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Biomedical subjects

T W North

Publications and source records attributed to T W North.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

Feline immunodeficiency virus infection of cats as a model to test the effect of certain in vitro selection pressures on the infectivity and virulence of resultant lentivirus variants.

Three groups of specific pathogen-free (SPF) domestic cats, each containing 5 animals, were infected with one of three closely related FIV variants and monitored for 36 weeks. A fourth group of 5 cats was sham-infected and served as uninfected controls. FIV variants included: (1) a fully virulent animal passaged FIV-Petaluma; (2) a Crandell feline kidney (CrFK) cell-adapted FIV-Petaluma (FIV-CrFK); and (3) a variant of FIV-CrFK (FIV-CrFKAZT) that had been selected in vitro for resistance to azidothymidine. Cats infected with fully virulent FIV-Petaluma strongly seroconverted, became persistently viremic, and exhibited lymphadenopathy, neutropenia, and inversion of the CD4+:CD8+ T cell ratio. Cats infected with FIV-CrFK seroconverted but the antibody responses were much weaker and more variable; two of the cats became transiently viremic and no hematologic abnormalities or clinical signs of illness other than a very mild lymphadenopathy were observed. None of the five cats inoculated with FIV-CrFKAZT seroconverted, became viremic, or exhibited any gross or hematologic signs of disease, even though proviral DNA was transiently detected in tissue following inoculation. This study demonstrates that the FIV infection model can be used to assess differences in the virulence of FIV variants, including variants selected for antiretroviral drug resistance.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Inhibition of reverse transcriptase from feline immunodeficiency virus by analogs of 2'-deoxyadenosine-5'-triphosphate.

The replication of feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) in cultured cells was inhibited by 2',3'-dideoxyadenosine (ddA) and by 9-(2-phosphonylmethoxyethyl)adenine (PMEA) with IC50 values of 0.98 and 0.95 microM, respectively. The effects of the presumed active forms of these inhibitors, ddATP and PMEA-diphosphate (PMEApp), upon the FIV reverse transcriptase (RT) were examined with two different template-primer systems. Both of these compounds were potent inhibitors of the FIV RT in reactions with primed phi X-174 DNA, yielding Ki values of 8.8 nM for ddATP and 5.0 nM for PMEApp. However, they were both poor inhibitors of the reaction with poly(rU)-oligo(dA); concentrations of ddATP or PMEApp greater than 10 microM were required to inhibit this reaction by 50%. Further analysis of the reaction with poly(rU)-oligo(dA) revealed that even in the absence of inhibitors the primers were extended by less than 20 nucleotides. In contrast, high molecular weight products were obtained in reactions with phi X-174 DNA. These results suggest that the reaction of FIV RT with poly(rU)-oligo(dA) is not highly processive. The high degree of termination encountered during this reaction with poly(rU)-oligo(dA) may be responsible for the low inhibitory potential of ddATP and PMEApp.

Adenine↗
PubMed1992

RNase H activity associated with reverse transcriptase from feline immunodeficiency virus.

Reverse transcription of retroviral genomes requires the action of an RNase H for template switching and primer generation. In this report, we compare enzymatic properties of the RNase H associated with the reverse transcriptase (RT) from feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and that from human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Both enzymes displayed substrate preference for poly[3H](rG) . poly(dC) hybird over poly[3H](rA) . poly(dT) and cation preference for Mg2+ over Mn2+. Activity of the FIV RNase H upon poly(rG) . poly(dC) produced hydrolysis products from 1 to 6 nucleotides in length, similar to that reported for HIV. Dextran sulfates were effective inhibitors of both the FIV and HIV RNase H and RT activities. Nearly identical inhibition constants (0.12 nM) were obtained for all enzyme activities with dextran sulfate 500,000, while different inhibition constants were observed with dextran sulfate 8,000. Our results suggest that FIV and HIV RTs contain a conserved region that is sensitive to the larger dextran sulfate and that dextran sulfate 8,000 may interact at a different site or by a different mechanism.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Mutants of feline immunodeficiency virus resistant to 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine.

