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Biomedical subjects

G Hunsmann

Publications and source records attributed to G Hunsmann.

At least 199 records · Page 11Linked to original sources
PubMed1985

Seroepidemiology of HTLV-III (LAV) in the Federal Republic of Germany.

In 1984 10,281 sera were collected in the FRG and examined for antibodies to HTLV-III (LAV) with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and confirmative tests. Of the German AIDS patients 81% have antibodies. Individuals belonging to AIDS risk groups, homosexuals, haemophiliacs and i.v. drug abusers, have antibody frequencies between 25%-72%. The detection of HTLV-III antibodies in blood donors indicates that the virus is being transmitted by blood transfusions.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1985

A glycopolypeptide (gp 100) is the main antigen detected by HTLV-III antisera.

Sera from homosexuals and hemophiliacs in Germany were examined for antibodies to human T-lymphotropic retrovirus type III (HTLV-III) by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) against purified virus. ELISA positive sera were used to search by immunoprecipitation for HTLV-III related antigens in a persistently infected human T-cell line. A glycopolypeptide with a mol. wt. of 100 000 was regularly recognized by all positive sera. In analogy to glycosylation and high antigenicity of envelope polypeptides of other mammalian retroviruses, gp 100 seemed to be related to the env gen. Two polypeptides with mol. wts. of 24 000 and 22 000 probably representing viral core polypeptides were additionally detected by sera with high ELISA titers.

Antibodies, Viral↗
PubMed1985

Antibodies to adult T-cell leukemia virus (ATLV/HTLV-I) in AIDS patients and people at risk of AIDS in Germany.

A total of 2048 serum samples from Germany were examined for antibodies to adult T-cell leukemia virus (ATLV) structural polypeptides with an enzyme-linked immuno sorbent assay (ELISA) and confirmative immuno precipitation. The origin of the sera samples was: 850 samples taken for virological or protozoal diagnosis; 626 samples from male homosexuals, about 20% of whom had lymphadenopathy syndrome; 164 from hemophiliacs; 184 were from multiple transfused, mostly dialysis patients; 9 from intravenous drug abusers; 182 from suspected cases of acquired immuno deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and 33 from AIDS-patients. In none of these sera did we detect antibodies to ATLV, except in the serum of one patient who had been on hemodialysis for over 11 years. Obviously infection with ATLV or a serologically related agent is very rare in our country and an association with AIDS could not be observed.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1985

Subunit vaccines against exogenous retroviruses: overview and perspectives.

Vaccines prepared from purified viral envelope complexes are effective against certain animal model tumors induced by exogenous retroviruses. Related viruses have recently been isolated from humans and obviously cause adult T-cell leukemia and the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Knowledge accumulated in experiments with subunit vaccines against animal retroviruses could help to develop immunopreventive regimens against human retroviruses.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1984

Major oligosaccharides in the glycoprotein of Friend murine leukemia virus: structure elucidation by one- and two-dimensional proton nuclear magnetic resonance and methylation analysis.

The highly microheterogeneous, N-glycosidically linked oligosaccharides in the glycoproteins of Friend murine leukemia virus (as produced by Eveline cells) were liberated with endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase H and by alkaline hydrolysis. They were fractionated (as desialylated oligosaccharitols) by gel filtration and by concanavalin A affinity chromatography, and the major fractions were analyzed by methylation-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, by digestion with exoglycosidases, and, especially, by one- and two-dimensional proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Guidelines for qualitative and quantitative analysis of complex oligosaccharide mixtures by NMR were worked out and the results compared with those obtained by methylation analysis. It was found that these major fractions consist of bi-, tri-, and tetraantennary oligosaccharitols of the "complex" type (comprising a minority of species with N-acetyllactosamine repeating units), which are, in part, substituted by nonreducing terminal Gal alpha (1----3) and/or bisecting GlcNAc beta (1----4) residues.

Acetylglucosaminidase↗
PubMed1984

Characterization of African green monkey B-cell lines releasing an adult T-cell leukemia-virus-related agent.

Eight lymphoblastoid cell lines were established from the peripheral blood of individual African green monkeys (AGM). The AGM-2206 line grew out spontaneously. The others - AGM-6, 7, 8, 10, 12, 13, and 16 - were obtained after infection of peripheral AGM lymphocytes with cell-free culture supernatant of AGM-2206. All lines contained, and were probably transformed by, AGM-EBV. Moreover, they expressed immunoglobulins but lacked the Leu l T-cell marker. Thus they were B cells. Since a high percentage of AGMs are naturally infected with a virus similar to adult T-cell leukemia virus (ATLV), we examined these cell lines for ATLV. With immunofluorescence tests we detected ATLV-related antigens (ATLA) in three of the eight cell lines. EBV membrane antigen was present in three out of four. The highest percentage (40%) of ATLA-positive cells was found in the AGM-13 line. After metabolic labelling of these cells, ATLV-specific polypeptides p24, p19, p15, and p10 were detected. Hybridization experiments showed that both AGM-2206 and AGM-13 cell lines contained ATLV-proviral DNA. Electron micrographs of AGM-13 revealed a few type-C particles morphologically similar to the MT-2 virus. By cocultivation this AGM virus was able to infect and immortalize human peripheral blood lymphocytes. One such human cell line, NA-13, expressed polypeptides closely related to ATLV core antigens but a 68,000 mol.wt. glycopolypeptide was serologically distinct from MT-2 ATLV gp68.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

The glycoprotein 71 of ecotropic Friend murine leukemia virus. Structure of the oligosaccharides linked to asparagine-12.

