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Biomedical subjects

C Howe

Publications and source records attributed to C Howe.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Factors affecting cell fusion induced by Sendai virus.

Cell fusion mediated by exogenous Sendai virus appears to occur in four temperature-dependent stages. The first two, which include viral adsorption, are pH dependent and can be inhibited by viral antibody. Viral envelope constituents remain detectable on the cell surface during the third stage and disappear only when cell-to-cell fusion supervenes. The relationship of these interactions to possible mechanisms of cell fusion are discussed.

Cell Fusion

Morphogenesis and ultrastructure of respiratory syncytial virus.

Respiratory syncytial (RS) virus was grown in Vero cells and fixed for electron microscopy at various stages of maturation. Both filamentous and round or kidney-shaped particles, either with (complete) or without (incomplete) internal structure, were observed. All four morphological forms were identical with respect to their reactivity with ferritin-labeled antibody to RS virus. Freezeetching revealed a structural feature apparently unique for RS virus, namely helical striations around the core on the internal aspect of the envelope. This specific configuration was already detectable during the early stages of viral differentiation of the host cell membrane. Concentration of free virus by zonal ultracentrifugation of culture fluids onto sucrose cushions yielded predominantly filamentous forms up to 10 mum in length.

Animals

Structure of the replicating DNA from bacteriophage T4.

At an early stage of replication, parental T4 DNA shows a loop structure often displaying two 3'-ended, single-stranded "whiskers", located in trans configuration at the branching-points. Several such loops have been observed within a single T4 molecule. Occasionally, reinitiation occurred in the middle of a loop, which suggests that the loop was growing in both directions.

Centrifugation, Density Gradient

Effect of -propiolactone on Sendai virus.

The biological properties (infectivity, hemagglutination, hemolysis, cell fusion, neuraminidase) of Sendai virus were dissociated on the basis of sensitivity to beta-propiolactone, by freeze-thawing, by heating at different temperatures, and by adsorption-elution with formalinized chicken erythrocytes. Possible mechanisms whereby beta-propiolactone selectively destroys viral infectivity are discussed.

Alkylating Agents

Neuraminidase activity in bacterial meningitis.

The relation of neuraminidase to morbidity and mortality was examined in patients with Haemophilus influenzae, meningococcal, and pneumococcal meningitis. Ten strains of H. influenzae and eight strains of meningococci from infected cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) did not elaborate neuraminidase. Each of 27 strains of pneumococci from infected CSF elaborated both neuraminidase and N-acetylneuraminic acid (NANA) aldolase. There was no correlation between amount of neuraminidase secreted in vitro and survival of patients. Values for free and total NANA concentrations were derived from admission CSF samples of 63 patients with meningitis; 18 patients infected with Neisseria meningitidis, 10 with H. influenzae and 35 with Diplococcus pneumoniae. Mean values for total NANA were elevated in each type of bacterial meningitis; however, abnormal concentrations of free CSF NANA were detected only in 17 patients with pneumococcal meningitis. 11 of 18 patients with pneumococcal meningitis showing normal free CSF NANA concentrations were cured, whereas only 4 patients with abnormal free NANA levels survived without residua. Both coma and bacteremia occurred significantly more often among patients with elevated concentrations of free CSF NANA. The association of elevated concentrations of free CSF NANA with coma and with an adverse prognosis suggested that neuraminidase may be a factor in the pathogenesis of penumococcal meningitis.

Cerebrospinal Fluid Proteins