A two-phase study was initiated to delineate the peripheral blood lymphocyte populations present in owl monkeys and to correlate those populations with immune response and parasitism during malaria infection. The goal of phase I of the study was to elucidate a monoclonal antibody panel that could be used to characterize peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) populations with flow cytometric techniques. Forty-two monoclonal antibodies (reported to be reactive with human and macaque lymphocyte antigens) were screened for activity to owl monkey PBMC. Eleven monoclonals were found to react: anti-H42A (MHC Class II DP-like); anti-TH14B (MHC Class II DR-like); and anti-TH81A5 (MHC Class II DQ-like); anti-H58A (MHC Class I); anti-DH59B (granulocyte and monocyte); anti-B1 (B cell); anti-T4 (CD4); anti-Leu3a (CD4); anti-Leu11a (CD16); anti-60.3 (CD18); and anti-OKM1 (NK and monocyte). In a preliminary retrospective study correlating antibody titers, parasitemia values, and MHC Class I and Class II marker profiles on PBMC to test antigens used in malaria vaccine trials, a significant negative association was observed between cells bearing MHC Class II molecules and the other elements of the comparison. In summary, an appropriate panel of monoclonal antibodies has been identified for characterizing PBMC in owl monkeys, and preliminary studies indicate a possible association between clinical outcome and expressed phenotypic PBMC markers.

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Different brands of vaginal tampons varied significantly (p<0 0001) in their antibacterial effects when tested with 46 strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Gonococcal strains recovered from patients with disseminated infections were substantially more sensitive to the antibacterial effects of tampons than were strains from patients with uncomplicated genital infections. Strains from patients with pelvic inflammatory disease were moderately sensitive. Tampons showing strong in-vitro antigonococcal effects were also generally effective in vivo in eliminating gonococcal infections from subcutaneous chambers in mice. Extracts of the Rely tampon showed no in-vitro antigonococcal effect, however, but did induce antibacterial activity when injected into subcutaneous chambers in mice. These results emphasise the importance of both in-vitro as well as in-vivo testing of tampon materials to elucidate more fully the nature of their antibacterial effects and their potential for affecting vaginal pathogens and disease processes.