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S Dittmann

Publications and source records attributed to S Dittmann.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Contributions to the phylogeny of Platyhelminthes based on partial sequencing of 18S ribosomal DNA.

Partial sequencing of the 18S ribosomal DNA gene of one nemertean and 13 free-living and parasitic Platyhelminthes (556 nucleotides), and of one nemertean and 20 Platyhelminthes (556 nucleotides) was used to test several hypotheses concerning the phylogenetic relationships of Platyhelminthes. The following conclusions were reached: the Neodermata is monophyletic; Trematoda (Aspidogastrea and Digenea) is monophyletic, although a sister group relationship of the Aspidogastrea and all other Neodermata cannot be definitely ruled out; the Cestoda comprising the Eucestoda, Amphilinidea and Gyrocotylidea is monophyletic; it is unresolved whether the Monogenea is paraphyletic; neither Gyrocotylidea and Monopisthocotylea nor Gyrocotylidea and Monogenea as a whole are sister groups; Anoplodiscus is a monopisthocotylean monogenean; none of Proseriata, Pterastericolidae/Umagillidae, Kalyptorhynchia, Rhabdocoela as a whole, Dalyelliida or the Temnocephalidae is the sister group of the Neodermata; there is some evidence that a larger taxon consisting of Proseriata, Tricladida and Rhabdocoela may be the sister group of the Neodermata but definitive evidence for a sister group relationship between the Neodermata and any turbellarian taxon is lacking; Rhabdocoela and Lecithoepitheliata are not closely related; it is unresolved whether the Rhabdocoela is monophyletic; Umagillidae, Pterastericolidae and Temnocephalidae belong to one monophylum; the Temnocephalidae are very close to the dalyelliids; Tricladida and Rhabdocoela are sister groups, the exact position of the Catenulida and Nemertini in relation to the Platyhelminthes has not been resolved, although Catenulida and Lecithoepitheliata may belong to one clade.

Animals↗

Detection and characterization of hepatitis C virus sequence in the serum of a patient with chronic HCV infection.

A cDNA fragment corresponding to the nonstructural gene region of Hepatitis C virus was cloned and sequenced. cDNA was obtained by reverse transcription of viral RNA extracted from serum of a German patient with chronic post transfusion hepatitis. "Nested" PCR resulted in a cDNA fragment of 345 nt. The sequence showed a homology of 96% to the American prototype HCV.

Base Sequence↗

Long-term persistence of hepatitis C virus antibodies in a single source outbreak.

The occurrence of antibodies to hepatitis C virus (HCV) was investigated in 81 patients who developed hepatitis non-A, non-B (HNANB) after parenteral administration of contaminated immunoglobulin to prevent Rh sensitization. Sera from 74 of the 81 patients (89.9%) were anti-HCV positive at either 6-12 months or 9-10 years after administration of immunoglobulin. Sera were not available from any patients at either of the times: however, 52 of 56 sera (92.9%) were anti-HCV positive 6-12 months after use of immunoglobulin, and anti-HCV was present in 45 of 65 sera (69.2%) 9-10 years after immunoglobulin treatment. Of the latter, only two of 13 (15.4%) sera from patients who recovered from hepatitis were anti-HCV positive, whereas 43 of 52 patients (82.7%) with chronic disease were anti-HCV positive. The ELISA using a recombinant antigen was found a good detector as marker for a HCV infection because 90% of patients infected by a common source became anti-HCV positive. However, 10 years after infection most patients who did not develop chronic disease no longer had detectable antibodies.

Analysis of Variance↗

[Comparative study of parenteral and oral immunization against influenza in a large clinical trial. 2. Results of immunologic studies].

In a multicentric trial 350 persons (19-24 years) were immunized with influenza vaccines containing the following virus antigens: A/Singapore/6/86, (H1N1); A/Mississippi/1/85, (H3N2); B/Ann Arbor/1/86. 174 received an i.m. injection of 0.5 ml "Influmun" vaccine from SSW Dresden/GDR. 176 persons were immunized twice within 60 days with enteric-wated capsules each containing approximately 60 micrograms hemagglutinin of all three virus strains. The volunteers were clinically observed in an interval of 6 months. The majority of orally immunized persons with low pre-immunization titers responded with fourfold or higher IgA antibody titer rises in nasal secretions, but no significant IgG antibody titer increase in sera could be observed. Secretory antibody titers remained elevated for 2 to 4 months. Parenterally immunized persons showed antibody titer rises in sera but not in nasal secretions. In both groups the highest antibody titer increases were observed after application of the A/Singapore/6/86 virus antigen. Volunteers with high pre-immunization titer did not show an antibody increase neither after parenteral nor oral immunization.

