No abstract

Although few patients were studied, the present pilot study suggests that TTA combined with dietary intervention could be an interesting therapeutic approach in HIV-infected patients on HAART, potentially resulting in both hypolipidaemic and anti-inflammatory effects.

Summary.Fimbriae-like filaments were demonstrated on the surface of Bordetella pertussis, serotype 1.3, by negative staining and electronmicroscopy. Immunoelectronmicroscopy with a monoclonal antibody specific for strains possessing agglutinogen 3, and colloidal gold, gave strong labelling of these structures. However, incubation with adsorbed polyclonal anti-agglutinogen 3 serum gave only weak labelling of the distal parts of the filaments and of the bacterial surface. The different binding patterns of the two antisera suggested that the epitopes involved were dissimilar. Thus, agglutinogen 3, as defined by conventional adsorbed sera, appeared to be associated with the fimbriae-like structures but was not necessarily identical to the fimbrial subunit protein. The monoclonal antibody, however, was more likely directed against the subunits of the fimbriae-like structures on serotype 1.3 bacteria.

The specificity of conventional, adsorbed antisera against agglutinogens 1, 2, and 3 of Bordetella pertussis was examined by slide agglutination and by agglutination in microtitre wells. Unadsorbed hyperimmune sera showed higher agglutinating activity against autologous or homologous cells than against cells of heterologous serotype. Adsorption of sera with heterologous cells increased the serotype specificity considerably. In spite of extensive adsorption, these anti‐agglutinogen sera were still found to cross‐react with B. parapertussis and/or B. bronchiseptica strains. Adsorption experiments with B. pertussis hyperimmune sera against serotype 1‐, 1.2‐, and 1.3‐organisms demonstrated that the cross‐reacting surface antigens differed from the agglutinogens 1, 2, and 3. Thus, in making species‐specific reagents for diagnostic use it may be of value to include adsorption with B. parapertussis and probably with B. bronchiseptica. Limited data indicated that there is no need to use B. avium for adsorption. The agglutination assays were also used to test three monoclonal antibodies stated to be specific for the agglutinogens 1, 2, and, 3, respectively. Some anomalous behaviour for the anti‐agglutinogen 1 reagent was found, whereas the anti‐agglutinogen 2 and 3 reagents corresponded well with the present polyclonal factor sera.