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Biomedical subjects

W T London

Publications and source records attributed to W T London.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

Attenuation and phenotypic stability of influenza B/Texas/1/84 cold-adapted reassortant virus: studies in hamsters and chimpanzees.

The temperature sensitivity, level of attenuation, and phenotypic stability of an influenza B/Texas/1/84 X B/Ann Arbor/1/66 cold-adapted (ca) reassortant virus that received the RNA segments that encode the hemagglutinin and neuraminidase surface glycoproteins from the B/Texas/84 wild-type virus and the remaining six RNA segments from the B/Ann Arbor/66 ca donor virus were evaluated. In comparison to wild-type virus, the ca reassortant was restricted in replication in the upper and lower respiratory tracts of hamsters and chimpanzees. This clearly demonstrated that the six transferable RNA segments of the B/Ann Arbor/66 ca donor virus specify the attenuation phenotype for animals with a 37 degrees C core body temperature. In addition, the ca virus retained the temperature-sensitive (ts) phenotype after replication in hamsters and chimpanzees. To further evaluate its phenotypic stability, the ca reassortant virus was isolated after 6-15 d of replication in hamsters that were immunosuppressed with cyclophosphamide, and the isolates were tested for their temperature sensitivity in vitro and for their level of replication in immunocompetent hamsters. The isolated viruses retained their ts and attenuation phenotypes even after prolonged replication in vivo. Thus, the B/Ann Arbor/66 ca donor virus can transfer the desired properties of attenuation and phenotype stability to its reassortants. The findings support the continued evaluation of ca reassortant influenza B virus vaccines in humans, including fully susceptible children.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Infection of macaque monkeys with simian immunodeficiency virus from African green monkeys: virulence and activation of latent infection.

The virulence of three isolates of simian immunodeficiency virus from African green monkeys (SIVagm) was studied in rhesus and pigtailed macaques. None of 15 rhesus monkeys and one of four pigtailed monkeys died from infection during the time they were studied (up to 33 months). SIVagm was only isolated from rhesus monkeys for up to 2 months after inoculation. However, when these animals were secondarily infected with Simian acquired immunodeficiency syndrome retrovirus type 1 (SRV-1), SIVagm was activated and isolated. Dual infection caused increased mortality.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Serological survey for viral diseases in the Cayo Santiago rhesus macaque population.

The free-ranging population of rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) on Cayo Santiago was sero-surveyed for human measles, simian virus 40, B virus (Herpes simiae), rhesus cytomegalovirus, human and simian retroviruses and encephalomyocarditis virus to determine the prevalence of these viruses in the colony. The results of this study indicate that the colony is free of SV40, HTLVIII (HIV-1), STLVIII (SIV) and SRV1; has a low prevalence of measles and EMCV; and high prevalence rates for B virus, CMV and HTLVI.

Academies and Institutes↗
PubMed1988

Betamethasone effects on steroid and prostaglandin concentrations in pregnant rhesus monkeys.

Glucocorticoids delay parturition in rhesus monkeys, but the mechanism is unknown. This study was designed to determine the relationship between administration of glucocorticoids and prostaglandin levels in late pregnancy. Pregnant rhesus monkeys received intramuscular betamethasone (2 mg/day) from day 120 to day 133 of pregnancy. 13,14-Dihydro-15-keto-prostaglandin F2 alpha, progesterone, estradiol, estrone, and cortisol in amniotic fluid were measured by radioimmunoassay, and progesterone and estradiol were measured in the maternal serum. Among control animals, between 133 days and 160 days there were significant increases in adrenal size (p less than 0.05) and in amniotic fluid 13,14-Dihydro-15-keto-prostaglandin F2a metabolite, (p less than 0.005), estrone, and progesterone concentrations (p less than 0.05). The increase in adrenal size and the rise in amniotic fluid 13,14-Dihydro-15-keto-prostaglandin F2a metabolite, did not occur in betamethasone-treated monkeys. Maternal serum estradiol levels were suppressed immediately after treatment with betamethasone but recovered to control levels by day 160. Other changes in maternal serum and amniotic fluid sex steroid levels were sought but not observed. These data are consistent with the hypothesis that glucocorticoids delay primate parturition by altering intrauterine prostaglandin F2 alpha metabolism.

Amniotic Fluid↗
PubMed1988

Evaluation in non-human primates of the safety, immunogenicity and efficacy of recombinant vaccinia viruses expressing the F or G glycoprotein of respiratory syncytial virus.

