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Biomedical subjects

David H Evans

Publications and source records attributed to David H Evans.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

RF signals provide additional information on embolic events recorded during TCD monitoring.

Transcranial Doppler ultrasound (TCD) is commonly used to detect embolic signals in the cerebral circulation. However, current techniques to discriminate between signals from emboli and artifacts are subjective and ambiguous. The radiofrequency (RF) signal provides an extra dimension to the information available from conventional TCD systems that may help to interpret complex events. Artifacts generated by healthy volunteers and embolic signals recorded from a flow phantom were used to characterize the appearance of the two types of event. Characteristics of events, recorded during and immediately after carotid endarterectomy surgery, were compared with those from known sources. Additional information was provided by the RF signal on events recorded during TCD monitoring thus aiding classification. The RF signal may have a role as a "gold standard" for embolus detection.

Carotid Arteries↗

Detection of Doppler embolic signals: psychoacoustic considerations.

The purpose of this study was to improve reliability in the identification of Doppler embolic signals by determining the decibel threshold for reproducible detection of simulated "emboli" as a function of signal duration, frequency and cardiac-cycle position. The auditory sensitivity of 16 participants to 574 simulated "emboli" was examined using psychoacoustic techniques to assess how the probability of detection varies with embolic signal parameters. Detailed measurements of the threshold for detection of simulated embolic signals are presented. These provide evidence that the measured embolus-to-blood threshold ranges between 2 dB and 14 dB as a continuous function of signal duration and frequency. The level of the threshold is closely linked to both embolic signal parameters and the properties of the blood flow signal. We conclude that the current fixed choice of threshold does not provide a good approximation to the true threshold of detection across the full range of embolic signal parameters.

Auditory Perception↗

Mechanism of inhibition of vaccinia virus DNA polymerase by cidofovir diphosphate.

Cidofovir (CDV) is a broad-spectrum antiviral agent that has been approved for clinical use in the treatment of cytomegalovirus retinitis. It has also been used off label to treat a variety of other viral infections, including those caused by orf and molluscum contagiosum poxviruses. Because it is a dCMP analog, CDV is thought to act by inhibiting viral DNA polymerases. However, the details of the inhibitory mechanism are not well established and nothing is known about the mechanism by which the drug inhibits poxvirus DNA polymerases. To address this concern, we have studied the effect of the active intracellular metabolite of CDV, CDV diphosphate (CDVpp), on reactions catalyzed by vaccinia virus DNA polymerase. Using different primer-template pairs and purified vaccinia virus polymerase, we observed that CDV is incorporated into the growing DNA strand opposite template G's but the enzyme exhibits a lower catalytic efficiency compared with dCTP. CDV-terminated primers are also good substrates for the next deoxynucleoside monophosphate addition step, but these CDV + 1 reaction products are poor substrates for further rounds of synthesis. We also noted that although CDV can be excised from the primer 3' terminus by the 3'-to-5' proofreading exonuclease activity of vaccinia virus polymerase, DNAs bearing CDV as the penultimate 3' residue are completely resistant to exonuclease attack. These results show that vaccinia virus DNA polymerase can use CDVpp as a dCTP analog, albeit one that slows the rate of primer extension. By inhibiting the activity of the proofreading exonuclease, the misincorporation of CDV could also promote error-prone DNA synthesis during poxvirus replication.

Antiviral Agents↗

Tumorigenic poxviruses up-regulate intracellular superoxide to inhibit apoptosis and promote cell proliferation.

Tumorigenic leporipoxviruses encode catalytically inactive homologs of cellular Cu-Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1). The function of the orthologous myxoma virus M131R and Shope fibroma virus S131R gene products is uncertain, but they inhibit SOD1 activity by a process linked to binding its copper chaperone. Using a superoxide-sensitive dye (hydroethidine), we observed that virus infection increased intracellular superoxide levels in an M/S131R-dependent manner. To see whether this effect promotes infection, we deleted the Shope fibroma virus S131R gene and compared the clinical manifestations of wild-type and mutant virus infections in rabbits. S131RDelta virus produced significantly smaller fibroxanthosarcoma-like growths in vivo and, at a point where these growths were already receding, wild-type infections still showed extensive leukocyte infiltration, necrosis, and fibromatous cell proliferation. Coincidentally, whereas Jurkat cells are protected from mitochondria- and Fas-mediated apoptosis by wild-type myxoma virus in vitro, M131RDelta virus could not block Fas-initiated apoptosis as judged by DNA laddering, terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase-mediated dUTP-fluorescein nick end labeling, and caspase 3 cleavage assays. These data suggest that tumorigenic poxviruses can modulate intracellular redox status to their advantage to stimulate infected cell growth and inhibit programmed cell death.

