Studies on Typhus and Spotted Fever
Abstract
The studies reported here suggest that one of the mechanisms by which cell mediated immunity may control and kill intracellular rickettsiae is through a sequence which begins with an immunologically specific step in which immune T lymphocytes are stimulated by rickettsial antigens to produce a soluble factor which induces in rickettsia-infected cells in a non-immunologically specific reaction (1) an antirickettsial action which is dependent upon new host cell protein synthesis and (2) a cytolytic action specific for infected cells which is not dependent upon the synthesis of proteins by either host cell or rickettsia. Within the limits of specificity and purity of the reagents which were available at the time of these studies, the major contributor to both of these actions has been identified as gamma or immune interferon. It is currently unknown if other components of the complex leukocyte supernatant fluids contribute to reactions of this kind in a minor or enhancing manner. Keywords: Reaction kinetics, Reaction mechanisms, Rickettsia, Typhus, Louse-borne, Epidemic, Rickettsia prowazekii, Immunity, Cell mediated, CMI, Effector, Vaccine, Interferon, Gamma interferon, Immune interferon, Intracellular, Infection, Antirickettsial, Rickettsiacidal, Cytolysis, Cytolytic, Cytotoxic, Lymphotoxin, Neutralization, Cytokine, Lymphokine.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1986
- Accession Number
- ADA197400
Entities
People
- Charles L. Wisseman Jr.
Organizations
- University of Maryland, Baltimore