Administration, Oral↗

Immunogenicity of oral poliomyelitis vaccine (OPV) against variants of wild poliovirus type 3.

Serological investigations of three groups of children from the German Democratic Republic (GDR) and from Czechoslovakia who had different immunization histories against poliomyelitis indicated that the immunity induced by oral poliovaccine (OPV) is effective against both the wild poliovirus Saukett strain and a new wild variant of poliovirus type 3 that was isolated during an outbreak of poliomyelitis in Finland in 1984. There is therefore no obvious risk that individuals in the GDR or Czechoslovakia, most of whom have been immunized with OPV, are threatened by new wild poliovirus variants. These findings are of importance, especially in connection with WHO's initiative for the global eradication of poliomyelitis by the year 2000.

Antibodies, Viral↗

[Comparative study of parenteral and oral immunization to influenza in a large clinical trial. 1. Results of clinico-epidemiologic studies].

360 volunteers were recruited for the investigation from a homologous collective. 174 were immunized parenterally with "Influmun" from SSW Dresden, GDR. 176 volunteers were immunized twice orally with an interval of 60 days with an influenza vaccine inactivated by x-ray using enteric-coated capsules. In an interval of six months ARI-symptoms were investigated. Between 13th and 17th week 1988 an increased ARI-morbidity in the Greifswald-region was observed in which influenza A viruses were involved. In comparison with 312 non-immunized persons of the same age, sex and living area the immunized volunteers of the two groups showed 83.4% less sickness days. 30 persons of the non-immunized group got ill for totally 217 days, whereas only nine persons of the two immunized groups were put on the sicklist for totally 36 days. No significant differences concerning the occurrence and duration of acute respiratory infections (ARI) between the two differently immunized groups could be observed.

Administration, Oral↗

[The expanded WHO vaccination program and the vaccination strategy in East Germany].

Evaluating the current stage and future trends of WHO's Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI), conclusions for national immunization strategies have been considered. The global eradication of poliomyelitis is an important target. In 1988, an Immunization Advisory Group of the Ministry of Health has been founded. Recommendations regarding the update of immunization schedule have been elaborated. Changes are foreseen for BCG (deletion of revaccination), rubella (implementation of immunization for all girls aged 11/12 years), diphtheria (diphtheria/tetanus booster for adults), and measles (2-shot-strategy for young children and schoolchildren.

Child↗

[The development of acute gastroenteritis in the German Democratic Republic].

Next to acute respiratory diseases accounting for about 80% of all cases of notifiable infectious diseases acute gastrointestinal diseases with 12% are the group second in importance. Since many years the number of reported cases with diarrhoea is increasing. The aetiology of merely a small part of these cases (less than 5%) is being determined. Next to the Salmonellae at present Campylobacter species are detected most frequently. The percentage of viral gastroenteritis is under-estimated considerably on account of insufficient diagnostics. Most important for improving the situation is the improvement of hygienic conditions in kindergartens, crèches and nursing homes; in food processing plants and kitchens as well as the reduction of human pathogens-particularly Salmonellae and Campylobacter-spreading in livestock.

Animals↗

Evolution of influenza polymerase: nucleotide sequence of the PB2 gene of A/Chile/1/83 (H1 N1).

The complete nucleotide sequence of the PB2 gene of influenza virus A/Chile/1/83 (H1 N1) is presented. Sequence comparison between A/Chile PB2 protein and the known PB2 sequences of the influenza strains A/WSN/33 (H1 N1), A/PR/8/34 (H1 N1), A/NT/60/68 (H3 N2), A/Kiev/59/79 (H1 N1), A/FPV/Rostock/34 (H7 N1), and B/Ann Arbor/1/66 indicates extensive amino acid homology for the influenza A virus PB2 proteins. Small clusters of basic amino acids are conserved in all PB2 proteins including the influenza B PB2 protein which has only 39% sequence homology overall to the PB2 polypeptides of type A influenza viruses. The evolutionary rate of 5.7 x 10(-3) nucleotide substitutions per site per year and 0.25% amino acid changes per year between the A/Chile/1/83 and A/NT/60/68 PB2 appears to be higher than that calculated earlier for A/NT, A/PR/8 and A/WSN. An unusually high degree of sequence change between A/Chile/1/83 and A/Kiev/59/79 PB2 polymerase was revealed and this is discussed in terms of its probable origin.

Amino Acid Sequence↗