Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Packaging”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 1,009 records · Page 56Linked to original sources

Investigation of RNA transcripts containing HIV-1 packaging signal sequences as HIV-1 antivirals: generation of cell lines resistant to HIV-1.

Based on the success of RNA decoy approaches using RRE and TAR sequences to inhibit HIV-1 replication, we studied the ability of HIV-1 packaging signal sequences to interfere with viral RNA encapsidation and formation of infectious particles. We made a variety of plasmid constructs in which the sequence context or number of repeats of the viral packaging signal was varied, and investigated the ability of these transcripts to inhibit replication of HIV-1 in stably transfected Jurkat T lymphocytes. We found that certain lines showed strong inhibition of HIV-1 replication, an effect that persisted at high input amounts of virus and significantly delayed viral replication for up to 4 weeks. An investigation of the mechanism of inhibition revealed that in these cell lines the packaging efficiency of the genomic HIV-1 transcript was unaffected. Further studies identified an antiviral effect on both HIV-1 and HIV-2 that did not correlate with decoy expression, and was substantially independent of CD4 expression or cellular proliferative capacity. Study of these resistant cell lines may lead to new insights into mechanisms of inhibition of HIV-1 replication.

CD4 Antigens↗

Replication and packaging of helper-dependent adenoviral vectors.

A helper-dependent adenovirus vector (HD AdV) that lacks all the coding sequences of viral proteins from the vector backbone was developed to overcome the problem of host cellular immune responses against E1-deleted AdV. One of the limitations of the current HD AdV system is its relatively inefficient propagation compared with that of E1-deleted AdV, which deters application of the HD AdV, especially in large animal models. We hypothesized that the low titers might be due in part to defects in replication and packaging of the vector DNA. We propagated two HD AdVs with similar marker gene cassettes and stuffer sequences, using two different helper viruses, and determined the replication and packaging efficiencies of viral DNA. Our analysis indicated a difference in replication and packaging efficiencies between the two vectors, which resulted in different propagation efficiencies. Furthermore, dl309, which is similar to the wild-type virus, demonstrated superior helper function over that of the loxP-containing helper virus, AdLC8cluc. These findings may have significant implications for the design of improved production systems of HD AdVs.

Adenoviridae↗

Inactivation of Bacillus subtilis spores on packaging surfaces by u. v. excimer laser irradiation.

Ultraviolet (u.v.) laser irradiation has been used to inactivate Bacillus subtilis spores deposited on to planar aluminium- and polyethylene-coated packaging surfaces. Kill kinetics were found to be diphasic, with an initial rapid inactivation phase followed by tailing. Although no definitive evidence was obtained, it is thought that spores located within packaging crevices/pores were primarily responsible for the observed tailing. Surviving spores were also found on the unexposed underside of cards and, to a lesser extent, within clumps. The log count reduction in B. subtilis was dependent on spore loading and total u.v. dose. In comparison, packaging surface composition, fluence (2-18 Jm-2) and frequency (40-150 Hz) had only a negligible effect. By irradiating boards carrying 106 spores, with a dose of 11.5 J cm-2, a log count reduction >5 was obtained. The mode of spore inactivation was primarily through DNA disruption. This was confirmed by the high sensitivity of spores lacking protective, small, acid-soluble proteins, in addition to the high frequency of auxotrophic and asporogenous mutations found amongst survivors.

Bacillus subtilis↗

A randomized, controlled, single-blind trial of teaching provided by a computer-based multimedia package versus lecture.

BACKGROUND: Computer-based teaching may allow effective teaching of important psychiatric knowledge and skills. AIMS: To investigate the effectiveness and acceptability of computer-based teaching. METHOD: A single-blind, randomized, controlled study of 166 undergraduate medical students at the University of Leeds, involving an educational intervention of either a structured lecture or a computer-based teaching package (both of equal duration). RESULTS: There was no difference in knowledge between the groups at baseline or immediately after teaching. Both groups made significant gains in knowledge after teaching. Students who attended the lecture rated their subjective knowledge and skills at a statistically significantly higher level than students who had used the computers. Students who had used the computer package scored higher on an objective measure of assessment skills. Students did not perceive the computer package to be as useful as the traditional lecture format, despite finding it easy to use and recommending its use to other students. CONCLUSIONS: Medical students rate themselves subjectively as learning less from computer-based as compared with lecture-based teaching. Objective measures suggest equivalence in knowledge acquisition and significantly greater skills acquisition for computer-based teaching.