Animals↗

Targeted modification of the complete chicken lysozyme gene by poxvirus-mediated recombination.

We have developed a novel ex vivo system for the rapid one-step targeted modification of large eucaryotic DNA sequences. The highly recombinant environment resulting from infection of rabbit cornea cells with the Shope fibroma virus was exploited to mediate precise modifications of the complete chicken lysozyme gene domain (21.5 kb). Homologous recombination was designed to occur between target DNA (containing the complete lysozyme gene domain) maintained in a lambda bacteriophage vector and modified targeting DNA maintained in a plasmid. The targeting plasmids were designed to transfer exogenous sequences (for example, beta-galactosidase alpha-complement, green fluorescent protein, and hydrophobic tail coding sequences) to specific sites within the lysozyme gene domain. Cotransfection of the target phage and a targeting plasmid into Shope fibroma virus infected cells resulted in the poxvirus-mediated transfer of the modified sequences from plasmid to phage. Phage DNA (recombinant and nonrecombinant) was then harvested from the total cellular DNA by packaging into lambda phage particles and correct recombinants were identified. Four different gene-targeting pairings were carried out, and from 3% to 11% of the recovered phages were recombinant. Using this poxvirus-mediated targeting system, four different regions of the chicken lysozyme gene domain have been modified precisely by our research group overall with a variety of inserts (6-971 bp), deletions (584-3000 bp), and replacements. We have never failed to obtain the desired recombinant. Poxvirus-mediated recombination thus constitutes a routine, rapid, and remarkably efficient genetic engineering system for the precise modification of large eucaryotic gene domains when compared with traditional practices.

Animals↗

The multifunctional fish gill: dominant site of gas exchange, osmoregulation, acid-base regulation, and excretion of nitrogenous waste.

The fish gill is a multipurpose organ that, in addition to providing for aquatic gas exchange, plays dominant roles in osmotic and ionic regulation, acid-base regulation, and excretion of nitrogenous wastes. Thus, despite the fact that all fish groups have functional kidneys, the gill epithelium is the site of many processes that are mediated by renal epithelia in terrestrial vertebrates. Indeed, many of the pathways that mediate these processes in mammalian renal epithelial are expressed in the gill, and many of the extrinsic and intrinsic modulators of these processes are also found in fish endocrine tissues and the gill itself. The basic patterns of gill physiology were outlined over a half century ago, but modern immunological and molecular techniques are bringing new insights into this complicated system. Nevertheless, substantial questions about the evolution of these mechanisms and control remain.

Acid-Base Equilibrium↗

MALDI-TOF mass spectroscopy detects the capsid structural instabilities created by deleting the myxoma virus cupro-zinc SOD1 homolog M131R.

The myxoma virus M131R gene encodes a catalytically inactive homolog of cellular Cu-Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1) and this 17,786 Da protein is a major virion component. We have used matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectroscopy (MALDI-TOF MS) to study the effect(s) of deleting the gene on virion composition and structure. This approach confirmed that the M131R gene product is an abundant virion component. This conclusion was based upon the ready detection of a 1805.3 Da peptide released from the N-terminus of the myxoma SOD1 protein by mild trypsin treatment, as well as the detection of a 17,790 Da protein in HPLC fractionated virus extracts, which subsequently yielded M131R-encoded tryptic peptides. Neither peptide nor protein was detected in particles bearing a genome encoding an M131RDelta deletion mutation. Curiously, more proteins and tryptic peptides were detected when M131RDelta mutant virions were subjected to MALDI-TOF MS analysis compared with wild-type virus particles. This suggested that particles assembled in the absence of myxoma SOD protein are structurally unstable. Plaque analysis confirmed this conjecture by showing that SOD-deficient MYX particles are unusually heat labile and trypsin sensitive. Mutant Shope fibroma virus exhibited the same phenotype. Thus a previously unappreciated feature of MALDI-TOF MS is that the method can sometimes detect alterations in virion stability.

