Antibody response to Rocky Mountain spotted fever.

Various techniques were compared to determine the most sensitive method for detection of rocky Mountain spotted fever antibody. A radiometabolic technique for detection of Rocky Mountain spotted fever antibody is also described. In infected monkeys, the fluorescent antibody technique yielded the earliest evidence of seroconversion; with some monkeys the microagglutination procedure was equally effective. The fluorescent antibody and microagglutination measurements showed higher titers than those for complement fixation, Weil-Felix, or the radiometabolic techniques.     

Immunological reactivity of herpes simplex virus 1 and 2 polypeptides electrophoretically separated and transferred to diazobenzyloxymethyl paper.

In this paper we report that viral polypeptides from herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) and 2 (HSV-2)-infected cells electrophoretically separated in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide-agarose gels and transferred to diazobenzyloxymethyl paper can react with rabbit hyperimmune sera, both polyvalent and prepared against specific antigens. The polyvalent hyperimmune sera against HSV-1 reacted with 17 HSV-1 polypeptide bands and 8 HSV-2 polypeptide bands. Concordantly, polyvalent sera against HSV-2 reacted with at least 16 HSV-2 polypeptide bands and 8 HSV-1 polypeptide bands. The antisera prepared against the specific antigens reacted with a smaller number of polypeptide bands. Preimmune sera and immune sera did not react with electrophoretically separated polypeptides from infected and uninfected cells, respectively. The immune localization of separated antigens test provides a powerful technique for identification of immunogenic viral polypeptides, especially those which are normally insoluble and therefore unavailable for immunological reactivity in immune precipitation tests.     

Exaggerated natriuresis in adult polycystic kidney disease

Angiotensin II (AII), aldosterone (Aldo) arginine vasopressin (AVP) in plasma, serum osmolality (Sosm), and renal sodium excretion (UNaV) were studied before and after infusion of hypertonic sodium chloride solution in 20 patients with adult polycystic kidney disease (PKD) with normal or moderately reduced creatinine clearance (Ccr) and in 10 healthy control subjects. UNaV increased after sodium loading in all, significantly more in the PKD patients. AII and Aldo were normal before sodium loading and suppressed after saline in PKD patients and controls. The increase in VNaV correlated with Aldo in patients but not in controls. AVP before loading was increased in hypertensive PKD patients with reduced Ccr, but not in normotensive patients with normal Ccr. After hypertonic saline, Sosm increased to the same degree both in PKD and control subjects, but AVP increased more in those with PKD. The exaggerated natriuresis of PKD is probably not explained by a change in the activity of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. The enhanced response of AVP to osmotic stimuli in PKD may be a compensatory reaction to a reduced renal tubular effect of AVP.     

Evidence that the Cys282Tyr mutation of the HFE gene originated from a population in Southern Scandinavia and spread with the Vikings

Hereditary hemochromatosis has been recognized as a clinical disorder for more than 100 years. The common form of the disorder is caused by the Cys282Tyr mutation (C282Y) of the HFE gene. Hereditary hemochromatosis affects predominantly people of Northern European origin. The C282Y mutation probably occurred on a single chromosome carrying the ancestral hemochromatosis haplotype, which subsequently was spread by emigration and the founder effect. It has been estimated that the C282Y mutation appeared 60-70 generations ago. It was initially suggested that the ancestral C282Y mutation occurred within the Celtic group of peoples. However, we hypothesize that the distribution of the C282Y mutation in Europe is more consistent with an origin among the Germanic Iron Age population in Southern Scandinavia. From this area, the mutation could later be spread by the migratory activities of the Vikings. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the validity of these two hypotheses. Several arguments are in favor of the 'Viking hypothesis': first, the highest frequencies (5.1-9.7%) of the C282Y mutation are observed in populations in the Northern part of Europe, i.e. Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Faeroe Islands, Iceland, Eastern part of England (Danelaw) and the Dublin area, all Viking homelands and settlements. Second, the highest allele frequencies are reported among populations living along the coastlines. Third, the frequencies of the C282Y mutation decline from Northern to Southern Europe. Intermediate allele frequencies (3.1-4.8%) are seen in the populations in Central Europe, which is the original Celtic homeland. Low allele frequencies (0-3.1%) are recognized in populations in Southern Europe and the Mediterranean.     

Distribution by immunofluorescence of viral products and actin-containing cytoskeletal filaments in rubella virus-infected cells

Summary Rubella virus (RV)-host cell interactions were examined by indirect immunofluorescence staining using antibodies to viral products and cytoskeletal components as probes. The patterns of immunofluorescence observed with human convalescent sera indicated that in infected Vero cells RV-specified proteins were distributed throughout the rough endoplasmic reticulum with some possible accumulation in the region of the Golgi complex. Viral RNA synthesis, detected with anti-double stranded RNA, appeared to be confined to small, intensely stained foci irregularly distributed in the cytoplasm. When cells were infected at a higher multiplicity, these foci appeared to aggregate into linear arrays. Infection with RV had a profound effect on the organization of actin in both Vero and BHK 21 cells, as shown by anti-actin antibodies. Actin microfilaments were observed to disintegrate progressively into amorphous aggregates of apparently monomeric actin as the infection proceeded. Because of the role actin microfilaments may play in cell mitosis it is postulated that this effect may be related to the inhibition of cell division reported to be associated with the congenital rubella syndrome.With 3 Figures     