Algorithms↗

The DNA site utilized by bacteriophage P22 for initiation of DNA packaging.

Virion proteins recognize their cognate nucleic acid for encapsidation into virions through recognition of a specific nucleotide sequence contained within that nucleic acid. Viruses like bacteriophage P22, which have partially circularly permuted, double-stranded virion DNAs, encapsidate DNA through processive series of packaging events in which DNA is recognized for packaging only once at the beginning of the series. Thus a single DNA recognition event programmes the encapsidation of multiple virion chromosomes. The protein product of P22 gene 3, a terminase component, is thought to be responsible for this recognition. The site on the P22 genome that is recognized by the gene 3 protein to initiate packaging series is called the pac site. We report here a strategy for assaying pac site activity in vivo, and the utilization of this system to identify and characterize the site genetically. It is an asymmetric site that spans 22 basepairs and is located near the centre of P22 gene 3.

Bacteriophage P22↗

Normal sperm morphology and chromatin packaging: comparison between aniline blue and chromomycin A3 staining.

The successful implementation of ICSI has provided a unique means of allowing couples suffering from severe male infertility to achieve their reproductive goals. However, despite the great therapeutic advantages of the technique, ICSI often provides solutions to clinicians in the absence of an aetiological or pathophysiological diagnosis. The development of a sequential diagnostic schedule for patients consulting for fertility disturbances would be an ideal method of approach. Since sperm morphology recorded by strict criteria has often been correlated with fertilization failure, the present study aimed to evaluate the relationship between normal morphology and chromatin staining among fertile and subfertile men. Both chromomycin A3 (CMA3) and acidic aniline blue (AAB) were employed to record chromatin packaging quality among 58 men visiting the andrology laboratory. Intra- and interassay variations were initially recorded for fertile sperm donors. The coefficients of variation (CV) for all intra- and inter-assay assessments were < 12%. Chromatin packaging was significantly and negatively correlated with normal sperm morphology, namely r = 0.40 (P = 0.001) and r = 0.33 (P = 0.001) for CMA3 and AAB, respectively. Receiver operator characteristics illustrated sensitivity and specificity values of 75% and 82% for CMA3 and 60% and 91% for AAB, respectively. Significantly different CMA3 and AAB staining was recorded among men with severe teratozoospermia (< 4% normal forms) when compared with normozoospermic men (> 14% normal forms), namely 49% vs. 29% for CMA3 and 51% vs. 26% for AAB staining, respectively. Chromatin packaging assessments should be a valuable addition to the sequential diagnostic programme in an assisted reproduction arena.

Aniline Compounds↗

Extending the efficacy of a thermal biofeedback treatment package to the management of tension-type headaches in children.

This study explored the efficacy of a thermal biofeedback treatment package as an intervention with children with tension-type headaches. In a within-subject, time-lagged, multiple baseline design, five children, aged 8 to 14 years, were assigned to baselines of varying lengths prior to receiving treatment. Treatment was introduced sequentially across subjects and involved six thermal biofeedback treatment visits. Parents were also given guidelines for how best to encourage children to independently use the biofeedback skills. Data confirm that the participants learned the handwarming skill, practiced the skill on a regular basis during treatment, and independently used the skills to manage their pain. All participants demonstrated clinically significant reductions in one or more headache parameters (frequency, duration, intensity) following treatment. At 6-month follow-up, four of the five participants were headache-free. Although the thermal biofeedback treatment package was generally effective for these children with tension-type headaches, the specific type of headache experienced by each child appeared to influence the specific response to treatment. In addition, no single measure of headache activity was the best indicator of response to treatment. The efficacy of the thermal biofeedback treatment package is supported as an alternative treatment for children suffering from tension-type headaches.

