Search

A new soil water retaining technology, designed to increase vegetable production and improve water use efficiency (WUE), was field tested on sand soil. Green bell pepper (Capsicum annuum) and cucumber (Cucumis sativus) were planted on previously installed U-shaped troughs of impermeable membranes designed to double soil water content in plant root zones. These soil water retention technology (SWRT) membranes significantly increased volumetric water content (VWC) in plant root zones promoting both crop production and improved water use efficiency (WUE). Greater vegetable production was attained when SWRT membranes significantly increased the low 9% to 10% water holding capacity by control sands. Membrane improved VWC to 15% and 18% increased yields of green bell pepper by 20% and cucumber by 24%. These newly optimized root zone water contents also increased WUE 19% and 41% for cucumber and bell pepper crops grown on SWRT transformed sands. SWRT membrane installations also provide an early return on investment (ROI) for the sand soils that auto control optimal soil water contents in plant root zones. This new technology offers new opportunities for establishing greater profits for the long-term vegetable production on sand soils. Anticipated positive impacts by SWRT on natural resource management and crop production offers new opportunities for enhanced profitability while protecting the environment in rural America These SWRT improvements for vegetable production including greater yields, higher WUE, and very brief ROI should encourage adoption of this technology across irrigated vegetable production located on highly permeable sand and loamy sand soils.

The association between HLA and coeliac disease (CD) was studied in the Jewish population of Israel. A total of 112 patients were typed for HLA-A,B,C antigens, including 67 patients whose families were typed in order to deduce the genotypes. Forty-seven patients were typed for HLA-DR antigens. The HLA-A,B,C data show a pattern of association, which is similar to that found in European CD patients: HLA-B8 is increased, although to a lower degree; a suggestive, insignificant increase for Aw30, B13 and Cw6 and a decrease of Bw35 were noted. The DR antigens DR3 and DR7 are associated with CD in the Jewish population. An excess of DR3/DR7 heterozygotes was noted. The data from family and population studies support a model in which two different HLA-DR associated genes are interacting.

HLA phenotypes were studied in nine Jewish families, originating from Iran, with 18 individuals affected with a selective aldosterone biosynthetic defect and 12 healthy siblings. This disorder is inherited through an autosomal recessive gene and parents were consanguineously related in eight out of nine sibships. Family analysis showed that 18 affected individuals carried 20 different haplotypes and only two patients were homozygous for a haplotype. Yet a peak lod score of 1.128 was obtained for the recombinant fraction of 0.05 and thus linkage to HLA cannot be ruled out.

Three siblings of a Kurdish Jewish family with clinical and hematologic findings compatible with congenital dyserythropoietic anemia (CDA) are described. All patients presented with mild anemia, marked hyperbilirubinemia and splenomegaly. The bone marrow morphology and ultrastructure of the normoblasts was typical of CDA type II and there was strong agglutination of the patients' red blood cells by anti-i serum. These patients displayed two features that were not characteristic of CDA type II, namely, the acidified serum lysis test was negative on more than 10 occasions, and high levels of Hb A2 were observed in two siblings. In one of the siblings, abnormal globin-chain synthesis was found and alpha-chain production exceeded beta-chain production, as in beta-thalassemia minor. In the light of the above findings, our patients are perhaps best classified as having aberrant CDA with features of thalassemia.

G. L. Daniels (Chair), D. J. Anstee, J. P. Cartron, W. Dahr, A. Fletcher, G. Garratty, S. Henry, J. Jorgensen, W. J. Judd, L. K ornstad, C. Levene, M. Lin, C. Lomas-Francis, A. Lubenko, J. J. Moulds, J. M. Moulds, M. Moulds, M. Overbeeke, M. E. Reid, P. Rouger, M. Scott, P. Sistonen, E. Smart, Y. Tani, S. Wendel & T. Zelinski*

