- Email: [email protected]
New and useful methods in rapid viral diagnosis
and L. S. James (eds.), The Fetus and the Newbom. New York, Alan R. Liss. 13. Stagno, S. et al. (1982). Maternal cytomcgalovirus infection and perinatal transmission, pp. 563-576. b~, Clinical Obstretics and Gynecology, Vol. 25, No. 3. New York, Harper and Row. 14. Volpi, A. et al. (1983). Monoclonal
antibodies for rapid diagnosis and typing of genital herpes infections during pregnancy. Am. J. Obs. Gyn. (in press) 15. Volpi, A. et al. (1983). Rapid diagnosis of cytomegalovirus pneumonia with specific monoclonal antibodies. J. Infect. Dis. (in press) 16. Warier, J. L. and T. H. Weller. (1978). Analysis of antigenic diversity
among human cytomegalovirus by kinetic neutralization tests with high-titered rabbit antisera. Infect. Immun. 21:151-157. 17. Weller, T. H. (1971). The cytomegaloviruses: Ubiquitous agents with protean manifestations. N. Engl. J. Med. 285:267-274.
cases have been reported, primarily among homosexual men, intravenous drug abusers, recent Haitian entrants to the United States, and hemophiliacs. The six grantees are Murray B. Gardner, M.D., University of California, Davis; Norman L. Letvin, M.D., Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; Victoria Monte-Wicher, Ph.D., New York State Department of Health, Albany; John L. Sullivan, M.D., University of Massachusetts, Worcester; Leonard Chess, M.D., Columbia University, New York; and Sudhir Gupta, M.D., University of California, Irvine. Within the last 2 years, a disease similar to AIDS has been observed in monkeys housed in two U.S. primate research centers. Dr. Gardner, in California, and Dr. Letvin, in Massachusetts, will be studying this Simian Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (SAIDS). Dr. Gardner will investigate whether or not SAIDS is caused by a virus, another infectious agent, or environmental factors. A major goal of the project will be to find a reliable way to induce the disease in animals in order to provide a means of treatment and prevention. Dr. Letvin will
study the immunologic defect in monkeys with SAIDS and will attempt to isolate and identify a causative agent. Dr. Monte-Wicher will try to clarify the mechanisms that make male homosexuals susceptible to AIDS. She will work with rabbits as animal models to study changes in their immune responses. Another group at high risk for AIDS, hemophiliacs, are thought to contract AIDS from an infectious agent present in the blood products required to make their blood clot. One of these products is factor VIII, which is made from blood pooled from many donors. Recent studies have shown that, apart from those with AIDS, many hemophiliacs receiving factor VIII have immune defects. Dr. Sullivan will study 240 hemophiliacs to determine if these immune defects are related to factor VIII and determine if they are reversible. Dr. Chess and Dr. Gupta will study blood cells called lymphocytes, which play an important role in immunity. They will analyze how various groups of lymphocytes work and interact normally, and what goes awry in AIDS patients.
Government Forum Released September 20, 1983, by Marian McGrath, NIAID U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Bethesda, Maryland The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, an agency of the U.S. Public Health Service, awarded six new grants for the study of Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) on September 15. Funding for the grants comes from a $12-million FY 1983 supplemental appropriation for the study of AIDS signed into law by President Reagan July 30, 1983. The review and award processes, which ordinarily require several months, were expedited because the investigators will be studying AIDS, a deadly disease described by Health and Human Services Secretary Margaret M. Heckler as, "the number one health priority of my department." People with AIDS have defects in some parts of their immune system, which leave them vulnerable to a wide variety of opportunistic infections, such as Pneumocystis carhzii pneumonia, and/or unusual tumors, such as Kaposi's sarcoma. More than 2000
Meeting Report New and Useful Methods in Rapid Viral Diagnosis Mario R. Escobar, Ph.D. Professor of Pathology. Scientific Director. Clinical lmmunopathology and Virology Section Medical College of Virghlia. Richmond, Virginia The meeting sponsored by the Pan American Group for Rapid Viral Diag-
© 1983 by Elsevier Science Publishing Co., Inc.