Adolescent↗

Spinal manipulation for low-back pain: a treatment package agreed to by the UK chiropractic, osteopathy and physiotherapy professional associations.

Trials of manipulative treatment have been compromised by, amongst other things, different definitions of the therapeutic procedures involved. This paper describes a spinal manipulation package agreed by the UK professional bodies that represent chiropractors, osteopaths and physiotherapists. It was devised for use in the UK Back pain Exercise And Manipulation (UK BEAM) trial--a national study of physical treatments in primary care funded by the Medical Research Council and the National Health Service Research and Development Programme. Although systematic reviews have reported some beneficial effects of spinal manipulation for low-back pain, due to the limited methodological quality of primary studies and difficulties in defining manipulation, important questions have remained unanswered. The UK BEAM trial was designed to answer some of those questions. Early in the design of the trial, it was acknowledged that the spinal manipulation treatment regimes provided by practitioners from the three professions shared more similarities than differences. Because the trial design specifically precluded comparison of the effect between the professions, it was necessary to devise a homogenous package representative of, and acceptable to, all three. The resulting package is 'pragmatic', in that it represents what happens to most people undergoing manipulation, and 'explanatory' in that it excludes discipline-specific variations and other ancillary treatments.

Chiropractic↗

Packaging and maturation of DNA of bacteriophage T7 in vitro.

We have developed an in vitro complementation assay to demonstrate packaging and maturation of DNA of phage T7. Cells of Escherichia coli B infected with an appropriate T7 amber mutant are concentrated 200-fold and lysed by freezing and thawing. Two extracts from cells infected with different amber mutants are mixed and incubated at 30 degrees . Positive complementation results in a 100-fold increase in phage titer. Using this assay we have demonstrated the packaging of phage DNA from an extract that contains no phage heads (gene 9(-), 10(-)), within head structures present in an extract that contains no phage DNA (gene 5(-)). We have also demonstrated an activity in extracts that contain no phage DNA or heads (gene 5(-), 9(-), 10(-)), which complements gene 19(-)-infected cells. We have proven that this activity is due to the gene-19 product by showing that the activity is temperature-sensitive if the extract is made from cells infected with a mutant having a temperature-sensitive mutation in gene 19. This assay should be useful in elucidating the mechanism of packaging and maturation of DNA of phage T7.

Cell-Free System↗

Influence of insertions on packaging of host sequences covalently linked to bacteriophage Mu DNA.

Insertions in bacteriophage Mu DNA have been identified. These insertions are responsible for at least seven X mutations, all of which eliminate essential Mu functions. The insertions are about 800 base pairs long and are located to the left of the cleavage site of restriction endonuclease EcoRI, near the immunity end of Mu DNA. We have found that such insertions cause a reduction in the length of nonhomologous terminal sequences which are seen as split ends in denatured and renatured Mu DNA molecules. These heterogeneous sequences apparently arise from packaging of host DNA from maturation precursors in which Mu and host DNA are covalently linked. We infer that a single Mu genome length is too short to be cut during morphogenesis, and thus some host DNA is packaged into mature virions. Since the insertions increase the length of Mu DNA, they decrease the amount of host DNA needed for packaging.

Chromosome Aberrations↗

Visualization of the intracellular development of bacteriophage lambda, with special reference to DNA packaging.

