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Biomedical subjects

A H Kidd

Publications and source records attributed to A H Kidd.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Sequence characterization of the adenovirus 40 fiber gene.

The fiber gene of human adenovirus type 40 has been characterized. The 6.1-kbp EcoRI fragment C of the Ad40 genome, from map units 74 through 92, was cloned and the right-most 2.8 kbp from 84 map units was sequenced. By analogy with Ad2, this region would be expected to contain the gene specifying the Ad40 fiber polypeptide. Sequencing revealed an open reading frame of 1641 bases on the r-strand, the first 53 bases of which had marked homology with the corresponding L5 (fiber) regions of Ad2 (77.2%), Ad5 (75.0%), and Ad3 (64.3%). In addition, base positions 1114 to 1146 of this open reading frame had 85% homology with base positions 1198 to 1230 of the Ad2 fiber gene. The predicted polypeptide sequence of 547 amino acids showed marked homology with the Ad2, Ad5, and Ad3 fiber polypeptides in two regions, in the first 55 amino acids from the N-terminus and from amino acids 372 through 382. Analysis of hydrophobic amino acid positions revealed a repeating pattern of approximately 15 residues between positions 42 and 374, with 21 repeats. The sequence of the Ad40 polypeptide thus fits the model of Green et al. [1983), EMBO J. 2, 1357-1365) for the structure of the adenovirus fiber, but is 35 amino acids shorter than the Ad2 fiber polypeptide, with one less 15-residue repeat in the shaft region. According to this model, the regions of highest homology between the Ad40 fiber polypeptide and those of Ad2, Ad5, and Ad3 correspond to the tail of the shaft and the base of the knob. The results of this analysis are in agreement with previously published EM data on the fiber length of subgroup F adenoviruses.

Adenoviruses, Human↗

Reverse transcription and subsequent DNA amplification of rubella virus RNA.

A method is described whereby rubella virus RNA was reverse transcribed and the resulting cDNA enzymatically amplified using Taq polymerase. The reactions were carried out in a single reaction vessel, with only minor modifications to the buffer conditions between the reverse transcription and the subsequent amplification step. Using an oligonucleotide probe to the E1 glycoprotein region and limited restriction endonuclease mapping, the resulting amplified products were shown to be specific for rubella virus. This method was also successfully applied to crude cell lysates, without the need for RNA purification. The possible applications of the polymerase chain reaction as applied to RNA sequences are discussed.

Animals↗

An assessment of optimal conditions for amplification of HIV cDNA using Thermus aquaticus polymerase.

Optimal conditions for in-vitro enzymatic DNA amplification using Thermus aquaticus polymerase were defined using env and gag sequences of human immunodeficiency virus type I as templates. It was found that specific amplification of the target sequence occurred when the primer annealing temperature was above 55 degrees C. Polymerase added once at the beginning of the procedure was sufficient for good results. Deoxynucleotide and primer concentrations and chain elongation time were not found to be important as long as they were kept above a critical level. Differences were noted between the efficiency of specific amplification from purified plasmid and genomic DNA. A rapid and simple method without the use of radioactive reagents for confirmation of a suggestive positive result on gel electrophoresis using restriction enzyme digestion of the amplified products is described. Some possible drawbacks of the technique particularly if used as a diagnostic tool are discussed.

Base Sequence↗

Characterization of fastidious adenovirus types 40 and 41 by DNA restriction enzyme analysis and by neutralizing monoclonal antibodies.

The DNA of 48 strains of adenovirus type 40 (Ad40) and of 128 strains of adenovirus type 41 (Ad41), isolated between 1971 and 1986 from various countries, was characterized by restriction enzyme analysis using nine and ten restriction endonucleases respectively. Five new DNA variants of Ad40 and 18 new DNA variants of Ad41 were detected. Most of the restriction sites which differed among the various DNA variants appeared to be distributed at random over the entire length of the viral genomes of the two serotypes. The number of restriction sites by which two DNA variants differed from each other was used as a measure of their relatedness. Several clusters of closely related DNA variants were observed for each of the two serotypes. The 35 DNA variants of Ad40 and Ad41 were used to test monoclonal antibody preparations for their range of reactivity in a neutralization assay. One monoclonal antibody (5-8), raised against Ad40 strain Dugan, showed type-specific neutralization of all 11 Ad40 DNA variants tested. Six monoclonal antibodies, raised against Ad41 strain Tak, neutralized different proportions of the variants of Ad41. Two of these preparations (1-21 and 3-19) neutralized all 24 Ad41 DNA variants, while a third (1-23) reacted with only 12 Ad41 variants. Three other monoclonal antibody preparations (3-10, 3-18, 7-14) reacted specifically with only 6 of these 12 variants. The patterns of reactivity with the monoclonal antibody preparations correlated with the presence or absence of a HindIII restriction site at 56 map units and of an EcoRI restriction site at 52 map units on the Ad41 DNA. This region of the adenovirus DNA codes for the hexon protein, which is known to contain the type-specific neutralizing antigenic determinants.