Capsid Proteins↗

Immunolocalization of Na+/K+-ATPase, carbonic anhydrase II, and vacuolar H+-ATPase in the gills of freshwater adult lampreys, Geotria australis.

As adults, anadromous lampreys migrate from seawater into freshwater rivers, where they require branchial ion (NaCl) absorption for osmoregulation. In teleosts and elasmobranchs, pharmological, immunohistochemical, and molecular data support roles for Na+/K+-ATPase (NPPase), carbonic anhydrase II (CAII), and vacuolar H+-ATPase (V-ATPase) in two different models of branchial ion absorption. To our knowledge, these transport-related proteins have not been studied in adult freshwater lampreys, and therefore it is not known if they are expressed, or have similar functions, in lampreys. The purpose of this study was to localize NPPase, CAII, and V-ATPase in the gills of adult freshwater lampreys and determine if any of these transport-related proteins are expressed in the same cells. Heterologous antibodies were used to localize the three proteins in gill tissue from pouched lamprey (Geotria australis). Immunoreactivity (IR) for all three proteins occurred between, and at the base of, lamellae in cells that match previous descriptions of mitochondrion-rich-cells (MRCs). NPPase-IR was always on the basolateral side of cells that did not stain for CAII or V-ATPase. In contrast, CAII-IR was always on the apical side of cells that also contained diffuse V-ATPase-IR. Therefore, we have identified two types of MRC in adult freshwater lamprey gills based on immunohistochemical staining for three transport proteins. A model of ion transport, based on our results, is proposed for adult freshwater lampreys.

Animals↗

A putative H+-K+-ATPase in the Atlantic stingray, Dasyatis sabina: primary sequence and expression in gills.

In mammals, the gastric H(+)-K(+)-ATPase (HKalpha1) mediates acid secretion in the stomach and kidneys. Like mammals, elasmobranchs also secrete acid from their stomachs, but unlike mammals they primarily use their gills for systemic acid excretion instead of their kidneys. The purpose of this study was to determine if an HKalpha1 orthologue exists in an elasmobranch (Atlantic stingray, Dasyatis sabina), to determine if it is expressed in gills and, if so, to localize its expression and determine if its expression is regulated during hypercapnia or freshwater acclimation. A polyclonal antibody made against an HKalpha1 peptide detected HKalpha1 immunoreactivity in protein isolates and tissue sections of stingray stomachs and gills. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated that HKalpha1 immunoreactivity was present in a subpopulation of epithelial cells in both organs. Double-labeling experiments in the gills showed that HKalpha1 immunoreactivity occurred in Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase-rich cells and not in V-type H(+)-ATPase-rich cells. RT-PCRs were used to deduce the primary sequence of a putative H(+)-K(+)-ATPase from the stomach of Atlantic stingrays. The 3,421-base pair cDNA includes a coding region for a 1,025-amino acid protein that is over 80% identical to HKalpha1 of mammals. RT-PCRs were then used to demonstrate that this transcript is also expressed in the gills. To our knowledge, this is the first H(+)-K(+)-ATPase sequence reported for any elasmobranch and the first full-length sequence for any fish. We also provide the first evidence for its expression in the gills of any fish and demonstrate that its expression increased during freshwater acclimation but not exposure to hypercapnia.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Assessing blood flow control through a bootstrap method.

In order to assess blood flow control, the relationship between blood pressure and blood flow can be modeled by linear filters. We present a bootstrap method, which allows the statistical analysis of an index of blood flow control that is obtained from constrained system identification using an established set of pre-defined filters.

Algorithms↗

Construction of recombinant vaccinia viruses using leporipoxvirus-catalyzed recombination and reactivation of orthopoxvirus DNA.

