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Biomedical subjects

H L Gibson

Publications and source records attributed to H L Gibson.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

A carboxyl-terminal fragment of Plasmodium falciparum gp195 expressed by a recombinant baculovirus induces antibodies that completely inhibit parasite growth.

The major merozoite surface Ag (gp195) of Plasmodium falciparum has been shown to protect monkeys against parasite infection, and gp195-based synthetic peptides and recombinant polypeptides have been evaluated as potential malaria vaccines. A major problem in developing a gp195-based recombinant vaccine has been the difficulty in obtaining a recombinant polypeptide that is immunologically equivalent to the native protein. In this study, the carboxyl-terminal processing fragment (p42) of gp195 was produced in yeast and in a baculovirus recombinant system. Immunologic analyses indicated that the secreted baculovirus p42 (BVp42) expressed native, disulfide-dependent conformational epitopes, whereas these epitopes were poorly represented in the intracellular yeast p42. BVp42, but not yeast p42, was also recognized by the majority of gp195-specific antibodies of animals immunized with purified native gp195, indicating that the anti-gp195 response of these animals was focused on conformational determinants of the p42 processing fragment. Sera against native gp195 of congenic mice of diverse H-2 haplotypes recognized the BVp42 polypeptide, demonstrating that a genetically heterogeneous population is capable of responding to p42 epitopes. BVp42 was highly immunogenic and induced high titers of antibodies that were cross-reactive with purified native gp195 in an ELISA and also reacted with schizonts and merozoites by immunofluorescence. Anti-BVp42 antibodies completely inhibited the in vitro growth of the malaria parasite, whereas anti-yeast p42 antibodies had no effect. These results indicate that native, conformational epitopes of p42 are critical for the induction of gp195-specific, parasite growth-inhibitory antibodies and that the BVp42 polypeptide efficiently induces antibodies specific for these native determinants.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Vaccinia virus recombinants expressing chimeric proteins of human immunodeficiency virus and gamma interferon are attenuated for nude mice.

We have developed a method for attenuating vaccinia virus recombinants by expressing a fusion protein of a lymphokine and an immunogen. Chimeric genes were constructed that coded for gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) and structural proteins of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). In this study, we describe the biological and immunological properties of vaccinia virus recombinants expressing chimeric genes of murine or human IFN-gamma with glycoprotein gp120, gag, and a fragment of gp41. All fusion proteins retained the antigenic characteristics of both IFN-gamma and HIV as shown by immunoblot analysis. However, the antiviral activity of IFN-gamma could be demonstrated only for the IFN-gamma-gag fusion protein. In contrast, the attenuating activity of IFN-gamma for nude mice was retained by all of the recombinants, albeit at various rates. Unlike the antiviral activity, the attenuating activity of IFN-gamma was not species specific. Implications for the development of attenuated live recombinant vaccines for AIDS are discussed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1992

Structure and expression of the gene for Pv200, a major blood-stage surface antigen of Plasmodium vivax.

Molecular cloning and structure analysis of the gene encoding the Pv200 protein of the Sal-1 strain of Plasmodium vivax revealed an overall identity of 34-37% when the deduced amino acid sequence was compared with the sequences of various major merozoite surface antigens of Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium yoelii and Plasmodium chabaudi. When the Sal-1 Pv200 sequence was compared with the corresponding sequence from the Belèm strain of P. vivax, it was found that the two merozoite surface antigens were relatively well conserved with an overall amino acid sequence identity of 81%. A region of 23 repeated glutamine residues, found in the sequence of the Belèm isolate was not found, however, in the Sal-1 sequence. Amino- and carboxy-terminal domains of the Pv200 protein were expressed in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Each recombinant protein was shown to react with antibodies in sera from splenectomized Bolivian Saimiri monkeys that had been infected previously with P. vivax, and in human sera from individuals with a history of exposure to vivax malaria. The availability of recombinant DNA-derived Pv200 proteins will now allow a full assessment of their utility in the diagnosis and immunoprophylaxis of the benign tertian malaria associated with P. vivax infection.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1992

Muramyl peptide adjuvants for Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax circumsporozoite vaccines in rodent model systems.

Circumsporozoite proteins from the malaria parasites Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax were expressed at high levels in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Recombinant proteins varied both in length and in number of the natural amino acid repeat motifs. The proteins were purified and used to immunize mice, guinea pigs, and rabbits. Novel muramyl peptide adjuvants were used that increased the immune response as measured by ELISA assays, indirect immunofluorescence of fixed sporozoites, and the invasion of cultured liver cells by live sporozoites. These results suggest that an improved humoral response to recombinant circumsporozoite vaccines might be achieved by varying the design of the recombinant protein and by the use of novel adjuvant systems.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed1991

Recombinant Pfs25 protein of Plasmodium falciparum elicits malaria transmission-blocking immunity in experimental animals.

