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Biomedical subjects

A D Davidson

Publications and source records attributed to A D Davidson.

13 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2003

Collaborative consensus for optimized multilocus sequence typing of Candida albicans.

A panel of 86 different Candida albicans isolates was subjected to multilocus sequence typing (MLST) in two laboratories to obtain sequence data for 10 published housekeeping gene fragments. Analysis of data for all possible combinations of five, six, seven, eight, and nine of the fragments showed that a set comprising the fragments AAT1a, ACC1, ADP1, MPIb, SYA1, VPS13, and ZWF1b was the smallest that yielded 86 unique diploid sequence types for the 86 isolates. This set is recommended for future MLST with C. albicans.

Candida albicans↗
PubMed2001

Mutagenesis of the Dengue virus type 2 NS3 protein within and outside helicase motifs: effects on enzyme activity and virus replication.

The protein NS3 of Dengue virus type 2 (DEN-2) is the second largest nonstructural protein specified by the virus and is known to possess multiple enzymatic activities, including a serine proteinase located in the N-terminal region and an NTPase-helicase in the remaining 70% of the protein. The latter region has seven conserved helicase motifs found in all members of the family Flaviviridae. DEN-2 NS3 lacking the proteinase region was synthesized as a fusion protein with glutathione S-transferase in Escherichia coli. The effects of 10 mutations on ATPase and RNA helicase activity were examined. Residues at four sites within enzyme motifs I, II, and VI were substituted, and six sites outside motifs were altered by clustered charged-to-alanine mutagenesis. The mutations were also tested for their effects on virus replication by incorporation into genomic-length cDNA. Two mutations, both in motif I (G198A and K199A) abolished both ATPase and helicase activity. Two further mutations, one in motif VI (R457A,R458A) and the other a clustered charged-to-alanine substitution at R(376)KNGK(380), abolished helicase activity only. No virus was detected for any mutation which prevented helicase activity, demonstrating the requirement of this enzyme for virus replication. The remaining six mutations resulted in various levels of enzyme activities, and four permitted virus replication. For the two nonreplicating viruses encoding clustered changes at R(184)KR(186) and D(436)GEE(439), we propose that the substituted residues are surface located and that the viruses are defective through altered interaction of NS3 with other components of the viral replication complex. Two of the replicating viruses displayed a temperature-sensitive phenotype. One contained a clustered mutation at D(334)EE(336) and grew too poorly for further characterization. However, virus with an M283F substitution in motif II was examined in a temperature shift experiment (33 to 37 degrees C) and showed reduced RNA synthesis at the higher temperature.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗
PubMed2001

Self-assembly and binding of a sorting nexin to sorting endosomes.

The fate of endocytosed membrane proteins and luminal contents is determined by a materials processing system in sorting endosomes. Endosomal retention is a mechanism that traps specific proteins within this compartment, and thereby prevents their recycling. We report that a sorting nexin SNX1, a candidate endosomal retention protein, self-assembles in vitro and in vivo, and has this property in common with its yeast homologue Vps5p. A comparison of SNX1 expressed in bacterial and in mammalian systems and analyzed by size-exclusion chromatography indicates that in cytosol SNX1 tetramers are part of a larger complex with additional proteins. An endosomal retention function would require that SNX1 bind to endosomal membranes, yet the complexes that we analyzed were largely soluble and little SNX1 was found in pellet fractions. Using green fluorescent protein fusions, endocytic compartment markers and fluorescence recovery after photobleaching, we found that there is an equilibrium between free cytoplasmic and early/sorting endosome-bound pools of green fluorescent protein-SNX1. Fluorescence resonance energy transfer indicated that spectral variants of green fluorescent protein-SNX1 were oligomeric in vivo. In cell extracts, these green fluorescent protein-SNX1 oligomers corresponded to tetrameric and larger complexes of green fluorescent protein-SNX1. Using video microscopy, we observed small vesicle docking and tubule budding from large green fluorescent protein-SNX1 coated endosomes, which are features consistent with their role as sorting endosomes. http://www.biologists.com/JCS/movies/jcs2058.html

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2001

Replication of dengue virus type 2 in human monocyte-derived macrophages: comparisons of isolates and recombinant viruses with substitutions at amino acid 390 in the envelope glycoprotein.

