Characterization and identification of Oya virus,a Simbu serogroup virus of the genus Bunyavirus,isolated from a pig suspected of Nipah virus infection

Summary.  A virus, named Oya virus, was isolated in Vero cell cultures from the lungs of a pig suspected of Nipah virus infection. The virus was revealed as a spherical enveloped RNA virus with a diameter of 79 nm. For identification of Oya virus, RT-PCR was performed. A common primer set for S-RNA of the Simbu serogroup of the genus Bunyavirus was able to amplify a cDNA from Oya virus RNA. The sequence data of the product revealed that the partial gene of Oya virus S-RNA segment had 65–70% homology with published cDNA sequences of Simbu serogroup viruses. The phylogenetic analysis of the data showed that the Oya virus is grouped in Simbu serogroup, but is genetically distinct from the serogroup viruses that have been analyzed molecularly. Serological surveys revealed that the virus distributed widely and densely in Malaysia. Received January 5, 2002; accepted April 16, 2002 Published online July 19, 2002     

Participation of serum and membrane lectins on the oxidative burst regulation in Macrobrachium rosenbergii hemocytes

Using a spectrophotometric NBT reduction assay and phagocytosis, we identified that production of superoxide anions and phagocytic activity of hemocytes from Macrobrachium rosenbergii were significantly higher in the presence of rat, rabbit, and chicken erythrocytes than with human, pig, or horse erythrocytes. Hemocytes stimulated with MrL, MrLMab, or PMA increased 4.7, 5.1, and 6.1 fold, respectively, the oxidative response as compared to non-stimulated hemocytes. MrLMab together with MrL increased 5.7 fold the oxidative capacity of hemocytes as compared to non-stimulated cells. These effects were inhibited with 100 mM GalNAc, GlcNAc, or Neu5Ac and 0.2 microM of sialylated submaxillary gland mucin and fetuin. Piroxicam inhibited (P < 0.05) the production of O(2)(-) induced by MrL, whereas iodoacetamide inhibited the effect of MrLMAb (P < 0.05) in a dose-dependent manner. Our results suggest that MrLMab might activate the oxidative burst through the metabolism of glucose as opposed to MrL which utilizes NADPH-independent mechanisms, very probably through pro-inflammatory metabolites.     

Prevalence of HIV in Mayotte

Mayotte is a little French island, located in the Indian ocean, between Madagascar and Mozambic. Officially, the population goes up to 150,000 inhabitants, but in fact, it probably comes up to about 200,000 people, because of a very numerous illegal immigration, especially coming from Anjouan, the nearest Comorian island. Up to now there are no data about HIV in Mayotte. There is only one adult medical unit (except intensive care). All patients detected as seropositive for HIV are sent for treatment in this unit. The only case of systematically proposed HIV serology is pregnancy, and this since 1994. 70% to 80% of women accept it. There are annually 6000 deliveries in Mayotte. When a seropositivity is detected, screening is systematically proposed to other members of the family. Epidemiology does not seem to worsen, even if detection is increasing: 8675 tests done in 1998, 9142 in 1999, 12,085 in 2000. All cases of seropositivity attended to at present time in our unit have been registered and studied, apart from patients who died before this study, and those who did not consult for more than two years. There were 8 HIV positive people who died since 1990 in Mayotte, most of them in 1991, 1992. There was no death in the last years, nor sanitary evacuation, except one. 50 people are registered: 20 males, 30 females. Average age is 34. 39 Comorian people, 10 metropolitans, and one from another origin. Contamination was heterosexual in 43 cases, intravenous drug user in 1 case, homosexual in 2 cases, professional in 1 case, unknown in 3 cases. There are 4 double contamination Ag Hbs/HIV, and 2 HCV/HIV. 39 subjects are at A stage, 5 B, 6 C. The beginning of the epidemic in Mayotte took place probably around 1990, among militaries and prostitutes. Now, transmission keeps going on, in most cases, heterosexual, as it occurs in the nearby Africa. Polygamy, official or officious, has a leading role. Females who were detected during pregnancy have obtained zidovudine, or have been able to pursue previous therapy. Medical care and therapy are free in Mayotte, but sometimes there are delays in supplying medicines or in returning results. Epidemic has not increased up to now; even though screening has. There are very few pediatric cases: only 4 cases were notified in Mayotte until now: one who died very soon, one who has gone to live in Reunion island, and two who are still in Mayotte: one is 12 years old, and another one 5 years old.     

