There is now convincing evidence that highly specific desoxyribonucleic acids (DNA's) can direct some inherited traits of members of 3 different bacterial species, Diplicoccus pneumoniae (1), Hemophilus influenzae (2, 3), and Neisseria rnenlngitidis (4), and suggestive evidence that heritable traits of certain viruses, rabbit fibroma (5), and bacterial viruses (6), may be influenced by the acti...

The families of 126 consecutive patients with Haemophilus influenzae type B meningitis were surveyed for secondary invasive H influenzae disease among household contacts. A total of 120 of the families were contacted. In six cases no contact was possible and the medical record was reviewed. Some 555 household contacts were found; 31% (171) were under 5 years of age. A secondary case was defined...

OBJECTIVES To determine the effect of Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccination and its timing on the risk of type 1 diabetes in Finnish children. DESIGN Cumulative incidence and relative risk of type 1 diabetes was compared among three birth cohorts of Finnish children: those born during the 24 months before the H influenzae type b vaccination trial, those in the trial cohort who were vaccin...

Brazilian purpuric fever (BPF) is a recently described pediatric septicemia caused by a strain of Haemophilus influenzae biogroup aegyptius. The pilus specified by this bacterium may be important in BPF pathogenesis, enhancing attachment to host tissue. Here, we report the cloning of two haf (for H. influenzae biogroup aegyptius fimbriae) gene clusters from a cosmid library of strain F3031. We ...

Each of the serotypes of Haemophilus influenzae (types a to f) may colonize the respiratory tract of humans, but only type b strains commonly cause invasive systemic infections. To investigate the role of complement in immunity to encapsulated non-type b strains, rats were depleted of C3 with cobra venom factor and challenged with representative serotypes of H. influenzae (type a, b, c, or d) b...

The effect of a Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) polyribosylribitol phosphate-tetanus toxoid conjugate vaccine (Hib/PRP-T) on oropharyngeal carriage of Hib was studied during an efficacy trial in Gambian infants. Children were vaccinated with Hib/PRP-T and diphtheria-tetanus toxoids-pertussis (DTP) or DTP alone at ages 2, 3, and 4 months. Groups of 1000 children aged 1-2 years were studied e...

Fifty-eight nasopharyngeal isolates of Haemophilus influenzae were collected from healthy children at a day care center, and nontypeable isolates were examined by Southern blot for the presence of capsule gene sequences. Seven isolates (12%) demonstrated homology with capsule-specific sequences. One isolate was characterized as an H. influenzae type b capsule-deficient strain.

A fatal case of neonatal Haemophilus influenzae type b, septicaemia and meningitis is described. Although the mother was asymptomatic, maternal genital tract culture yielded H. influenzae which was indistinguishable from the strain found in the infant. Despite the rarity of this organism as a cause of neonatal sepsis, increased awareness is essential so that this important offending pathogen is...

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was developed to detect the presence of the ribose-ribitol phosphate capsular antigen of Haemophilus influenzae type b in laboratory and clinical specimens. The assay is simple, sensitive, specific, and quantitative and should prove to be of value in the diagnosis and management of H. influenzae infections.