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Identification of a new malaria susceptibility locus (Char4) in recombinant congenic strains of mice.

The genetic component of susceptibility to malaria is complex, both in humans and in the mouse model of infection. Two murine loci on chromosomes 8 (Pchr/Char2) and 9 (Char1) have previously been mapped in F(2) crosses, and play an important role in regulating blood parasitemia and survival to infection with Plasmodium chabaudi. These loci explain only part of the interstrain phenotypic variance, and their penetrance and expressivity vary in different inbred strains. Novel loci regulating response to P. chabaudi infection were investigated by using an alternative strategy based on a newly derived set of AcB/BcA recombinant congenic strains bred from malaria-susceptible A/J (A) and resistant C57BL/6J (B6). One of the AcB strains, AcB55, is shown to be highly resistant to infection despite 83% susceptible A genomic composition, including susceptibility alleles at Char1 and Pchr/Char2. Early onset of parasite clearance in AcB55 is associated with lower peak parasitemia and absence of mortality. Linkage analysis in an informative (AcB55 x A)F(2) population, using peak parasitemia as a quantitative trait, located a new B6-derived resistance locus on chromosome 3 (lod score = 6.57) that we designate Char4. A second, suggestive linkage on chromosome 10 (lod score = 2.53) shows additive effect with Char4 on peak parasitemia. Char4 maps to a small congenic B6 fragment in AcB55 that should facilitate the search for candidate genes. Our findings provide an entry point for parallel association studies in humans between the syntenic 4q21-4q25 region and susceptibility to disease in endemic areas of malaria.

Alleles↗

H. pylori infection in non-ulcer patients--to treat or not to treat. The case against treatment.

Heretofore regarded as a strict pathogen, recent identification of multiple mutants of H. pylori, varying in pathogenicity, genomic composition, antigenic structure and other characteristics, has led to speculation that not all strains of the organism merit elimination. Affecting half the world's population, H. pylori appears to cause clinically significant disease in <20% of cases. The costs of eradicating harmless infection in over 2 billion people are prohibitive, particularly in countries lacking resources, and are questionable even in advanced countries where infection, gastritis and related diseases are declining as social conditions improve. Major controversies surround empiric eradication of helicobacter infection in patients with asymptomatic gastritis or non-specific dyspepsia. Apart from cost, and feasibility, there are concerns that widespread campaigns to eradicate H. pylori might cause major increases in esophageal reflux disease and esophageal adenocarcinoma, while causing some serious iatrogenic illness and increasing antibiotic resistance, with uncertain consequences to affected populations.

Dyspepsia↗

Resolving taxonomic complexity in the genus Boechera (Brassicaceae) using the Boechera Microsatellite Website: a case study of the rare triploid B. bodiensis.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The genus Boechera (rock cress) comprises &#x223c;75 sexual diploid taxa and >355 genetically distinct hybrid lineages, many of which reproduce asexually through apomixis. This complex reproductive landscape poses substantial challenges for taxonomy, similar to those encountered in genera such as Taraxacum, Hieracium, Poa and Rubus. The Boechera Microsatellite Website (BMW) offers an extensive database and analytical tools that are proving instrumental in resolving these difficulties. Here, we demonstrate the utility of the BMW through analysis of Boechera bodiensis, a rare and poorly understood species endemic to the western Great Basin of the USA. METHODS: First described as Arabis bodiensis by Rollins in 1982, this taxon is sparsely represented in herbaria and has long been considered a candidate for protection under the Endangered Species Act. However, its taxonomic identity has remained uncertain owing to morphological similarities with other 'Arabis' (Boechera) taxa. We integrate microsatellite DNA data from the BMW with morphological analyses to provide a clearer understanding of the taxonomic status, distribution and evolutionary origins of B. bodiensis. KEY RESULTS: Pollen studies reveal that B. bodiensis is a diplosporous apomict. Microsatellite genotyping of the holotype confirms it to be triploid, containing three subgenomes derived from Boechera cobrensis, B. fernaldiana and B. sparsiflora. Expanded microsatellite surveys detect this triploid genotype at 22 additional sites, primarily in Mono County, CA, USA. Morphological analyses of genetically verified specimens identify a consistent set of characters that distinguish B. bodiensis from co-occurring congeners. CONCLUSIONS: The BMW enables high-resolution analyses of genome composition, reproductive mode and hybrid origins, making it a powerful tool for resolving taxonomic complexity in Boechera. Our case study of B. bodiensis highlights the effectiveness of combining molecular and morphological data to clarify species boundaries, inform conservation assessments and refine nomenclatural understanding in this notoriously difficult genus.

