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J Stanley

Publications and source records attributed to J Stanley.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources

Interactive effects of alpha-interferon A/D and interleukin 2 on murine lymphokine-activated killer activity: analysis at the effector and precursor level.

Studies from our laboratory and others have demonstrated that alpha-interferon (IFN alpha) can regulate natural killer cells and lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cell activation. In vitro experiments have shown that IFN alpha has differential effects on both natural killer cells and LAK activity when combined with interleukin 2 (IL2); IFN alpha synergized with IL2 to augment natural killer cells activity while it suppressed the IL2-induced LAK response. Here we demonstrated that IFN alpha A/D can also regulate IL2-induced LAK activity in vivo with enhanced or suppressed activity depending on the IFN alpha A/D dose. The enhanced response was observed with the combination when 80,000 units/day of IFN alpha A/D were used and was detectable in the spleen, lung, and peritoneum. When a high dose of IFN alpha A/D was combined with IL2, a moderate reduction in LAK activity was noted in the spleen and peritoneum. In contrast, a high dose IFN alpha A/D augmented IL2-induced LAK activity in the lung even though it reduced the level of cellular infiltration. We have also evaluated the effect that IL2, IFN alpha A/D, and IL2 plus IFN alpha A/D have on the frequency of LAK precursors in the spleen and lung using limiting dilution analysis. Treatment of normal mice with IL2 alone increased the frequency of LAK precursor (LAKp) in the lung. This increase was associated with an infiltration of Thy-1+, asialo-GM1+, Lyt-2- lymphocytes into the lungs. Moreover, treatment with IL2 plus IFN alpha A/D enhanced the frequency of LAKp over that observed with IL2 alone. Treatment with the combination did not change the phenotype of LAKp in the lung from that seen with IL2. The increase in LAKp frequency induced by the combined treatment may not be a direct effect of IFN alpha A/D on precursor cells since IFN alpha A/D alone did not increase the frequency of LAKp in vivo or in vitro when added to limiting dilution analysis cultures. In contrast to what occurred in the lung, a consistent increase in LAKp was not seen in the spleen after treatment with IL2 or with the combination, although LAK activity was observed. These results demonstrated that in addition to inducing lytic activity from LAK effectors in vivo, IL2 treatment increased the number of precursor cells within the lung. Moreover, IFN alpha A/D in combination with IL2 influenced the level of LAKp in situ.

Animals↗

Interrelationship between signals transduced by phytohemagglutinin and interleukin 1.

In the murine cell line LBRM-331A5, phytohemagglutinin (PHA) induces secretion of the T cell growth factor interleukin 2 (IL2). IL1 augments PHA-induced IL2 production. In this cell line, PHA stimulates a number of biochemical changes including phospholipid hydrolysis, increases in cytosolic free calcium [( Ca2+]i), membrane hyperpolarization, cytosolic alkalinization, and tyrosine phosphorylation of specific substrates. Using LBRM cells, we have studied the interrelationship between these events and the secretion of IL2. Increases in [Ca2+]i triggered by PHA or following addition of ionomycin result in membrane hyperpolarization but are not required for PHA-induced cytosolic alkalinization or tyrosine phosphorylation. Addition of IL1 to PHA-stimulated cells did not affect any of the biochemical parameters, although it significantly augmented PHA-induced IL2 secretion. Increasing [Ca2+]i with ionomycin did not trigger IL2 secretion, increases in cytosolic pH, or tyrosine phosphorylation in the presence or absence of IL1. Preventing increases in cytosolic pH did not alter PHA-induced changes in [Ca2+]i or membrane potential. These data are compatible with PHA including activation of phospholipase C and production of inositol phosphates resulting in both release of Ca2+ from internal stores and transmembrane uptake of Ca2+ as well as activation of protein kinase C. However, unlike other growth factor or mitogen-stimulated systems, the changes stimulated by PHA and IL1 in LBRM cells including IL2 secretion are not regulated by a pertussis toxin-sensitive G protein.

Adenosine Diphosphate Ribose↗

Geminivirus coat protein gene replacement alters insect specificity.

Chimeric clones have been constructed in which the coat protein encoded by DNA A of the bipartite genome of the geminivirus African cassava mosaic virus (ACMV) has been replaced by that of beet curly top virus (BCTV). Constructs containing the coding region inserted in either orientation were infectious when co-inoculated with ACMV DNA B onto Nicotiana benthamiana, producing symptoms typical of ACMV infection. The onset of symptom production was delayed relative to plants inoculated with parental ACMV clones and remission of symptoms was observed. When inserted in the correct orientation for expression from the ACMV coat protein promoter, the BCTV gene was expressed in plants and the coat protein synthesized encapsidated ssDNA of both ACMV genomic components. The BCTV leafhopper vector, Circulifer tenellus (Baker), transmitted both BCTV and the chimeric virus but not ACMV when injected with virus preparations and transferred to N. benthamiana seedlings. The results show that the specificity of leafhopper transmission from insect to plant resides with the coat protein.

