Viral infectivity and intracellular distribution of matrix (M) protein of canine distemper virus are affected by actin filaments

To investigate the role of cytoskeletal components in canine distemper virus (CDV) replication, various agents were used that interfere with turnover of actin filaments and microtubules. Only inhibition of actin filaments significantly reduced viral infectivity. Analysis of the intracellular localization of the viral matrix (M) protein revealed that it aligned along actin filaments. Treatment with actin filament-disrupting drugs led to a marked intracellular redistribution of M protein during infection as well as transfection. In contrast, the localization of the CDV fusion (F) protein was not significantly changed during transfection. Thus, a M protein-actin filament interaction appears to be important for generation of infectious CDV.     

Diffusion tensor imaging patterns differ in bulbar and limb onset amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Background

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is characterized by pronounced clinical heterogeneity in terms of onset and disease progression. Widespread changes in white matter fibres could be observed by diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), which detects alterations in the degree (diffusivity, ADC) and directedness (fractional anisotropy, FA) of proton movement. The aim of the current study was to determine whether different ALS onset types were reflected in different DTI brain patterns.

Methods

Seventeen patients with a diagnosis of ALS (6 bulbar, 11 limb onset) and seventeen age-matched controls received 1.5T DTI, where FA and ADC were analyzed using statistical parametric mapping.

Results

In ALS patients, an increased diffusivity in the white matter was found below the precentral gyrus and along the corticospinal tract (CST) right into the internal capsule. The FA was decreased in the posterior limb of internal capsule and in the subcortical white matter in the precentral gyrus. In bulbar onset increased diffusivity was found in the CST, whilst in limb onset, frontal subcortical areas displayed an increased diffusivity.

Conclusion

DTI changes can be regarded as prominent features in ALS. Herein we were able to demonstrate discriminating brain DTI patterns due to bulbar or limb onset.