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A search will also be conducted for the detection of various 
heredofamilial diseases known to occur in foci in Micronesia and Melanesia. 
Familial periodic paralysis with complete heart block occurs on Tongariki 
and has previously been investigated by Dr. Gajdusek in the field and in 
the laboratories at NIH. This disease may well occur on other New 
Hebridean Islands. Foci of neurologic disease have been reported througout 
this area, from Japan to Guam to New Guinea, the most well known being ALS, 
ALS/PD, kuru and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, and we search for further foci 
of these and similar diseases during the conduct of this expedition. 
Oculocutaneous albinism also occurs in this region; however, whether both 
tyrosine positive and negative variants are present is unknown. Attempts 
will be made to identify the variant in albinos encountered. 
Pseudohermaphrodlsm is also not uncommon in this region. 
Serum will also be collected for surveys of cholesterol, tri-glycerides, 
lipoprotein phenotyping, uric acid and other serum chemical measurements, 
as well as for virological studies, as mentioned below. Urine will be 
collected for determinations of VMA, urine catocholamlnes , Na, K, bacteria, 
routine urine analysis and attempts to Isolate cytomegalovirus (see below). 
There will be no human experimentation and no routine medical treatment of 
patients. We shall, as always in the field, provide only emergency medical 
care, as there are no physicians on any of the Islands to be visited. 
Genetic Polymorphisms; For one decade this department has been 
collecting and analyzing genetic polymorphisms , including red cell enzymes , 
serum proteins, and blood groups in New Hebrides, the British Solomon 
Islands Protectorate and Micronesia. The current expedition will make it 
possible to exploit this background by obtaining further genetic data to 
augment our earlier collection data. In the Banks and Torres Islands, and 
on Tongariki in the New Hebrides, we have previously found the only 
alpha-chain human hemoglobin variant unique to Melanesia, which we have 
designated hemoglobin- J-Tongariki. This Melanesian marker, which will be 
investigated on this expedition, permits us to trace genetic relationships 
in these island populations. From earlier genetic studies in the Western 
Caroline Islands, we have determined that these Island peoples are some of 
the most isolated and Inbred populations in the world, even more so than in 
the Eastern Highlands of Papua New Guinea. Investigation of polymorphisms 
in the Islands are crucial in understanding the mechanisms of human 
evolution. Material to be collected include serum, leucocytes (for 
leucocyte typing), red cells (for blood group enzymes), and cerumen (for 
cerumen typing, presence of lypases, lysozyme, IgA, IgM, IgG) , and which 
will be maintained at liquid nitrogen temperatures. Fibroblast cultures of 
human skin/muscle will be discussed below. 
Virology: Sera will be collected as mentioned above, and used for 
follow-up seroepldemlologlcal studies previously reported in this 
geographical area, and in the Caroline Islands where investigations on the 
immunologic response to Influenza epidemics led to our identifying the 
antigenic analysis and typing of the strain of influenza virus which was 
associated with the 1918-1919 pandemic. Studies will also be conducted on 
the unusual patterns of arbovirus distribution (mostly encephalitis 
viruses) which are encountered on these Isolated Islands wherein there are 
very few species of insect vectors and possible mammalian hosts that may 
