Conformation of Replicated Segments of Chromosome Fibres in Human S-phase Nucleus

Recent statistical analysis of the folding of G0/G1 chromosomes using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) allowed development of a random walk/giant loop model of chromosome structure. According to this model there are two levels of organization of G0/G1 chromosome fibres. On the first level, the fibres are arranged in giant loops several Mbp in size, and within each loop the fibres are randomly folded. On the second level, the loop attachment sites form a chromosome backbone that also shows random folding. Newly replicated segments of mammalian chromosomes may be directly visualized at high resolution in S-phase nuclei using immunofluorescent methods and appear as worm-like fibres. In our earlier study, we analysed conformation of the fibres in human cells blocked for 16 h at the G1/S boundary with 5- fluorodeoxyuridine (FdU) and then released into S-phase by the addition of a DNA prec ursor. However, long treatment of cells with FdU induces very short replicons and may promote apoptosis. In this study we analysed conformation of the fibres in normally proliferating human cells that had not been blocked with FdU for a long time. It has been found that replicated chromosome fibres visualized just after 2 h of incubation of the cells with a non-radioactively labelled DNA precursor behave as flexible polymer chains without major constraints, and that their local conformation in the range of several microns of their contour length may be considered as random. Confocal analysis of human X chromosomes visualized in HeLa cells using FISH with a specific painting probe shows that in S-phase the chromosomes occupy distinct nuclear territories and their apparent size does not differ from that in non-S-phase cells. This observation indicates that the second level of chromosome organization also exists in S-phase chromosomes. It appears, theref ore, that the random walk/giant loop model developed earlier for G0/G1 chromosomes is also valid for S-phase chromosomes.     

Sequence of DNA Replication in Allium Fistulosum Chromosomes During S-phase

Bromodeoxyuridine pulse labelling and immunodetection were applied to synchronized Allium fistulosum cells to study sequential changes in the chromosome replication pattern during S-phase. The replication patterns were classified into five main types depending on the location of the replication signals: (1) over the whole chromosomes; (2) at proximal and interstitial regions; (3) at proximal, interstitial and distal regions; (4) at interstitial and distal regions; and (5) at distal regions. The frequencies of each pattern changed sequentially according to the timing of BrdU incorporation, demonstrating the temporal order of chromosome replication during S-phase. The distal regions that correspond to the major C-bands replicated throughout S-phase except for the earliest stage, but most intensely in late S-phase. The replication time of different chromosome sites overlapped, which is quite different from the biphasic mode of replication tha t occurs in mammalian chromosomes.     

病毒性心肌炎心肌线粒体结构功能变化及大剂量维生素C干预作用

目的：探讨病毒性心肌炎（ＶＭＣ）小鼠心肌线粒体结构和功能，并用大剂量维生素Ｃ进行干预。方法：雄性Ｂａｌｂ／ｃ小鼠随机分为柯萨奇Ｂ３病毒（ＣＶＢ３）感染组（ＩＧ）、ＣＶＢ３感染加大剂量维生素Ｃ治疗组（ＩＶＧ）和对照组（ＣＧ）。采用电镜和形态计量学方法观察心肌线粒体形态、数量和膜磷脂定位，用酶细胞化学法分析心肌线粒体细胞色素氧化酶（ＣＣＯ）和琥珀酸脱氢酶（ＳＤＨ）活性。结果：ＩＧ小鼠心肌线粒体大量破坏，ＣＣＯ和ＳＤＨ活性降低，膜磷脂严重缺失、定位改变（Ｐ　＜０．０５～　０．０１）。不同时相点ＩＶＧ上述各项指标均较ＩＧ显著改善（Ｐ　＜０．０５～０．０１）。结论：ＶＭＣ心肌线粒体结构严重破坏、功能明显下降，大剂量维生素Ｃ能有效保护心肌线粒体结构和功能。     

老年病毒性肝炎62例临床分析

本文分析62例老年病毒性肝炎。曾查感染标志者42.4%为乙型肝炎,仅1例为甲型肝炎。重症、慢性、瘀胆性分别为24.2%,25.8%,12.9%,均显著高于其他年龄组肝炎。83.9%为黄疸性,部份病例曾疑为肝外梗阻.61.3%有并发症。发生肝昏迷、上消化道大出血、原发性腹膜炎或肝肾综合征者大多病死。病死率为19.4%,远较其他年龄组肝炎高。提示老年人原因未明的不完全梗阻性黄疸宜先进行内科治疗。老年病毒性肝炎应注意加强综合治疗、预防和及时控制并发症。     

A macrophage inflammatory protein homolog encoded by guinea pig cytomegalovirus signals via CC chemokine receptor 1

Cytomegaloviruses encode homologs of cellular immune effector proteins, including chemokines (CKs) and CK receptor-like G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). Sequence of the guinea pig cytomegalovirus (GPCMV) genome identified an open reading frame (ORF) which predicted a 101 amino acid (aa) protein with homology to the macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP) subfamily of CC (β) CKs, designated GPCMV-MIP. To assess functionality of this CK, recombinant GPCMV-MIP was expressed in HEK293 cells and assayed for its ability to bind to and functionally interact with a variety of GPCRs. Specific signaling was observed with the hCCR1 receptor, which could be blocked with hMIP −1α in competition experiments. Migration assays revealed that GPCMV-MIP was able to induce chemotaxis in hCCR1-L1.2 cells. Antisera raised against a GST-MIP fusion protein immunoprecipitated species of ∼12 and 10 kDa from GPCMV-inoculated tissue culture lysates, and convalescent antiserum from GPCMV-infected animals was immunoreactive with GST-MIP by ELISA assay. These results represent the first substantive in vitro characterization of a functional CC CK encoded by a cytomegalovirus.     