The glycoprotein from Friend murine leukemia virus was digested with protease from Staphylococcus aureus V8. A glycopeptide comprising the N-terminal glycosylation site (Asn-12) was isolated from the mixture of fragments and analyzed by amino acid sequencing and methylation-capillary gas chromatography-mass spectrometry before and after treatment with sialidase from Vibrio cholerae. Asn-12 was thus found to be substituted by a family of partially sialylated, fucosylated, and intersected glycoprotein N-glycans of the hybrid type.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1984

Sera from adult T-cell leukemia patients react with envelope and core polypeptides of adult T-cell leukemia virus.

Sera from five Japanese patients with adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) showed in the immunofluorescence test for ATL-associated antigen (ATLA) titers ranging from 320 to 1280. Control sera from three healthy adults were negative. These eight sera were used to immunoprecipitate radiolabeled polypeptides from three cell lines infected with adult T-cell leukemia virus (ATLV) and two noninfected human cell lines. Cells were labeled either metabolically with [35S]cysteine, [35S]methionine, or [3H]glucosamine, or chemically with 125-iodine. Immunoprecipitates from cells, virus, and concanavalin A-enriched supernatants were analyzed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Cells producing ATLV contain gp68, the putative precursor to ATLV envelope polypeptides, gp46, and possibly p15, in addition to several nonglycosylated polypeptides between 40 to 70 kDa. Gp46 is shed into the culture medium and appears to be loosely attached to the viral and cellular surface. After purification on density gradients viral particles contain immunoreactive p24, p19, p15, and small amounts of gp46. Kinetics of synthesis, distribution, size, biochemical characteristics, and immunoreactivity of these polypeptides strongly suggest that most of them are structural components of ATLV or their precursors. Apparently, the intracellular ATLA complex predominantly represents precursors of viral structural polypeptides and gp46 is the viral envelope glycopolypeptide.

Antibodies, Viral↗
PubMed1984

Translation of HTLV (human T-cell leukemia virus) RNA in a nuclease-treated rabbit reticulocyte system.

A human type-C retrovirus, designated HTLV (human T-cell leukemia virus), was isolated from the HTLV producer cell line MT-2. Agarose gel electrophoresis analysis 32P-labeled HTLVMT-2 virion RNA revealed that HTLVMT-2 virion RNA consists mainly of 24S and small amounts of 35S and 32S RNAs. The 24S HTLVMT-2 virion RNA and unfractionated HTLVMT-2 virion RNA were translated in a rabbit reticulocyte lysate system in vitro. The predominant polypeptide synthesized from 24S RNA had an apparent mol. wt. of 28 000 (28 K); unfractionated HTLVMT-2 virion RNA directed the synthesis of 53 000 (53 K), 33 000 (33 K) and 28 000 (28 K) polypeptides as main components. Most of the polypeptides synthesised in vitro by translation of HTLVMT-2 virion RNAs possess the same sizes as the proteins formerly designated as ATLA (ATL-associated antigen) in SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunologically precipitated with sera of ATL patients. Therefore, the antigens termed ATLA, found by the serological study of ATL, are HTLVMT-2 encoded polypeptides.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Structural and immunological characterization of Friend murine leukaemia virus glycopolypeptide using synthetic oligopeptides.

Using terminal position, hydrophilicity, predicted reverse turns and type specificity as criteria, five oligopeptides were selected for synthesis from the amino acid sequence of the envelope glycopolypeptide gp70 of Friend murine leukaemia virus. These peptides corresponded to the amino acids 6-12 (pep1), 124-131 (pep2), 256-262 (pep3), 283-290 (pep4) and 434-441 (pep5). After coupling to carriers, bovine serum albumin or keyhole limpet hemocyanin, antisera were prepared in rabbits. All of the five oligopeptides were immunogenic and pep1, pep2, pep4 and pep5 were able to elicit antibodies to the native glycopolypeptide. These sequence-specific antisera distinguished between glycoproteins of different leukaemia viruses. At least three of the selected peptides, the type-specific oligopeptides pep3, pep4 and pep5, were found to be natural epitopes of gp70.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1984

Experimental infection of cynomolgus monkeys with a human retrovirus, adult T-cell leukemia virus.