BACKGROUND: Lectins displaying blood group specificity are important for blood group typing and antigen recognition. Their use in blood banks is especially widespread in situations where there is a shortage of specific antisera. This report describes the efficiency of Aplysia gonad lectin as a reliable reagent for the detection of I antigen, which is common on adult human cells but reduced in fetal, newborn, and rare adult red cells. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: The selective hemagglutinating activity of the Aplysia lectin was compared with that of human anti-I and several I-reactive lectins, including two plant lectins, one galactophilic microbial lectin, and bovine spleen galectin. RESULTS: The comparison has revealed that Aplysia gonad lectin, like human anti-I, strongly agglutinates and adsorbs to adult I-positive red cells, differentiating between them and fetal or rare I-negative adult red cells (although with less of a difference). In contrast to the plant and microbial lectins examined, its I-affinity does not depend on the presence of ABH or P system antigens and it clearly detects higher I antigen expression in Oh red cells. The hemagglutinating activity of Aplysia lectin as that of all the I-detecting proteins is enhanced at 4°C, but unlike the human anti-I Aplysia lectin-induced hemagglutination is stable at room temperature. CONCLUSIONS: The Aplysia lectin is a reliable anti-I reagent, which strongly agglutinates I-positive adult human red cells irrespective of their ABH or P system antigens. This lectin is usable at room temperature.

The effect of herbicides applied to V3 soybeans on race 3 soybean cyst nematode (SCN) reproduction and glyceollin production in roots was measured. Soybeans were treated postemergence with 1 × and 2 × rates of herbicides plus adjuvants or with adjuvants alone, and SCN development was measured. Acifluorfen, bentazon, lactofen, crop oil concentrate (COC), and nonionic surfactant (NIS) applications reduced SCN egg population densities 50 to 60% compared with the untreated control 4 and 8 wk after application. The SCN reproduction on plants treated with fluazifop-P, sethoxydim, and imazethapyr was similar to the untreated control. Crop oil concentrate or NIS applications alone were as effective as acifluorfen, bentazon, or lactofen applications for reducing SCN reproduction. However, no additive effect of adjuvant-herbicide combinations was observed, nor did herbicide rate affect SCN reproduction. Treatments reduced SCN reproduction only when applied to soybeans and had no effect on SCN reproduction when applied directly to the soil. No treatment stimulated SCN reproduction relative to the untreated control. Soybeans treated with COC, NIS, acifluorfen, and bentazon also had more glyceollin detected than the untreated control. Herbicide-induced glyceollin production may have increased the resistance of soybean to SCN.

More than 70% of all14C-bentazon absorption occurred within 4 h after herbicide application regardless of adjuvant Moisture stress reduced14C-bentazon absorption by common cocklebur and velvetleaf. Mature (second true leaf) and moisture-stressed leaves of velvetleaf had 50 and 17 μg cm−1more epicuticular wax (ECW) than did juvenile and unstressed leaves, respectively. Common cocklebur had less14C in the ECW and lower total14C in treated mature leaves compared to juvenile leaves. The use of 28% urea ammonium nitrate (UAN) or crop oil concentrate (COC) increased14C in ECW samples of both plant species, regardless of leaf age or moisture stress. More14C in the ECW did not always correlate with more14C in the leaf tissue. Adjuvants increased14C-bentazon absorption into leaves of plants that had been stressed.

Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] responses to combinations of stress factors generally are unknown. Research was conducted in 1989, 1990, and 1991 to quantify growth responses to stresses from soybean cyst nematode (SCN; Heterodera glycines Ichinohe), acifluorfen {5-[2-chloro-4-(trifluoromethyl)phenoxy]-2-nitrobenzoic acid} plus bentazon [3-(1-methyl-ethyl)-(1H)-2,1,3-benzothiadiazin-4(3H)-one 2,2-dioxide] herbicides, and simulated green cloverworm [GCW; Plathypena scabra (F.)] defoliation. Treatments were combinations of at-planting SCN soil density, acifluorfen plus bentazon rate, and simulated GCW defoliation level. Herbicides were applied at V6 soybean development, and GCW feeding was simulated from R2 to R4 soybean development. Plant growth was quantified at V4, R2, and R4 developmental stages. Herbicide stress was assessed by leaf stomatal conductance and visible foliar injury. Herbicides reduced conductance and caused visible injury each year, and limited growth (plant height, leaf area, pod number, and dry weight of leaf, pod, and stem plus petiole) in 1990 and 1991. Likewise, defoliation reduced leaf area each year, but reduced growth (plant height and leaf dry weight) in 1990 and 1991 only. Uncontrolled environmental factors probably confounded growth responses in 1989. Although no herbicide × defoliation effects on growth were found, defoliation caused greater reductions in canopy quantity and quality for herbicide-injured plants in 1990 and 1991. Targeted stress from SCN was achieved in 1990, and interaction with herbicides decreased conductance, increased visible herbicide injury, and reduced leaf area, plant height, pod number, and pod dry weight. These data support the potential for stresses from SCN and acifluorfen plus bentazon to cause more-than-additive reductions in soybean growth

