Lenses of rabbits with high titers of homologous lens antibodies showed no lesions, even after repeated paracentesis of the anterior chamber in a number of such animals. In these instances, lens antibodies were shown to be present in both the primary and secondary aqueous humors. A small group of rabbits with high homologous anti-lens antibody titers were successfully bred. These had been immunized with adult rabbit lens pools in Freund's adjuvants, and had high antibody levels throughout pregnancy. No significant congenital lens lesions were found when these 18 young from 3 litters were compared with the 17 young from 3 litters of mothers who had no detectable anti-lens antibody through gestation. The latter group of does had received the equivalent doses of homologous lens in saline. Patients with cataract did not show demonstrable anti-lens antibodies in their serum when tested by the agar precipitin technic against cataractous human lens homogenates.
It has been shown by agar precipitin tests (Ouchterlony and Oakley) that human sera may contain from 0 to 5 antibodies against antigens present in a partially purified streptolysin O preparation, and from 0 to 7 antibodies against antigens in a crude ammonium sulfate concentrate of the streptococcal culture supernate used. These antigens were prepared from a Group A hemolytic streptococcus (strain C203S). Strong evidence was presented suggesting that some of the bands seen with streptolysin O concentrate represented antibody reponses to streptococcal antigens heretofore undescribed. Tests were also carried out with other streptococcal antigens, including streptokinase-desoxyribonuclease mixture from Group C streptococci (varidase-Lederle), crystalline proteinase, proteinase precursor, C carbohydrate, and sonic vibrated streptococcal cell extracts (group A, C203S). Fewer bands were seen with these preparations, and with some they were quite uncommon. The observations indicated that the predominating antibody responses in human streptococcal infections were to extracellular products of the micro-organisms, and only very slightly and infrequently to intracellular antigens. The human sera studied included sera from patients with active or convalescent rheumatic fever, and non-rheumatic subjects suffering from a variety of illnesses. As was expected, the rheumatic subjects showed antibody responses to many more of the antigens present in these preparations than did the nonrheumatic group. Pooled normal human gamma globulin was found to contain many of the antibodies found in potent human sera. This finding confirmed the antigen-antibody nature of the bands seen with individual sera. The epidemiological significance of these findings with gamma, globulin was briefly discussed. It was found that rabbit, guinea pig, and human antibody precipitin bands join quite readily in the Ouchterlony tests. This finding adds another tool for the identification of the precipitin bands found with human sera. Evidence was obtained which indicated differing immunological specificities of two samples of streptococcal desoxyribonuclease, one from Group A, the other from a Group C streptococcus. The value of these technics as representing a new approach to the study of human infectious disease was discussed.
Suppressor cells were induced in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from young and old individuals by two day culture with concanavalin a (con A). Suppressor activity was quantitated using an alloantigen driven cytotoxicity assay. The proliferative responses of lymphocytes from young and old individuals to con A and alloantigens were also determined. Results demonstrated that the numbers of con A inducible suppressor cells were markedly decreased in older individuals. Proliferative responses to con A were reduced compared to young individuals but equivalent proliferative responses to alloantigens were noted. Even though not statistically significant, alloantigen-induced cytotoxic responses were slightly increased in older persons. The increased alloantigen-induced cytotoxic responses of individuals noted in the present study may be related to the decreased numbers of suppressor cells in this group.
Summary 1.It has been demonstrated that antibiotic-producing strains of Escherichia coli will secrete antibiotics while growing in the peritoneal cavity and subcutaneous tissues of mice. Significant levels of antibiotic appear in the serum, as well as in the local exudates, of such infected animals. 2.Injection of non-antibiotic-producing E. coli strains yielded exudates and sera devoid of inhibitory activity. 3.The antibiotic produced by one of these organisms in vivo seems to be identical with that produced in vitro .
Summary 1.A high degree of protection was obtained by antibiotic-producing Micrococcus pyogenes var. albus strains of the human ocular microflora in mixed infections of mice with Clostridium septicum . Protection was obtained against at least 1,000 LD 50 doses of this latter organism. 2.The protection is most probably associated with in vivo secretion of functioning antibiotics. Strong correlation of in vitro and in vivo results with strains of varying antibiotic properties points to this conclusion. Failure to observe any differences in the abilities of these strains to survive in the tissues tends to rule out the possibility of nonspecific factors being operative. 3.Solid protection was obtained both against the Clostridium septicum spores and vegetative cells. 4.Living micrococci were more protective than heat-killed organisms. The latter apparently owe their small to moderate degree of prophylactic abilities to strongly adsorbed or intracellular antibiotic. This could not be washed off, and attempts to grow these organisms without antibiotic production were failures. 5.Antibiotic-producing micrococci injected at sites removed from the Cl. septicum inoculation site, also seemed to confer a small degree of protection against lethal outcome. 6.Delay in the injection of the antibiotic-producing micrococci until 2 or 5 hours after the Cl. septicum inoculum, greatly reduced the effectiveness of the protection, but did not completely eliminate it. Some of the animals injected after 5 hours had already developed local gas gangrene. 7.The data presented strongly indicate that the human bacterial flora may represent a rich source of potentially valuable antibiotics for certain limited infections.
Summary It has been demonstrated that antibiotic-producing strains of Escherichia coli will secrete antibiotics while growing in the peritoneal cavity and subcutaneous tissues of mice. Significant levels of antibiotic appear in the serum, as well as in the local exudates, of such infected animals. Injection of non-antibiotic-producing E. coli strains yielded exudates and sera devoid of inhibitory activity. The antibiotic produced by one of these organisms in vivo seems to be identical with that produced in vitro.
ANTIBIOTIC-producing strains of bacteria of the normal flora of various tissues of humans have been found to be very common in recent years. The intestinal tract,* eye,4nasopharynx,† skin and oral cavity ‡ have proved rich in such microorganisms. The antibiotic activities of the enteric bacteria have been most intensively examined. Suggestive evidence that such inhibitory strains may be related to recovery from bacillary dysentery has been obtained.§ A previous paper from this laboratory4has described some rather striking general analogies between the situation in the intestinal tract and the ocular flora with respect to such bacterial inhibitors. The present report summarizes the survey findings relating such antibiotic-producing strains to the presence of clinical conjunctival inflammation in the groups examined previously.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The subjects employed in this study were inmates of a New York state institution for the feebleminded.∥ They were of either sex, from 2