To reveal intermediates in lambda DNA packaging, infected cells were osmotically ruptured and the cell lysates were deposited on electron microscope grids by sedimentation through a sucrose/formalin cushion. A fixation procedure that crosslinks head-related structures to DNA allowed us to study successive stages in the process of head filling. Three types of head-related structures can be distinguished: (i) empty heads (petit lambda), less angular in outline than complete lambda heads; (ii) heads partially filled with DNA (partially filled heads), having a roundish outline; and (iii) particles tightly packed with DNA (full heads), having a hexagonal outline. DNA-head complexes were bound either at the terminal end of a DNA thread or at a point intermediate along the thread. The terminal complexes were more abundant. No head-related structures could be found in an induced lambda mutant lysogen blocked in the synthesis of petit lambda (amber in lambda gene E). One type of mutant blocked in DNA packaging (amber in gene A) produces empty heads and free tails, whereas another (amber in gene D) produces partially filled heads in addition. Our data suggest that a DNA-petit lambda complex may be an early intermediate in packaging and that the lambda DNA substrate can be a cohesive-ended concatemer or a concatemer with double-stranded cohesive site sequences.

Coliphages↗

Cosmids: a type of plasmid gene-cloning vector that is packageable in vitro in bacteriophage lambda heads.

Evidence is presented that ColE1 hybrid plasmids carrying the cohesive-end site (cos) of lambda can be used as gene cloning vectors in conjunction with the lambda in vitro packaging system of Hohn and Murray [(1977) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 74, 3259--3263]. Due to the requirement for a large DNA molecule for efficient packaging, there is a direct selection for hybrids carrying large sections of foreign DNA. The small vector plasmids do not contribute a large background in the transduced population, which is therefore markedly enriched for large hybrid plasmids (over 90%). The efficiency of the in vitro packaging system is on the order of 10(5) hybrid clones per microgram of foreign DNA for hybrids in the 20--30 million dalton range.

Coliphages↗

A stable human-derived packaging cell line for production of high titer retrovirus/vesicular stomatitis virus G pseudotypes.

We have generated a human 293-derived retroviral packaging cell line (293GPG) capable of producing high titers of recombinant Moloney murine leukemia virus particles that have incorporated the vesicular stomatitis virus G (VSV-G) protein. To achieve expression of the retroviral gag-pol polyprotein, the precise coding sequences for gag-pol were introduced into a vector which utilizes totally nonretroviral signals for gene expression. Because constitutive expression of the VSV-G protein is toxic in 293 cells, we used the tetR/VP 16 transactivator and teto minimal promoter system for inducible, tetracycline-regulatable expression of VSV-G. After stable transfection of the 293GPG packaging cell line with the MFG.SnlsLacZ retroviral vector construct, it was possible to readily isolate stable virus-producing cell lines with titers approaching 10(7) colony-forming units/ml. Transient transfection of 293GPG cells using a modified version of MFG.SnlsLacZ, in which the cytomegalovirus IE promoter was used to drive transcription of the proviral genome, led to titers of approximately 10(6) colony-forming units/ml. The retroviral/VSV-G pseudotypes generated using 293GPG cells were significantly more resistant to human complement than commonly used amphotropic vectors and could be highly concentrated (> 1000-fold). This new packaging cell line may prove to be particularly useful for assessing the potential use of retroviral vectors for direct in vivo gene transfer. The design of the cell line also provides at least theoretical advantages over existing cell lines with regard to the possible release of replication-competent virus.

3T3 Cells↗

Efficient gene transfer by a human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-derived vector utilizing a stable HIV packaging cell line.

By transfecting fibroblast cells with an HIV-1-MN molecular clone with a deletion of the major packaging sequence, we have developed a stable HIV-1 packaging cell line, psi 422, psi 422 cells form syncytia with CD4-positive cells, correctly express HIV-1 structural proteins, and produce a large amount of mature particles with normal reverse transcriptase activity. Yet these particles, in which RNA was not detected by reverse transcriptase-PCR, are not infectious. When stably transfected with an HIV-1-based retroviral vector, the psi 422 cell line produces virions capable of transducing CD4-positive cells with high efficiency (up to 10(5) cells per ml). The availability of this stable noninfectious HIV-1 packaging cell line capable of generating high-titer HIV-1 vectors represents a new step toward the use of an HIV-1 delivery system in gene therapy.

Base Sequence↗

Nucleosome packaging and nucleosome positioning of genomic DNA.