nosis and the National Institute of AIlergy and Infectious Diseases was held
at the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, on September 29-30, 1983. It consisted of four half-day sessions, including 40-minute-position papers and shorter invited presenta-
0197-1859,'83/S0.00 + 02.00
171
tions selected from submitted abstracts. The first session, chaired by Dr. Douglas Ridiman (San Diego, CA), dealt with nucleic acid hybridization. Dr. Geoffrey Wahl (San Diego, CA) provided an overview of the technical aspects for viral diagnosis. Dr. David Ward (New Haven, CT) presented the use of nonradioactive probes for filter paper and nucleic acid hybridization in situ, including fluorescein, enzymes, and electron-opaque labels. He compared the sensitivity of the various techniques and discussed how they can be improved to provide a high degree of amplification (e.g., chemiluminescence) and significant increase in sensitivity. Dr. Douglas Richman (San Diego, CA) gave a status report of the application of DNA probes in rapid viral diagnosis, with special reference to Herpes simplex virus. Dr. Stephen A. Spector (San Diego, CA) presented the work of his group on the rapid identification of human cytomegalovirus from buffy-coat specimens by DNA-DNA hybridization. He found this technique to be more sensitive and significantly more rapid than conventional tissue culture. Dr. Warren Andiman (New Haven, CT) described three nucleic acid hybridization techniques for the rapid diagnosis due to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). The presence of the viral genome was determined by "spot" hybridization (whole cells spotted on nitrocellulose filters; DNA released and denatured in situ); " d o t " hybridization (DNA extracted from tissue and "dotted" onto nitrocellulose, then denatured); and Southern "blot" analysis. It was possible to clone unlimited amounts of EBV DNA fragments of chimeric plasmids, test multiple samples simultaneously, and choose a cellular DNA extraction procedure that is rapid and economical. Spot hybridization was very efficient, and proved to be a sensitive screening test with no apparent false-negatives. Southern blot analysis appeared to be the most specific, therefore, it was used as a confirmatory test. His study population ineluded patients with various diseases associated with EBV (e.g., Burkitt's lymphoma, infectious mononucleosis,
172
0197-1859;83/$0.00 + 02.00
nasopharyngeal carcinoma, fatal polyclonal B-cell lymphoma, and AIDS). Dr. Howard Takiff (Bethesda, MD) described the application of "blot" hybridization for the rapid diagnosis of enteric adenovirus and varicella-zoster virus from stool, vesicle fluid, and tissue samples. He reported excellent results with a simple and very rapid technique using nonradioactive biotinylated probes. Finally, Dr. Jorge Flores (Bethesda, MD) presented a " d o t " hybridization procedure that permitted unequivocal recognition of rotavirus in stool specimens and tissue-culture material. This method was found to be highly specific and capable of detecting as little as 8 pg of viral RNA. The second session, chaired by Dr. Nathalie Schmidt (Berkeley, CA), dealt with isotype-specific serologic tests. Dr. Schmidt offered an overview on the utility of isotype-specific antibodies (e.g., IgM, IgA, lgD, and IgE) in viral diagnosis and methods for their measurements (e.g., antibody class capture and solid phase red cell attachment). Dr. Vincent Agnello (Boston, MA) dealt with the role of autoantibodies and immune complexes in immunoassays. Dr. Ciro V. Sumaya (San Antonio, TX) compared a simple separation column with an absorption procedure using Staphylococcus protein A (SPA) to serve as an improvement in the detection of IgM antibodies to EBV by immunofluorescence. This step provided minimal nonspecific background fluorescence, shortened antigen-test serum incubation period, and removal of false-positive by IgM i'heumatoid factor. The advantages of the separation over the SPA absorption include ease of storage and transportation without refrigeration, and lower cost to produce larger Volumes of "fractionated" serum. Dr. M. Zapata (Hamilton, Ontario) described a solid phase radioimmunoassay procedure for the measurement of BK papovirus-specific IgM antibody. Dr. R. Rosato (Frederick, MD) discussed the use of an ELISA technique for the detection of Venezuelan equine encephalitis IgG and IgM antibodies. The third session, chaired by Dr. Stanley Plotkin (Philadelphia, PA),
dealt witb new techniques for detecting immunologic reactions. Dr. Stratis Avrameas (Paris, France) described an IgE model in connection with various methods using covalent binding (e.g., avidin-biotin complex, lectin-antibody system, lectin-RBC system, antigen-antibody hybrid conjugate, and bovine-bovine antiserum system). He concluded that we have reached the limit of sensitivity in antigen-antibody reactions, so that the speed of the reaction is what we need to be concemed with as regards rapid viral diagnosis. Dr. Edward Ullman (Palo Alto, CA) summarized new assay formats applied to macromolecular antigens. Dr. Eiji Ishikawa (Miyazaki, Japan) reported on enzyme-labeling of antibodies and antibody fragments with maleimide compounds and its application with fluorogenic substrates. Dr. Bruce K. Korant (Wilmington, DE) discussed the