patterns of precipitin curves accompany very different sequences in CDR3. Antibodies of group 1, which react only with class II dextrans, differ the most in primary sequence, a finding suggesting that subsites responsible for cross reactivity with class I dextrans may be blocked and that this may be effected by side chains of different amino acids. This finding delineates a new aspect of the relationship of variability in amino acid sequence to antibody complementarity.

Biological effects of Spirometra erinacei plerocercoids in several species of rodents

Observations were made of the biological effects on infection with plerocercoids of Spirometra erinacei on normal female Snell mice, male chinese hamsters, golden hamsters, normal and hypox rats. Plerocercoid infection caused the strongest growth-promoting effect on normal Snell mice. In mice, this effect appears to be independent of strain. Chinese hamsters infected with these larvae showed similar growth. The infected normal rats and golden hamsters, however, showed a weight increase in the skeletal muscle only, while the hypox rats exhibited no effect at all. The elevation in the concentration of serum triglyceride was observed in all the animals investigated except for rats. Golden hamsters, in particular, exhibited a marked increase in the concentration of serum free fatty acids and total cholesterol. There was close correlation between the concentrations of serum triglyceride and free fatty acids, and the regression coefficient of the resulting linear regression equation for the experimentals was higher than that for the controls. This suggests that serum triglyceride results from an increased concentration of serum free fatty acids derived from stimulated lipolysis. The total cholesterol concentration in the serum decreased in chinese hamsters infected with larvae. The serum glucose concentration increased in normal Snell mice but decreased in chinese and golden hamsters. No difference in glycerol and free fatty acid concentration was observed in infected animals except for golden hamsters.

Enhancement of murine immune responses to orally administered haptenated Streptococcus mutans

The induction of immune responses to orally administered trinitrophenyl (TNP)-haptenated Streptococcus mutans and its enhancement with muramyldipeptide (MDP), peptidoglycan (PG), and concanavalin A (Con A) were investigated in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-non-responsive C3H/HeJ mice and the syngeneic, LPS-responsive C3H/HeN strain. Both mouse strains manifested similar immune responses, primarily of the IgM isotype, after a single gastric intubation (GI) with TNP-S. mutans. However, when groups of animals were first carrier-primed by GI with S. mutans for 2 consecutive days, followed by a single GI with TNP-S. mutans 1 week later, C3H/HeJ mice gave a significantly higher (P less than or equal to 0.01) splenic IgA anti-TNP plaque-forming cell (PFC) response than identically treated C3H/HeN mice. Furthermore, saliva, urine and serum from these C3H/HeJ mice possessed high levels of IgA anti-TNP antibodies as determined by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, whereas C3H/HeN mice exhibited low antibody levels. Oral administration of Con A (either 250 micrograms or 500 micrograms/mouse) or purified PG (1 mg/mouse) at the time of TNP-S. mutans immunization resulted in significantly (P less than or equal to 0.01) enhanced splenic IgA anti-TNP PFC responses, especially in C3H/HeJ mice. On the other hand, MDP promoted IgA anti-TNP PFC responses in LPS-responsive C3H/HeN mice but did not augment responses in C3H/HeJ animals. A similar immune response pattern was seen when antibody levels were measured in serum, saliva, and urine of both mouse strains. These results demonstrate that haptenated S. mutans is a good antigen for the induction of high IgA responses in orally immunized C3H/HeJ mice and that this high response can be enhanced with the adjuvants Con A and PG. However, MDP is ineffective in C3H/HeJ mice but enhances IgA responses in normal LPS-responsive C3H/HeN animals.