We selected 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine (AZT)-resistant mutants of feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) in a cat cell culture system. The characterization of one of these mutants was facilitated by the development of a focal immunoassay which could accurately measure FIV infectivity. This assay was used to quantitate the susceptibility of FIV to various inhibitors. The AZT-resistant mutant was found to be cross-resistant to 3'-azido-2',3'-dideoxyuridine and 3'-azido-2',3'-dideoxyguanosine but remained sensitive to several other inhibitors (2',3'-dideoxyinosine, 2',3'-dideoxy-2',3'-didehydrothymidine, and phosphonoformate). These patterns of cross-resistance and sensitivity were similar to those of the AZT-resistant human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) that has recently been isolated from patients with AIDS (B. A. Larder and S. D. Kemp, Science 246:1155-1158, 1989). Like the AZT-resistant HIV, purified reverse transcriptase from mutant FIV failed to show resistance to the 5'-triphosphate of AZT. This mutant can be used in the FIV model system to study the mechanisms of drug resistance and to determine the pathogenicity of AZT-resistant mutants.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Characterization of reverse transcriptase from feline immunodeficiency virus.

Reverse transcriptase has been purified from feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) by DEAE-cellulose and phosphocellulose chromatography. The purified enzyme consists of a single protein with a Mr of 67,000. When proteolysis is not minimized during purification, a fragment of Mr 54,000 is also observed. This is similar to the reverse transcriptase from human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV), which consists of a polypeptide of Mr 66,000; when proteolysis is not minimized during purification, a fragment of Mr 51,000 is also observed. In direct comparisons, the FIV reverse transcriptase is very similar to the HIV reverse transcriptase in template specificity and requirements for Mg2+. In contrast to these similarities, the FIV and HIV reverse transcriptases are substantially different in primary sequence, as determined by peptide mapping.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Direct comparisons of inhibitor sensitivities of reverse transcriptases from feline and human immunodeficiency viruses.

The sensitivities of reverse transcriptases (RTs) from feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV) were directly compared. The two enzymes had similar sensitivities to three analogs of dTTP, namely, 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine 5'-triphosphate, 2',3'-dideoxythymidine 5'-triphosphate, and 2',3'-dideoxy-2',3'-didehydrothymidine 5'-triphosphate. Each of these analogs demonstrated competitive inhibition of both enzymes. Ki values for inhibition of FIV RT by these three inhibitors were 3.3, 6.7, and 1.8 nM, respectively; Ki values for inhibition of the HIV enzyme were 6.5, 5.9, and 8.3 nM, respectively. Ratios of the Ki for the inhibitor to the Km for the substrate were also determined for each inhibitor, and no differences between the two enzymes greater than threefold were observed. Inhibition constants for 3'-amino-3'-deoxythymidine 5'-triphosphate and 3'-fluoro-3'-deoxythymidine 5'-triphosphate were determined for FIV RT, and these were similar to published values for HIV RT. The activities of three dideoxynucleoside 5'-triphosphates against FIV RT were determined; ddGTP was slightly more potent than ddTTP, whereas both were much more effective than ddCTP. The activity of a noncompetitive inhibitor, phosphonoformate, was also examined with the FIV enzyme; it was much more active with poly(rA)-oligo(dT) as the template-primer than with poly(rC)-oligo(dG) or poly(rI)-oligo(dC).

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Feline immunodeficiency virus, a model for reverse transcriptase-targeted chemotherapy for acquired immune deficiency syndrome.

Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), formerly called feline T-lymphotropic lentivirus, causes an immune deficiency in cats that is very similar to the acquired immune deficiency syndrome in humans (N. C. Pedersen, E. M. Ho, M. L. Brown, and J. K. Yamamoto, Science 235:790-793, 1987). We have examined the reverse transcriptase of this virus to determine whether it is similar enough to the reverse transcriptase of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) to enable its use as a model for chemotherapy for acquired immune deficiency syndrome. The FIV reverse transcriptase is similar to that of HIV-1 in sensitivity to the noncompetitive inhibitor phosphonoformate (Ki, 0.3 microM) and relative insensitivity to phosphonoacetate. This enzyme was also sensitive to two competitive inhibitors, the 5'-triphosphates of 2', 3'-dideoxythymidine (Ki, 3.4 nM) and 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine (AZT; Ki, 6.2 nM). The ratios of Ki/Km for these two competitive inhibitors are similar to the ratios calculated from previously reported data for the HIV-1 enzyme assayed under identical conditions. In contrast, the FIV enzyme is different from the reverse transcriptase of avian myeloblastosis virus in sensitivity to those inhibitors. The replication of FIV in Crandell feline kidney cells was inhibited by AZT; virus production was inhibited more than 95% by 1.0 microM AZT.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1987

DNA synthesis in promastigotes of Leishmania major and L. donovani.