Microsatellite Repeats↗

Genetic determinants for infectivity and pathogenicity of influenza viruses.

The objective of the studies presented was to define a molecular basis for infectivity and pathogenicity of influenza virus. It is demonstrated that activation of the HA glycoprotein by post-translational proteolytic cleavage is indispensable for the formation of infectious influenza virus. There are two preconditions for influenza virus to be pathogenic: (1) the presence on the virus particle of a cleaved HA molecule essential for the infectivity, and (2) an optimal genome composition. In naturally occurring avian influenza viruses there is a direct correlation between the cleavability of the haemagglutinin, the potential of the virus to be produced in infectious form in a wide range of host cells, and the viruses' pathogenicity for chicken. It is concluded that Nature selects an optimal gene constellation for each individual field strain. In these viruses the structure of the haemagglutinin is the determining factor for pathogenicity.

Animals↗

Avian nephroblastoma virus MAV-2(N) and avian osteopetrosis virus MAV-2(O) are genetically distinct.

Avian myeloblastosis virus consists of a mixture of a defective leukaemia virus and several non-defective associated avian leukosis viruses. The genomes of two of the associated avian leukosis viruses were examined in this study and were chosen because one of them, MAV-2(N), induces predominantly nephroblastoma, while the other, MAV-2(O), induces predominantly osteopetrosis. Competitive hybridization studies employing labelled virion RNA and DNA from normal and malignant tissue failed to demonstrate a difference the genomes. However, examination of ribonuclease T1-resistant oligonucleotide maps revealed that MAV-2(N) RNA had five oligonucleotide fragments which were not present in the MAV-2(O) genome. Poly(A) selection of the oligonucleotides at the 3' end of the genome showed that the fragments unique to MAV-2(N) were not present at this end of the genome. These results suggest that two viruses differing in oncogenic manifestation also differ in genome composition.

Avian Leukosis Virus↗

Influenza A viruses in feral Canadian ducks: extensive reassortment in nature.

The current dogma of influenza accepts that feral aquatic birds are the reservoir for influenza A viruses. Although the genomic information of human influenza A viruses is increasing, little of this type of data is available for viruses circulating in feral waterfowl. This study presents the genetic characterization of 35 viruses isolated from wild Canadian ducks from 1983 to 2000, as the first attempt at a comprehensive genotypic analysis of influenza viruses isolated from feral ducks. This study demonstrates that influenza virus genes circulating in Canadian ducks have achieved evolutionary stasis. The majority of these duck virus genes are clustered in distinct North American clades; however, some H6 and H9 genes are clustered with those from Eurasian viruses. Genes appeared to reassort in a random fashion. None of the genotypes identified remained present throughout all of the years examined and most PA and PB2 genes that crossed over into swine were clustered in one phylogenetic grouping. Additionally, matrix genes were identified that branch very early in the evolutionary tree. These findings demonstrate the diversity of the influenza virus gene pool in Canadian ducks, and suggest that genes which cluster in specific phylogenetic groupings in the PB2 and PA genes can be used for markers of viruses with the potential for crossing the species barrier. A more comprehensive study of this important reservoir is needed to provide further insight into the genomic composition of viruses that crossover the species barrier, which would be a useful component to pandemic planning.

Animals↗

Genetic factors influencing lignin peroxidase activity in Phanerochaete chrysosporium ME446.

Haploid recombinant progeny of Phanerochaete chrysosporium ME446, genome compositions of which had been defined by RFLP-mapping, vary in their idiophasic behaviour. This allowed us to formulate a model of the sequence of idiophasic activities. One component of this variation, the amount of lignin peroxidase activity, is independent of the allele distributions of the lignin peroxidase gene clusters, but correlates with the allele distribution of another locus. This locus appears to control the spread of the lignin peroxidase-active state within the idiophasic mycelial mat and may be the mating-type locus. The successful determination of linkage relied on analysis of chromosome intervals rather than linkage to single markers; this approach should be generally useful for analysing quantitative characters by RFLP mapping.

