A lethal septicemia was induced in 11-and 12-day-old chicken embryos with intravenous inoculation of relatively small numbers of a clinical isolate (GBBHS-Ill-Bell) or a reference strain (GBBHS-III-D136-C) of group B beta-hemolytic streptococci (GBBHS). GBBHS-III-Bell was more virulent than GBBHS-III-D136-C, and 11-day-old chicken embryos were more susceptible than 12-day-old chicken embryos. Type-specific rabbit antisera protected the embryos from bacterial challenge, and this protective effect was absorbed with homologous but not heterologous GBBHS strains. A heterologous antiserum and normal rabbit sera provided some protection, which could be absorbed with either homologous or heterologous GBBHS strains. The chicken embryo is a suitable animal model for the study of infection and immunity with GBBHS type III.

An indirect immunofluorescence (IF) assay has been developed as a useful semiquantitative method for determination of type-specific IgG antibody in human sera to the five serotypes of group B Streptococcus. Antibody titers measured by IF correlated with passive protection in chick embryos, and antibody titers associated with chick embryo protection were delineated. Except for types Ia and Ic, IF antibody to each of the streptococcal types was completely absorbed by homologous strains, and antibody titers were unchanged by incubation with heterologous bacteria. For types Ia and Ic, IF antibody was absorbed by either the Ia or the Ic strain and by native Ia carbohydrate antigen. Antibody titers measured by IF and chick embryo protection against types Ia and Ic were similar, but were divergent for Ib and Ic, a finding suggesting that antibody is predominantly directed to the major carbohydrate determinants. In addition, 29 of 31 sera that had been tested in chick embryos yielded comparable results in mice against challenge with type Ia group B Streptococcus, a finding further validating the chick embryo assay. Sera from all of 43 mothers of infants infected with group B streptococci had antibody titers by IF that were less than titers associated with protection in chick embryos.

SummaryI'he protective value of pooled human gamma globulin (GG) and a group B streptococcal immune globulin (GBSIG) was studied in a chick embryo and a murine model of group B streptococcal (GBS) infection. Chick embryos were protected by the I V administration of 0.4 to 0.8 mg of GG from three manufacturers against I V challenge with type l a GBS. Two of three G G preparations at doses of 0.4 to 1.65 mg protected chick embryos against type 111, but 1.65 mg of all three preparations failed to protect against GBS types I b and 11. Mice were protected from lethal I P challenges with types l a and I b by the prior IM inoculation of three and two of the three GG preparations at doses of 0.5 to 1.0 mg, respectively. Administration IM of 1 mg of GG failed to protect mice against types 11 and 111.The I V administration of 0.2 mg of GBSIG protected chick embryos against I V inoculation with GBS types la, Ib, 11, and 111. Administration IM of 0.5 mg of GBSIG protected mice against I P challenges with types la, Ib, and 11, but not with type 111. The I P administration of 0.25 mg of GBSlC simultaneously with type 111 GBS protected mice, whereas GG was not protective. GBSIG should undergo clinical trials for the prevention of GBS infections and their recurrences and as a possible adjunct to antibiotic and supportive therapy of severe GBS infections.

Chronic abdominal pain, c o n s t i p a t i o n , d i a r r h e a , and anorexia arm.often d i f f i c u l t symptoms f o r a p e d i a t r i c i a n t o e v a l u a t e . These c h i l d r e n a r e o f t e n thought t o have psychosomatic complaint It h a s been noted t h a t s t o o l s f o r ova and p a r a s i t e s obtained on some of t h e s e c h i l d r e n have demonstrated p a r a s i t e s o f t e n thought t o be nonpathogenic.Thus, a r e t r o s p e c t i v e e v a l u a t i o n was performed of c h i l d r e n seen a t UCLA during t h e time period from June 1976 through November 1977 i n whom t h e p a r a s i t e Dientamoeba f r ag i l l s (DF) was i s o l a t e d from s t o o l specimens. DF was p r e s a n t i n 14% of 350 c h i l d r e n who had s t o o l s analyzed f o r ova and p a r a s i t e DF was t h e only p a r a s i t e obtained i n 9% of t h e 350 c h i l d r e n . H i t o r y was a v a i l a b l e from 28 of t h e s e 37 p a t i e n t s i n whom DF was t h e only pathogen. Children were aged 10 months t o 17 y e a r s ; malea predominated 1.6 t o 1. Forty-eight percent of c h i l d r e n had been born i n t h e U.S. and had no h i s t o r y t o f o r e i g n t r a v e l ; 39% were from Mexico o r South America. Ninety-three p e r c e n t (26128) had g a s t r o i n t e s t i n a l symptomatology (abdominal pain, d i a r r h e a , anorexia o r c o n s t i p a t i o n ) ; 2 (7%) were asymptomatic.The most common symptom i n t h e s e c h i l d r e n was d i a r r h e a (57%) which was o f t e n i n t e r m i t t e n t . Abdominal pain, o f t e n vague and l o c a l i z e d t o t h e lower abdominal quadrants was p r e s e n t i n 54%; anorexia and f e v e r were p r e s e n t i n 39% and 29% r e s p e c t i v e l y . Children were t r e a t e d with e i t h e r diiodyhydroxyquin, metronidaz o l e o r t e t r a c y c l i n e and a l l but one were asymptomatic on follow Sci. C n t r . , Dept. o f Ped.. San Antonio. Few d a t a a r e a v a i l a b l e about t h e antibody response t o Epstein Barr virus(EBV) and t h e r a t e o f i s o l a t i o n o f t h i s v i r u s i n c h i l d ren with a n IM-like d i s e a s e . Twenty-five c h i l d r e n p r e s e n t i n g with a c l i n i c a l p i c t u r e suggesting t h i s d i a g n o s i s a r e t h e subjec o f t h i s r e p o r t .Fourteen c h i l d r e n were 4 mo t o 5 y r s o f age, eleven were 6 t o 16 y r s .High antibody(1gG) titers(f.160) t o v i r a 1 capsid a n t i g e n o f EBV were d e t e c t e d i n t h e s e r a o f 15(60%) o f t h e c h i l d r e n . Antibodies t o e a r l y a n t i g e n , predominately t o t h e d i f f u s e component, were found i n 22(88%). S p e c i f i c IgM t o EBV was d e t e c t e d i n 17(81%) o f 21 c h i l d r e n ' s s e r a examined. The i n i t i a l s e r a o f 14(56%) c h i l d r e n contained a n t i b o d i e s t o v i r a l capsid a n t i g e n but lacked a n t i b o d i e s t o nuclear a n t i g e n o f EBV. The l a t t e r was f u r t h e r evidence o f a primary EBV i n f e c t i...

SUMMARYEscherichia coli B[r (su °) was infected, at 30 °C, with T4Dam +, , and T4DamNx34amBL292 (33-, 55-, maturation-defective phenotype). A genetic (' transformation') assay was used to monitor transcription of genes 30 (polynucleotide ligase), 42 (deoxycytidylate hydroxymethylase), 43 (DNA polymerase), rlIA, rlIB, and e (endolysin). The principal results are: (t) All of the genes studied were transcribed exclusively from the so-called/-strand of phage DNA. (2) DNA synthesis and the maturation-defective proteins were required to turn-off transcription of genes 42, rIIA, tIIB, and 43.