Absorption of14C-bentazon from the leaf surfaces of common cocklebur and velvetleaf was rapid and most occurred within 4 h after foliar application. Greater14C in the epicuticular wax (ECW) did not correlate with higher radioactivity in the leaf tissue. There was significantly less ECW on the “mature” leaves of common cocklebur and “juvenile” leaves of velvetleaf. However, the “mature” leaves exhibited greater14C absorption for both species. The use of 28% urea ammonium nitrate increased14C-absorption when compared with crop oil concentrate and with no adjuvant.

D. J . Anstee, G. W. G. Bird E. Brodheim, J.-P. Cartron W. Dahr, C. P. Engelfriet P. D. Issitt, J . Jgrgensen L. Kornstad, M . Lewis C. Levene, A . Lubenko D. Mallory, P. Morel R . Nordhagen, Y. Okubo M . Reid, Ph. Rouger Ch. Salmon, S. Seidl, I? Sistonen S. Wendel, G. Woodfield 7: Zelinski International Society of Blood Transfusion Socihte lnternationale de Transfusion Sanguine Section Editor: B. Habibi, Paris

Times Cited: 0 22nd International Conference on Raman Spectroscopy Aug 08-13, 2010 Boston, MA NE Univ; Boston Univ & Photon Ctr; Horiba Sci; Thermo Sci; Bruker Opt

The committee met in Macao Special Administrative Region,China, during the 2008 International Society of Blood Trans-fusion (ISBT) Congress. Some changes to the classificationdocumented in Blood Group Terminology 2004 [1] and updatedin 2007 [2] were agreed and are described below. The fullupdated classification can be found on the blood groupterminology website at http://www.blood.co.uk/ibgrl. A newblood group system, the RHAG system, was established andnew antigens were added to the Rh, Kell, and Dombrocksystems (Table 1). A total of 308 antigens are now recognized,270 of which are clustered in 30 blood group systems.

A 43-year-old Arab woman was found to be negative for the high incidence AnWj antigen and her serum contained anti-AnWj. Two of her seven siblings were also AnWj-negative, which provides evidence for the first time that the AnWj-negative phenotype may be an inherited character. Blood groups of the family, in which the parents of the proposita are consanguineous, show that AnWj is not part of the ABO, Rh, MNSs, Kell, Duffy, Kidd, Xg and, notably, Lutheran blood group systems and neither is it X or Y linked.

The lectin purified from Erythrina corallodendron seeds which binds N-acetyllactosamine greater than N-acetyl-D-galactosamine greater than alpha and beta galactosides greater than D-galactose was examined for its ABO(H) blood group specificity. It has been shown that this lectin causes the strongest hemagglutination of O(H) and weakest of Oh(Bombay) red blood cells, and interacts with the H antigen in association with the I antigen. The reactions of Erythrina corallodendron and Erythrina indica lectins (which are similar in sugar specificity) with erythrocytes of different ABO(H) and Ii blood groups (the I bloods were all from adults and the i from either cord or adult bloods) revealed the following order of activity: O(H)I greater than A2 I greater than O(H)i adult greater than A2BI greater than BI greater than O(H)i cord greater than A1I greater than A1i adult greater than Bi cord greater than A1BI greater than Ai cord greater than ABi cord greater than OhI. The Erythrina indica lectin showed a lower differentiation between the agglutination of O(H) and Oh erythrocytes. Both Erythrina lectins exhibited H/HI blood group preference but were not inhibited by the saliva from ABO(H) "secretors". Thus they may be classified with the Cytisus sessilifolius, Lotus tetragonolobus and Laburnum alpinum lectins which are inhibited by lactose but not by H blood group substances in secretions.