Alleles↗

Cloning and characterization of a polymorphic class I MHC gene in the AKR lymphoma K36.16.

Cancers are the result of somatic heritable changes in certain genes. The AKR leukaemia K36.16 has been extensively studied in our laboratory. When compared to normal AKR thymocytes, the K36.16 tumour cells do not express the H-2Kk antigens and have an unexpected antigenic determinant that could be detected by anti-H-2Dd monoclonal antibodies. To understand the molecular mechanisms that could be responsible for these changes, we have compared the genomic composition of the class I MHC genes in the K36.16 tumour cells to that of normal AKR lymphocytes. A unique polymorphic 2.6-kb Hind III fragment was detected in DNA obtained from the K36.16 tumour cells after hybridization with a 3'-gene-coding H-2 probe. This fragment is not present in DNA of normal AKR lymphocytes. In an effort to further understand the mechanism underlying the nature of this MHC gene polymorphism, we have cloned and sequenced this Hind III fragment. When compared with the reported sequences of a number of mouse class I MHC genes, the nucleotide sequence of this polymorphic Hind III fragment is similar to that of a reported Tla gene.

Animals↗

Antigenic and genomic analyses of influenza A(H1N1) viruses from different regions of the world, February 1978 to March 1980.

Antigenic analysis of influenza A(H1N1) virus isolates by hemagglutination inhibition reactions with postinfection ferret sera and mouse monoclonal antibodies showed that, although the predominant virus in 1978 to 1979 had an A/Brazil/11/78-like hemagglutinin, several new antigenic variants could be detected which differed from those identified in 1977 to 1978. Most of the variants showed very minor changes and did not achieve epidemiological significance. Genome analysis by ribonucleic acid-ribonucleic acid hybridization, and supported by oligonucleotide mapping, indicated that nonrecombinant H1N1 viruses cocirculated in the world with recombinant H1N1 viruses, identified in 1978 to 1979. The results of our antigenic analysis and genomic analysis, in conjunction with genomic analysis by other authors, showed that recombinants with A/USSR/90/77-like and A/Brazil/11/78-like hemagglutinin had different genome compositions, indicating that H3N2 virus recombined separately with these different antigenic variants. Prevalence of the nonrecombinant and recombinant H1N1 viruses varied between regions of the world, and influenza A(H1N1) virus with a genotype almost identical to that of nonrecombinant A/Brazil/11/78 virus reappeared as a cause of local outbreaks in the United States in 1980 despite the predominance of recombinant H1N1 strains in the preceding winter.

Animals↗

Recombinant cold-adapted attenuated influenza A vaccines for use in children: molecular genetic analysis of the cold-adapted donor and recombinants.

A previously described cold-adapted attenuated virus, A/Leningrad/134/17/57 (H2N2), was further modified by 30 additional passages in chicken embryos at 25 degrees C. This virus had a distinct temperature-sensitive (ts) phenotype, grew well in chicken embryos at 25 degrees C, and failed to recombine with reference ts mutants of fowl plague virus containing ts lesions in five genes coding for non-glycosylated proteins (genes 1, 2, 5, 7, and 8). Recombination of A/Leningrad/134/47/57 with wild-type influenza virus strains A/Leningrad/322/79 (H1N1) and A/Bangkok/1/79(H3N2) yielded ts recombinants 47/25/1(H1N1) and 47/7/2 (H3N2). These recombinants inherited their ts phenotype and ability to reproduce in chicken embryos at 25 degrees C from the cold-adapted parent. Analysis of the genome composition of the recombinants obtained by recombination of the cold-adapted donor with wild-type influenza virus strains A/Leningrad/322/79(H1N1) and A/Bangkok/1/79(H3N2) showed that recombinants 47/25/1(H1N1) and 47/7/2 (H3N2) inherited five and six genes, respectively, from the cold-adapted parent, and hemagglutinin and neuraminidase genes from the wild-type strains.

