Cellular and humoral immune responses to buffalopox virus in experimentally infected mice and rabbits

The experiments on protective immunity were conducted in a closely bred population of mice which did not show graft versus host reactions. Simultaneous passive transfer of 0.25 ml rabbit anti-buffalopox virus serum and subsequent challenge with 0.05 ml 10(5) TCID100/ml of buffalopox virus (BPV) showed 57.15 and 47.06% protection with a 1:2 and 1:16 dilutions of buffalopox hyperimmune serum 24 h prior to challenge with BPV showed 87.50 and 75.0% protection, respectively. The passive transfer of normal saline or normal rabbit serum did not protect mice against lethal challenge with BPV. The protection conferred by 5.0 x 10(6) and 15.0 x 10(6) spleen cells obtained from immune donor mice was 37.5, 42.85 and 50.0%, respectively. None of the mice that received spleen cells obtained from donors immunized with normal saline emulsified in Freund's incomplete adjuvant survived lethal challenge with BPV. T- and B-cell levels in the peripheral blood of rabbits during the course of BPV infection revealed transient relative lymphopaenia on the 4th, 5th and 7th days post infection. These values returned to normal on the 14th and 21st days post infection. No marked difference in percentage of B cells or absolute B-cell number between control and infected rabbits was found. This study revealed that both cellular and humoral immunity seem to play a role in recovery from BPV infection in mice and rabbits.

Electrophoresis of buffalo (bos bubalis) serum proteins including immunoglobulins

Antigenic components of buffalo (Bos bubalis) serum, which were also components of buffalo colostrum, seminal plasma, milk whey, saliva, and tears, were investigated by the ager gel diffusion test and immunoelectrophoresis. Immunoglobulins of buffalo serum were identified by immunoelectrophoresis employing rabbit-anti-buffalo serum and rabbit-anti-buffalo gamma-globulin. Based on immunoelectrophoretic patterns immunoglobulin G (IgG), IgGA, and IgM were detected both in the serum and colostrum of buffaloes. Tears contained both IgG and IgM. Cross-reactions of buffalo serum with seminal plasma, saliva, and milk whey were observed only in the IgG region. By polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, lipoprotein (5.2% +/- 0.41), IgM (11.4% +/- 3.1), IgG (9.4% +/- 0.98), haptoglobin 21.8% +/- 3.73), transferrin (10.4% +/- 2.15), ceruloplasmin (7.8% +/- 1.3), postalbumin (20.8% +/- 2.09), and albumin (13.7% +/- 0.75) were identified provisionally.

Rosette formation by buffalo (Bos bubalis) T and B lymphocytes

Buffalo (Bos bubalis) lymphocytes were purified and tested for their E and EAC rosette forming capacity as a marker for the detection of T and B cells, respectively. Sheep erythrocytes were found to form 17.7 per cent of E rosette with buffalo lymphocytes. This population of lymphocytes is believed to be T cell. Erythrocytes of guinea-pig, rabbit, hamster, rat, chicken, dog and donkey formed a lower percentage of rosettes. Five to 18.5 per cent of SRBC-EAC rosettes were detected with buffalo lymphocytes which are believed to be B cells.

Concentration and purification of hepatitis B antigen with polyethylene glycol and polyelectrolyte 60, a cross-linked copolymer of isobutylene maleic anhydride

A simple two-step procedure is described for the concentration and purification of hepatitis B antigen. The antigen is precipitated by polyethylene glycol and then adsorbed on and eluted from an insoluble polyelectrolyte, polyelectrolyte 60, which is a cross-linked copolymer of isobutylene maleic anhydride.