Poxvirus DNA is not infectious because the initiation of the infective process requires proteins encapsidated along with the virus genome. However, infectious virus can be produced if purified poxvirus DNA is transfected into cells previously infected with another poxvirus. This process is termed heterologous reactivation if the infecting virus is different from the transfected virus. We describe a method in which the high-frequency recombination and replication reactions catalyzed by the Leporipoxvirus, Shope fibroma virus (SFV), can be coupled with SFV-promoted reactivation reactions to rapidly construct recombinant vaccinia viruses in high yields (25-100% recombinant progeny). The reactivated vaccinia viruses are easily purified free of the SFV helper virus by plating mixed populations of virus on cells that support only the growth of vaccinia virus. These heterologous reactivation reactions can be used to manipulate the structure of virus genomes and produce viruses that express recombinant proteins at high levels. We illustrate the method by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) cloning the gene encoding green fluorescent protein (GFP), then using double-strand break repair reactions to produce a recombinant virus that expresses high levels of GFP.

Animals↗

Tissue Doppler imaging of carotid plaque wall motion: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Studies suggest the physical and mechanical properties of vessel walls and plaque may be of clinical value in the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular atherosclerotic disease. The purpose of this pilot study was to investigate the potential clinical application of ultrasound Tissue Doppler Imaging (TDI) of Arterial Wall Motion (AWM) and to quantify simple wall motion indices in normal and diseased carotid arteries. METHODS: 224 normal and diseased carotid arteries (0-100% stenoses) were imaged in 126 patients (age 25-88 years, mean 68 +/- 11). Longitudinal sections of the carotid bifurcation were imaged using a Philips HDI5000 scanner and L12-5 probe under optimized TDI settings. Temporal and spatial AWMs were analyzed to evaluate the vessel wall displacements and spatial gradients at peak systole averaged over 5 cardiac cycles. RESULTS: AWM data were successfully extracted in 91% of cases. Within the carotid bifurcation/plaque region, the maximum wall dilation at peak systole ranged from -100 to 750 microns, mean 335 +/- 138 microns. Maximum wall dilation spatial gradients ranged 0-0.49, mean 0.14 +/- 0.08. The AWM parameters showed a wide variation and had poor correlation with stenoses severity. Case studies illustrated a variety of pertinent qualitative and quantitative wall motion features related to the biophysics of arterial disease. CONCLUSION: Our clinical experience, using a challenging but realistic imaging protocol, suggests the use of simple quantitative AWM measures may have limitations due to high variability. Despite this, pertinent features of AWM in normal and diseased arteries demonstrate the potential clinical benefit of the biomechanical information provided by TDI.

Adult↗

NaCl transport across the opercular epithelium of Fundulus heteroclitus is inhibited by an endothelin to NO, superoxide, and prostanoid signaling axis.

Recent evidence suggests that paracrine signaling agents, such as endothelin (ET), nitric oxide (NO), superoxide (O2-), and prostanoids can modulate mammalian renal function by affecting both hemodynamic and epithelial ionic transport pathways. Since these signaling pathways have been described in fish blood vessels, we hypothesized that they may control salt transport across the gill epithelium--the primary site of ion excretion in marine teleost fishes. We found that ET, the NO donors sodium nitroprusside and spermine NONOate, and the prostanoid PGE2 each can produce a concentration-dependent reduction in the short circuit current (Isc) across the isolated opercular epithelium of the killifish (Fundulus heteroclitus), the generally accepted model for the marine teleost gill epithelium. Sarafotoxin S6c was equipotent to ET-1, suggesting that ETB receptors are involved. Incubation with NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) or indomethacin reduced the effect of subsequent addition of SRXS6c by 17 and 89%, respectively, suggesting the presence of an ET to NO and PGE axis. The effects of l-NAME and indomethacin were not additive, but the superoxide dismutase mimetic 4-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine 1-oxyl (TEMPOL) reduced the effect of SRXS6c by 34% and preincubation with l-NAME, indomethacin, and TEMPOL reduced the SRXS6c response to zero. This suggests a direct role for O2- in this axis. COX-2 appears to be the major enzyme involved in this axis because the specific COX-2 inhibitor NS-398 was twice as effective as the COX-1 inhibitor SC560 in inhibiting the SRXS6c effect. The Isc was stimulated by the EP2 agonist butaprost and inhibited by the EP(1,3) agonist sulprostone, suggesting both stimulatory and inhibitory PGE receptors in this tissue. Carbaprostacyclin (PGI2 analog), thromboxane A2, PGF(2alpha), and PGD2 did not affect the Isc. Our data are the first to suggest the importance of an ET-stimulated and NO-, O2(-)-, and PGE2-mediated signaling axis that can modify active extrusion of NaCl across the killifish opercular epithelium and, by inference, the marine teleost gill epithelium.