Animals↗

Association of linear plasmid 28-1 with an arthritic phenotype of Borrelia burgdorferi.

Borrelia burgdorferi, the Lyme disease spirochete, has a genome comprised of a linear chromosome and up to 21 plasmids. Loss of plasmids is associated with decreased infectivity and pathogenicity. Sixteen transformants were generated by transforming the noninfectious clone 5A13 with the recombinant plasmid pBBE22. The transformants were classified into nine groups based on plasmid content analysis. An infectivity study revealed that all nine transformants examined, each of which represented one of the plasmid patterns, were infectious in mice with severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) regardless of their genomic compositions. Tissue bacterial quantification revealed that the loss of plasmids significantly reduced the spirochete burden in the heart and joint tissues, not in the skin, suggesting virulence factors may be tissue specific. Four transformants containing lp28-1 induced severe arthritis in SCID mice, in contrast to the five transformants lacking lp28-1. These pathogenicity studies associated lp28-1 with an arthritic phenotype and further studies may identify factors that contribute to arthritic pathology.

Animals↗

Outbreak of amoxicillin-resistant Haemophilus influenzae type b: variable number of tandem repeats as novel molecular markers.

An outbreak caused by amoxicillin-resistant Haemophilus influenzae type b was noted among patients suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Since infections were clustered in time and place, an ongoing outbreak was suspected. The spread of the strain and the course of the outbreak could be followed by random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis of the different bacterial isolates. In addition, studies were aimed at the determination of length polymorphism in regions of repetitive DNA. By PCR-mediated amplification of variable number of tandem repeat regions (VNTRs), additional insight into the genome composition of the epidemic strain was gained. Our results show that VNTRs comprising repeat units that are 3, 5, or 6 nucleotides in length provided stable genetic markers that can be used for molecular typing of H. influenzae type b. VNTRs built from tetranucleotide units, however, appear to be hypervariable and not suited for epidemiological studies. The observed variability in this latter class of VNTRs might be reminiscent of the bacterium's capacity to deal with unfavorable host factors.

Amoxicillin↗

Antigenic and genetic characterization of influenza C viruses which caused two outbreaks in Yamagata City, Japan, in 1996 and 1998.

During the 3 years from January 1996 to December 1998, a total of 33 strains of influenza C virus were isolated from 10,726 throat swab specimens collected from children with acute respiratory illness who visited two pediatric clinics in Yamagata City, Japan. These 33 strains were isolated in clusters during two different periods, 20 strains in May to August 1996 and the remaining 13 in March to June 1998. Antigenic analysis with monoclonal antibodies to the hemagglutinin-esterase (HE) glycoprotein and phylogenetic analysis of seven RNA segments showed that the 33 influenza C viruses isolated were antigenically and genetically similar and that they were reassortant viruses which had obtained PB2, PB1, HE, M, and NS genes from a C/pig/Beijing/115/81-like virus and P3 and NP genes from a C/Mississippi/80-like virus. These observations suggest strongly that during the survey period of 3 years, two outbreaks of influenza C occurred in Yamagata City, both of which were caused by a reassortant virus having the genome composition described above.

Adolescent↗

Isolation of an influenza C virus introduced into Japan by a traveler from Malaysia.

An influenza C virus was isolated from a Japanese traveler who had visited Malaysia in April 1999. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the genome composition of this virus was distinct from that of any other strain isolated in Japan. The possibility that a genetically unique influenza C virus was introduced into Japan by a traveler is shown.

Adult↗

M viral RNA segment of bunyaviruses codes for two glycoproteins, G1 and G2.

Tryptic peptide digests of the two viral glycoproteins (G1 and G2) of snowshow hare (SSH) virus, La Crosse, La Crosse (LAC) virus, and an SSH/LAC recombinant virus which has a large (L)/medium (M)/small (S) RNA segment genome composition of SSH/LAC/SSH were analyzed by ion-exchange column chromatography. The analyses prove that the M RNA species of bunyaviruses codes for the two viral glycoproteins.

Arboviruses↗

Influenza A virus M2 protein: monoclonal antibody restriction of virus growth and detection of M2 in virions.