Prevalence of transmitted HIV-1 drug resistance and the role of resistance algorithms: data from seroconverters in the CASCADE collaboration from 1987 to 2003

OBJECTIVES: To examine factors influencing the rate of transmitted drug resistance (TDR) among seroconverters, with particular emphasis on 3 widely used genotypic drug resistance algorithms. METHODS: The study used data from CASCADE (Concerted Action on Seroconversion to AIDS and Death in Europe), a collaboration of seroconverter cohorts in Europe and Canada. Genotypic resistance data were derived within 18 months of the last seronegative test or date of laboratory evidence of acute infection and before the initiation of antiretroviral therapy. The Stanford algorithm was used to analyze each individual's nucleotide sequence. A multivariate logistic model was used to assess independent relationships between the presence of TDR and exposure category, sex, age at seroconversion, and year of seroconversion. The paper also describes 3 alternative definitions of resistance: the Stanford algorithm, the key resistance mutations defined by the International AIDS Society, and the Agence Nationale de Recherches sur le Sida (ANRS) algorithm. RESULTS: Forty-five of 438 patients (10.3%) seroconverting between 1987 and 2003 were infected with a drug-resistant HIV-1 variant. Forty patients (9.1%) showed resistance mutations to only 1 class of antiretroviral drugs, 2 (0.5%) to 2 classes, and 3 (0.7%) to 3 classes of antiretroviral therapy. It was suggested that individuals seroconverting later in calendar time were more likely to have TDR (relative risk 3.89 and 95% CI: 0.84 to 18.02, and relative risk 4.69 and 95% CI: 1.03 to 21.31, for 1996-1999 and 2000-2003, respectively, compared with pre-1996; P trend = 0.08). This trend was apparent regardless of the definition of TDR used. The total estimated proportion of individuals with TDR varied between 10.3% and 15.5% according to which definition was used. CONCLUSIONS: Evidence was found for the rise of TDR over time. A specific definition of what constitutes TDR rather than a simple list of mutations is needed.     

Nasal histamine challenge in nonallergic and allergic subjects evaluated by acoustic rhinometry

Nasal patency shows spontaneous variations but is influenced by a number of factors like exercise and allergic conditions. Nasal histamine challenge has been used to define nasal hypersensitivity. We have applied acoustic rhinometry as a new objective method to study the spontaneous variations of the nasal mucosa and its response to histamine challenge in 12 nonallergic subjects and 12 subjects with nasal allergy to pollen, but out of the pollen season. Measurements of the minimum cross-sectional area and the volume of the nasal cavities were done every 15 min for 6 h. More pronounced spontaneous variations, defined by the coefficient of variation of the measurements, were encountered in the allergic than in the nonallergic subjects, especially with regard to the minimum cross-sectional areas in the nasal cavities (P < 0.02). Allergic subjects showed increased sensitivity to histamine, as compared with nonallergic subjects, during low-concentration (0.1%) challenge (P < 0.05) and a prolonged effect of histamine challenge (P = 0.01). Antihistamine (cetirizine) had a significant effect on the histamine-induced symptoms and decrease of nasal dimensions during histamine challenge, but no significant effect on pollen-induced changes. In the allergic group, the decrease in minimum area during allergen provocation correlated with the level of specific IgE (r = 0.81; P = 0.0015).     

Isolation of HIV from cultures of purified CD4+ lymphocytes.

Isolation of HIV from cultures of CD4+ lymphocytes purified from peripheral blood by indirect panning was optimized and evaluated. Infectious HIV was isolated by single isolation attempts in 98% of 102 HIV-antibody-positive patients (55 had AIDS or ARC and 47 were clinically healthy). The average culture time required for positive cultures was largely independent of the CD4 count of the patients and 87% of the positive isolation cultures from both groups of patients became positive within 14 days of culture. An evaluation of the possible influence of media additives on propagation of HIV showed that: amphotericin-B had a suppressive effect on HIV replication at concentrations recommended for anti-fungal activity; recombinant and human interleukin-2 were equally suitable for both isolation cultures and for propagation of HIV, and polybrene, at a concentration of 2 micrograms/ml in the culture medium had a beneficial effect.     

Oncogenic retrovirus from spontaneous murine osteomas. II. Molecular cloning and genomic characterization

An N-ecotropic murine leukemia virus (OA MuLV), originally isolated from spontaneous osteomas of strain 101 mice, was molecularly cloned. The virus induces osteomas, osteopetrosis, and malignant lymphomas in NMRI mice. The cloned virus was analyzed by heteroduplex analysis, restriction enzyme mapping, and oligonucleotide mapping. The data show a very close relationship to the endogenous Akv prototype virus with some differences in the gag and the env region. The nucleotide sequence of the U3 region of OA MuLV LTR revealed a structure within the presumable enhancer region very similar to the U3 sequences of the FBJ murine sarcoma virus and its associated helper virus. The significance of these specific structures for the oncogenicity of the virus and the development of the typical disease pattern is discussed.