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A Oya

Publications and source records attributed to A Oya.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

A candidate for cancer gene therapy: MIP-1 alpha gene transfer to an adenocarcinoma cell line reduced tumorigenicity and induced protective immunity in immunocompetent mice.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the possibility of cancer gene therapy by the gene delivery of chemokine, the effects of human macrophage inflammatory protein 1 alpha (hu-MIP-1 alpha), murine-macrophage inflammatory protein 1 alpha (mu-MIP-1 alpha), and human-interleukin 8 (hu-IL-8) on tumor progression and immunization were studied. METHODS: Cachexia-inducing and highly tumorigenic adenocarcinoma cells (cell line colon 26, clone 20) were transfected with either a control plasmid, hu-MIP-1 alpha, mu-MIP-1 alpha, or hu-IL-8 expression vector. The production of hu-MIP-1 alpha reached > 1.5 ng/ml in vitro when transfectant cells were cultured at a cell density of 2 x 10(5) cells in 7 ml for 3 days. Immunocompetent BALB/c mice were inoculated into the footpad with the tumor cells, and then primary tumor growth, morphological analyses, and tumor immunogenicity were studied. RESULTS: The secretion of hu-MIP-1 alpha, mu-MIP-1 alpha, and hu-IL-8 did not affect the growth rate in vitro. Reduced tumorigenicities in vivo were observed in transfected cells with hu-MIP-1 alpha and mu-MIP-1 alpha. Morphologic observation of the site of inoculation of cells transfected with hu-MIP-1 alpha showed infiltration of macrophages and neutrophils on the 5th day after the inoculation. Mice that had rejected cells transfected with hu-MIP-1 alpha gene were immune to a subsequent challenge with the parental cells. CONCLUSIONS: The rejection of the cells depends on cytolysis and generates potent and long lasting antitumor immunity. These data suggest that tumor cells transfected with the MIP-1 alpha gene might be useful as an effective therapy for the treatment of certain tumors.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1996

Adverse events associated with MMR vaccines in Japan.

The largest nationwide active surveillance of four Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR) vaccines was conducted in Japan. A total of 1255 pediatricians actively participated in the study, which comprised 8.6% of all members of the Japanese Pediatric Society. The total number of registered recipients of MMR vaccines was 38 203. They were arbitrarily given one of the MMR vaccines produced by three makers (Takeda, Osaka city, Kitasato Minato-ku. Tokyo and Biken Suita city, Japan) or the standard MMR vaccine made of designated strains (Kitasato's measles-AIK-C, Biken's mumps-Urabe Am9 and Takeda's rubella-To336) produced by Takeda, Kitasato and Biken and were observed for 35 days. The rates of virologically confirmed aseptic meningitis per 10,000 recipients were 16.6, 11.6, 3.2 and 0 for the standard MMR, Takeda MMR, Kitasato MMR and Biken MMR vaccines, respectively. The incidence of convulsions between 15 and 35 days was the highest with the standard MMR vaccine and the incidence of fever associated with vomiting occurring between 15 and 35 days (symptoms relevant to aseptic meningitis) were also the highest with the standard MMR vaccine. The incidence of parotid swelling was the lowest with Takeda MMR vaccine. This surveillance revealed that incidences of aseptic meningitis after administration of the standard MMR vaccine and of Biken MMR vaccine were different. This posed questions about the manufacturing consistency of the Urabe Am9 mumps virus vaccines. On the other hand, the National Institute of Health found that the biological characteristics of the Urabe Am9 mumps virus contained in the standard MMR vaccine and in the Biken MMR vaccine were different. The Biken Company reported that the mumps vaccine in the standard MMR vaccine was a mixture of two Urabe Am9 mumps vaccine bulks; one identical to that contained in the Biken MMR vaccine and the other produced by a different manufacturing process.

Child↗
PubMed1995

Characterization of the hog cholera virus 5' terminus.