The influenza A virus M2 protein is an integral membrane protein of 97 amino acids that is expressed at the surface of infected cells with an extracellular N-terminal domain of 18 to 23 amino acid residues, an internal hydrophobic domain of approximately 19 residues, and a C-terminal cytoplasmic domain of 54 residues. To gain an understanding of the M2 protein function in the influenza virus replicative pathway, we produced and characterized a monoclonal antibody to M2. The antibody-binding site was located to the extracellular N terminus of M2 as shown by the loss of recognition after proteolysis at the infected-cell surface, which removes 18 N-terminal residues, and by the finding that the antibody recognizes M2 in cell surface fluorescence. The epitope was further defined to involve residues 11 and 14 by comparing the predicted amino acid sequences of M2 from several avian and human strains and the ability of the M2 protein to be recognized by the antibody. The M2-specific monoclonal antibody was used in a sensitive immunoblot assay to show that M2 protein could be detected in virion preparations. Quantitation of the amount of M2 associated with virions by two unrelated methods indicated that in the virion preparations used there are 14 to 68 molecules of M2 per virion. The monoclonal antibody, when included in a plaque assay overlay, considerably showed the growth of some influenza virus strains. This plaque size reduction is a specific effect for the M2 antibody as determined by an analysis of recombinants with defined genome composition and by the observation that competition by an N-terminal peptide prevents the antibody restriction of virus growth.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Drosophila S virus is a member of the Reoviridae family.

The S character of Drosophila simulans, the absence or malformation or both of bristles and other cuticular structures, was described by Comendador (Drosophila Inf. Serv. 55:26-28, 1980). Its characteristics (maternal transmission, low pathogenicity, and sensitivity to temperature) suggested the existence of a virus as the causative agent. Indeed, reoviruslike particles were found in subcuticular cells of S individuals, and its association with S phenotypic expression was shown. This virus was called Drosophila S virus (DSV) (C. Louis, M. López-Ferber, N. Plus, G. Kuhl, and S. Baker, J. Virol. 62:1266-1270, 1988). We report here the purification and analysis of some properties of DSV particles, the morphology (spherical, 60 nm in diameter with an electron dense central core and less dense shell) and genome composition (double-stranded RNA divided into segments), which classify DSV as a new member of the family Reoviridae.

Animals↗

The fragile histidine triad gene: a molecular link between cigarette smoking and cervical cancer.

PURPOSE: Smoking is an epidemiologic risk factor for cervical cancer. The fragile histidine triad (FHIT) gene is a tumor suppressor gene that is altered in 80% of tobacco-associated lung cancers. We hypothesized that reduced FHIT protein expression, homozygous deletions (HD) or hemizygous deletions (HemiD) and microsatellite alterations (MA) at the FHIT/FRA3B locus occur more commonly in cervical cancers of smokers than nonsmokers. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Archival tissues of 58 patients with stage IA1 to IB2 squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix were identified. FHIT protein expression was studied with immunohistochemistry. Laser capture microdissection was used to isolate tumor and normal DNA. HD/HemiD of FHIT exons 4 and 5 were analyzed by monoplex real-time PCR. MA at FHIT/FRA3B were studied with multiplex nested PCR with three fluorescently labeled microsatellite markers (D3S1300, D3S1312, and D3S1480). RESULTS: Eighteen of 26 tumors from smokers (69%) and 13 of 32 nonsmokers (41%; P < 0.05) showed loss of FHIT protein expression. Thirty-seven stage IB tumors yielded sufficient DNA for analyses. HD or HemiD of both exons tested occurred in 8 of 17 smokers (47%) and 2 of 20 nonsmokers (10%; P < 0.05). MA at more than two sites were found in 11 of 17 tumors of smokers (65%) and 6 of 20 nonsmokers (30%; P < 0.05). Mean composite genomic FHIT alteration scores were significantly higher for tumors of smokers versus nonsmokers (0.67 versus 0.40; P < 0.02). CONCLUSION: Loss of FHIT expression, HD, HemiD, and MA at the FHIT/FRA3B locus occur significantly more commonly in cervical cancers of smokers. These findings suggest that the tumor suppressor gene FHIT may represent a molecular target in cigarette smoking-associated cervical carcinogenesis.

Acid Anhydride Hydrolases↗