It has been shown previously that immunization with recombinant vaccinia viruses expressing the F or G envelope glycoprotein of human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) strain A2 induced a protective immune response in the lower respiratory tract of cotton rats against live RSV challenge. As a continuation of these studies, the safety, immunogenicity and efficacy of these recombinant vaccinia viruses was evaluated in non-human primates. Rhesus and patas monkeys were each inoculated intradermally at separate sites with the vaccinia-A2-F or vaccinia-A2-G recombinant or the parental vaccinia virus WR strain and the dermal lesion sizes were compared. Vaccinia-A2-F and vaccinia-A2-G recombinants produced lesions that were 5- to 15-fold smaller in area than vaccinia-WR. These studies indicated that insertion of either RSV gene into the thymidine kinase (TK) gene of vaccinia-WR significantly attenuated the virus for rhesus and patas monkeys. The immunogenicity of vaccinia-A2-F and vaccinia-A2-G was evaluated in squirrel, rhesus, African green, owl and patas monkeys. In four of the five species tested, the vaccinia-RSV recombinants stimulated levels of RSV serum-neutralizing antibodies considered to be protective for the lower respiratory tract of human infants and cotton rats. Interestingly, the level of RSV serum-neutralizing antibodies correlated with the size of the lesion. A boost in RSV serum-neutralizing antibody titres was not observed following a second inoculation. Owl monkeys inoculated with a single intradermal dose of vaccinia-A2-F and vaccinia-A2-G were completely resistant to infection of the lower respiratory tract with live RSV.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Attenuation of bovine parainfluenza virus type 3 in nonhuman primates and its ability to confer immunity to human parainfluenza virus type 3 challenge.

Bovine parainfluenza virus type 3 (PIV-3) was evaluated as a candidate live-virus vaccine to protect against infection with human PIV-3. The level of replication of bovine and human PIV-3 and the efficacy of immunization with bovine PIV-3 in protecting against subsequent challenge with human PIV-3 was evaluated in nonhuman primates. The duration and magnitude of replication of human and bovine PIV-3 in the upper and lower respiratory tracts of New World monkeys was similar, and animals infected with bovine PIV-3 developed resistance to challenge with human PIV-3. The replication of two bovine strains of PIV-3 was restricted 100- to 1000-fold in Old World primates but was sufficient to induce high levels of neutralizing antibody to human PIV-3. The combined properties of restricted replication and induction of a protective immune response to human PIV-3 in nonhuman primates make bovine PIV-3 a promising candidate for a live-virus vaccine to protect humans against disease caused by PIV-3.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Mature liver stages of cloned Plasmodium falciparum share epitopes with proteins from sporozoites and asexual blood stages.

The liver merozoites of malaria parasites are of paramount importance, as they initiate the parasite invasion of red blood cells and start the cycle associated with the clinical features of malaria. Investigating liver merozoite antigen is difficult because of the lack of a rodent model of human malaria. In addition, only a low proportion of cells are obtained in vivo, the parasites from Cebus and Aotus monkeys are immature, and in-vitro experiments with liver cells are often confounded by contamination with the natural mosquito flora copurified with the sporozoites used for seeding the liver cultures. In our study, mature liver schizonts were shown to possess many of the antigenic determinants recognized by MoAbs and sera specific for defined sporozoite and blood-stage antigens. We employed an immunofluorescence procedure based on evaluating parasites in cryosections prepared from infected chimpanzee liver. Sufficient numbers of sectioned parasites were evaluated with each antibody to assure the reproducibility of the results, and the fixation procedure used was sufficiently non-destructive to parasite antigens so that clear differences between reactions of specific antibodies and negative controls were observed. Our evidence for sharing of epitopes by liver merozoites and sporozoites or by liver merozoites and asexual blood-stage parasites raises the possibility that immune responses elicited against sporozoites or asexual stage antigens being considered as vaccine candidates may also act against this important, little-studied stage of the parasite.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Immunization with vaccinia virus recombinants that express the surface glycoproteins of human parainfluenza virus type 3 (PIV3) protects patas monkeys against PIV3 infection.

Patas monkeys (Eryphrocebus patas) were immunized intradermally with two vaccinia virus recombinants that individually express the hemagglutinin-neuraminidase glycoprotein or the fusion glycoprotein of human parainfluenza virus type 3 (PIV3). These immunizations induced a high titer of PIV3 serum-neutralizing antibodies. At 1 month after immunization, monkeys were challenged intratracheally with PIV3. Subsequent virus replication was reduced in these monkeys by 3.2 log10 and 1.9 log10 (mean peak virus titers) in the upper and lower respiratory tracts, respectively, compared with control animals. The average duration of virus shedding was also reduced from 9.0 to 3.4 days in the upper respiratory tract and from 5.3 to 1.2 days in the lower respiratory tract. These findings demonstrate that a single intradermal dose of live recombinant vaccinia viruses can significantly restrict the replication of a virus which primarily infects the epithelial cells of the respiratory tract.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

The immune response to nematode parasites: modulation of mast cell numbers and function during Strongyloides stercoralis infections in nonhuman primates.

Mucosal mast cell numbers are modulated in the intestines of rodents during parasitic infections. These mast cells can degranulate in response to worm antigens, and this event has been suggested to play a protective role for the host. To examine whether mast cells in higher animals play a role in protecting from disseminated parasitic disease, mast cell numbers and responsiveness to parasite antigens were evaluated in 5 Erythrocebus patas infected with the human intestinal nematode Strongyloides stercoralis. Initial infection and subsequent challenge infections were associated with increase in jejunal histamine and mast cell numbers, and these mast cells could release histamine in response to parasite antigens. Jejunal mast cell numbers returned to normal during a chronic phase of infection. The cells lost their ability to respond to antigenic stimulation following limited steroid treatment. Subsequent activation of chronic infections to fatal disseminated disease by more prolonged steroid treatment was associated with a marked decrease in jejunal mast cell numbers and histamine. In one animal which succumbed to severe disease without steroid treatment, jejunal mast cells were refractory to worm antigens.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Serum ferritin in hepatocellular carcinoma.