Hog cholera virus (HoCV) 5' terminus of the ALD and GPE(-) strains were analyzed by using rapid amplification of cDNA end method (5'RACE). An additional nine nucleotides were found at the 5' termini of genomic RNA in the ALD and GPE(-) strains of HoCV. These nine nucleotides were also conserved in BVDV and were suggested to form a hairpin structure at the 5' terminus by computer-assisted analysis. It seems possible that the secondary structure and/or the 5' terminus sequence has a significant role in the HoCV virus genome.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Complete 5' noncoding region is necessary for the efficient internal initiation of hepatitis C virus RNA.

The mechanism of translational initiation by the 5' noncoding region (5'NCR) of hepatitis C virus (HCV) genome was analyzed. Using an in vitro translation system with artificial RNA containing a modified 5' NCR of HCV under the various KCl conditions, nucleotides (nt.) 62 to 341 of the HCV 5'NCR were not functional as an internal ribosome entry site (IRES). However, the full-length 5'NCR (nt. 1 to 341) produced an efficient internal initiation. To identify the essential region of the HCV-IRES, various mutants were produced in which stem-loops, predicted by secondary structure analysis of the HCV 5'NCR, were deleted. These constructs were analyzed by in vitro translation. Comparison of translation efficiency among these mutants suggested that the alpha- or both alpha- and beta-branches of domain II are essential for efficient translation. Moreover, the formation of correct secondary structure of IRES seems to be stabilized by the presence of domain I in 5'NCR. Furthermore, the uncapped 5'NCR of HCV promotes translation more efficiently than capped truncated 5'NCR constructs. Our results strongly suggested that complete 5'NCR containing all stem-loop structures is necessary for initiation by HCV-IRES.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1994

[An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the detection of IgG antibodies against urease of Helicobacter pylori].

We have developed an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the detection of IgG antibodies against Helicobacter pylori (HP) using purified HP urease as an antigen. The urease was purified from ultrasonicated extract of HP by NaCl linear gradient system on DEAE-Sepharose 4B chromatography. Two molecular weight bands, 65kD and 27kD were observed on a SDS-PAGE gel in the purified urease sample. The urease antigen did not crossreact to rabbit antibodies prepared against Campylobacter coli and Campylobacter jejuni. Out of 93 gastric biopsy patients, sixty nine patients (74.2%) were positive in HP culture test. Serum HP antibody titers (AU: arbitrary unit) of HP culture positive and negative patients were 42.9 +/- 47.4 and 16.7 +/- 25.7 (mean +/- SD), respectively (p < 0.05). The ELISA system have sensitivity of 72.5% and specificity of 70.8%. We believe that the ELISA system is useful for diagnosis and monitoring of HP infection.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Differentiation of mumps vaccine strains from wild viruses by single-strand conformation polymorphism of the P gene.

The DNA fragments amplified through the polymerase chain reaction from part of the P gene of four mumps vaccine strains (Urabe, Torii, Hoshino and Miyahara) were subjected to single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis. These four vaccine strains were differentiated from each other. Furthermore, twelve wild viruses and a laboratory strain (Enders strain) were also distinguished by this method. Viruses isolated from patients who developed aseptic meningitis 4 to 6 weeks after measles-mumps-rubella vaccination showed identical SSCP patterns with the vaccine strain used for immunization. These results were well correlated with sequence analysis of P-gene segments, indicating high applicability of the SSCP analysis for differentiation of mumps vaccine strains not only from each other but from wild viruses.

DNA, Single-Stranded↗
PubMed1992

Superior cross-protective effect of nasal vaccination to subcutaneous inoculation with influenza hemagglutinin vaccine.