Adrenocortical, beta-endorphin and behavioral responses to graded stressors in differentially reared rats

Isolation rearing has long been suspected to alter hormonal and behavioral responses to stress. Two experiments were conducted to test the hypothesis that isolates are more timid or fearful than socially reared rats when exposed to novel test environments. In both, isolate response to 3 graded stressors was compared to that of socially-reared rats. In the first experiment, animals were handled, shocked or not treated prior to testing to produce three levels of conditioned fear. They were then tested on four paradigms previously shown sensitive to conditioned fear: open field activity, emergence latency, auditory startle, and latency to accept food from the experimenter. In the second experiment, rats were given a 0-, 5- or 20-min forced swim, then sacrificed for analysis of plasma corticosterone and pituitary and hypothalamic beta-endorphin. It was found that isolates showed little evidence of enhanced behavioral timidity, although rearing effects were seen on all 4 behavioral measures. Plasma corticosterone levels increased in a graded fashion over the course of the forced swim, but there was no effect of rearing conditions. While there were no effects of rearing or stress on hypothalamic beta-endorphin, pituitary beta-endorphin content was lower in females than in males, and isolate males had lower pituitary endorphin than social males. In summary, these experiments provide no evidence that isolation rearing produces a primary, global increase in fearfulness, but identify several behavioral and hormonal differences associated with differential housing in rats.     

CD4 lymphocytes in the blood of HIV(+) individuals migrate rapidly to lymph nodes and bone marrow: support for homing theory of CD4 cell depletion

Recent studies have provided evidence that macrophages from Th1-prone mouse strains respond with an M1 profile, and macrophages from Th2-prone mouse strains respond with an M2 profile, characterized by the dominant production of NO or TGF-beta 1, respectively. We have shown that peritoneal macrophages from IL-12p40 gene knockout mice have a bias toward the M2 profile, spontaneously secreting large amounts of TGF-beta 1 and responding to rIFN-gamma with weak NO production. Moreover, IL-12p40KO macrophages are more permissive to Trypanosoma cruzi replication than their wild-type littermate cells. Prolonged incubation with rIL-12 fails to reverse the M2 polarization of IL-12p40KO macrophages. However, TGF-beta 1 is directly implicated in sustaining the M2 profile because its inhibition increases NO release from IL-12p40KO macrophages. IFN-gamma deficiency is apparently not the reason for TGF-beta 1 up-regulation, because rIFN-gamma KO macrophages produce normal amounts of this cytokine. These findings raise the possibility that IL-12 has a central role in driving macrophage polarization, regulating their intrinsic ability to respond against intracellular parasites.     

Levels of cytokine in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid in patients with pulmonary fibrosis due to sulfur mustard gas inhalation.

This study was designed to analyze cytokine levels in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid of patients with pulmonary fibrosis (PF) and was performed at a University hospital. Nineteen veterans had mustard gas-induced PF, and 19 normal veterans were used as a control group. Chest roentgenograms, pulmonary function tests (PFTs), the percentage diffusing capacity of carbon monoxide (D(LCO)), high-resolution CT scans of the chest, and analyses of BAL fluids for five cytokines interleukin-8 (IL-8), IL-1beta, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), IL-12, and the growth factors transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), and epidermal growth factor (EGF) were performed in all cases. A transbronchial lung biopsy was done in all patients. There were significant differences in cytokine (IL-8, IL-1beta, IL-6, TNF-alpha, IL-12) levels of BAL fluid between patients with PF and healthy controls. TGF-beta, EGF, and IGF-1 levels were also significantly increased in patients with PF compared with controls. A significant negative correlation was observed between the percentage of D(LCO) and IL-8 levels in BAL fluid in patients with PF (r = -0.47, p = 0.04). A significant negative correlation was also seen between the percentage of D(LCO) and TGF-beta (r = 0.53, p = 0.02) in these patients. Except for the percentage and the absolute number of the BAL fluid neutrophils (r = 0.70, p = 0.001 and r = -0.62, p = 0.005, respectively), no correlation was found between D(LCO)% and the other BAL cells. Of all measured cytokines and growth factors, only IL-8 and TGF-beta showed a significant correlation with the degree of fibrosis (p = 0.004, p = 0.04). The increased levels of cytokines and growth factors in the BAL fluid suggest the possible causative mechanism in the lung in sulfur mustard gas-induced PF by recruitment of neutrophils and eosinophils into the lung.     

Aspiration cytology of chromophobe cell carcinoma of the kidney

Fine-needle aspiration biopsy findings in three cases of chromophobe cell carcinoma are described and correlated with histologic and ultrastructural observations. In addition, comparisons are made with three cases each of oncocytoma and granular cell carcinoma. The cells in aspiration smears from chromophobe cell carcinoma closely correlated with histologic pattern of three cell types which were not present in oncocytomas and granular cell carcinomas. These cells had prominent cell borders, and their cytoplasm was either opaque and granular (type I) or variably translucent and reticular (type II and III). Ultrastructurally, the translucent areas within the cytoplasm contained large numbers of microvesicles which were unique to chromophobe cell carcinoma and were not seen in other neoplasms. Fine-needle aspiration may be used to diagnose chromophobe cell carcinoma and distinguish it from other related renal neoplasms. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.