use of natural and synthetic protease substrates as probes of picomavirus infection. He explained how a simple, more rapid, and quantitative assay can be performed using chromogenic peptide analogs of the natural cleavage site. Such assays can be done in a spectrophotometer with infected extracts or in situ. Dr. Lata S. Nerurkar (Bethesda, MD) reported on the rapid detection of Herpes simplex virus antigen in clinical specimens from genital herpes using an ELISA capture assay with avidinbiotin involving a double antibody sandwich technique. The fourth session, chaired by Dr. Robert Yolken (Baltimore, MD), addressed the topic of monoclonal antibodies. The session began with an overview of the utility of these antibodies for diagnostic virology, including technical and practical aspects. Dr. Lenore Pereira (Berkeley, CA) discussed the application of monoclonal antibodies to the rapid identification of Herpes simplex virus and cytomegalovirus in clinical specimens, as well as specific antibody detection in sera. Dr. Larry J. Anderson (Atlanta, GA) described the characterization of enterovirus-70 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) isolates using monoclonal antibodies. They found that, when compared with IFA monoclonal
Clinical Immunology Newsletter
antibodies, using the ELISA procedure improves the ability to differentiate strains of RSV by providing quantitative, rather than qualitative, results and also promise to play a key role in determining the importance of strain differences in the clinical and epidemiologic picture of some viral infections. Dr. Joseph L. Warner (Oklahoma City, OK) presented the characteriza-
tion and use of a monoclonal antibody for rapid diagnosis of active cytomegalovirus infection. Dr. Charles Grose (San Antonio, TX) described a procedure using monoclonal antibodies for immunostaining of varicella-zoster virus glycoproteins in clinical specimens. Dr. Kenneth Mclntosh, following a discussion period, summarized the pro-
In Memoriam
Academy of Microbiology until his death. Dr. Neter, a native of Mannheim, Germany, attended the Universities of Heidelberg in Munich and Berlin. He earned an M.D. at the University of Heidelberg in 1934. After an internship in the Department of Medicine at the University of Cologne, he emigrated to the United States where he worked with Dr. Ernest Witebsky in a bacteriology and immunology residency, first in New York and later in Buffalo. In addition to his extensive contributions in research and teaching, Dr. Neter served on a number of editorial boards. He was the founding Editor-inChief of Infection and hnmunity, serving in this capacity from 1970 to 1979. Some of the other editorships he held include: Associate Editor of Vox Sanguinis (1965-1976). Editor of Bacteriological Reviews (1962-1967), Editor of Journal of Bacteriology (1968-1969), Section Editor of the
William R. Bartholomew Erie County Medical Center Buffalo, New York It is with deep regret that we inform our readers that Doctor Erwin Neter, Professor Emeritus of Microbiology and Pediatrics at the State University of New York at Buffalo, passed away November 2, 1983, at Georgetown University Medical Center in Washington, D.C. at the age of 74. Dr. Neter, an internationally known microbiologist, contributed extensively to the laboratory serodiagnosis of infectious diseases. His pioneering work in the recognition of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli, and his extensive studies on the common antigen and endotoxic lipopolysaccharides, substantially enriched the body of knowledge on the Enterobacteriaceae. In addition to his many publications (over 400), he was deeply involved with the American Society for Microbiology and the Academy for Microbiology for several decades. Dr. Neter was the first chairman of the American Board of Medical Laboratory Immunology, a post he held from 1977 to 1980. Most recently, he was Chairman of the Board of Governors of the
© 1983 by Elsevier Science Publishing Co.. Inc.
Manual of Clinical hnmunology (1979), as well as member of the Editorial Advisory Board of this publication, since 1972. In recognition of his many accomplishments, he was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Medicine Degree from the University of Heidelberg in 1974, the Wyeth Award in Clinical Microbi-
ceedings of this meeting. Further development of hybridization techniques with antibody instead of radioactive probes, coupled with the evaluation of monoclonal antibodies and highly sensitive immunoassay procedures, promise to significantly increase the use of the diagnostic virology laboratory by the clinician.
ology by the American Society for Microbiology in 1977, and the highest civilian award of the Federal Republic of Germany, the Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit, in 1979. He also was an honorary member of the Reticuloendothelial Society, the American Society for Microbiology, and the Western New York Branch of the American Society for Microbiology. Dr. Neter's patient teaching and understanding with students, his dedicated research and love of science, his editorial astuteness, his humor and humanistic qualities, as well as the delight he took in encouraging those around him in the laboratory, in the classroom, and on committees--these are the experiences we all will miss.
