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Biomedical subjects

I Holmes

Publications and source records attributed to I Holmes.

10 recordsLinked to original sources

Rotavirus VP7 epitope mapping using fragments of VP7 displayed on phages.

cDNA copies of the complete porcine rotavirus CRW-8 VP7 gene were randomly digested to fragments of about 30-60 or 30-500 base pairs by DNase1 in the presence of Mn(2+). The fragments were cloned and expressed in a filamentous phage fd-tet-derived vector to create specific-gene-related peptide libraries. Polyclonal antibodies were then used to pan the SGRP libraries for antibody-binding phages. Analysis of the phage isolates revealed that the majority (86%) of them only had a single insert. However, phages displaying composite inserts containing the VP7 antigenic regions A, B, and C, originally defined by neutralising monoclonal antibody escape mutants, were also isolated. Inserts containing A or C region peptide were found to contain extra sequences from the C region, while the B region epitope was linear and had additional sequence from either upstream or downstream. In addition a dominant and possibly non-neutralising VP7 epitope was identified around amino acids 263-270. One of the recreated antigenic epitopes has also been fused to the outer membrane protein A (OmpA) of Escherichia coli and shown to maintain its antigenicity. The results in this study may have significant implication for recreation of conformational epitopes and vaccine development.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Bacterial expression of the major antigenic regions of porcine rotavirus VP7 induces a neutralizing immune response in mice.

The outer capsid protein of rotavirus, VP7, is a major neutralization antigen. A chimeric protein comprising Escherichia coli (E. coli) outer membrane protein A (OmpA) and part of porcine rotavirus VP7 containing all three antigenic regions (217 amino acids) was expressed in Salmonella and E. coli as an outer-membrane associated protein. Mice immunized intraperitoneally or orally, respectively, with live E. coli or Salmonella cells expressing this chimeric protein produced antibodies against native VP7 as determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and neutralization tests. This indicates that the VP7 fragment from a porcine rotavirus which is antigenically similar to human rotavirus serotype 3, when expressed in bacteria as a chimeric protein, can form a structure resembling its native form at least in some of the major neutralization domains. These results indicate that the use of a live bacterial vector expressing rotavirus VP7 may represent a strategy for the development of vaccines against rotavirus-induced diarrhoea in infants.

Animals↗

Dynamic programming alignment accuracy.

Algorithms for generating alignments of biological sequences have inherent statistical limitations when it comes to the accuracy of the alignments they produce. Using simulations, we measure the accuracy of the standard global dynamic programming method and show that it can be reasonably well modelled by an "edge wander" approximation to the distribution of the optimal scoring path around the correct path in the vicinity of a gap. We also give a table from which accuracy values can be predicted for commonly used scoring schemes and sequence divergences (the PAM and BLOSUM series). Finally we describe how to calculate the expected accuracy of a given alignment, and show how this can be used to construct an optimal accuracy alignment algorithm which generates significantly more accurate alignments than standard dynamic programming methods in simulated experiments.

Algorithms↗

Interaction between furosemide and the converting enzyme inhibitor benazepril in healthy volunteers.

Single oral doses of 10 mg converting enzyme inhibitor benazepril (CGS 14824A) and 40 mg furosemide were administered to 12 healthy male volunteers either separately or concomitantly. The pharmacokinetic parameters of benazepril were not influenced by coadministration of furosemide. Urinary excretion of total furosemide was significantly reduced by 10 to 20% in the presence of benazepril. This effect was considered clinically insignificant. Erect blood pressure decreased and pulse rate increased only during concomitant treatment.

Adult↗

Effectiveness and tolerability of CV-3988, a selective PAF antagonist, after intravenous administration to man.

1. The efficacy and tolerability of CV-3988, a selective PAF antagonist with structural analogies with PAF, were studied after intravenous infusion in man. 2. The compound, in doses from 750 to 2,000 micrograms kg-1, significantly reduced platelet sensitivity for PAF. The threshold aggregating concentration (TAC) of PAF, expressed in % of the mean predosing value, increased in a dose dependent manner reaching 356 +/- 162% of the basal TAC at the end and 266 +/- 123% of the basal TAC 4 h after infusion of the highest dose. The TAC of PAF returned to the basal value within 24 h after the end of the infusion. 3. CV-3988 did not cause major side effects nor changes in blood pressure, pulse and respiratory rate. However, small but clinically insignificant changes in plasma haemoglobin and serum haptoglobin were seen at the end and 4 h after the end of the infusion, indicating a slight haemolysis. 4. Our results indicate that, when adequate infusion volumes and infusion rates are used, CV-3988 can safely be administered to man and should be useful in elucidating the role of PAF in disease.

Adult↗

[Biochemical study of rotavirus strains isolated in New Caledonia between 1980 and 1983. Electrophoretypes].

Between 1980 and 1983, 150 Rotavirus strains have been identified by ELISA test. RNA was extracted from 90 strains. We used a very simple and rapid extraction technique. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis permits the separation of double stranded RNA segments. The system of classification we retained, allows to recognize 8 classes of electrophoretypes. This study confirms the great variability of human rotaviruses.

Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel↗