Animals↗

Defective viral DNA ameliorates symptoms of geminivirus infection in transgenic plants.

Nicotiana benthamiana was transformed with a single copy of a tandem repeat of subgenomic DNA B isolated from plants infected with a Kenyan isolate of the bipartite geminivirus African cassava mosaic virus. Symptoms in transformed plants were less severe than in nontransformed controls when challenged with virus or cloned DNA of Kenyan or Nigerian isolates. Symptom amelioration was associated with the mobilization and amplification of the subgenomic DNA, producing a comparable reduction in the amount of DNA specific to each genomic component. The disproportionate reduction in the levels of full-length components (DNA A, 20%; DNA B, 70%) indicates that the episomally replicating subgenomic DNA has been amplified at the expense of full-length DNA B to three times the level of the latter. Serial infection of transformants resulted in a further decrease in symptom severity and viral DNA levels. No differences were observed in the severity of symptoms or levels of viral DNA when transformants and controls were challenged with the related geminiviruses beet curly top virus and tomato golden mosaic virus, demonstrating the specific nature of the interaction. Analysis of infected tissue showed that tomato golden mosaic virus was unable to amplify the subgenomic DNA. However, since the production of subgenomic DNA is possibly a common feature of the bipartite geminiviruses, this approach might contribute to the production of plants showing increased tolerance to a number of economically important viral diseases.

Blotting, Southern↗

Sequence and analysis of the rpoN sigma factor gene of rhizobium sp. strain NGR234, a primary coregulator of symbiosis.

We report the nucleotide sequence of the rpoN gene from broad-host-range Rhizobium sp. strain NGR234 and analyze the encoded RPON protein, a sigma factor. Comparative analysis of the deduced amino acid sequence of RPON from NGR234 with sequences from other gram-negative bacteria identified a perfectly conserved RPON box unique to RPON sigma factors. Symbiotic regulatory phenotypes were defined for a site-directed internal deletion within the coding sequence of the rpoN gene of Rhizobium strain NGR234: they included quantitative nodulation kinetics on Vigna unguiculata and microscopic analysis of the Fix- determinate nodules of V. unguiculata and Macroptilium atropurpureum. RPON was a primary coregulator of nodulation and was implicated in establishment or maintenance of the plant-synthesized peribacteroid membrane. Phenotypes of rpoN in Rhizobium strain NGR234 could be grouped as symbiosis related, rather than simply pleiotropically physiological as in free-living bacteria such as Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas putida.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The coat protein of beet curly top virus is essential for infectivity.

We have applied the procedure of Agrobacterium-mediated inoculation to develop a simple, efficient, and reproducible assay for the infectivity of the leafhopper-transmitted geminivirus, beet curly top virus (BCTV). This assay system was used to show that a coat protein mutant of BCTV is not infectious, but could be complemented by coagroinoculation with a second mutant bearing a lethal mutation in the complementary-sense open reading frame, C1. Furthermore, the coat protein mutant retained the ability to replicate and to produce both ssDNA and dsDNA when electroporated into Nicotiana tabacum protoplasts. We conclude that the coat protein of BCTV is essential for spread of the virus. The results are discussed in the light of results with coat protein mutants of other geminiviruses.

Blotting, Southern↗

Geminivirus genes and vectors.

The geminiviruses are very small plant viruses with circular single-stranded DNA genomes. Recent advances have identified genes involved in replication, spread of virus or DNA in the plant, and insect transmission. Gene replacement experiments suggest that useful plant gene expression vectors can be constructed from these viruses.

Capsid↗

Size reversion of African cassava mosaic virus coat protein gene deletion mutants during infection of Nicotiana benthamiana.

Mutants of African cassava mosaic virus containing extensive deletions across the coat protein gene that remove up to one-third of the genomic component have been constructed and shown to be infectious when mechanically inoculated onto Nicotiana benthamiana by leaf abrasion. Using N. tabacum protoplasts we demonstrate that mutant pCLV.CP delta 11, containing a 712 bp deletion, is competent for replication in its deleted form. However, systemic spread of pCLV. CP delta 11 and other deletion mutants is associated with reversion of DNA 1 to a size comparable to that of the native genomic component. This contrasts with the behaviour of coat protein mutants of the closely related geminivirus tomato golden mosaic virus which maintain their deletions during spread. Appraisal of the different inoculation procedures used to introduce the mutants into plants suggests the imposition of a stringent size requirement for localized cell-to-cell spread which is relaxed for long distance spread through the vascular system.