The requirement of protozoan parasites for pre-formed purines affords the opportunity for quantitation of nucleic acid synthesis from incorporation of radioactively labeled purines into DNA and RNA. We have developed rapid and simple assays to quantitate DNA and RNA synthesis in promastigotes of Leishmania major and L. donovani from the incorporation of [3H]hypoxanthine. DNA but not RNA synthesis in L. major or L. donovani promastigotes was inhibited by aphidicolin (50% inhibition by 0.2-0.3 microM) and by hydroxyurea (50% inhibition by 0.3-0.5 mM). The inhibition of DNA synthesis by aphidicolin or hydroxyurea was reversible when the inhibitor was removed 2, 4 or 24 h after its addition. Several well-characterized agents that inhibit DNA synthesis in mammalian cells, 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine (araC), 9-beta-D-arabinofuranosyladenine (araA), phosphonoacetic acid, novobiocin and N2-(p-n-butylphenyl)guanine (BuPG), failed to inhibit DNA synthesis in promastigotes of L. major even when used at very high concentrations, demonstrating differences between DNA replication components of parasite and host.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Inhibition of herpes simplex virus replication by purine deoxyribonucleosides.

The inhibition of herpes simplex virus (HSV) replication by 2'-deoxyadenosine (dAdo) is greatly potentiated by the presence of the inhibitor of adenosine deaminase, erythro-9-(2-hydroxy-3-nonyl)adenine (EHNA). HSV replication is inhibited by dAdo [in the presence of EHNA] or by 2'-deoxyguanosine (dGuo) at concentrations slightly lower than are necessary to inhibit growth of uninfected HeLa cells. Under conditions where virus replication is inhibited by greater than 99% with dAdo and EHNA, the level of dATP increases 50-fold or more, and synthesis of HSV DNA is inhibited. However, there is no depletion of any other DNA precursor, and HSV multiplication is not restored by simultaneous provision of dGuo, deoxythymidine, deoxycytidine, or a combination of all three of these nucleosides. Thus, the inhibition of HSV replication by dAdo cannot be explained as a block of precursor provision through inhibition of ribonucleotide reductase. In contrast, dGuo treatment of HSV-infected cells leads to depletion of dCTP, and virus multiplication is partially restored by provision of deoxycytidine. HSV-infected cells may serve as a useful system for study of the toxic effects of dAdo that are unrelated to inhibition of ribonucleotide reductase by dATP.

Adenine↗
PubMed1983

Effects of chirality in 9-(2-hydroxy-3-nonyl)adenine upon deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis in herpes simplex virus-infected cells.

The antiherpes activities of erythro- and threo-9-(2-hydroxy-3-nonyl)adenines (EHNA and THNA) have been determined. All isomers inhibited the replication of herpes simplex virus (HSV) and inhibited DNA synthesis in HSV-infected cells. The two enantiomers of EHNA, (+)-EHNA and (-)-EHNA, displayed equal antiviral activities. This is in contrast to their activities as inhibitors of adenosine deaminase (ADA); (+)-EHNA is a 250-fold more potent inhibitor of ADA than (-)-EHNA [Bessodes et al. Biochem. Pharmac. 31, 879 (1982)]. The antiherpes activity of (+)-THNA was only slightly less than that of the EHNA isomers, whereas (-)-THNA was somewhat less active. The abilities of the four isomeres of EHNA and THNA to inhibit DNA synthesis in HSV-infected cells correlated with their abilities to inhibit virus multiplication. EHNA failed to inhibit HSV DNA polymerase activity in extracts from infected cells. Moreover, addition of EHNA to infected cells at 6 hr post-infection resulted in no inhibition of DNA synthesis. These results are inconsistent with a direct inhibition of macromolecular DNA synthesis by EHNA. Treatment of HSV-infected cells with EHNA produced a 2- to 4-fold decrease in levels of the four DNA precursors, deoxyribonucleoside 5'-triphosphates (dNTPs). This treatment had much less effect on dNTP levels in uninfected cells.

Adenine↗
PubMed1981

Tetrahydrouridine specifically facilitates deoxycytidine incorporation into herpes simplex virus DNA.

