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Biomedical subjects

G Conti

Publications and source records attributed to G Conti.

At least 289 records · Page 16Linked to original sources

Cerulenin inhibits production of mature virion particles in chick embryo fibroblasts infected by influenza A viruses.

We investigated acylation of haemagglutinin (HA) of type A influenza viruses during infection of permissive chick embryo fibroblasts (CEF) treated with cerulenin. Fatty acid binding was monitored using a maintenance medium containing 3H-palmitic acid. Our results suggest that fatty acid acylation of viral haemagglutinin may be essential for production of mature viral particles. Indeed, palmitoylation was found in infected CEF cells, but was lacking during the infectious cycle when cells were treated with a dose of 30 micrograms/ml of cerulenin. We discuss the possibility that acylation of virus-induced HA is a posttranslational modification regulating correct insertion of virus haemagglutinin into the cellular membrane and, as a consequence, controlling the maturation of budding influenza virus.

Acylation↗

Inhibition of late influenza virus genome expression by diamidinophenylindole.

The growth cycle of influenza virus strain FPV, Ulster 73, was altered by treatment of LLC-MK2 cells with diamidinophenylindole. Viral protein synthesis was restricted to the early pattern of virus multiplication, and post-treatment experiments showed the ability of the drug to block virus replication until the 4th hour p.i. Drug addition (followed by removal) revealed the inhibition of synthesis of late viral products, and especially of membrane protein. Kinetic studies on the production of viral RNA indicated a decrease in the synthesis of late virus-induced RNA species, suggesting that the target of DAPI is probably the late transcription of the virus genome. The nonpermissive condition mediated by the drug could represent a suitable model to study cellular intervention during viral growth.

Capsid↗

Continuous monitoring by biplane transesophageal echocardiography of pulmonary and paradoxical embolism.

Paradoxical embolism is considered a relatively uncommon disease. Continuous biplane transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) was performed in a 64-year-old woman who had an acute pulmonary embolism. TEE showed an elongated formation highly mobile within both atria. It was trapped in the interatrial septum, passing through a patent foramen ovale. Systemic embolism of the right arm was noted. The patient died 5 hours after admission, and postmortem examination confirmed the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism. This case demonstrates the potential utility of TEE in the study of patients with suspected paradoxical embolism.

Echocardiography, Transesophageal↗

Role of acylation of viral haemagglutinin during the influenza virus infectious cycle.

We investigated fatty acid residues bound to the haemagglutinin (HA) of type A influenza viruses by growing the viruses in permissive chick embryo fibroblasts (CEF) and in non-permissive HeLa-229 cells using a maintenance medium containing 3H-palmitic acid. Our results suggest that fatty acid acylation of the major viral glycoprotein may be an important prerequisite for the production of mature viral particles. Indeed, palmitoylation is found in infected CEF, but is completely lacking in non-permissive HeLa-229 cells infected by the same virus strains. We conclude that this type of post-translational modification of virus HA glycoprotein could be a general phenomenon regulating the maturation and budding of influenza virus.

Acylation↗