Search

From the crude snake venom of Agkistrodon rhodostoma two mitogenic principles could be detected: A potent T-lymphocyte stimulating anti-beta-D-galactose specific lectin with a molecular mass of about 18 kD and a very strong B-lymphocyte mitogenic factor. Whereas the lectin could be purified by affinity chromatography and characterized as a cell agglutinating, but not precipitating lectin, the highly active B-lymphocyte mitogen could be separated but not characterized. Both factors are much stronger than the mitogens known so far.

A new group of vertebrate lectins has been discovered in snake venom preparations. These lectins are cell agglutinating, but not glycoconjugate precipitating. The specificity is directed towards receptors with terminal D-galactose, beta-linked. From the crude preparations strong T- and potent B-cell mitogens can be obtained by fractionation. The T-cell mitogenic lectin could be characterized as an anti-galactan, which reacts with group B streptococci of type II, and with the other types only after neuraminidase treatment. For comparison, other lectins have been tested with group B streptococci, too.

The median level of haptoglobin types 2-2 and 2-1 was found to be proportional to the agglutination titer of T4 antigen-carrying streptococci (Fig. 1). This relationship need not exist in individual sera since, as seen from Table 1, high agglutination titers may be caused by sera with low levels of haptoglobin. Thus the agglutination reaction might depend not only on the quantity of haptoglobin but also on other factor(s) (at least in individual serum samples). - On the other hand, different agglutination titers did not correlate with the quantity of T4 antigen either. A strain of Strep. pyogenes, type 60, was agglutinated at high titers by sera with a high level of haptoglobin in spite of its low ability to absorb haptoglobin. This was in contrast to a strain of group G (20488) which had a high capacity both to become agglutinated and to absorb haptoglobin (Table 2). Absorption of haptoglobin by affinity chromatography decreased the agglutination titer for T4 streptococci. - The reaction between haptoglobin and T4-streptocci did not fix complement. No differences were found between sera of haptoglobin types 1-1, 2-1, and 2-2 with respect to the amount of C, C3, C4, and C3A, respectively (Tables 3-5).

In a paper presented on the occasion of the 5th Congress of gynecology in the GDR the author discusses in details the phenomenon of modern occultism and quackery. Preferably he examines the so called parapsychology and declares that this is a field without any scientific value. Therefore the course of action of parapsychologists is not to be accepted without resolute reply.

In crude preparations of bovine lung galactan blood group H-like activity, which does not occur on bovine red cells, has been detected with heterophile anti-H-like reagents from different origin. These H-like receptors, associated with pneumococcus type XIV cross-reactivity, belong to a glycoprotein fraction and not to the galactan itself.

The determinability of haptoglobin types is correlated with the titers of agglutination against streptococci carrying the T4 antigen. If the haptoglobin types in cord-sera cannot be determined (as a result of the physiological binding of haptoglobins) the agglutination reaction fails or the titers are greatly diminished. The dimorphism, which was found in sera of adults, can be demonstrated in cord sera, too, if they can be typed. It is concluded that the observed reaction between Hp 2-2 and Hp 2-1 sera with T4-streptococci is caused by the haptoglobin itself.