0197-1859/83I$0.00 + 02.00
173
antibodies for rapid diagnosis and typing of genital herpes infections during pregnancy. Am. J. Obs. Gyn. (in press) 15. Volpi, A. et al. (1983). Rapid diagnosis of cytomegalovirus pneumonia with specific monoclonal antibodies. J. Infect. Dis. (in press) 16. Warier, J. L. and T. H. Weller. (1978). Analysis of antigenic diversity
among human cytomegalovirus by kinetic neutralization tests with high-titered rabbit antisera. Infect. Immun. 21:151-157. 17. Weller, T. H. (1971). The cytomegaloviruses: Ubiquitous agents with protean manifestations. N. Engl. J. Med. 285:267-274.
cases have been reported, primarily among homosexual men, intravenous drug abusers, recent Haitian entrants to the United States, and hemophiliacs. The six grantees are Murray B. Gardner, M.D., University of California, Davis; Norman L. Letvin, M.D., Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; Victoria Monte-Wicher, Ph.D., New York State Department of Health, Albany; John L. Sullivan, M.D., University of Massachusetts, Worcester; Leonard Chess, M.D., Columbia University, New York; and Sudhir Gupta, M.D., University of California, Irvine. Within the last 2 years, a disease similar to AIDS has been observed in monkeys housed in two U.S. primate research centers. Dr. Gardner, in California, and Dr. Letvin, in Massachusetts, will be studying this Simian Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (SAIDS). Dr. Gardner will investigate whether or not SAIDS is caused by a virus, another infectious agent, or environmental factors. A major goal of the project will be to find a reliable way to induce the disease in animals in order to provide a means of treatment and prevention. Dr. Letvin will
study the immunologic defect in monkeys with SAIDS and will attempt to isolate and identify a causative agent. Dr. Monte-Wicher will try to clarify the mechanisms that make male homosexuals susceptible to AIDS. She will work with rabbits as animal models to study changes in their immune responses. Another group at high risk for AIDS, hemophiliacs, are thought to contract AIDS from an infectious agent present in the blood products required to make their blood clot. One of these products is factor VIII, which is made from blood pooled from many donors. Recent studies have shown that, apart from those with AIDS, many hemophiliacs receiving factor VIII have immune defects. Dr. Sullivan will study 240 hemophiliacs to determine if these immune defects are related to factor VIII and determine if they are reversible. Dr. Chess and Dr. Gupta will study blood cells called lymphocytes, which play an important role in immunity. They will analyze how various groups of lymphocytes work and interact normally, and what goes awry in AIDS patients.
Government Forum Released September 20, 1983, by Marian McGrath, NIAID U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Bethesda, Maryland The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, an agency of the U.S. Public Health Service, awarded six new grants for the study of Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) on September 15. Funding for the grants comes from a $12-million FY 1983 supplemental appropriation for the study of AIDS signed into law by President Reagan July 30, 1983. The review and award processes, which ordinarily require several months, were expedited because the investigators will be studying AIDS, a deadly disease described by Health and Human Services Secretary Margaret M. Heckler as, "the number one health priority of my department." People with AIDS have defects in some parts of their immune system, which leave them vulnerable to a wide variety of opportunistic infections, such as Pneumocystis carhzii pneumonia, and/or unusual tumors, such as Kaposi's sarcoma. More than 2000
Meeting Report New and Useful Methods in Rapid Viral Diagnosis Mario R. Escobar, Ph.D. Professor of Pathology. Scientific Director. Clinical lmmunopathology and Virology Section Medical College of Virghlia. Richmond, Virginia The meeting sponsored by the Pan American Group for Rapid Viral Diag-
© 1983 by Elsevier Science Publishing Co., Inc.
