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Type I allergy to natural rubber latex can be an important health problem for latex-exposed individuals (e.g., health care workers, spina bifida children). Also beyond these risk groups, a high sensitization rate of varying and partly unknown clinical relevance has been reported. Atopy represents a risk factor for latex allergy and recent studies indicate that patients suffering from pollen allergies may have pollen allergen-specific IgE antibodies which cross-react with latex allergens. In order to investigate whether sensitization to pollen allergens can have priming effects on the production of IgE antibodies against latex in vivo, a mouse model was established. Groups of 10 BALB/C mice were immunized with Al(OH)3-adsorbed pollen extracts from timothy grass, ragweed, mugwort, or birch. For control purposes, one additional group received adjuvant only and another group was not immunized. Half of the mice of each group were subsequently immunized with Al(OH)3-adsorbed latex glove extract, the other half with adjuvant only. Pollen and latex-specific IgE- and IgG1-antibody responses were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and statistically evaluated by analysis of variance. Antibody responses to cross-reactive antigens were investigated by immunoblotting. We found significantly increased IgE reactivities to latex after pollen sensitization and vice versa. Moreover, mice immunized with timothy grass pollen extract alone - without subsequent latex immunization - displayed IgE reactivity to latex. Cross-reactive antibodies were directed against pollen antigens of approximately 60 kDa molecular weight. Our results thus demonstrate a mutual boosting effect of pollen and latex sensitization in vivo which may be also operative in polysensitized plant allergic patients.

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Glove powders are used by manufacturers of latex and synthetic surgical gloves to assist with the stripping of gloves from their molds, facilitate donning, and absorb moisture during use. Corn starch powders have replaced the originally used tale powder because of the induction of patient complications with the older preparations, However, recent research indicates that patient exposure to starch based powders during surgery may also cause problems. The frequency, variety, and severity of complications suggest that powder free alternatives be considered in the perioperative environment.

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BACKGROUND: LPS is a common contaminant in the health care environment and in latex examination gloves. OBJECTIVE: We sought to investigate the role of LPS in enhancing the immune responses of mice to inhaled latex allergen. METHODS: As our model allergen, we used a fusion protein containing the potent latex allergen Hev b 5. BALB/c mice were lightly anesthetized and given repeated intranasal doses of saline, LPS, and/or Hev b 5. The doses were given in 2 courses separated by a 6-week period, with the first course consisting of 6 doses and the second consisting of 3 doses. RESULTS: After the first set of immunizations, mice given Hev b 5 alone had no detectable IgG1 or IgE responses to Hev b 5, whereas mice given the antigen along with LPS had significant responses (IgG1, 0.73 U +/- 0.05; IgE, 0.88 U +/- 0.2). No enhancement of specific IgG2a was observed. A stimulatory effect of LPS on all 3 immunoglobulin types was apparent after the second course. Lymphocytes from mice immunized with LPS and Hev b 5 had increased proliferation to Hev b 5 and its fusion partner. CONCLUSIONS: LPS may be an important immunoadjuvant for the development of allergic reactions to latex protein allergens.

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Increasingly, the dermatology professional will be called upon to assist in establishing protocols for recognizing, differentiating, and managing glove-related reactions. Addressing preventative measures upfront will decrease possible morale problems, long-term treatment and compensation expenses, as well as potential career-limiting situations.

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Filters with well-defined holes were used to determine the effective diameters in buffer of human immunodeficiency virus type 1, herpes simplex virus type 1, and four bacteriophages (phi X174, T7, PRD1, and phi 6), which may serve as surrogate viruses for testing barrier materials. Bacteriophages phi 6 and PRD1 most closely model human immunodeficiency virus type 1 in filtration size.

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This study evaluated bacteriophages phi X174, T7, PRD1, and phi 6 as possible surrogates for pathogenic human viruses to challenge barrier materials and demonstrated some important factors for their use. Chemical incompatibility with test material was demonstrated when lipid-enveloped phi 6 was inactivated by an aqueous eluate of vinyl gloves, but 0.5% calf serum protected phi 6 from the eluate. Low concentrations (2%) of calf serum also prevented the exaggerated binding of the bacteriophages to filters. Recovery of viruses from surfaces decreased with increasing time before recovery. Penetration through punctures displayed different types of kinetics. The combined data indicate that (i) some bacteriophages may serve as surrogate viruses, (ii) experimental conditions determine whether a particular virus is appropriate as a challenge, and (iii) phi X174 is an excellent choice as a surrogate virus to test barrier materials. The data further indicate that before barrier materials are challenged with viruses, adequate tests should be performed to ensure that the virus is compatible with the test material and test conditions, so that meaningful data will result.

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Can FD&C Blue no. 1 dye photoinactivate bacteriophages phi X174, T7, PRD1, and phi 6 under laboratory lighting conditions? At high levels of light, the dye (500 microM) photoinactivated only phi 6. Thus, this dye can be used at concentrations up to 500 microM with bacteriophages phi X174, T7, and PRD1 to test barrier material integrity.

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Pasteurella multocida inhibits the uptake and killing of Candida albicans and P. multocida by avian mononuclear phagocytic cells. The toxic outer membrane protein of P. multocida, which has been previously described, also inhibited the uptake and killing of C. albicans. Antibody specific for the toxic outer membrane protein reversed this effect resulting not only in an increase in uptake of C. albicans and P. multocida, but also in intracellular killing of P. multocida. This antibody, however, only partially restored killing of C. albicans. These data support the hypothesis that P. multocida is capable of intracellular survival in avian mononuclear phagocytic cells and that the toxic outer membrane protein is totally or partly responsible for this occurrence.

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A strain of Pasteurella multocida of avian origin was found to inhibit phagocytosis of Candida albicans by mononuclear phagocytes in vitro. Whole-cell lysates of P. multocida showed this effect, as did a 50-kilodalton (kDa) protein eluted from sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels obtained by electrophoresis of whole-cell lysates. Heat, digestion with trypsin, and antibody specific for this 50-kDa protein neutralized the antiphagocytic effects of P. multocida, of the whole-cell lysates, and of the 50-kDa protein itself. Evidence that this protein was in the outer membrane of the bacterial cell included the findings that (i) treatment of encapsulated or unencapsulated P. multocida with trypsin reduced the antiphagocytic effect; (ii) whole-cell lysates prepared from trypsinized, unencapsulated P. multocida had reduced antiphagocytic activity; and (iii) antibody to outer membrane proteins neutralized the antiphagocytic effect. Turkeys given antibodies specific for the 50-kDa outer membrane protein were protected against lethal challenge with P. multocida.

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