The goals of this study were to assess the extent to which bulk genomic DNA sequences contribute to their own packaging in nucleosomes and to reveal the relationship between nucleosome packaging and positioning. Using a competitive nucleosome reconstitution assay, we found that at least 95% of bulk DNA sequences have an affinity for histone octamer in nucleosomes that is similar to that of randomly synthesized DNA; they contribute little to their own packaging at the level of individual nucleosomes. An equation was developed that relates the measured free energy to the fractional occupancy of specific nucleosome positions. Evidently, the bulk of eukaryotic genomic DNA is also not evolved or constrained for significant sequence-directed nucleosome positioning at the level of individual nucleosomes. Implications for gene regulation in vivo are discussed.

Animals↗

Stable alphavirus packaging cell lines for Sindbis virus and Semliki Forest virus-derived vectors.

Alphavirus vectors are being developed for possible human vaccine and gene therapy applications. We have sought to advance this field by devising DNA-based vectors and approaches for the production of recombinant vector particles. In this work, we generated a panel of alphavirus vector packaging cell lines (PCLs). These cell lines were stably transformed with expression cassettes that constitutively produced RNA transcripts encoding the Sindbis virus structural proteins under the regulation of their native subgenomic RNA promoter. As such, translation of the structural proteins was highly inducible and was detected only after synthesis of an authentic subgenomic mRNA by the vector-encoded replicase proteins. Efficient production of biologically active vector particles occurred after introduction of Sindbis virus vectors into the PCLs. In one configuration, the capsid and envelope glycoproteins were separated into distinct cassettes, resulting in vector packaging levels of 10(7) infectious units/ml, but reducing the generation of contaminating replication-competent virus below the limit of detection. Vector particle seed stocks could be amplified after low multiplicity of infection of PCLs, again without generating replication-competent virus, suggesting utility for production of large-scale vector preparations. Furthermore, both Sindbis virus-based and Semliki Forest virus-based vectors could be packaged with similar efficiency, indicating the possibility of developing a single PCL for use with multiple alphavirus-derived vectors.

Alphavirus↗

A first-generation packaging cell line for Epstein-Barr virus-derived vectors.

On the basis of the B lymphotropic Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), we have constructed a virus-free packaging cell line that allows encapsidation of plasmids into herpesvirus particles. This cell line harbors an EBV mutant whose packaging signals have been deleted. The gene vectors, which can encompass very large, contiguous pieces of foreign DNA, carry all cis-acting elements involved in amplification and encapsidation into virus-like particles as well as those essential for extrachromosomal maintenance in the recipient cell. Although this first-generation packaging cell line suffers from unwanted recombination between the helper virus genome and gene vector DNAs, this approach opens the way to delivery and stable maintenance of any transgene in human B cells.

B-Lymphocytes↗

Purification and characterization of the small subunit of phage T4 terminase, gp16, required for DNA packaging.

Phage T4 terminase is an enzyme that binds to the portal protein of proheads and cuts and packages concatemeric DNA. The T4 terminase is composed of two subunits, gene products (gp) 16 and 17. The role of the small subunit, gp16, in T4 DNA packaging is not well characterized. We developed a new purification procedure to obtain large quantities of purified gp16 from an overexpression vector. The pure protein is found in two molecular weight forms, due to specific C-terminal truncation, displays in vitro packaging activity, and binds but does not hydrolyze ATP. gp16 forms specific oligomers, rings, and side-by-side double rings, as judged by native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and scanning transmission electron microscopy measurements. The single ring contains about eight monomers, and the rings have a diameter of about 8 nm with a central hole of about 2 nm. A DNA-binding helix-turn-helix motif close to the N terminus of gp16 is predicted. The oligomers do not bind to DNA, but following denaturation and renaturation in the presence of DNA, binding can be demonstrated by gel shift and filter binding assays. gp16 binds to double-stranded DNA but not single-stranded DNA, and appears to bind preferentially to a gene 16-containing DNA sequence.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