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Biomedical subjects

W T London

Publications and source records attributed to W T London.

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

The value of hepatitis B x antigen as a prognostic marker in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Chronic infection with hepatitis-B virus (HBV) is associated with high risk for the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Several studies have implicated that the X gene product(s) of HBV are important to the pathogenesis of HCC. This study tests the hypothesis that immunohistochemical detection of hepatitis B x antigen (HBxAg) is closely associated with HCC. The patterns of HBxAg were determined by staining in tumor and non-tumor liver sections from 30 Chinese patients with HBV-associated HCC, and the results were compared with other markers of infection. HBxAg was the most prevalent marker of HBV infection both in tumor and in non-tumor tissues of HCC patients, as compared with the hepatitis-B surface and core antigens. This pattern was observed among carriers as well as several patients who were HBsAG- in serum. The HBxAg staining results were validated by Southern blotting with an X-region probe and by Western blotting with anti-HBx. These results suggest that the persistence of HBxAg is important to the pathogenesis of early HCC and that HBxAg expression in the liver during chronic HBV infection may be an important prognostic marker for the development of HCC.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Supernumerary marker chromosomes in peripheral blood cells of hepatitis B virus chronic carriers.

Cytogenetic analysis of metaphase chromosome spreads from peripheral blood cells of hepatitis B virus (HBV) chronic carriers revealed supernumerary marker chromosomes in 2 of the 46 individuals tested. Both individuals are phenotypically normal oriental males, and exhibit mosaicism with a 46,XY/47,XY,+mar/48,XY,+2mar profile in one, and a 46,XY/47,XY,+mar profile in other. Based on the reported frequency of unidentified supernumerary chromosomes (1:2,500) in 377,357 amniocentesis samples, the frequency seen (1:23) in the population of HBV chronic carriers sampled here appears unusually high. The possibility of a role for HBV in the generation of marker chromosomes is discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

A comparison in chimpanzees of the immunogenicity and efficacy of live attenuated respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) temperature-sensitive mutant vaccines and vaccinia virus recombinants that express the surface glycoproteins of RSV.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the most common cause of viral bronchiolitis and pneumonia in children. The present study compares the level of attenuation, genetic stability and efficacy of three conditional-lethal temperature-sensitive (ts) mutants of the RSV A2 wild-type virus, designated ts-1, ts-1-NG1, and ts-4, in seronegative chimpanzees and also compares their efficacy with that of vaccinia virus recombinants that express the surface glycoproteins of RSV. Each of the ts mutants was highly attenuated in the lower respiratory tract, but still retained the capacity to induce significant rhinorrhoea. Each of the three ts mutants underwent partial reversion to a non-ts (ts+) phenotype during replication in a minority of the chimpanzees. The ts+ virus present in the upper respiratory tract of the chimpanzees did not spread to the lower respiratory tract and represented only a minority fraction of the virus present in the nasopharyngeal swab specimens. The ts mutants were highly immunogenic and provided resistance that effectively restricted RSV replication following virus challenge. In contrast, the vaccinia-RSV recombinants were less immunogenic. They protected the lungs of two of four chimpanzees challenged with RSV, but failed to protect the upper respiratory tract. The chimpanzee can serve as a model for the rapid evaluation of further attenuated live RSV vaccines.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

A cold-adapted mutant of parainfluenza virus type 3 is attenuated and protective in chimpanzees.

A live attenuated cold-adapted parainfluenza virus type 3 (PIV-3) vaccine is being developed to prevent the serious lower respiratory tract disease caused by this virus in infants and young children. This cold-passaged mutant (cp45) was evaluated in seronegative chimpanzees and found to be highly attenuated in both the upper and lower respiratory tracts compared to its wild-type parent. Animals immunized with cp45 were also highly resistant to wild-type PIV-3 challenge. Stability of the attenuation phenotype was demonstrated by the administration to 2 additional chimpanzees of an isolate of cp45 obtained after 10 days of replication in a chimpanzee. It was attenuated in both the upper and lower respiratory tracts. The cp45 virus present in the respiratory tract secretions of chimpanzees retained the temperature-sensitive (ts) phenotype, but some loss of ts property was observed in the isolates. These results provide a basis on which to proceed to clinical trials in seronegative human infants and children.

Adaptation, Physiological↗
PubMed1993

Genetic variation of the SIVagm transmembrane glycoprotein in naturally and experimentally infected primates.