Lymphoid cell responses to bacterial cell wall components: mitogenic responses of murine B cells to Streptococcus mutans carbohydrate antigens

The mitogenic activity of various purified serotype carbohydrate and cell wall lysate fractions of Streptococcus mutans for murine lymphocytes has been determined. The highest mitogenic responses occurred after 48 hr of stimulation with these carbohydrate preparations when tested on splenic cultures derived from C3H/HeJ and BALB/c mice. The response pattern obtained with optimum concentrations of these preparations was very similar to that seen with the B cell mitogen, LPS. A purified serotype g carbohydrate (M1 g) prepared by mutanolysin enzyme treatment of S. mutans 6715 cell walls stimulated good mitogenic responses in BALB/c nude and nu/+ splenic cultures, suggesting an effect on mouse B cells. This was further substantiated by studies showing that this antigen also induced responses in cultures of B cells purified by nylon wool fractionation, whereas purified T cells did not respond. Mitogenic responses were due to the carbohydrate moiety and not to possible LPS contamination, since alkaline treatment or mixture with polymyxin B greatly reduced responses to LPS; however, no alteration of mitogenic responses to M1 g occurred. Further, LPS nonresponsive C3H/HeJ spleen cells yielded good mitogenic responses to M1 g. On the other hand, periodate treatment, which is known to decompose carbohydrate moieties completely abrogated the mitogenic activity of M1 g antigen. Additional studies with serotypes c and e carbohydrate, which also induced mitogenic responses, suggested that this activity for lymphoid cells may be a common property of S. mutans cell wall carbohydrate.

Presence and location of an O-acetyl group in O4-antigen of Vibrio parahaemolyticus

A polysaccharide moiety (PS) released from O4-LPS of Vibrio parahaemolyticus was purified. The constituent sugars of the purified PS were glucose, galactose, arabinose, fucose, heptose, N-acetyl galactosamine and an unknown N-acetyl amino sugar. The unknown amino sugar was deduced to be a terminal deoxy amino sugar from its NMR spectrum. PNMR spectroscopy at 200 MHz, periodate oxidation and treatment with alpha-L-fucosidase of the purified PS sample before and after alcoholic sodium methoxide-treatment suggested that PS contained an O-acetyl and alpha-linked non-reducing terminal L-fucose and that the O-acetyl group was located at the C-2 or C-4 position of the non-reducing terminal fucose. The contribution of the O-acetyl group located in L-fucose to the O4-antigenic determinant seemed to be small, judging from immunochemical experiments.

Lymphoid cell responses to bacterial cell wall components: mitogenic responses of murine B cells to Streptococcus mutans carbohydrate antigens

The mitogenic activity of various purified serotype carbohydrate and cell wall lysate fractions of Streptococcus mutans for murine lymphocytes has been determined. The highest mitogenic responses occurred after 48 hr of stimulation with these carbohydrate preparations when tested on splenic cultures derived from C3H/HeJ and BALB/c mice. The response pattern obtained with optimum concentrations of these preparations was very similar to that seen with the B cell mitogen, LPS. A purified serotype g carbohydrate (M1 g) prepared by mutanolysin enzyme treatment of S. mutans 6715 cell walls stimulated good mitogenic responses in BALB/c nude and nu/+ splenic cultures, suggesting an effect on mouse B cells. This was further substantiated by studies showing that this antigen also induced responses in cultures of B cells purified by nylon wool fractionation, whereas purified T cells did not respond. Mitogenic responses were due to the carbohydrate moiety and not to possible LPS contamination, since alkaline treatment or mixture with polymyxin B greatly reduced responses to LPS; however, no alteration of mitogenic responses to M1 g occurred. Further, LPS nonresponsive C3H/HeJ spleen cells yielded good mitogenic responses to M1 g. On the other hand, periodate treatment, which is known to decompose carbohydrate moieties completely abrogated the mitogenic activity of M1 g antigen. Additional studies with serotypes c and e carbohydrate, which also induced mitogenic responses, suggested that this activity for lymphoid cells may be a common property of S. mutans cell wall carbohydrate.

Adherence of Streptococcus sanguis clinical isolates to smooth surfaces and interactions of the isolates with Streptococcus mutans glucosyltransferase