Animals↗

Genetic and phylogenetic characterization of the type II cyclobutane pyrimidine dimer photolyases encoded by Leporipoxviruses.

Shope fibroma virus and myxoma virus encode proteins predicted to be Type II photolyases. These are enzymes that catalyze light-dependent repair of cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPDs). When the Shope fibroma virus S127L gene was expressed in an Escherichia coli strain lacking functional CPD repair pathways, the expressed gene protected the bacteria from 70-75% of the ultraviolet (UV) light-induced cytotoxic DNA damage. This proportion suggests that Leporipoxvirus photolyases can only repair CPDs, which typically comprise approximately 70% of the damage caused by short wavelength UV light. To test whether these enzymes can protect virus genomes from UV, we exposed virus suspensions to UV-C light followed by graded exposure to filtered visible light. Viruses encoding a deletion of the putative photolyase gene were unable to photoreactivate UV damage while this treatment again eliminated 70-90% of the lethal photoproducts in wild-type viruses. Western blotting detected photolyase protein in extracts prepared from purified virions and it can be deduced that the poxvirion interior must be fluid enough to permit diffusion of this approximately 50-kDa DNA-binding protein to the sites where it catalyzes photoreactivation. Photolyase promoters are difficult to categorize using bioinformatics methods, as they do not obviously resemble any of the known poxvirus promoter motifs. By fusing the SFV promoter to DNA encoding a luciferase open reading frame, the photolyase promoter was found to exhibit very weak late promoter activity. These data show that the genomes of Leporipoxviruses, similar to that of fowlpox virus, encode catalytically active photolyases. Phylogenetic studies also confirmed the monophyletic origin of poxviruses and suggest an ancient origin for these genes and perhaps poxviruses.

Animals↗

Leporipoxvirus Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD) homologs are catalytically inert decoy proteins that bind copper chaperone for SOD.

Many Chordopoxviruses encode catalytically inactive homologs of cellular Cu-Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD). The biological function of these proteins is unknown, although the proteins encoded by Leporipoxviruses have been shown to promote a slow decline in the level of superoxide dismutase activity in virus-infected cells. To gain more insights into their function, we have further characterized the enzymatic and biochemical properties of a SOD homolog encoded by Shope fibroma virus. Shope fibroma virus SOD has retained the zinc binding properties of its cellular homolog, but cannot bind copper. Site-directed mutagenesis showed that it requires at least four amino acid substitutions to partially restore copper binding activity, but even these changes still did not restore catalytic activity. Reciprocal co-immunoprecipitation experiments showed that recombinant Shope fibroma virus SOD forms very stable complexes with cellular copper chaperones for SOD and these observations were confirmed using glutathione-S-transferase tagged proteins. Similar viral SOD/chaperone complexes were formed in cells infected with a closely related myxoma virus, where we also noted that some of the SOD antigen co-localizes with mitochondrial markers using confocal fluorescence microscopy. About 2% of the viral SOD was subsequently detected in gradient-purified mitochondria extracted from virus-infected cells. These poxviral SOD homologs do not form stable complexes with cellular Cu,Zn-SOD or affect its concentration. We suggest that Leporipoxvirus SOD homologs are catalytically inert decoy proteins that are designed to interfere in the proper metallation and activation of cellular Cu,Zn-SOD. This reaction might be advantageous for tumorigenic poxviruses, since higher levels of superoxide have been proposed to have anti-apoptotic and tumorigenic activity.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Characterization of the effects of vasoactive substances on the bulbus arteriosus of the eel, Anguilla rostrata.