OBJECTIVE: An in-frame stop codon prematurely truncating the transmembrane glycoprotein (TMP) is a common feature of many simian immunodeficiency virus, African green monkey strain (SIVagm) molecular clones. The purpose of this study was to investigate the native form of the SIVagm TMP in a naturally infected African green monkey (AGM) and to study the fate of the stop codon following the passage of SIVagm in primates. DESIGN: Polymerase chain reaction was used to clone the entire intracellular portion of the TMP from: (1) peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of the naturally infected AGM 155; (2) an isolate of SIVagm155 in rhesus PBMC and (3) PBMC from pig-tailed macaques and AGM experimentally infected with an SIVagm molecular clone encoding a truncated TMP. RESULTS: PBMC of the naturally infected AGM contained a 'swarm' of related virus genotypes that encoded a full-length TMP, whereas tissue-culture passage in rhesus PBMC resulted in a prematurely truncated form of the TMP. This premature stop codon persisted in PBMC of monkeys experimentally infected with an SIVagm molecular clone. Both macaques and AGM of same subspecies as AGM 155 (Cercopithecus pygerythrus) and other subspecies (C. aethiops and C. sabaeus) became infected with SIVagm155. Genetic drift of this region of env, as assessed by calculation of the nucleotide substitution/site/year rate, was similar to that of other retroviruses. CONCLUSIONS: The native form of the SIVagm TMP is a full-length gp40, similar to the SIV macaque (SIVmac) strain and HIV-1. However, passage of SIVagm in tissue culture can result in point mutations that introduce a premature stop codon. This stop codon persists during subsequent in vivo passage of SIVagm in primates. This contrasts with similar studies in macaques infected with SIVmac, in which reversion of the TMP stop codon was observed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1993

Hepatitis B x antigen and p53 are associated in vitro and in liver tissues from patients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma.

To test the hypothesis that hepatitis B x antigen (HBxAg) binds to the tumor-suppressor protein p53, immunoprecipitation was carried out with monoclonal anti-x or monoclonal anti-p53 using radiolabeled HBxAg and p53 made by in vitro translation. The results showed that anti-p53 specifically immunoprecipitates HBxAg only in the presence of p53 and that anti-x specifically immunoprecipitates p53 only in the presence of HBxAg. to determine whether HBxAg binds p53 in vivo, immunoprecipitation and Western blot analysis of liver samples from 10 hepatitis B virus (HBV)-infected patients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma (PHC) were carried out. A protein band at 53,000 daltons that specifically immunoprecipitated with a monoclonal anti-x was identified as p53 by Western blotting with a monoclonal anti-p53. Anti-p53 specifically immunoprecipitated bands of 28,000, 17,000 and 13,000 daltons, which were identified as HBxAg polypeptides by Western blotting with anti-HBx. These findings suggest that HBxAg binds to p53 and that this association is important to the development of PHC.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular↗
PubMed1992

Low frequency of p53 mutations observed in a diverse collection of primary hepatocellular carcinomas.

Recent studies of the p53 tumor suppressor locus (designated TP53) in primary hepatocellular carcinoma (PHC) have identified a high frequency of codon 249 mutations. Due to the geographic location from which the samples were obtained and the substitution observed, the mutation was suggested to be attributable to aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) exposure. To determine the generality of this phenomenon, we have examined PHC tissues from 107 geographically and ethnically diverse sources. The frequency of p53 gene mutations was evaluated by using PCR/restriction-digest methods, GC-clamp (G+C-rich sequence) denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis, and DNA sequencing. The mutation rate observed in tumors from high-AFB1-exposure regions (25%) was more than double the rate observed in low-exposure regions (12%) but lower than the 50% frequency previously reported. Codon 249 mutations occurred at a much lower frequency than previously reported (2 of 107 samples examined). These results suggest that changes in DNA encoding p53 may not represent primary oncogenic effects but instead represent genetic changes related to tumor progression. High AFB1 levels may facilitate the generation of these progressional changes, but not by inducing a specific p53 gene mutation at codon 249 as previously reported.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1992

Inactivated whole-virus vaccine derived from a proviral DNA clone of simian immunodeficiency virus induces high levels of neutralizing antibodies and confers protection against heterologous challenge.

We tested the ability of macaques vaccinated with inactivated whole simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) to resist challenge with either homologous or heterologous cell-free uncloned SIV administered by the intravenous route. The vaccine virus was derived from a proviral DNA clone and thus was considered genetically homogeneous. Sixteen macaques received either hepatitis B surface antigen (n = 6) or the inactivated whole-SIV vaccine (n = 10) at weeks 0, 4, and 49 of the study. All SIV vaccine recipients developed high levels of homologous and heterologous neutralizing antibodies in response to vaccination. At the time of challenge (week 53), vaccinees were further stratified to receive either homologous (n = 10) or heterologous (n = 6) uncloned live SIV. The envelope glycoproteins of the homologous and heterologous challenge viruses were 94% and 81% identical to the vaccine virus, respectively. Regardless of challenge inoculum, all vaccinees in the control group (hepatitis B surface antigen) became infected, whereas all SIV vaccinees were protected against detectable infection. These data support the concept that an efficacious vaccine for HIV might be possible, and suggest that genetic variation of HIV might not be an insurmountable obstacle for vaccine development.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Cold-passaged human parainfluenza type 3 viruses contain ts and non-ts mutations leading to attenuation in rhesus monkeys.