Base Sequence↗

CEA and CA 19.9 in gastric juice and serum: an aid in the diagnosis of gastric carcinoma?

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of pH on the measurement of carcino-embryonic antigen (CEA), and to assess the efficacy of a combination of serum and gastric juice levels of CEA and Carbohydrate Antigen 19.9 (CA 19.9) in the diagnosis of gastric carcinoma. An initial experiment was performed to determine the effect of pH on the CEA assay. There was a direct linear relationship between pH and the concentration of CEA measured by the assay, such that as hydrogen ion concentration increased, the apparent concentration fell. The correct value was measured at pH 7. Seventy-six normal patients with non-malignant upper gastro-intestinal disorders, and 49 patients with gastric carcinoma were studied, two of which were 'early' gastric carcinomas. All patients underwent upper GI endoscopy, and at this examination blood and gastric juice were taken for analysis. A 'normal range' was constructed as a 95% confidence interval for each of the antigens in serum and gastric juice. The highest sensitivity was achieved using a combination of the two antigens, CEA and CA 19.9 in gastric juice and serum, with a sensitivity of 95.7% and a specificity of 50%. This combination of assays could have value in a screening programme for gastric cancer.

Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate↗

Delimitation of essential genes of cassava latent virus DNA 2.

Insertion and deletion mutagenesis of both extended open reading frames (ORFs) of cassava latent virus DNA 2 destroys infectivity. Infectivity is restored by coinoculating constructs that contain single mutations within different ORFs. Although frequent intermolecular recombination produces dominant parental-type virus, mutants can be retained within the virus population indicating that they are competent for replication and suggesting that rescue can occur by complementation of trans acting gene products. By cloning specific fragments into DNA 1 coat protein deletion vectors we have delimited the DNA 2 coding regions and provide substantive evidence that both are essential for virus infection. Although a DNA 2 component is unique to whitefly-transmitted geminiviruses, the results demonstrate that neither coding region is involved solely in insect transmission. The requirement for a bipartite genome for whitefly-transmitted geminiviruses is discussed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Expression of a bacterial gene in plants mediated by infectious geminivirus DNA.

A viable coat protein deletion mutant of cassava latent virus (CLV) DNA 1 has been isolated, suggesting that this geminivirus might be exploited as a gene replacement vector. An extensive deletion of 727 nucleotides within the coat protein gene renders DNA 1 non-infectious. Chimeric clones have been constructed in which the deleted coat protein open reading frame has been replaced by the coding region of the bacterial chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT) gene. Infectivity is restored to DNA 1 when the CAT gene is inserted in either orientation, producing symptoms typical of CLV infection. The results demonstrate that the coat protein plays no essential role in virus spread throughout the host. Levels of CAT expression of 80 U/mg soluble protein occur in systemically infected Nicotiana benthamiana leaves when the CAT gene is fused in-frame to the amino terminus of the coat protein, providing a sensitive assay for viral DNA replication.

Journal Article↗

Monoclonal antibodies to the E1 and E2 glycoproteins of Sindbis virus: definition of epitopes and efficiency of protection from fatal encephalitis.

Protection of mice from fatal neuroadapted Sindbis virus encephalitis can be accomplished by passive transfer of monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) to either the E1 or E2 glycoprotein of Sindbis virus. Both neutralizing and non-neutralizing MAbs can be protective. To define further the characteristics of MAbs that provide protection from fatal disease, antigenic epitopes on the E1 and E2 glycoproteins were identified using a competitive binding enzyme immunoassay. Four distinct epitopes on E1 and three on E2 were defined. MAbs to all E1 epitopes, both neutralizing (three) and non-neutralizing (one) protected mice from fatal encephalitis. MAbs to the E2 neutralizing epitopes (two) protected mice from fatal encephalitis while those to the non-neutralizing epitope did not. The efficiency of protection from fatal Sindbis virus encephalitis of four neutralizing and non-neutralizing protective anti-E1 and anti-E2 MAbs representing different epitopes was compared. The neutralizing MAbs (against epitopes E2-ab, E2-c and E1-c) gave 50% protection at lower doses (2 to 20 micrograms) than the non-neutralizing MAb representing epitope E1-e (150 micrograms) when given before virus challenge. When given after virus challenge, MAbs to E2-ab and E2-c protected at lower doses (0.03 to 0.3 micrograms) than did either MAbs to E1-c (greater than 100 micrograms) or E1-e (10 micrograms). The MAbs to E1-e, E2-ab and E2-c were required in larger amounts to afford protection before than after challenge, while the opposite was true for MAb to E1-c.