The fish bulbus arteriosus (BA) smooths cardiac output by expanding during cardiac systole and rebounding during diastole, thereby providing constant perfusion of the gills downstream. Published data have demonstrated innervation of the teleost BA and shown that the tension and compliance of the BA responded to vasoactive agonists, such as epinephrine and acetylcholine, suggesting that the BA was more than a mere "windkessel." To examine vasoactivity in the BA more directly, we measured the responses of isolated tissue rings from the BA of the eel, Anguilla rostrata to a suite of putative vasoactive agonists, which had been shown to affect vascular smooth muscle in a variety of teleosts. The BA of the eel was insensitive to acetylcholine but constricted when endothelin (ET-1) was applied. Nitric oxide, sodium nitroprusside (SNP; NO donor), natriuretic peptides (NP), and prostaglandin E1 (but not the prostacyclin agonist carbaprostacyclin) produced significant dilation in the BA. Since both ET-1 and sarafotoxin S6c produced concentration-dependent constriction, it appears that endothelin receptor B-type (ETB) receptors (and possibly ETA receptors) are present. The dilation produced by SNP was also concentration dependent, as were the dilations produced by porcine C-type natriuretic peptide, eel atrial natriuretic peptide (NP receptor agonists), Sulprostone and Butaprost (PGE receptor agonists). Our data demonstrate that the BA of eel is responsive to a variety of vasoactive agonists, suggesting that the BA is under neurohumoral control. The role of agonist-induced changes in BA tension in fish cardiovascular physiology remains to be determined, as do the specific receptor types involved.

Anguilla↗

Compensation for hypercapnia by a euryhaline elasmobranch: effect of salinity and roles of gills and kidneys in fresh water.

Specimens of the euryhaline elasmobranch, Dasyatis sabina were acclimated to seawater and fresh water, and exposed to normocapnic (air) and hypercapnic (1% CO2 in air) environmental water. Blood pH, PCO2, and [HCO3-], as well as whole-animal net-acid excretion, were measured for up to 24 h of hypercapnia. In a separate experimental series, urine was collected from freshwater acclimated stingrays during 8 h of normocapnia and hypercapnia. Stingrays in both salinities at least partially compensated for the respiratory acidosis by accumulating HCO3- in their extracellular spaces. The degree of compensation for blood pH was 88.5% in seawater, but only 31.0% in fresh water after 24 h of hypercapnia. Whole-animal net-acid excretion was also greater in seawater than in fresh water, as was the increase in extracellular fluid [HCO3-]. Mean urinary net-acid excretion rates were slightly negative, and never increased above normocapnic control rates during hypercapnia. Since whole-animal net-acid excretion rates increased with blood [HCO3-], and urinary excretion was always negative, the gills were probably the primary organ responsible for compensation from environmental hypercapnia. The faster, and more complete, compensation for hypercapnia in seawater than in fresh water for this euryhaline elasmobranch is consistent with data for euryhaline teleosts, and probably reflects Na+-dependent mechanisms of branchial acid excretion.

Animals↗

Characterization of the recombinant joints formed by single-strand annealing reactions in vaccinia virus-infected cells.

Poxviruses appear to use single-strand annealing reactions to recombine linear molecules sharing short (<20 bp) regions of end homology. We have examined the effect of base mismatches and base insertions on the reaction efficiency and used mismatch-containing DNAs to further characterize the polarity of the exonuclease postulated to catalyze these reactions in vivo. Incorporating one or two base substitutions within the 20-bp segment of end homology had little effect on virus-promoted recombination, reducing the frequency of recombinational repair of transfected plasmids only 10-20%. Base insertions were more destabilizing and their presence inhibited recombination 40% (with one insertion) and 75% (with two). The sequence of the recombinants recovered from virus-infected and transfected cells suggested that hybrid DNA is usually formed and then resolved by replication without repair. However, a few of the joints retained sequences suggestive of more complex enzymatic processing in vivo. We also used transfection studies to examine the fate of each of the four strands processed by the vaccinia recombination machinery. The preferential retention of base substitutions located near each of the 5'-ended strands confirmed that virus single-strand annealing reactions are catalyzed primarily by a 3'- to 5'-exonuclease. Other studies showed that mismatch repair reactions do not invalidate these conclusions, even though base excision repair systems are seemingly active and preferentially convert T. G and C. A mismatches to CG base pairs in vaccinia-infected cells.

Animals↗