As reported by Jamieson and Subak-Sharpe (J. Gen. Virol. 31:303-313, 1976), exogenous deoxycytidine is very poorly incorporated into herpes simplex virus DNA. Here it is shown that this incorporation was dramatically increased in the presence of tetrahydrouridine (THU), a specific inhibitor of cytidine-deoxycytidine deaminase. Thus, the exclusion of deoxycytidine from herpes simplex virus DNA probably results from massive degradation by the deaminase, which is consistent with the observation that in the absence of THU, most of the nucleotides formed from exogenous deoxycytidine are dUMP. The effect of tHU upon deoxycytidine incorporation was specific for herpes simplex virus-infected cells; THU did not increase deoxycytidine incorporation into DNA of uninfected cells. Therefore, one might expect THU to enhance the antiviral activity of 1-beta-D-arabinofuranasylcytosine since this analog is also readily deaminated. However, THU increased both the antiviral activity and the cell toxicity only slightly and to about the same extent. Therefore, the metabolism of 1-beta-D-arabnofuranosylcytosine is different from that of deoxycytidine in herpes simplex virus-infected cells.

Cytarabine↗
PubMed1980

Detection of activities that interfere with the enzymatic assay of deoxyribonucleoside 5'-triphosphates.

Several enzymes that interfere with the enzymatic assay of deoxyribonucleoside 5'-triphosphates (dNTP's) are present as contaminants when nucleotides are extracted from HeLa cells with 60% methanol. These activities include a nuclease, nucleoside diphosphokinase, and deoxyribonucleoside monophosphokinases which phosphorylate dAMP, dGMP, and dCMP. Collectively, these enzymes are able to degrade and reutilize the DNA template which is used together with DNA polymerase for dNTP assays. This process introduces large errors when dNTP assays are performed in this manner. Attempts to block the enzymatic conversion of deoxyribonucleoside diphosphates to triphosphates by inhibition of nucleoside diphosphokinase were unsuccessful because of the inability to block completely the kinase activity. Acid extraction of nucleotides also results in the presence of an activity that interferes with the enzymatic dNTP assay. The error introduced by this interfering activity is much smaller than that arising from the enzymes present in methanol extracts. All of these interfering activities are removed when cells are first extracted with 60% methanol and the resulting extract is subsequently treated with perchloric acid.

DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase↗
PubMed1980

Erythro-9-(2-hydroxy-3-nonyl) Adenine alone and in combination with 9-beta-D-arabinofuranosyladenine in treatment of systemic herpesvirus infections in mice.

Although the antiviral activity of erythro-9-(2-hydroxy-3-nonyl)adenine, a potent adenosine deaminase inhibitor, against herpes simplex virus type 1 in cell culture was readily confirmed, the compound was found to be totally ineffective in the treatment of experimentally induced systemic herpes simplex virus type 1 infections in Swiss mice. Data were obtained, however, which clearly indicated that the antiviral potency of 9-beta-D-arabinofuranosyladenine in vivo could be enhanced by the co-administration of low, nontoxic doses of erythro-9-(2-hydroxy-3-nonyl)adenine.

Adenine↗
PubMed1978

Erythro-9-(2-hydroxy-3-nonyl)adenine as a specific inhibitor of herpes simplex virus replication in the presence and absence of adenosine analogues.

Erythro-9-(2-hydroxy-3-nonyl)adenine (EHNA; erythro-9-[3-(hydroxynonyl)]adenine), a reversible inhibitor of adenosine deaminase, significantly inhibits replication of herpes simplex virus (HSV), whereas the more active inhibitor of the deaminase, 2'-deoxycoformycin, does not. At 10 micron EHNA, which does not affect viability, growth, or DNA synthesis of uninfected HeLa cells, production of HSV and HSV-specific DNA is inhibited 75-90% and 60%, respectively. HSV multiplies normally in cells pretreated with EHNA and washed to remove this inhibitor. EHNA (10 micron) also markedly potentiates the toxicity of adenine arabinonucleoside and of cordycepin (3'-deoxyadenosine) against HeLa cells and against the production of HSV in those cells. Cordycepin alone (10 micron) does not inhibit HSV replication whereas in combination with 10 micron EHNA there is a greater than 99% inhibition of virus production. Under these conditions, RNA synthesis is inhibited by more than 80% whereas protein and DNA synthesis are inhibited to a lesser extent; in this system, virtually all of the DNA synthesis in infected cells is that of host DNA. Thus, EHNA appears to affect the synthesis of HSV DNA specifically in two different ways, depending on whether it is used alone or in the presence of cordycepin.

Adenine↗