Adenovirus Infections, Human↗

Helper function of adenovirus 2 for adenovirus 41 antigen synthesis in semi-permissive and non-permissive cells.

Using a fluorescent focus assay, complementation and interference effects of Ad2 and Ad41 on each other in mixed infection were investigated. Ad2 provided a helper function for Ad41 late antigen synthesis in cells normally non-permissive for Ad41 growth (HEF cells), and enhanced Ad41 late antigen synthesis in semi-permissive Chang conjunctival cells. The degree of complementation by Ad2 was dependent on its input concentration. In addition, interference by Ad41 on Ad2 replication was seen in HEF cells. The degree of interference by Ad41 was dependent on the relative time of infection by each serotype. The complementation results in HEF cells suggest an absolute dependency of Ad41 on an adenovirus helper function in these cells. The results presented are consistent with the postulated helper function provided in trans by 293 cells, which are transformed by Ad5 early region 1.

Adenoviridae↗

Monoclonal antibody enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for specific identification and typing of subgroup F adenoviruses.

Monoclonal antibody specific for subgroup F enteric adenoviruses (EAds) was prepared by fusing P3-NS1/Ag4-1 mouse myeloma cells with lymphocytes from BALB/c mice immunized with G1105, an adenovirus type 41 (Ad41) strain. Monoclone 3F11/2H9, which specifically recognized Ad41, was successfully used as detector antibody in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Additionally, previously prepared monoclones 5D8/2C2 and 2H6/1E11, recognizing Ad40 plus Ad41 and Ad40 alone, respectively, were used to study stool and/or tissue culture specimens from 106 patients with adenovirus-positive gastroenteritis. By ELISA, 91 had EAds (22 were Ad40 and 69 were Ad41) and 15 had non-EAds. ELISA results were in concordance with restriction endonuclease results for 38 of 39 specimens, with dot blot data for 19 of 20 specimens, and with neutralization test results for 74 of 78 specimens. ELISA was at least 10-fold more sensitive than direct electron microscopy was for the detection of EAds in stool specimens.

Acute Disease↗

Characterization of rotaviruses and subgroup F adenoviruses from acute summer gastroenteritis in South Africa.

Six hundred and sixteen specimens were collected from black children hospitalised with acute gastroenteritis during the summer and autumn of 1982-1983 (October to May). Eighty-five children (13.8%) shed rotavirus and at least 40 (6.5%) shed adenovirus (Ad) type 40 or 41 belonging to subgroup F. The highest monthly prevalence of shedding subgroup F adenoviruses (10.1%) coincided with a peak in admissions in midsummer, whereas the highest monthly prevalence of shedding rotaviruses (41.9%) coincided with a peak in admissions in autumn. There were at least five genome types of rotavirus, at least three genome types of Ad40, and at least five genome types of Ad41 circulating in the Johannesburg-Soweto area during the study period. The high rate of rotavirus shedding in autumn could not be attributed to an upsurge in infections by any particular rotavirus strain.

Adenoviridae Infections↗

Atypical rotavirus from South African neonates. Brief report.

Rotaviruses displaying an RNA profile different from other human rotaviruses were detected in stools from six healthy neonates. These viruses shared the common group A antigen, unlike most other atypical human rotavirus electropherotypes described to date.

Feces↗

Laboratory monitoring of rubella.

A study was undertaken to determine the level of immunity to rubella in the population on the basis of findings in serum specimens sent to the laboratory of the National Institute for Virology. A total of 4791 sera taken between August 1982 and October 1983 were examined for rubella-specific IgG antibodies by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). A disquietingly high proportion (18,4%) of women of child-bearing age were not immune; 59 cases of primary infection occurred in pregnant women, as documented by the presence of rubella-specific IgM antibodies on ELISA. The need to ensure the protection of susceptible women of child-bearing age by prepubertal immunization and screening for immunity is emphasized.

Adult↗

Specific detection and typing of adenovirus types 40 and 41 in stool specimens by dot-blot hybridization.

A dot-blot hybridization test was developed which allowed the direct detection of fastidious enteric adenovirus DNA in stool specimens from children with diarrhea and simultaneous typing of the viruses as adenovirus type 40 (Ad40) or Ad41. Cloned PstI fragments of Ad40 and Ad41 were used as 32P-labeled probes in the test, which allowed detection of picogram quantities of viral DNA in 20 to 40 microliter of stool suspension. Results were obtained within 48 h. The type specificity of the test was evaluated with 76 specimens known to contain either Ad40 or Ad41 by restriction enzyme analysis. Sixty-one specimens had sufficient DNA to be detected without any removal of protein. Thirty-one adenoviruses were typed as Ad40, and 30 were typed as Ad41, giving 100% correlation with the results of restriction enzyme analysis. The other 15 specimens were detected and typed as Ad40 or Ad41 only after removal of protein by a phenol extraction method. The dot-blot hybridization method is particularly useful for identifying those Ad40 and Ad41 strains which defy all attempts at culture and will be a useful tool in the epidemiology of fastidious enteric adenovirus infections.