Streptococcus sanguis isolated from human dental plaque were grown in Todd-Hewitt broth. Cells were collected by centrifugation and lyophilized after extensive washing with water. The cell-associated glucosyltransferase (GTase) activities of S. sanguis strains were assayed with [14C]sucrose. Strain differences in GTase activity were significant within the same serotype or biotype or both. The ability of S. sanguis cells to adhere to smooth glass surfaces was generally weak, irrespective of significant cell-associated GTase activity synthesizing water-insoluble, gel-like glucans. Resting cells of most S. sanguis strains bound extracellular GTase from Streptococcus mutans strain B13 (serotype d), resulting in the strong adherence of the S. sanguis cells to smooth glass surfaces in the presence of sucrose. Conversely, S. mutans B13 cells also could bind extracellular GTase from some strains of S. sanguis examined. The sucrose-dependent adherence of S. mutans cells was not altered, although S. sanguis strains from which the extracellular GTases were obtained did not produce significant adherence in the presence of sucrose. In view of these findings, it was suggested that S. mutans GTase could affect the adherence of S. sanguis to smooth tooth surfaces in the oral cavity.

Immunochemical studies on dextrans. Cross-reaction of synthetic linear dextrans with rabbit anti-N4 dextran

Alpha (1 Leads to 6) specific anti-dextran antibody was raised in rabbits by injecting N4 dextran-concanavalin A conjugate, and the interactions of five synthetic linear dextrans (alpha(1 Leads to 6)-D-glucopyranans) with rabbit anti-N4 dextran were studied. The ability of glucans to precipitate antibody depended on their average molecular weight, samples with higher molecular weight precipitating more antibody nitrogen under the same conditions. This phenomenon was shown to be due to solubility of the antigen-antibody complex. Oligosaccharide inhibition assay indicated that the maximum size of the alpha(1 Leads to 6)-specific antibody combining site corresponded to isomaltopentaose. The precipitated antibody class was shown to be IgG immunoglobulin, and it was mostly directed to linear non-terminal glucosidic linkages. Determination of antibody nitrogen and glucan in the precipitates indicated that the ratio of antibody molecule to numbers of glucose residues was 1:16 in the extreme antibody excess region.

Electron microscopic studies on hepatic alkaline phosphatase in experimentally induced biliary obstruction of the rat

The alterations of the alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity in the rat liver following bile duct ligation were investigated by electron microscopical techniques. Serum ALP activity reached the maximum at 24 hours after ligation and two isozymes of ALP, high molecular and low molecular one, appeared in the serum. Bile canaliculi became dilated at 48 hours after ligation and the microvilli were destructed and diminished in number. ALP activity was observed almost only on the bile canalicular membrane of the liver cells in the control. On the other hand, in the bile duct-ligated rat, the ALP activity on the canalicular membrane was markedly increased initially, then it appeared on the lateral membrane, and finally on the sinusoidal membrane also. It was not stainable on the canalicular membranes which lacked microvilli. The proposed pathway through which hepatic ALP enters the blood stream in bile duct-ligated rats is as follows: ALP, being synthesized in the microsomes of hepatocytes, is initially transferred to the bile canalicular membrane and diffused to lateral membrane through tight junction, reaches to sinusoidal membrane then released into the blood stream.

Immunochemical studies on dextrans. Two distinct alpha 1 linked to 3 specificities of rabbit anti-dextran B1355

Rabbit anti-dextran B1355 sera prepared by injecting rabbits with Leuconostoc mesenteroides NRRL B1355 were separated on a Sephadex G75 column into two fractions, one binding and the other not binding to the column. Oligosaccharide inhibition of precipitation of the two fractions with dextran B1355 indicated that both fractions had alpha 1 linked to 3 specificity. However, antibodies in the non-binding fraction were shown to be directed against O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 linked to 3)-O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 linked to 6)-D-glucose, while those in the binding fraction were directed against O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 linked to 6)-O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 linked to 3)-D-glucose. These results are consistent with the proposal of Bhoopalam et al. (Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med. (1979(=) 161, 430-434) that there are different epitopic groups on this dextran.