Cold-passaged (CP) mutants derived from the JS strain of wild type wt parainfluenza type 3 virus (PIV3) are being evaluated as candidate live virus vaccines. The wt virus was serially passaged 45 times at low temperature and mutant clones with the cold-adapted (CA), temperature-sensitive (ts), and attenuation (ATT) phenotypes were selected following passage levels 12, 18 and 45 (cp12, cp18, and cp45). The cp45 virus was more ts than the cp12 or cp18 mutants, although all 3 mutant viruses were clearly attenuated in rhesus monkeys compared to wild type virus. The mean peak titers of the cp12 and cp18 viruses administered by the intratracheal route were at least 6000-fold lower than JSwt in both the upper and lower respiratory tracts. The cp45 virus was not recovered from monkeys administered virus by the i.t. route alone; however, when the cp45 virus was administered by the intranasal route, it replicated in the upper respiratory tract to a level comparable to that of the cp12 and cp18 viruses, but continued to be markedly restricted in the lower respiratory tract. These data indicate that the cp12 and cp18 viruses contain predominantly non-ts attenuating mutations whereas the cp45 mutant has both non-ts and ts attenuating mutations. Each of the CP mutants induced a high level of resistance to wild type virus challenge. Also, the ATT phenotype of the cp12 and cp18 viruses as measured in rhesus monkeys was stable after replication in chimpanzees or humans, respectively, although the ts phenotype was not. Based on its greater level of temperature sensitivity in vitro and its greater degree of attenuation in rhesus monkeys, the cp45 virus appears to be the most promising vaccine candidate for humans.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Molecular basis of virulence and growth of hepatitis A virus in cell culture.

The ability of engineering variants of hepatitis A virus (strain HM175) to replicate in cell culture or to cause disease in marmosets was evaluated. Virus variants were encoded by chimeric genomes constructed from infectious cDNA clones of two viruses (wild type and cell-culture-adapted) which differed in their ability to grow in vitro and to cause acute hepatitis in marmosets. Transfection and infectivity assays indicated that virus growth in vitro could be enhanced by subcloning the cell substrate prior to infection or by introducing multiple combinations of two or more mutations into the wild type genome. Various chimeric viruses induced liver enzyme elevations in marmosets, indicating that attenuation of virulence also required multiple mutations.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

The natural history of infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) in chimpanzees: comparison of serologic responses measured with first- and second-generation assays and relationship to HCV viremia.

The sensitivity of first- and second-generation tests for antibody to hepatitis C virus (HCV) and the relationship among the patterns of antibody response and HCV viremia were examined in serial serum samples from 6 chimpanzees experimentally infected with HCV and followed less than or equal to 3 years. HCV infection was transient in 4 chimpanzees and became chronic in 2. All chimpanzees developed antibodies to HCV detectable by second-generation assays, while only 5 of the 6 became positive by first-generation assay. Second-generation were consistently more sensitive than first-generation assays for the early diagnosis of primary HCV infection. The pattern observed with second-generation assays was not influenced by the outcome of HCV infection, since antibodies remained persistently detectable throughout follow-up regardless of whether viremia was transient or persistent. In contrast, the first-generation antibody response was variable: It usually disappeared after loss of viremia, whereas its presence paralleled HCV viremia in chimpanzees with chronic infection.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Use of single-gene reassortant viruses to study the role of avian influenza A virus genes in attenuation of wild-type human influenza A virus for squirrel monkeys and adult human volunteers.

The transfer of six internal RNA segments from the avian influenza A/Mallard/New York/6750/78 (H2N2) virus reproducibly attenuates human influenza A viruses for squirrel monkeys and adult humans. To identify the avian influenza A virus genes that specify the attenuation and host range restriction of avian-human (ah) influenza A reassortant viruses (referred to as ah reassortants), we isolated six single-gene reassortant viruses (SGRs), each having a single internal RNA segment of the influenza A/Mallard/New York/6750/78 virus and seven RNA segments from the human influenza A/Los Angeles/2/87 (H3N2) wild-type virus. To assess the level of attenuation, we compared each SGR with the A/Los Angeles/2/87 wild-type virus and a 6-2 gene ah reassortant (having six internal RNA segments from the avian influenza A virus parent and two genes encoding the hemagglutinin and neuraminidase glycoproteins from the wild-type human influenza A virus) for the ability to replicate in seronegative squirrel monkeys and adult human volunteers. In monkeys and humans, replication of the 6-2 gene ah reassortant was highly restricted. In humans, the NS, M, PB2, and PB1 SGRs each replicated significantly less efficiently (P less than 0.05) than the wild-type human influenza A virus parent, suggesting that each of these genes contributes to the attenuation phenotype. In monkeys, only the NP, PB2, and possibly the M genes contributed to the attenuation phenotype. These discordant observations, particularly with regard to the NP SGR, indicate that not all genetic determinants of attenuation of influenza A viruses for humans can be identified during studies of SGRs conducted with monkeys. The PB2 and M SGRs that were attenuated in humans each exhibited a new phenotype that was not observed for either parental virus. Thus, it was not possible to determine whether avian influenza virus PB2 or M gene itself or a specific constellation of avian and human influenza A virus specified restriction of virus replication in humans.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Hepatitis B x antigen in hepatitis B virus carrier patients with liver cancer.

Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded specimens from 110 cases of primary hepatocellular carcinoma were stained for hepatitis B x antigen (HBxAg), hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), and hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg). Eighty-four % of these patients were HBxAg positive in their tumor cells. Among the 110 cases studied, 80 had adjacent nontumorous tissue in the same block, and 65 of these nontumorous liver tissues stained positive for HBxAg (81%). HBsAg was positive in 19% of cases within tumor tissue and 61% in surrounding nontumorous tissue. HBcAg was positive in 11% of cases within tumor tissue and 26% in surrounding nontumorous tissue. These findings show that HBxAg is a common marker in the liver of patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV)-associated primary hepatocellular carcinoma and that it is closely associated with tumor cells in these individuals. In addition, the finding of HBxAg in the absence of detectable HBsAg and HBcAg in the liver tissues of many HBsAg carriers suggests that HBxAg could be expressed independent of HBV replication and implies that the synthesis of this antigen may be directed from integrated HBV DNA templates. The finding of HBxAg in the nucleus of hepatocytes from primary hepatocellular carcinoma patients with dysplasia, combined with the known trans-activating properties of HBxAg, implies that HBxAg plays one or more important roles in hepatocarcinogenesis. The finding of HBxAg in bile duct epithelium and cholangiocarcinoma tissues is compatible with the hypothesis that HBV may contribute to this other primary tumor type in the liver. Together, these results further implicate HBxAg in the pathogenesis of primary liver cancers.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular↗
PubMed1991

HBxAg in the liver from carrier patients with chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis.

Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded specimens from 110 cases of chronic hepatitis and 108 cases of cirrhosis were stained for HBxAg by the avidin-biotin complex technique using specific antisera made against full-length HBxAg polypeptide or derived synthetic peptides. These tissues were also stained for the HBsAg and HBcAg by the peroxidase-anti-peroxidase method. Among patients with chronic hepatitis, 86% were HBsAg positive in liver cells, 60% were surface antigen positive and 32% were core antigen positive. Among patients with cirrhosis, 97% were HBsAg positive in liver cells, 72% were surface antigen positive and 17% were positive for core antigen. Staining specificity was demonstrated, in part, by using preimmune sera in the place of primary antibody, by blocking of the primary antibody with the appropriate antigen before assay and by testing uninfected liver controls. The persistence and high frequency of HBxAg in liver cells from patients with chronic liver disease suggest that it may play one or more important roles in the pathogenesis of chronic infection. It is possible that detection of HBxAg in the liver could be an additional new diagnostic marker for hepatitis B virus infection. However, the function(s) of HBxAg in the pathogenesis of the chronic liver disease, if any, remains to be explained.

Carrier State↗
PubMed1991

Characterization of the attenuating M and NP gene segments of the avian influenza A/Mallard/78 virus during in vitro production of avian-human reassortant vaccine viruses and after replication in humans and primates.

A unique requirement for live attenuated reassortant influenza vaccines is the need to generate new reassortant vaccine viruses with the appearance of each new antigenic variant. Thus, the attenuation phenotype conferred by the attenuated donor influenza virus must remain genetically stable during the generation of each new reassortant vaccine virus. In this study we used nucleotide sequence analysis to evaluate the genetic stability of the attenuating M and NP genes of the avian influenza A/Mallard/NY/6750/78 attenuated donor virus during the in vitro generation and subsequent in vivo replication of avian-human (AH) influenza A reassortant vaccine viruses in monkeys and humans. Nucleotide sequence changes in the M and NP genes occurred at a rate of approximately 0.61 substitutions/1000 nt/reassortant during in vitro generation of four AH reassortant viruses. Only two nucleotide sequence changes occurred in the M and NP gene segments of four isolates of H1N1 or H3N2 AH vaccine viruses following 6-8 days of replication in seronegative children, and neither change affected amino acids previously identified as playing a potential role in attenuation. In addition, there were no changes in the nucleotide sequence of the M and NP genes of single gene AH reassortant viruses following five serial passages in squirrel monkeys. Finally, there was no change in the level or duration of replication of the single gene reassortant viruses in the upper or lower respiratory tract of monkeys following serial passage.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