The experimental infection of six cynomolgus monkeys with adult T-cell leukemia virus (ATLV) was attempted. Three animals were inoculated with living MT-2 cells and three with cell-free ATLV. All animals developed an antibody response to virus-specific glycopolypeptides and viral core polypeptides. ATLV-specific antigens appeared in peripheral lymphocytes from all six animals. Virus expression persisted in all animals. Up to 40 weeks after inoculation no animal developed any symptom of leukemia.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Expression of HTLV-specific polypeptides in various human T-cell lines.

The adult T-cell leukemia (ATL)-associated antigen complex (ATLA) was first discovered with indirect immunofluorescence by Hinuma et al. (1981). Biochemical analysis with MT-2 cells revealed that ATLA consisted mainly of human T-cell leukemia virus (HTLV) structural polypeptides and their precursors (Yamamoto and Hinuma 1982a; Schneider et al. 1984). In this study, we have investigated the molecular nature of the ATLA antigen complex in various HTLV-positive human cell lines established by different methods including independently established HTLV-infected HUT 102 cells. We found that HTLVs infecting these cell lines have similar core polypeptides, p24 and p19, as well as an envelope glycopolypeptide, gp46, in all these cells. The intracellular gp61 and p53 appear to be precursors of the viral envelope and core polypeptides, respectively. Interestingly, MT-2 and MT-2 related T-cell lines contain two different species of envelope proteins, gp68 and gp61, whereas cell lines not related to MT-2 express only gp61.

Antigens, Viral↗
PubMed1984

Antibodies to ATLV/HTLV-1 in Africa.

Almost 4000 sera from seven African states were examined for antibodies to ATLV/HTLV-1. Between 1% and 8% of healthy people from sub-Saharan Africa have such antibodies. The highest frequency was observed in Gabon. There were considerable variations between villages. The percentage of seropositives and the mean titre increased with age. Our findings suggest that the African continent is the largest endemic area for ATLV.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Precursor polypeptides of adult T-cell leukaemia virus: detection with antisera against isolated polypeptides gp68, p24 and p19.

Sera of individuals infected with adult T-cell leukaemia virus (ATLV) react predominantly with the polypeptides gp68, p24 and p19. These polypeptides were isolated from ATLV-infected MT-2 cells and virus. The radioiodinated polypeptides were used to quantify respective antibodies in individual ATLV carrier sera. Heteroantisera prepared in rabbits against isolated polypeptides facilitated studies on the biosynthesis of the core and envelope polypeptides of ATLV. Pulse-chase experiments revealed a polypeptide of mol. wt. 48 000 (48K) as the precursor to the core polypeptides p24 and p19. A 28K polypeptide related to p19 appeared to be an early side-product of the gag gene or a translate of a defective viral message. Antiserum to the putative env gene product gp68 recognized gp68, gp66 and small amounts of gp62. In tunicamycin-treated cells gp68, gp66 and gp62 were no longer synthesized, but a 54K polypeptide reacted with antiserum to gp68. Polypeptide p54 is structurally related to gp68 and therefore apparently represents the unglycosylated form of gp68. Moreover, the apparent mol. wt. of p54 and p48 agree with those predicted for respective env and gag precursors from the nucleotide sequence of an ATLV provirus.

Antibodies, Viral↗
PubMed1984

Human adult T-cell leukaemia virus is distinct from a similar isolate of Japanese monkeys.

We have compared the structural polypeptides of an adult T-cell leukaemia (ATL) virus (ATLV) isolate from a Japanese patient with ATL with those of a similar virus derived from a Japanese macaque monkey. Both are distinct but related entities. Their core polypeptides p19 could not be distinguished, but p24, another core polypeptide, and their envelope glycopolypeptides differ. The human virus directs the synthesis of a single intracellular glycopolypeptide, gp68, while the macaque virus specifies two such glycopolypeptides, gp57 and gp50. Furthermore, the glycopolypeptides of both viruses are serologically distinct. Thus, these viruses represent subtypes of the ATLV family and the macaque virus is apparently not involved in human ATL.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Monoclonal antibodies recognizing structural components of murine retroviruses including an FMR antigen on protein p12.

Monoclonal antibodies were prepared from mice and rats immunized with Friend leukaemia virus and BALB/c xenotropic virus. By immunoprecipitation of 125I-labelled and [35S]methionine-labelled viruses and by protein blotting, ten antibodies were found to react with the viral components p12, p15, p30, gp70 and p15E/p12E. A dot-immunobinding assay was found to be a reliable method to type the antibody reactivity with different murine leukaemia viruses (MuLVs). When tested on a panel of ecotropic and xenotropic MuLVs the antibodies revealed the following antigenic specificities: ecotrop-specific on p15E/p12E; xenotrop-specific on p15E; group-specific on p30 and p15E; FM-specific on gp70; FR-specific on gp70 and p15. Of particular interest is a cytotoxic antibody recognizing an FMR determinant localized on p12.

Animals↗