Pfs25 is a sexual stage antigen of Plasmodium falciparum that is expressed on the surface of zygote and ookinete forms of the parasite. Monoclonal antibodies directed against native Pfs25 can block completely the development of P. falciparum oocysts in the midgut of the mosquito vector. Thus, this 25-kD protein is a potential vaccine candidate for eliciting transmission-blocking immunity in inhabitants of malaria endemic regions. We have synthesized, by secretion from yeast, a polypeptide analogue of Pfs25 that reacts with conformation-dependent monoclonal antibodies, and elicits transmission-blocking antibodies when used to immunize mice and monkeys in conjunction with a muramyl tripeptide adjuvant. Our results suggest the further evaluation of recombinant DNA-derived Pfs25 in transmission-blocking vaccination studies in humans.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Immunogenicity of recombinant Plasmodium falciparum SERA proteins in rodents.

We have expressed defined regions of the serine-repeat antigen (SERA) of the Honduras-1 strain of Plasmodium falciparum in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Amino-terminal domains of the natural SERA protein have been shown previously to be targets for parasite-inhibitory murine monoclonal antibodies. Two recombinant SERA antigens were selected for purification and immunological analysis. The first (SERA 1), corresponding to amino acids 24-285 of the natural SERA precursor, was expressed by the ubiquitin fusion method. This allowed for in vivo cleavage by endogenous yeast ubiquitin hydrolase, and subsequent isolation of the mature polypeptide. The second, larger protein (SERA N), encompassing amino acids 24-506, was expressed at only low levels using this system, but could be isolated in high yields when fused to human gamma-interferon (gamma-IFN). Each purified protein was used to immunize mice with either Freund's adjuvant or a muramyl tripeptide adjuvant that has been used in humans. Sera from immunized mice were shown to be capable of in vitro inhibition of invasion of erythrocytes by the Honduras-1 strain of P. falciparum. The results suggest that a recombinant SERA antigen may be an effective component of a candidate malaria vaccine.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Characterization of the human immunodeficiency virus type-1 reverse transcriptase enzyme produced in yeast.

The reverse transcriptase (RT) of human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) is comprised of two subunits of approximately 66kD and 51kD. We have defined the carboxyl terminus of the 51kD molecule using the 66kD RT and HIV-1 protease (PR) expressed in yeast. Precise constructs encoding the 66kD and 51kD molecules were expressed individually, in yeast, at high levels. The purified recombinant subunits were shown to associate into heterodimers that retained both RT and RNase H activities. Only the 66kD molecule could associate into homodimers. Such homodimers retained approximately 80% of the RT activity of the heterodimers. Our data demonstrates that the 51/66kD heterodimer, analogous to that found in vivo, can be reconstituted in vitro and is more efficient in both RT and RNase H activity than the homodimer.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1990

Human fur gene encodes a yeast KEX2-like endoprotease that cleaves pro-beta-NGF in vivo.

Extracts from BSC-40 cells infected with vaccinia recombinants expressing either the yeast KEX2 prohormone endoprotease or a human structural homologue (fur gene product) contained an elevated level of a membrane-associated endoproteolytic activity that could cleave at pairs of basic amino acids (-LysArg- and -ArgArg-). The fur-directed activity (furin) shared many properties with Kex2p including activity at pH 7.3 and a requirement for calcium. By using antifurin antibodies, immunoblot analysis detected two furin translation products (90 and 96 kD), while immunofluorescence indicated localization to the Golgi apparatus. Coexpression of either Kex2p or furin with the mouse beta-nerve growth factor precursor (pro-beta-NGF) resulted in greatly enhanced conversion of the precursor to mature nerve growth factor. Thus, the sequence homology shared by furin and the yeast KEX2 prohormone processing enzyme is reflected by significant functional homology both in vitro and in vivo.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1990

Further studies on the immunization of Saimiri sciureus boliviensis with recombinant vaccines based on the circumsporozoite protein of Plasmodium vivax.

Reported are the results of a trial in squirrel monkeys of 2 Plasmodium vivax malaria vaccine candidates based on the circumsporozoite (CS) protein, namely, rPvCs-2 and rPvCS-3. Compared with an earlier recombinant P. vivax CS construct, rPvCS-1, rPvCS-2 has an additional 24 amino acids at the C-terminal, which includes the thrombospondin region of homology and a putative T cell epitope. The rPvCS-3 was generated from a chemically synthesized gene that contained an additional 54 amino acids at the amino terminus and terminates at the same carboxy-terminal amino acid as rPvCS-2. In addition, rPvCS-3 contained only 1 each of the repeat sequences DRADGQPAG and DRAAGQPAG. Both antigens were administered with alum as adjuvant. Neither formulation caused toxic side effects and both recombinant molecules induced high antibody titers. Two monkeys were protected against sporozoite challenge by immunization with rPvCS-2 antigen, while none of the rPvCS-3 immunized animals displayed any degree of protection. While there was no correlation between protection and antibody titer or the in vitro proliferation of lymphocytes in response to the antigens, this is further evidence to support the role of the repeating epitopes in generating protective immunity.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1989

N myristylation of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 gag polyprotein precursor in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

A semisynthetic gene precisely encoding the 502 amino acids of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 gag precursor (Pr53gag) was expressed in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Amino acid sequence analysis of the recombinant Pr53gag showed that the amino terminus was fully blocked. Labeling of Pr53gag with [3H]myristic acid demonstrated that, as with Pr53gag isolated from virus-infected cells, the yeast-derived protein was demethionylated and N myristylated on glycine, the second amino acid residue.