nosis and the National Institute of AIlergy and Infectious Diseases was held
at the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, on September 29-30, 1983. It consisted of four half-day sessions, including 40-minute-position papers and shorter invited presenta-
0197-1859,'83/S0.00 + 02.00
171
tions selected from submitted abstracts. The first session, chaired by Dr. Douglas Ridiman (San Diego, CA), dealt with nucleic acid hybridization. Dr. Geoffrey Wahl (San Diego, CA) provided an overview of the technical aspects for viral diagnosis. Dr. David Ward (New Haven, CT) presented the use of nonradioactive probes for filter paper and nucleic acid hybridization in situ, including fluorescein, enzymes, and electron-opaque labels. He compared the sensitivity of the various techniques and discussed how they can be improved to provide a high degree of amplification (e.g., chemiluminescence) and significant increase in sensitivity. Dr. Douglas Richman (San Diego, CA) gave a status report of the application of DNA probes in rapid viral diagnosis, with special reference to Herpes simplex virus. Dr. Stephen A. Spector (San Diego, CA) presented the work of his group on the rapid identification of human cytomegalovirus from buffy-coat specimens by DNA-DNA hybridization. He found this technique to be more sensitive and significantly more rapid than conventional tissue culture. Dr. Warren Andiman (New Haven, CT) described three nucleic acid hybridization techniques for the rapid diagnosis due to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). The presence of the viral genome was determined by "spot" hybridization (whole cells spotted on nitrocellulose filters; DNA released and denatured in situ); " d o t " hybridization (DNA extracted from tissue and "dotted" onto nitrocellulose, then denatured); and Southern "blot" analysis. It was possible to clone unlimited amounts of EBV DNA fragments of chimeric plasmids, test multiple samples simultaneously, and choose a cellular DNA extraction procedure that is rapid and economical. Spot hybridization was very efficient, and proved to be a sensitive screening test with no apparent false-negatives. Southern blot analysis appeared to be the most specific, therefore, it was used as a confirmatory test. His study population ineluded patients with various diseases associated with EBV (e.g., Burkitt's lymphoma, infectious mononucleosis,
172
0197-1859;83/$0.00 + 02.00
nasopharyngeal carcinoma, fatal polyclonal B-cell lymphoma, and AIDS). Dr. Howard Takiff (Bethesda, MD) described the application of "blot" hybridization for the rapid diagnosis of enteric adenovirus and varicella-zoster virus from stool, vesicle fluid, and tissue samples. He reported excellent results with a simple and very rapid technique using nonradioactive biotinylated probes. Finally, Dr. Jorge Flores (Bethesda, MD) presented a " d o t " hybridization procedure that permitted unequivocal recognition of rotavirus in stool specimens and tissue-culture material. This method was found to be highly specific and capable of detecting as little as 8 pg of viral RNA. The second session, chaired by Dr. Nathalie Schmidt (Berkeley, CA), dealt with isotype-specific serologic tests. Dr. Schmidt offered an overview on the utility of isotype-specific antibodies (e.g., IgM, IgA, lgD, and IgE) in viral diagnosis and methods for their measurements (e.g., antibody class capture and solid phase red cell attachment). Dr. Vincent Agnello (Boston, MA) dealt with the role of autoantibodies and immune complexes in immunoassays. Dr. Ciro V. Sumaya (San Antonio, TX) compared a simple separation column with an absorption procedure using Staphylococcus protein A (SPA) to serve as an improvement in the detection of IgM antibodies to EBV by immunofluorescence. This step provided minimal nonspecific background fluorescence, shortened antigen-test serum incubation period, and removal of false-positive by IgM i'heumatoid factor. The advantages of the separation over the SPA absorption include ease of storage and transportation without refrigeration, and lower cost to produce larger Volumes of "fractionated" serum. Dr. M. Zapata (Hamilton, Ontario) described a solid phase radioimmunoassay procedure for the measurement of BK papovirus-specific IgM antibody. Dr. R. Rosato (Frederick, MD) discussed the use of an ELISA technique for the detection of Venezuelan equine encephalitis IgG and IgM antibodies. The third session, chaired by Dr. Stanley Plotkin (Philadelphia, PA),
dealt witb new techniques for detecting immunologic reactions. Dr. Stratis Avrameas (Paris, France) described an IgE model in connection with various methods using covalent binding (e.g., avidin-biotin complex, lectin-antibody system, lectin-RBC system, antigen-antibody hybrid conjugate, and bovine-bovine antiserum system). He concluded that we have reached the limit of sensitivity in antigen-antibody reactions, so that the speed of the reaction is what we need to be concemed with as regards rapid viral diagnosis. Dr. Edward Ullman (Palo Alto, CA) summarized new assay formats applied to macromolecular antigens. Dr. Eiji Ishikawa (Miyazaki, Japan) reported on enzyme-labeling of antibodies and antibody fragments with maleimide compounds and its application with fluorogenic substrates. Dr. Bruce K. Korant (Wilmington, DE) discussed the use of natural