The severity of dengue virus infection ranges from mild fever to dengue hemorrhagic fever and shock syndrome. The association of disease severity with virus replication in monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs) was examined for dengue virus type 2 (DEN-2) isolates from Asia or America. Additionally, we constructed DEN-2 recombinant viruses with substitutions at residue 390 in the envelope glycoprotein (E390) because this residue is linked with the region of virus origin. Comparisons of virus yields of 3 isolates failed to show a correlation with clinical disease. However, the American strain did not replicate as well as the 2 Asian strains. For the recombinant viruses, substitution of Asn (Asian) at E390 with Asp (American) resulted in decreased ability to replicate in MDMs. These results are consistent with the proposal that the lack of association of native American DEN-2 strains with severe disease is linked to reduced ability to replicate in MDMs, and that Asp at E390 may contribute to this reduction.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Identification of a subgenomic mRNA encoding the capsid protein of mushroom bacilliform virus, a single-stranded RNA mycovirus.

Mushroom bacilliform virus is unique among mycoviruses of the higher fungi in having a genome of positive-sense single-stranded RNA. We have identified a subgenomic mRNA molecule encoding the viral capsid protein in mushroom bacilliform virus-infected mycelium of Agaricus bisporus. Transcription of subgenomic RNA commences at the sequence ACAAAA, 47 nucleotides upstream of the initiating AUG.

Agaricus↗
PubMed1998

Mushroom bacilliform virus RNA: the initiation of translation at the 5' end of the genome and identification of the VPg.

Mushroom bacilliform virus (MBV) is often found in cultivated mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus) with La France disease. MBV has a 4-kb ssRNA genome of positive-sense encoding four major open reading frames (ORFs). The arrangement of ORFs at the 5' end of the genome and the deduced amino-acid sequences of two of the putative gene products (protease and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase) show remarkable similarity to some plant viruses, particularly subgroup II luteoviruses. We show that this similarity extends to the translation strategy at the 5' end of the genome, the presence of a genome-linked protein (VPg), and the location of the VPg downstream of the protease motifs in the polypeptide encoded by ORF2.

Agaricus↗
PubMed1998

Growth restriction of dengue virus type 2 by site-specific mutagenesis of virus-encoded glycoproteins.

The three flavivirus glycoproteins prM, E and NS1 are formed by post-translational cleavage and are glycosylated by the addition of N-linked glycans. NS1 may form homodimers, whereas E may form homodimers, homotrimers or heterodimers (prM-E). Modification of these processes by mutagenesis of the proteins has the potential to generate viruses that are restricted in growth and are possible vaccine candidates. Using an SV40-based expression system, we previously analysed dimerization and secretion of the NS1 protein of dengue virus type 2 (DEN-2) with mutations in the conserved Cys residues, or within hydrophilic or hydrophobic regions, or at glycosylation sites. In this study, mutations which reduce cleavage at the DEN-2 prM/E signalase cleavage site are described. On the basis of earlier and current results with transient expression, six mutations which reduced NS1 dimerization and two mutations which inhibited prM/E cleavage were analysed individually for their effects on virus growth using a genomic length cDNA clone. Two viruses were obtained that showed reduced growth in cell culture and attenuation of neurovirulence when inoculated into 3-day-old mice. One of these viruses encoded NS1 that lacked the second glycosylation site, the other encoded a Ser --> Ile change at the -3 position of the prM/E cleavage site. A third virus encoding a mutation in NS1 within a hydrophilic region grew as well as the parental virus. No virus was detected for the remaining five mutations.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Identification of a major determinant of mouse neurovirulence of dengue virus type 2 using stably cloned genomic-length cDNA.

A genomic-length cDNA clone corresponding to the RNA of dengue virus type 2 (DEN-2) New Guinea C strain (NGC) was constructed in a low copy number vector. The cloned cDNA was stably propagated in Escherichia coil and designated pDVWS501. RNA transcripts produced in vitro from the cDNA using T7 RNA polymerase yielded infectious virus (MON501) upon electroporation into BHK-21 cells. When compared with parental NGC virus, MON501 replicated to similar levels in Aedes albopictus C6/36 cells and showed similar neurovirulence in suckling mice. In contrast, a second genomic-length cDNA clone (pDVWS310) used as an intermediate in the construction of pDVWS501 produced virus (MON310) that replicated well in C6/36 cells but was not neurovirulent in mice. MON310 contained the prM and E genes of the non-neurovirulent PUO-218 strain in an NGC background. There were seven amino acid differences between the prM and E proteins of MON310 and MON501. The differences were generally conservative, with the exception of E residue 126, which was Glu in MON310 and Lys in MON501. To examine the role of this residue in mouse neurovirulence, substitutions of Glu --> Lys and Lys --> Glu were made in MON310 and MON501, respectively. The properties of these mutants clearly demonstrated that Lys at E residue 126 is a major determinant of DEN-2 mouse neurovirulence.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

