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It remains uncertain whether the cellular immune abnormalities of patients with lepromatous leprosy interfere with resolution of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections. To investigate this question in an area coendemic for the two diseases, we determined the prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and antibody (anti-HBs) in: 1) 204 leprosy patients living in three leprosy resettlement villages; 2) 198 contacts living in the same villages; and 3) 44 newly diagnosed leprosy patients in Thailand. Within the villages, the prevalence of HBsAg positivity was inversely related to age, tended to be more frequent in patients with tuberculoid than lepromatous leprosy, and was similar after age adjustment among persons with and without leprosy. The prevalence of HBV markers found in newly diagnosed patients was similar to that in the villagers. We conclude that extensive HBV transmission had occurred in the resettlement villages and that the natural history of HBV infection was similar in persons with, whether tuberculoid or lepromatous, and without leprosy.

The use of polyester fibers has grown more rapidly than that of any other man-made fiber. Many factors have contributed to this growth. Polyester's unique physical properties of strength, high modulus, elasticity, and durability are the basis for its success. The tailorability of the fiber makes it possible to generate a whole family of property variants for a wide variety of end uses. The ready availability and low cost of the raw materials, the continuing advances in polymerization technology, and the versatility of the melt spinning process have also been major factors in establishing polyester as the leading man-made fiber. New end uses have had a major impact on the growth of polyester. Most notable was the introduction of durable press fabrics for clothing and home furnishings. The consumer preference for easy-care fabrics and garments makes the durable press area one of continuing growth. Two relatively new areas where growth is expected to continue at a rapid rate are tire cord and textured knits for women's and men's outerwear.

The ultrastructure of sectioned cells of mutant and wild type Rhodopseudomonas spheroides has been examined by electron microscopy. The characteristic vesicles associated with the presence of bacteriochlorophyll were found in wild type cells grown with low aeration. These were also found in mutant TA-R which forms bacteriochlorophyll under high aeration. None of the mutants with blocks in bacteriochlorophyll synthesis contained intracytoplasmic membrane. These included mutant 8-17 which accumulates bacteriochlorophyllide but fails at the phytolation step. We conclude that the intact bacteriochlorophyll molecule, or some particular membrane protein associated with it, is needed for the development of the characteristic intracytoplasmic membrane system in R. spheroides.

Phytol has been separated and identified in the unsaponifiable lipid fraction from wild type Rhodopseudomonas spheroides, but it was not detected in mutant strains blocked at various stages of bacteriochlorophyll synthesis. Incorporation of (14)C-acetate into phytol paralleled bacteriochlorophyll synthesis in suspensions of the wild type incubated anaerobically in the light. The addition of chloramphenicol inhibited both processes. It is concluded that phytol formation is tightly coupled to the synthesis of the pyrrole component of bacteriochlorophyll.

The effect of the presence of carbohydrates on the pigmentation of Staphylococcus aureus was investigated. It was shown that pigmentation is greatly increased in the presence of those carbohydrates which are fermented by the organism. This effect may be due to the products of fermentation.