The Drori (Dr(a)) antigen is one of the ten high-prevalence antigens of the Cromer blood system, which are carried on decayaccelerating factor (DAF, CD55). The Dr(a-) phenotype was first described in a 48-year-old Jewish woman from Bukhara. Her serum contained an antibody to a high-prevalence antigen named anti-Dra. Most known individuals with the Dr(a-) phenotype are Jews from the geographic area of Bukhara, but individuals from Japan have also been described. Antibodies in the Cromer blood group system, including anti-Dra,have never been reported to cause HDN. In most of the cases with anti-Dra examined in Israel, the antibodies have been subtyped as IgG2 and IgG4. This report is of a woman with Dr(a-) phenotype and an anti-Dr(a) titer of 256 to 512 in her serum, observed during two successive pregnancies. At birth, the RBCs of the first- and second-born child were negative and positive in the DAT, respectively, and neither manifested clinical signs of HDN. The disappearance of Cromer system antibodies, including anti-Dra in midpregnancy, has been described in a previous study. In that study, it was theorized that the antibodies in the serum of the women were adsorbed onto placental DAF. The finding of a high anti-Dra titer in two successive pregnancies in this patient, with a positive DAT for the RBCs of one of the two babies at term, differs from published reports, suggesting that a different mechanism might be involved.

1 Bristol Institute for Transfusion Sciences, Bristol, UK 2 Growing your Knowledge, Spit Junction, NSW, Australia 3 American Red Cross Blood Services, Los Angeles-Orange Counties Region, Los Angeles, CA, USA 4 Biotechnology Research Centre, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand 5 Regional Blood Transfusion Center, Department of Clinical Immunology, University Hospital, Arhus N, Denmark 6 Department of Pathology, University Hospitals UH-2G332, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA 7 Reference Laboratory for Immunohematology and Blood Groups, National Blood Services Centre, Tel Hashomer, Israel 8 New York Blood Center, New York, NY, USA 9 Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics, Raritan, NJ, USA 10 Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA 11 Gamma Biologicals Inc (subsidiary of Immunocor Inc), Houston, TX, USA 12 Central Laboratory of the Netherlands Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service, Amsterdam, the Netherlands 13 Centre national de Reference pour les Groupes sanguines (CNTS), Paris, France 14 International Blood Group Reference Laboratory, Bristol, UK 15 Finnish Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service, Helsinki, Finland 16 South African National Blood Service, East Coast Region, Pinetown, South Africa 17 Osaka Red Cross Blood Center, Osaka, Japan 18 Blood Bank, Hospital Sirio-Libanes, Sao Paulo, Brazil 19 Rh Laboratory, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Haemophilus influenzae type b expressing fimbriae showed no adherence to buccal epithelial cells and no agglutination of erythrocytes from three AnWj-negative siblings in one family. Hemagglutination of erythrocytes from 13 AnWj-positive members of the same family and from 24 controls was normal, and H. influenzae adhered well to buccal epithelial cells from them. These data indicate that the expression of epithelial and erythrocyte receptors for H. influenzae is inherited concomitantly. Combined with previous data (L. van Alphen, J. Poole, L. Geelen, and H. Zanen, Infect. Immun. 55:2355-2358, 1987), the results show that the receptor molecules on the surfaces of the epithelial cell and the erythrocyte are different but that the binding sites for the fimbriae of H. influenzae are similar.

BACKGROUND: The cisAB blood type is a rare phenomenon in which both the A and B blood types are inherited from a single parent. Several forms of this phenotype have been characterized that differ with respect to serologic reactions and the activities of the gene-encoded blood group A and B transferases. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: The cisAB blood type was suspected when a baby typed as blood group O was born to a mother whose blood group was AB. Family studies revealed four generations in whom the pattern of inheritance could be explained only by the inheritance of the cisAB genotype. Blood and saliva samples from the family were tested serologically and assayed for the relevant glycosyltransferases. Samples suitable for DNA analysis were not available. RESULTS: Six family members were shown serologically to be of the cisAB type. The A and B transferases in the sera of these individuals were 20 to 35 and 25 to 50 percent of those obtained for A and B individuals, respectively. The enzymic characteristics of the A and B transferases were determined. The A transferase in the sera of the cisAB persons did not bind to agarose beads. CONCLUSION: The family described carries the cisAB gene, which encodes production of A and B transferases that differ from those of “normal” A, AB, and B controls. This variant has properties that are distinctly different from those described in other reports.