The complete nucleotide sequence of bean yellow mosaic potyvirus RNA.

The complete nucleotide sequence of an Australian strain of bean yellow mosaic virus (BYMV-S) has been determined from cloned viral cDNAs. The BYMV-S genome is 9 547 nucleotides in length excluding a poly(A) tail. Computer analysis of the sequence revealed a single long open reading frame (ORF) of 9168 nucleotides, commencing at position 206 and terminating with UAG at position 9374-6. The ORF potentially encodes a polyprotein of 3056 amino acids with a deduced Mr of 347 409. The 5' and 3' untranslated regions are 205 and 174 nucleotides in length respectively. Alignment of the amino acid sequence of the BYMV-S polyprotein with those of other potyviruses identified nine putative proteolytic cleavage sites. The predicted consensus cleavage site of the BYMV NIa protease was found to differ from that described for other potyviruses. Processing of the BYMV polyprotein at the designated proteolytic cleavage sites would result in a typical potyviral genome arrangement. The amino acid sequences of the putative BYMV encoded proteins were compared to the homologous gene products of twelve individual potyviruses to identify overall and specific regions of amino acid sequence homology.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1994

The nucleotide sequence and genome organization of mushroom bacilliform virus: a single-stranded RNA virus of Agaricus bisporus (Lange) Imbach.

Mushroom bacilliform virus (MBV) is found in association with spherical virus-like particles in cultivated mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus) afflicted with La France disease. MBV possesses a monopartite ssRNA genome of positive sense and differs from the majority of characterized mycoviruses, which contain segmented dsRNA genomes. We have cloned and sequenced the MBV genome and determined that its length is 4009 nucleotides. The MBV genome contains four major and three minor open reading frames and has 5' and 3' noncoding regions of 60 and 250 nucleotides, respectively. The putative RNA-dependent RNA polymerase and the coat protein display homology with corresponding proteins encoded by certain plant viruses, particularly luteoviruses and carmoviruses.

Agaricus↗
PubMed1992

The complete nucleotide sequence of RNA 1 of a German isolate of barley yellow mosaic virus and its comparison with a Japanese isolate.

The nucleotide sequence of RNA 1 of a German isolate of barley yellow mosaic virus has been determined and compared with a Japanese isolate of the same virus. The sequence identity is 93.6% at the nucleotide level and 96% at the amino acid level. Similar values have been found for the polyproteins of the RNA 2 of both isolates (95%). Both isolates show an RNA 1-encoded protein arrangement similar to that of potyviruses such as tobacco etch virus. In contrast, the polyproteins of the small RNAs (RNA 2) do not show such a similarity to the polyproteins of other potyviruses. However, there is a striking difference between the two isolates in the generally highly conserved active site of the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase. The German isolate exactly matches the consensus sequences for previously described potyviral RNA-dependent RNA polymerases, whereas the Japanese isolate does not.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1991

The nucleotide sequence of RNA 2 of barley yellow mosaic virus.

The complete nucleotide sequence of RNA 2 of a German isolate of barley yellow mosaic virus (BaYMV) has been determined. The RNA is 3585 nucleotides in length excluding a 3'-terminal poly(A) tail. The viral plus and minus strands in all three reading frames contained only one large open reading frame which started at positions 156 to 158 and terminated with a UAG codon at positions 2828 to 2830, thus encoding an Mr 98,000 polypeptide. Comparisons with sequences of other viruses revealed that the amino terminus of the polypeptide has homology with the proteolytic domain of the helper component proteinase of several potyviruses. It was determined that the 98K protein is a polyprotein composed of an amino-terminal 28K protein and a 70K protein.

Amino Acid Sequence↗