Gene Products, gag↗
PubMed1989

Characterization of antithrombins produced by active site mutagenesis of human alpha 1-antitrypsin expressed in yeast.

Both congenital and acquired antithrombin-III (AT-III) deficiencies are amenable to replacement therapy. We describe two antithrombins produced by recombinant DNA techniques from human alpha 1-antitrypsin (alpha 1AT) cDNA in yeast. Alteration of the alpha 1AT active site, replacing methionine 358 with arginine, results in a thrombin inhibition rate similar to that of heparin-activated AT-III. Alteration of two further residues, to give a five-residue sequence identical to AT-III, does not increase this rate further. Neither antithrombin is activated by heparin; both are unglycosylated and have shorter in vivo half-lives (t1/2) than human alpha 1AT. These antithrombins should be suitable for therapeutic replacement of AT-III in cases of congenital deficiency and in conditions associated with acquired AT-III deficiency, such as disseminated intravascular coagulation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1987

Expression in yeast of a Plasmodium vivax antigen of potential use in a human malaria vaccine.

DNA coding for 234 amino acids of the circumsporozoite (CS) protein of Plasmodium vivax was incorporated into yeast expression vectors. The DNA encoded all the repeat domain and codons for a highly conserved sequence, KLKQP, found in CS proteins from all malaria parasites. Yeast cells transformed with these autonomously replicating plasmids expressed, upon induction, high levels of the CS polypeptide. The malaria antigen was purified in good yields from yeast extracts and was injected into mice using alum as adjuvant. The antibodies recognized the authentic CS protein, and at high dilutions, they inhibited the invasion of hepatocytes by sporozoites in vitro.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Induction of sporozoite-specific memory cells in mice immunized with a recombinant Plasmodium vivax circumsporozoite protein.

A recombinant Plasmodium vivax circumsporozoite (CS) protein (rPvCS-1) has been investigated as a possible malaria sporozoite vaccine candidate. Experiments were carried out to determine whether sporozoite-specific memory cells develop in Swiss Webster mice immunized with rPvCS-1. Challenge of rPvCS-1-immunized mice with P. vivax sporozoites resulted in a 100-fold increase in the mean serum anti-sporozoite antibody titer. The presence of parasite-specific T helper cells was demonstrated using an in vitro assay. Anti-CS antibodies were detected in the culture supernatants of spleen cells of rPvCS-1-immunized mice following in vitro challenge with P. vivax sporozoite extract. Immune spleen cells depleted of T cells did not produce antibodies when challenged with sporozoite extract in vitro. In conclusion, immunization of mice with the rPvCS-1 protein induced memory T cells which recognized native CS antigen and functioned as T helper cells in the production of anti-sporozoite antibodies both in vivo and in vitro.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Recombinant DNA-derived forms of human alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor. Studies on the alanine 358 and cysteine 358 substituted mutants.

The specificity and reactivity of human alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor has been investigated by in vitro mutagenesis of the reactive site P1 methionine 358 residue to alanine 358 and cysteine 358. A comparison of the second-order association rates of both uncharged mutants with 9 serine proteinases indicated that each reacted similarly to either the normal plasma inhibitor or to a mutant containing valine in this position (Travis, J., Owen, M., George, P., Carrell, R., Rosenberg, S., Hallewell, R. A., and Barr, P. J. (1985) J. Biol. Chem. 260, 4384-4389) when tested against either neutrophil or pancreatic elastase. However, oxidation, carboxymethylation, or aminoethylation of the cysteine mutant to yield a charged P1 residue resulted in a significant decrease in association rates with both elastolytic enzymes, and aminoethylation created an excellent trypsin and plasmin inhibitor. These results indicate that the specificity of alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor is determined in a general manner by the class of amino acid residue in the P1 position. Substitution within the same category, such as from valine to alanine or cysteine among the aliphatic hydrophobic residues, has little effect on association rates with the elastolytic enzymes tested. However, alteration from an uncharged to a charged residue may cause considerable changes in both inhibitor specificity and reactivity as noted here with the cysteine derivatives and also previously with a natural variant in which methionine 358 to arginine 358 conversion resulted in the production of a potent thrombin inhibitor (Owen, M. C., Brennan, S. O., Lewis, J. H., and Carrell, R. W. (1983) N. Engl. J. Med. 309, 694-698).

Alanine↗