Adenoviridae Infections↗

Genome variants of adenovirus 41 (subgroup G) from children with diarrhoea in South Africa.

Fifteen strains of faecal adenovirus from 3 continents (4 from Europe, 4 from Canada, and 7 from South Africa) were typed as Ad41a by restriction enzyme analysis o the DNA using Sma I. The DNA of the strains was further compared by digestion with 9 other restriction enzymes. All strains had the same cleavage sites for enzymes Bam HI, Bg1 I, Sst I, Pvu II, and Xho I, indicating a close relationship. The Canadian and European strains also had the same cleavage sites for Hind III, Eco RI, Bst EII, and Kpn I, within the limits of resolution of the technique. Only one of the 7 South African strains had a combination of restriction sites identical to the European and Canadian strains, whereas Hind III, Eco RI, Bst EII, and Kpn I digests of the other 6 South African Ad41 DNAs showed the existence of 4 other genome types of Ad41. All 15 Ad41a strains studied were easily distinguished from Ad40 strains using any of the 10 restriction enzymes.

Adenovirus Infections, Human↗

Genome variants of human adenovirus 40 (subgroup F).

Twenty-six strains of faecal adenovirus from three continents (two from Europe, 16 from South Africa, and eight from Canada) were typed as Ad40 by restriction enzyme analysis of the DNA using Sma I. The DNA of the strains was further compared by digestion with six other enzymes, namely Bam HI, Eco RI, Bgl I, Xho I, Sst I, and Hind III. At least two different restriction profiles were found to exist for each enzyme. Nineteen of the 26 strains studied had the same combination of profiles for all the enzymes, within the limits of resolution of the technique. This genome type was detected from all three continents and included the Finnish reference strain Hovi-X. The other seven strains were genome variants, representing five other genome types. Three genome types were detected only in South African specimens, whereas one genome type was detected in single specimens from both South Africa and Canada. Strain Dugan from Holland, indistinguishable from other Ad40 strains in neutralization tests using polyclonal antibody preparations [de Jong et al, 1983], deviated from the common Hovi-X-like genome on digestion of the DNA with any of the enzymes except Sma I.

Adenoviridae Infections↗

EM study of fastidious adenovirus type 40 replication in vitro.

Primary human embryo kidney cells and Chang conjunctival cells were inoculated with fastidious enteric adenovirus type 40. Mature virions were seen in the nuclei of infected Chang cells, but not in human embryo kidney cells, indicating that at least a proportion of Chang cells can support the entire replicative cycle.

Adenoviruses, Human↗

Candidate adenoviruses 40 and 41: fastidious adenoviruses from human infant stool.

About 200 antigenically related adenoviruses were isolated from cases of infantile diarrhoea in the Netherlands and North-West Germany. The viruses were fastidious and failed to replicate serially in human diploid fibroblasts and in primary human embryonic kidney cells. A number of strains were established in HeLa, HEp-2, Graham (293), cynomolgus monkey kidney, and Chang conjunctival cells. The viruses were mammalian adenoviruses by the usual criteria. No relationship to the 39 known human adenovirus species was found, either by neutralization tests or by haemagglutination inhibition tests. Neutralization tests showed two distinct variants, represented by strains Tak and Dugan. The variants were identical in haemagglutination inhibition tests. DNA restriction enzyme analysis showed Tak and Dugan to have considerably different genomes, indicating that these variants should be classified as different species (Wadell et al, 1983). It is proposed that the variants should be called Mastadenovirus h 40 (with reference strains Dugan and Hovi X) and Mastadenovirus h 41 (with reference strain Tak). Neutralization and haemagglutination inhibition tests demonstrated that the viruses from Glasgow and Helsinki (Hovi X) described by Johansson et al [1980] and by Kidd and Madeley [1981] belong to these two adenovirus species.

Adenoviridae Infections↗

Antibodies to fastidious faecal adenoviruses (species 40 and 41) in sera from children.

Three hundred and seventy-seven single sera from children in the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Gambia, Guatemala, and Kuwait were tested for antibodies to fastidious fecal adenoviruses (species 40 and 41) by neutralisation test using a variant of Ad41 (Ad41a). All children were less than 12 years of age, and at least 41.1% of the total tested had antibodies. One hundred and fifty-four of these sera were collected during the 1960s from London children attending day nurseries, and 54.5% had antibodies to Ad40 or Ad41. The proportion of seropositive children from an isolated Gambian village community in 1979 was similar to the proportion of seropositives in London children bled in 1979-1980.

Adenoviridae Infections↗