The serum ferritin level was detected by radioimmunoassay in 142 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Serum ferritin level was raised (greater than ng/ml) in 38% (54/142) of patients with HCC. There was no difference in serum ferritin levels between stages 1, 2 and 3 HCC. None of the 4 patients with stage 1 HCC had serum ferritin levels above 300 ng/ml. In this small group of patients, measurement of serum ferritin was not a satisfactory indicator of stage 1 HCC. A combination of serum ferritin alpha fetoprotein (AFP) measurements may be useful for a rising suspicion of HCC. We found that a correct diagnosis of HCC was made in 38% (54/142) of patients by measurement of ferritin alone, and in 83.8% (119/142) by measurement of AFP alone, but in 92.3% (131/142) by measurement of a combination of these two markers. Serum ferritin estimation may be helpful in detection of HCC without elevated AFP. Among 12 cases of HCC with serum AFP less than 500 ng/ml, 6 cases (50%) had serum ferritin levels greater than ng/ml. There was no correlation between serum ferritin and AFP, nor between serum ferritin and HBsAg. However, among 12 patients with very high ferritin levels (range 992-3000 ng/ml), 11 (91.7%) had AFP levels of more than 500 ng/ml (mean = 4800 ng/ml, range 500-32000 ng/ml).

Biomarkers, Tumor↗
PubMed1988

Respiratory syncytial virus infections and intravenous gamma-globulins.

The respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common cause of bronchiolitis and pneumonia in infants and young children. Throughout the world annual RSV epidemics result in numerous hospitalizations, substantial morbidity and some mortality. Until the recent introduction of ribavirin only supportive therapy has been available for treating these infections. The development of animal models of RSV infection and the observation that some lots of immunoglobulin prepared for intravenous administration contained substantial RSV-neutralization antibody titers, prompted a series of studies examining the safety and efficacy of immunoglobulin prepared for intravenous administration in the prophylaxis and treatment of RSV infections. This discussion will review our published, or soon to be published, studies on the use of Sandoglobulin for both immunoprophylaxis and immunotherapy of RSV infections in cotton rats. It will summarize studies utilizing both parenteral and topical (tracheal) Sandoglobulin therapy for RSV infections in owl monkeys. Finally the results of a small double blind trial of parenteral albumin or Sandoglobulin in the therapy of RSV bronchiolitis and/or pneumonia in hospitalized children will be reviewed. The data show that immunoprophylaxis and immunotherapy of RSV infections in laboratory animals was well-tolerated, was safe and induced highly significant reductions in RSV shedding from the lower respiratory tract. Further, immunotherapy of RSV infections in children was also well-tolerated, induced no short or long term evidence of toxicity or injury and caused significant improvements in oxygenation and reductions in RSV shed from the respiratory tract.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Recommended safe practices for using the neurotoxin MPTP in animal experiments.

The metabolism and distribution of the parkinsonian syndrome inducing neurotoxin MPTP has been studied in non-human primates and mice housed in controlled environmental chambers. 14C6-MPTP was prepared and injected at concentrations normally employed for lesioning experiments (30 mg/kg in mice, 0.3 mg/kg in monkeys). All interior surfaces of the chambers which could be reached by animals or their excreta were contaminated with radiolabeled metabolites. Vapor born unmetabolized MPTP was negligible, although significant amounts of MPTP were found in the excreta of mice (less than or equal to 15% injected dose) and small amounts from rhesus monkeys (less than 2%). Procedures to minimize contact with animal fur, bedding and excreta should protect investigators working with MPTP over extended periods. Permanganate oxidation effectively detoxifies solutions of MPTP. MPTP, MPP+, common synthetic intermediates, and the products of MPTP's oxidation are not mutagenic as measured by a Salmonella-microsome assay.

1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine↗
PubMed1987

Genetic analysis of the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum.

Malaria parasites are haploid for most of their life cycle, with zygote formation and meiosis occurring during the mosquito phase of development. The parasites can be analyzed genetically by transmitting mixtures of cloned parasites through mosquitoes to permit cross-fertilization of gametes to occur. A cross was made between two clones of Plasmodium falciparum differing in enzymes, drug sensitivity, antigens, and chromosome patterns. Parasites showing recombination between the parent clone markers were detected at a high frequency. Novel forms of certain chromosomes, detected by pulsed-field gradient gel electrophoresis, were produced readily, showing that extensive rearrangements occur in the parasite genome after cross-fertilization. Since patients are frequently infected with mixtures of genetically distinct parasites, mosquito transmission is likely to provide the principal mechanisms for generating parasites with novel genotypes.

Adenosine Deaminase↗