Animals↗

Putting vision into practice to meet the needs of the poor.

In 1986 the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, a multi-institutional system based in Houston, established specific mission objectives for all its healthcare facilities to meet the challenge of caring for the medically indigent in their communities. In response, St. Michael's Hospital, Texarkana, AR, established the Medical Indigent Committee to develop project proposals. To gain approval, proposals had to meet criteria established by the Sisters of Charity corporate office. These were consistency with mission, evidence of need, operational feasibility, and financial feasibility. The committee's first task was to collect information on the health status of the poor in its service area. Based on their findings, the committee decided to target the elderly and the very young for programs. After some brainstorming sessions, the committee developed three proposals: 1. Home Care Skills. 2. Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program. 3. Sick Child Clinic. By the end of 1986 the first two proposals were approved and funded; the Sick Child Clinic was not, because of operational concerns. The hospital offered the first Home Care Skills course in June 1987 and repeated it later that year. The 16-hour program proved so successful that the hospital is now considering having the class videotaped. The Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program began in May 1987. Although the hospital has not yet determined whether it has achieved its goal of reducing readmissions for poor patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, program attendance exceeds that of other classes by more than 50 percent.

Arkansas↗

Cloning of Rhizobium leguminosarum genes for competitive nodulation blocking on peas.

One type of competitive interaction among rhizobia is that between nonnodulating and nodulating strains of Rhizobium leguminosarum on primitive pea genotypes. Pisum sativum cv. Afghanistan nodulates effectively with R. leguminosarum TOM, and this can be blocked in mixed inoculations by R. leguminosarum PF2, which does not nodulate this cultivar. We termed this PF2 phenotype Cnb+, for competitive nodulation blocking. Strain PF2 contains three large plasmids including a 250-kilobase-pair symbiotic (Sym) plasmid. Transfer of this plasmid, pSymPF2, to nonblocking rhizobia conferred the Cnb+ phenotype on recipients in mixed inoculations on cultivar Afghanistan with TOM. A library of the PF2 genome constructed in the vector pMMB33 was used to isolate two cosmid clones which hybridize to pSymPF2. These cosmids, pDD50 and pDD58, overlapped to the extent of 23 kilobase pairs and conferred a Cnb+ phenotype on recipient Cnb- rhizobia, as did pSD1, a subclone from the common region.

Cloning, Molecular↗

Topographical rearrangements of visna virus envelope glycoprotein during antigenic drift.

Visna virus undergoes antigenic drift during persistent infection in sheep and thus eludes neutralizing antibodies directed against its major envelope glycoprotein, gp135. Antigenic variants contain point mutations in the 3' end of the genome, presumably within the envelope glycoprotein gene. To localize the changes in the viral proteins of antigenic mutants, we isolated 35 monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against the envelope glycoprotein gp135 or the major core protein p27 of visna virus. The MAbs defined five partially overlapping epitopes on gp135. We used the MAbs and polyclonal immune sera directed against visna virus, gp135, or p27 in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays to compare visna virus (strain 1514) with antigenic mutants (LV1-1 to LV1-6) previously isolated from a single sheep persistently infected with plaque-purified strain 1514. Polyclonal immune sera and anti-core p27 MAbs failed to distinguish antigenic differences among the viruses. By contrast, the anti-gp135 MAbs detected changes in all five epitopes of the envelope glycoprotein. Three gp135 epitopes, prominently exposed on strain 1514, were lost or obscured on the mutants; two covert gp135 epitopes, poorly exposed on strain 1514, were reciprocally revealed on the mutants. Even virus LV1-2, which is indistinguishable from parental strain 1514 by serum neutralization tests and which differs from it by only two unique oligonucleotides on RNase-T1 fingerprinting, displayed global changes in gp135. Our data suggest that visna virus variants may emerge more frequently during persistent infection than can be detected by serological tests involving the use of polyclonal immune sera, and the extent of phenotypic changes in their envelope glycoproteins may be greater than predicted by the small number of genetic changes previously observed. We suggest that topographical rearrangements in the three-dimensional structure of gp135 may magnify the primary amino acid sequence changes caused by point mutations in the env gene. This may complicate strategies to construct lentiviral vaccines by using the envelope glycoprotein.

Animals↗

Structure and replication of geminivirus genomes.

The geminiviruses are a group of plant viruses containing single-stranded (ss) DNA in particles comprising two quasi-icosahedral units. Some are transmitted by whiteflies, others by leafhoppers. Comparisons were made of the genome organization and expression of cassava latent virus (CLV) and maize streak virus (MSV) and beet curly top virus (BCTV), each with distinct host range and insect vector species characteristics. From these studies, several indications as to the replication mechanism(s) are suggested.

Base Sequence↗