Abstract
The gonococcus antigen used by Schwartz and McNeil in 1910-11 was a simple suspension of 18 to 24 hours old gonococcus cultures of the 10 strains isolated by Torrey, in 0.85% saline solution, preserved with lysol.
This antigen gave strong cross fixation'with anti-meningococcus sera, but did not cross fix with the anti-sera of any of the other pathogens tested. It fixed complement with practically all sera taken from known positive cases of gonorrhea and at the time seemed to give very satisfactory results. In 1912, with Olmstead I succeeded in preparing an aqueous extract antigen filtered through a Berkefeld filter that did not bind complement with antimeningo-coccus sera, and in experimental work was much more satisfactory than the previous antigens used. When injected intravenously into rabbits it was extremely toxic and produced a serum of high titre. But different preparations varied greatly in their antigenic properties, and while its antigenic value was not impaired by temperatures as high as 80°C. for one-half hour, it was unstable when kept for any length of time and tended to become strongly anti-complementary.
In 1916, working with Wilson, the defatted antigen was developed. This antigen was prepared by treating 18 to 24 hour old cultures of gonococci first with alcohol and then with ether, drying and suspending in 0.9% saline solution. This proved to be a very stable antigen that could be heated to 80° C. without lessening its specificity or antigenic properties. This antigen does not cross fix with anti-meningococcus sera and has been used in routine work from 1916 to the present time with satisfactory results when in the hands of experienced and specially trained technicians.
In April, 1931, a research group was formed consisting of Dr. Emily D. Barringer, Dr. Anna W. Williams, and Dr. Archibald McNeil, to make an intensive study of gonorrhea in women, under a special fund given by Lucius N. Littauer.
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