Cromer system antigens, a series of blood group antigens of very high frequency, are not considered to be clinically significant in transfusion. In renal transplantation only the ABO blood group antigens are considered essential. The Drori blood group antigen is present in serum and has been found to reside on the renal tubular basement membrane and Bowman's capsule. The effect of anti-Dra on the renal parenchyma has not been evaluated.A unique case of renal transplantation of an incompatible Dr(a+) kidney to a Dr(a-) patient with anti-Dra in her serum is presented.Graft function was immediately good. The titer of anti-Dra remained unchanged following transplantation.The successful outcome of a case of a Drori (Dra)-incompatible kidney transplantation confirmed the lack of clinical significance of the anti-Dra relating to transplantation.

BACKGROUND: The rare Bombay phenotype is usually due to a primary genetic defect in an alpha-2- or alpha-4-fucosyltransferase. The present study was done to investigate a patient with normal transferases, who exhibits the Bombay phenotype. CASE REPORT: Red cells of the patient, his parents, and siblings were phenotyped for A, B, and H antigens. The presence of B, H, and Le transferases in serum and saliva was measured. RESULTS: The parents and siblings were all group B, Le(a-b-). The propositus was typed as Oh, Le(a-b-). His serum contained anti-A, anti-B, and anti-H. Normal levels of B, H, and Le transferases were found in all family members including the patient. CONCLUSION: In an unusual case, a person has the Bombay phenotype, but normal levels of transferases in serum and saliva. A general defect in fucose metabolism seems to be the primary abnormality in this case.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa may cause serious infections in most human tissues/organs. Its adherence to them is mediated by a battery of adhesins including the PA-I and PA-II lectins, which are produced in this bacterium in high quantities. PA-I binds to the D-galactose of the erythrocyte glycosphingolipids exhibiting highest affinities for B and Pk (followed by P1) antigens, while PA-II preferentially binds to the L-fucose of H, A and B antigens. Intact P. aeruginosa cells also exhibit a clear Pk and P1 over p preference. Such affinities for the most common human ABH and P system antigens may underlie the widespread tissue infectivity and pathogenicity of this bacterium.

Polyagglutination is a rare disorder which has been associated with intravascular hemolysis (Levene et al.: Transfus Med Rev 2:176-185, 1988). In this condition cryptantigens exposed on the red blood cell membrane agglutinate with compatible sera and with lectins. A 76 year-old man with an acute abdomen due to a perforated tumor of the colon and severe fatal intravascular hemolysis is described. Th polyagglutination of the red blood cells was found.

An example of auto-anti-Kpb in a Kp (a + b-) patient is described. The antibody present in the patient's serum and in eluates from her red cells was IgG. It did not bind complement, and did not cause in vivo hemolysis. 9 months after recognition of the autoimmune state the direct antiglobulin test had become negative and anti-Kpb was no longer detectable. It is postulated that autoimmunity involving the Kell blood group may be precipitated by antigens or enzymes of microbial origin.

An alloantibody is described which detects a high frequency blood group antigen absent from Ko cells but different from all the reported Kell and para-Kell antigens. The family study shows the antigen to be inherited but gives no information about its relationship to the Kell locus. It is suggested that this 'new' para-Kell antigen be called K22.

The Yta and Ytb allelic frequencies were determined by examining the red cells of 1683 blood samples from Israeli Jews, Arabs, and Druse with anti-Yta and -Ytb. The Ytb allelic frequencies ranged between 0.1005 and 0.1522 in the Jewish communities and were 0.1294 and 0.1429 in the Arab and Druse communities, respectively. These are the highest Ytb allelic frequencies observed so far in any population tested, so the Yt blood group system can be used as a genetic marker in these populations. No factors were recognized that may have influenced the selection for the Ytb allele.

Women with the rare blood group p are known to have an increased rate of abortions. The case of a 36-year-old woman is presented who had had 7 spontaneous abortions in the first trimester and no live child. When treated by plasma exchange begun early in pregnancy and continued until the 29th week, she delivered a normal child. Time to begin, amount and length of time necessary to continue plasma exchange in these patients are considered. In addition, the question of which fraction of the anti-PP1Pk could be responsible for abortion is discussed. To our knowledge, this is the first case of a woman of p phenotype with no live children but with multiple abortions treated by this method, which should be seriously considered in similar cases.