Molecular epidemiology of norovirus variants detected in children under five years of age in Hyderabad,India

PurposeNoroviruses are common viral agents in acute diarrhea in all age groups worldwide. Norovirus has been classified into 10 genogroups, GI to GX with over 48 genotypes among them the GII.4 genotype has evolved over time with a clear pattern of periodic variant replacement. Immunity is strain or genotype specific with little or no protection conferred across genogroups. The present study was aimed to determine the epidemiology, prevalent genotypes of norovirus in children below five years of age in the Hyderabad region, India.MethodsThe stool samples and clinical data were collected from 458 children below 5 years of age comprising of cases with acute gastroenteritis (n ?= ?366) and a control group (n ?= ?92) admitted to the pediatric ward. All the samples were tested for Norovirus by ELISA and RT-PCR. Sequencing was done for predominant strains.Results10.3% (n ?= ?38) of cases and 3.2% (n ?= ?3) of the control group were found to be Norovirus positive. Predominant genotypes were GII-82.5% followed by GI-12.5%.ConclusionSequencing and Phylogenetic analyses of 20 GII.4 strains was done. All of the isolates are clustered away from published the GII.4 variants thus suggesting the appearance of a new variant.     

Meta-analysis of gross insertions causing human genetic disease: novel mutational mechanisms and the role of replication slippage

Although gross insertions (>20 bp) comprise <1% of disease-causing mutations, they nevertheless represent an important category of pathological lesion. In an attempt to study these insertions in a systematic way, 158 gross insertions ranging in size between 21 bp and approximately 10 kb were identified using the Human Gene Mutation Database (www.hgmd.org). A careful meta-analytical study revealed extensive diversity in terms of the nature of the inserted DNA sequence and has provided new insights into the underlying mutational mechanisms. Some 70% of gross insertions were found to represent sequence duplications of different types (tandem, partial tandem, or complex). Although most of the tandem duplications were explicable by simple replication slippage, the three complex duplications appear to result from multiple slippage events. Some 11% of gross insertions were attributable to nonpolyglutamine repeat expansions (including octapeptide repeat expansions in the prion protein gene [PRNP] and polyalanine tract expansions) and evidence is presented to support the contention that these mutations are also caused by replication slippage rather than by unequal crossing over. Some 17% of gross insertions, all >or=276 bp in length, were found to be due to LINE-1 (L1) retrotransposition involving different types of element (L1 trans-driven Alu, L1 direct, and L1 trans-driven SVA). A second example of pathological mitochondrial-nuclear sequence transfer was identified in the USH1C gene but appears to arise via a novel mechanism, trans-replication slippage. Finally, evidence for another novel mechanism of human genetic disease, involving the possible capture of DNA oligonucleotides, is presented in the context of a 26-bp insertion into the ERCC6 gene.     

Detection of YMDD motif mutants by oligonucleotide chips in lamivudine-untreated patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection

Lamivudine, a nucleoside analogue, has been used widely as an effective antiviral agent for the treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. However, the YMDD motif mutation of HBV polymerase resistant to lamivudine occurs very frequently after long term therapy. We developed an oligonucleotide chip for the detection of YMDD motif mutants resistant to lamivudine and investigated the prevalence of the mutants in patients with chronic HBV infection who had not been treated by lamivudine before. Forty patients who had not been treated with lamivudine were included in this study. Serum samples were tested by the oligonucleotide chips designed for detection of wild-type YMDD motif, M552V and M552I. Samples were confirmed by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and direct sequencing. M552I mutants were detected by the oligonucleotide chips in 7.5% (3/40) of chronic HBV infected patients (2 chronic hepatitis and 1 cirrhosis). The results were in accordance with those of RFLP. YMDD motif mutants occur as natural genome variabilities in patients with chronic HBV infection who had not been treated with lamivudine before. Oligonucleotide chip technology is a reliable and useful diagnostic tool for the detection of mutants resistant to antiviral therapy in chronic HBV infection.     

Epitope specificity is critical for high and moderate avidity cytotoxic T lymphocytes associated with control of viral load and clinical disease in horses with equine infectious anemia virus

Equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) is a lentivirus that causes persistent infections in horses. We hypothesized that high-avidity CTL specific for nonvariable epitopes might be associated with low viral load and minimal disease in EIAV-infected horses. To test this hypothesis, memory CTL (CTLm) responses were analyzed in two infected horses with high plasma viral loads and recurrent disease (progressors), and in two infected horses with low-to-undetectable viral loads and mild disease (nonprogressors). High-avidity CTLm in one progressor recognized an envelope gp90 epitope, and the data documented for the first time in EIAV that viral variation led to CTL escape. Each of the nonprogressors had high-to-moderate avidity CTLm directed against epitopes within Rev, including the nuclear export and nuclear localization domains. These results suggested that the epitope specificity of high- and moderate-avidity CTLm was an important determinant for disease outcome in the EIAV-infected horses examined.