and synthetic protease substrates as probes of picomavirus infection. He explained how a simple, more rapid, and quantitative assay can be performed using chromogenic peptide analogs of the natural cleavage site. Such assays can be done in a spectrophotometer with infected extracts or in situ. Dr. Lata S. Nerurkar (Bethesda, MD) reported on the rapid detection of Herpes simplex virus antigen in clinical specimens from genital herpes using an ELISA capture assay with avidinbiotin involving a double antibody sandwich technique. The fourth session, chaired by Dr. Robert Yolken (Baltimore, MD), addressed the topic of monoclonal antibodies. The session began with an overview of the utility of these antibodies for diagnostic virology, including technical and practical aspects. Dr. Lenore Pereira (Berkeley, CA) discussed the application of monoclonal antibodies to the rapid identification of Herpes simplex virus and cytomegalovirus in clinical specimens, as well as specific antibody detection in sera. Dr. Larry J. Anderson (Atlanta, GA) described the characterization of enterovirus-70 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) isolates using monoclonal antibodies. They found that, when compared with IFA monoclonal
Clinical Immunology Newsletter
antibodies, using the ELISA procedure improves the ability to differentiate strains of RSV by providing quantitative, rather than qualitative, results and also promise to play a key role in determining the importance of strain differences in the clinical and epidemiologic picture of some viral infections. Dr. Joseph L. Warner (Oklahoma City, OK) presented the characteriza-
tion and use of a monoclonal antibody for rapid diagnosis of active cytomegalovirus infection. Dr. Charles Grose (San Antonio, TX) described a procedure using monoclonal antibodies for immunostaining of varicella-zoster virus glycoproteins in clinical specimens. Dr. Kenneth Mclntosh, following a discussion period, summarized the pro-
In Memoriam
Academy of Microbiology until his death. Dr. Neter, a native of Mannheim, Germany, attended the Universities of Heidelberg in Munich and Berlin. He earned an M.D. at the University of Heidelberg in 1934. After an internship in the Department of Medicine at the University of Cologne, he emigrated to the United States where he worked with Dr. Ernest Witebsky in a bacteriology and immunology residency, first in New York and later in Buffalo. In addition to his extensive contributions in research and teaching, Dr. Neter served on a number of editorial boards. He was the founding Editor-inChief of Infection and hnmunity, serving in this capacity from 1970 to 1979. Some of the other editorships he held include: Associate Editor of Vox Sanguinis (1965-1976). Editor of Bacteriological Reviews (1962-1967), Editor of Journal of Bacteriology (1968-1969), Section Editor of the
William R. Bartholomew Erie County Medical Center Buffalo, New York It is with deep regret that we inform our readers that Doctor Erwin Neter, Professor Emeritus of Microbiology and Pediatrics at the State University of New York at Buffalo, passed away November 2, 1983, at Georgetown University Medical Center in Washington, D.C. at the age of 74. Dr. Neter, an internationally known microbiologist, contributed extensively to the laboratory serodiagnosis of infectious diseases. His pioneering work in the recognition of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli, and his extensive studies on the common antigen and endotoxic lipopolysaccharides, substantially enriched the body of knowledge on the Enterobacteriaceae. In addition to his many publications (over 400), he was deeply involved with the American Society for Microbiology and the Academy for Microbiology for several decades. Dr. Neter was the first chairman of the American Board of Medical Laboratory Immunology, a post he held from 1977 to 1980. Most recently, he was Chairman of the Board of Governors of the
© 1983 by Elsevier Science Publishing Co.. Inc.
Manual of Clinical hnmunology (1979), as well as member of the Editorial Advisory Board of this publication, since 1972. In recognition of his many accomplishments, he was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Medicine Degree from the University of Heidelberg in 1974, the Wyeth Award in Clinical Microbi-
ceedings of this meeting. Further development of hybridization techniques with antibody instead of radioactive probes, coupled with the evaluation of monoclonal antibodies and highly sensitive immunoassay procedures, promise to significantly increase the use of the diagnostic virology laboratory by the clinician.
ology by the American Society for Microbiology in 1977, and the highest civilian award of the Federal Republic of Germany, the Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit, in 1979. He also was an honorary member of the Reticuloendothelial Society, the American Society for Microbiology, and the Western New York Branch of the American Society for Microbiology. Dr. Neter's patient teaching and understanding with students, his dedicated research and love of science, his editorial astuteness, his humor and humanistic qualities, as well as the delight he took in encouraging those around him in the laboratory, in the classroom, and on committees--these are the experiences we all will miss.
0197-1859/83I$0.00 + 02.00
173