One hundred thirty-two patients with breast cancer were examined for exposure of cryptantigens on their erythrocytes (RBC) using a lectin panel consisting of Arachis hypogaea and Glycine soja. Eight had exposed cryptantigens; of the eight, five were classified with additional lectins as T-polyagglutination type and three as Th-polyagglutination. A control group of 300 healthy blood donors had no exposed cryptantigens on their RBC. These findings could not be correlated with the staging of the tumor, extension of metastases, or positive estrogen or progesterone receptors of malignant tumor cells. Only one study has been found that describes the incidence of agglutination of erythrocytes from cancer patients using a monoclonal antibody, which detected an epitope on the RBC from cancer patients and was considered to be distinct from the antigen bound by naturally occurring anti-T. Studies have been made describing polyagglutinable sites on breast cancer tumor cells, where there was a much higher incidence. This discrepancy can be explained either by a difference in the methods used to search for cryptantigen exposure on the various types of cells, or by the existence of a different mechanism, which causes the exposure of cryptantigens on RBC as opposed to malignant breast tumor cells.

Blood group phenotypes of anthropologic significance are described for inhabitants of two Israeli Arab communities with foci of hemoglobin S (HbS). The presence of Fy(a-b-), Rh₀, hrV+

The association between insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) and the HLA system was studied in two groups of Jewish patients: 50 Ashkenazim and 42 non-Ashkenazim. The pattern of association of HLA-A and B locus antigens was somewhat different from that observed in European Caucasian patients. HLA-B8 had a higher frequency; B15 and Cw3 were rare in the population studied and were less frequent in IDDM patients than in controls. On the other hand, the frequency of A26, B18, and Bw38 was increased in Ashkenazi patients, but not in non-Ashkenazim, who in turn showed an increase for Bw51. Although the association between IDDM and HLA-A and B locus antigens shows a marked variability in different populations, the association with HLA-DR3 and DR4 is a constant feature. The re was a typical excess of DR3/DR4 heterozygotes in both patient groups. This heterozygote type carries the highest relative risk, followed by DR4/DR4 homozygotes. These data can well be interpreted by a model of two different HLA-linked susceptibility genes, one associated with DR3 and the other one with DR4, that interact so that the different genotypes are associated with different levels of penetrance. This model received further support from studies in 15 multiple case families where there is an excess of affected sib pairs sharing two DR antigens.

SUMMARY Rg and Ch typing was performed, by serum inhibition, on 145 families that had been typed for HLA/C4/BF/C2 with a view to assessing partial inhibition (p.i.) of anti-Rg/Ch and its haplotype associations. Rg p.i. was found predominatly with the C4A*3A*,2,B*QO homoduplicated C4 haplotype and BFF. The original type of Ch p.i. (Nordhagen et al., 1980) was closely associated with the allotype C4B 2, which also occasionally exhibited complete inhibition (c.i.), but this Ch p.i. was also found with the C4A*1,B*QO haplotype (Rittner et al., 1984a). The second type of Ch p.i. (Giles, 1984) was closely associated with the C4B 1 allotype most frequently in the haplotype C4A*6,B*1 but also with C4A*3,B*1. Both types of Ch p.i. are usually found with BF S. The present data indicate that the determinants of Rg and Ch are not directly related to any particular C4 allotype or extended haplotype. Further examples of C4A 1 with Ch and C4B 5 without Ch determinants have been detected and theoretical considerations are discussed as to how they might have arisen from unequal crossovers in homologous regions that result in hybrid protein molecules.

IgG and IgM anti-PP1Pk antibodies of human sera from p individuals were examined for their ability to agglutinate red blood cells (RBC) of various P phenotypes and to mediate ADCC of these RBC by human effector cells. Agglutinating antibodies were found in either the IgG or the IgM fraction, while ADCC active antibodies were found mainly in the IgG fraction and were essentially cytotoxic with Pk RBC. The possible relationship of these antibodies with early abortions of p mothers is discussed.

A number of Israeli donors had anti-M in their sera, a proportion of which cross-reacted with N He(+) red cells. Anti-Me was detected and while the reactivity with M and He determinants could be separated by using trypsin-treated red cells, the cross-reactivity for M and He determinants was complete in absorption experiments. One serum had anti-M separable from anti-Me and another apparent anti-M was absorbed by trypsin-treated N He(+) red cells.