Isolation and immunobiological classification of Streptococcus sanguis from human tooth surfaces

A total of 113 pure cultures of Streptococcus sanguis were obtained from dental plaque samples of 64 subjects. All isolates synthesized glucan from sucrose, elaborated peroxide, and were alpha-hemolytic. Two biotypes and four serotypes were differentiated within the species. Biotype A (95 isolates) fermented salicin and inulin and hydrolyzed arginine and esculin, whereas biotype B (18 isolates) did not possess these activities. The isolates were serotyped with autoclaved extracts against whole-cell antiserum to strains ATCC 10556 or ST3 (serotype I), ATCC 10557 (serotype II), ATCC 10558 (serotype III), and ST7 (serotype IV), by the capillary precipitin test. Serotypes I, II, III, and IV were found to consist of 24, 16, 37, and 15 isolates. Type IV was demonstrated anew in this study. The remaining 21 isolates were not typed because of either multiple reactions or nonreactivity against the standardized typing sera. All isolates of serotype II belonged to biotype B, which resembles Streptococcus mitior physiologically. Five isolates representing four serotypes and an untypable strain were examined for their cariogenicity against specific-pathogen-free Sprague-Dawley rats fed high sucrose diet no. 2000. Organisms of each isolate were established in the mouths of the rats, but only three isolates induced weak caries that were restricted to pits and fissures of occlusal surfaces of the teeth.

Effect of BCG on hepatocarcinogenesis of the rat induced by 3'-methyl-4-(dimethylamino)azobenzene

The effect of BCG, an immunopotentiator, on the hepatocarcinogenesis of the rat induced by 3'-methyl-4-(dimethylamino)azobenzene (3'-Me-DAB) was investigated. After administration of 3'-Me-DAB for 6 weeks, BCG was injected to the rats at 2-week intervals for 50 weeks and the serial determinations of serum alpha-fetoprotein and morphological examination of the liver were made. In the control group, the second rise of serum alpha-fetoprotein, which reflected the occurrence of hepatoma, was seen at about 12 weeks after discontinuance of 3'-Me-DAB. On the other hand, the second rise of serum alpha-fetoprotein in the group treated with BCG was delayed about 10 weeks compared to control group, although there was no significant difference in the final incidence of hepatomas between these two groups. Infiltration of the lymphocytes was observed in the liver of rats treated with BCG without hepatoma. BCG seems to have an inhibitory effect on 3'-Me-DAB carcinogenesis of the rat, possibly by stimulating the cell-mediated immunity, although it is not strong enough to prevent the occurrence of hepatoma completely.

Interaction of glucosyltransferase from Streptococcus mutans with various glucans

Cell-free glucosyltransferase of Streptococcus mutans strain B13 (serotype d) exclusively synthesized water-insoluble glucan from sucrose. The insoluble glucan possessed strong glucan-associated glucosyltransferase activity even after extensive washing and lyophilization. Furthermore, cell-free glucosyltransferase became bound to heat-treated water-insoluble glucan or to heat-treated S. mutans B13 cells grown in Todd Hewitt broth, and the resulting glucan and cells adhered to a glass surface in the presence of exogenous sucrose. No other water-insoluble glucans bound significant quantities of glucosyltransferase. Glucan synthesis by free or glucan-bound glucosyltransferase was stimulated by low concentrations (1 to 5 mg ml-1) of isomaltose or water-soluble dextrans of various molecular weights, but higher concentrations (10 mg ml-1) inhibited glucan synthesis. The glucan synthesized in the presence of primer dextrans exhibited a reduced ability to adhere to a glass surface. Certain sugars such as maltose and fructose significantly lowered the yield of insoluble glucans. Preincubation of glucosyltransferase with the low molecular weight dextran T10 increased subsequent binding to S. mutans B13 insoluble glucan, whereas preincubation with higher molecular weight dextrans significantly inhibited the glucosyltransferase binding.

Preparative use of the analytical column of a sugar autoanalyzer for resolution of gluco-oligosaccharides of the same molecular weight

A sugar autoanalyzer was used on a preparative scale to resolve a gluco-oligosaccharide mixture. In this way the components of the following mixtures were resolved: O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-3)-O-[alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-6)]-D-glucose (1), O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-6)-O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-3)-D-glucose (2) and O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-3)-O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-6)-D-glucose (3), O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-3)-O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-4)-D-glucose (4) and O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-4)-O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-3)-D-glucose (5), and O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-2)-O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-6)-O-alpha-D-glucopranosyl-(1-6)-O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-6)-D-glucose (6) and O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-3)--O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-6)-O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-6)-O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-6)-D-glucose (7).