LONG ISLAND BIOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION
COLD SPRING HARBOR, NEW YORK

 

BIOLOGICAL LABORATORY

June 10, 1957
Dr. W. H, Stone
Department of Genetics
University of Wiscorsin
Madison, Wisconsin

Dear Bill,

A few weeks ago I saw Josh and was prodded into thinking about the bacterial-
cattle cross-reactions again. Are you still interested in doing something with
them? I'm sorry about my prolonged apparent disinterest. A minor misunderstanding
was involved which isn't worth elaborating.

There were really two situations involved: 1) the cross reaction of the O antigen
of BE. coli WG15 and cattle A antigen, and 2) the wide array of "natural" agglutinins
of coli in cattle sera. I will write to Wilmer Miller shortly to see if he is still
interested in pursuing the first problem. In the meantime, let me give you the
principal data on the second together with what thoughts I have at the time. If you
are still interested, as a first step, maybe we can simply discuss the question of
whether the problem is worth following up and the kinds of things that should be
done. Then, if you would like to take the thing over from this point, it is all
right with me. Alternatively, I may be in a position to do something experimentally
at Montana State.

I have included a copy of a write-up of the data which was made when I left
Wisconsin. All pertinent data are included, but the interpretation is not
particularly appropriate. In particular, the analysis of the xk twin data and
the interpreation ensuing is not very satisfactory.

On another sheet I have shown how I made more appropraite calculations
bearing on the question of whether twins tend to be glike. Unless there is still
some fallacy in reasoning or calculation, it seems quite likely that twins are
more alike in their capacities to agglutinate bacteria than would be expected
if any two randomly selected cattle were compared. I'm not sure just what this
indicates however. Not only are twins identiacl genetically but they have a
common environment for a long time after birth (t#11 adulthood generally?). My
guess now is that the similarity of twins observed is only a function of their
common environment. If it were genetic, they should be much more similar than they
are. Proper controls (identiacl twins reared apart, non-siblings raised together, etc.)
would be a help; but , due to the nature of the situation, are only theoretically
possible.

If my suspicion is correct, (that these are due to immuniz. with bacteria),
cattle sera from one farm might be expected to differ from cattle sera from another
(where a differert bacterial flora may exist) even theugh the two herds are
roughly equivalent genetically. Perhaps this would be worth examining.

A first step, however, which was never done was simply to see if specific
agglutinins can be absorbed out of cattle sera. Inotheér thing which should be
more carefully tested is whether the aeeTatimation can be blocked by the pres=nce
of a capsular antigen (K) which is known to block the accessibility of the O antigen.
A negative result would not be convincing, since the cattle serum might contain
LONG ISLAND BIOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION
COLD SPRING HARBOR, NEW YORK

BIOLOGICAL LABORATORY

antibody to the particular K antigen as well; but if any positive results were
obtained they would be informative.

To avoid further delay, I will not go into greater detail at this time.
If it turns out that you will be doing further experiments, Josh has the bacterial
stocks, and I will supply the details of preparing bacteria, etc. Meanwhile,
let me know how you feel about the project, especially with relevance to other
related work in the literature with which you may be acquainted.

Best regards to your wife and tc Dr. Irwin and others in the lab.

Sincerely,

Dante

P. D. Skaar