Intranasal (i.n.) vs. subcutaneous (s.c.) administration of influenza hemagglutinin (HA) vaccine was systematically compared in BALB/c mice. Mice were immunized with different vaccines, together with cholera toxin B subunit as an adjuvant, and 4 weeks later were challenged with either a small (2 microliters) or a large (20 microliters) volume of mouse-adapted A/Guizhou-X (H3N2) virus, each of which gave virgin mice either a nasal or a lung predominant infection. Both i.n. and s.c. inoculations of A/Guizhou-X vaccine conferred almost complete protection against both challenges, i.n. inoculation of A/Fukuoka (H3N2) or A/Sichuan (H3N2) vaccine conferred almost complete cross-protection against 2-microliters challenge and a partial cross-protection against 20-microliters challenge, whereas the s.c. inoculation conferred no cross-protection against 2-microliters challenge with a partial cross-protection against 20-microliters challenge. Moreover, i.n. immunization of PR8 (H1N1) vaccine gave a slight cross-protection against 2-microliters challenge, while the s.c. inoculation did not. The degree of protection was easily improved by i.n. inoculation of higher doses of vaccine, but not by the s.c. inoculation. In parallel with the protection, the i.n. vaccination produced a high level of cross-reacting IgA and IgG antibody to A/Guizhou-X HA in nasal and broncho-alveolar washes, while the s.c. vaccination produced the cross-reacting IgG antibody alone. Thus, i.n. inoculation with inactivated vaccines, which induces cross-reacting anti-HA IgA antibody as well as IgG antibody, is more effective than s.c. vaccination for providing cross-protection against drift viruses.

Administration, Intranasal↗
PubMed1992

[Potential for spread of HIV in Japan].

Beginning 3 years ago, rapid spread of HIV was observed in Thailand with consequent serious problems in the public. HIV initially spread among i.v. drug abusers and then invaded prostitutes. Sero-surveillance estimates that there are 300,000 HIV positives in all of Thailand. Thai authorities warn that 4 million persons may be infected by the year 2000. In Japan, the cumulative number of HIV positives is reported as 453 excluding hemophiliac cases. However, the reported figures are assumed to be only a part of the actual figure. WHO estimates there may be 20,000 HIV positives in Japan. From the epidemiological surveillance, incidence of HIV positives even in the risk groups is extremely low in Japan. HIV positives in blood donors is merely 0.31 per 100,000. The question is whether AIDS will continue to be a less serious problem in Japan? Examination of blood or a voluntary basis may not tell the real situation of HIV positives in Japan. There is a real concern regarding HIV positives in female foreign visitors who made up 86 per cent of all female positives in Japan. These females are suspected to be professionals engaged in sex business in Japan. A hypothetical simulation indicates they may possibly infect 60,000 people per year. On the other hand, contact between Japanese travellers visiting Thailand and Thai prostitutes is also possible. Using the figure of 230,000 males visiting Thailand in 1990, hypothetical simulation revealed that 690 may become infected per year which is 1/50 of those calculated to be infected inside Japan.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Forecasting↗
PubMed1991

Molecular evolution of hemagglutinin genes of H1N1 swine and human influenza A viruses.

The hemagglutinin (HA) genes of influenza type A (H1N1) viruses isolated from swine were cloned into plasmid vectors and their nucleotide sequences were determined. A phylogenetic tree for the HA genes of swine and human influenza viruses was constructed by the neighbor-joining method. It showed that the divergence between swine and human HA genes might have occurred around 1905. The estimated rates of synonymous (silent) substitutions for swine and human influenza viruses were almost the same. For both viruses, the rate of synonymous substitution was much higher than that of nonsynonymous (amino acid altering) substitution. It is the case even for only the antigenic sites of the HA. This feature is consistent with the neutral theory of molecular evolution. The rate of nonsynonymous substitution for human influenza viruses was three times the rate for swine influenza viruses. In particular, nonsynonymous substitutions at antigenic sites occurred less frequently in swine than in humans. The difference in the rate of nonsynonymous substitution between swine and human influenza viruses can be explained by the different degrees of functional constraint operating on the amino acid sequence of the HA in both hosts.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1991

Analysis of antibody titers to Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigens in sera of patients with Sjögren's syndrome and with rheumatoid arthritis.

To examine if Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection is associated with the two autoimmune diseases, Sjögren's syndrome and rheumatoid arthritis, IgG antibody titers of sera from patients with the disorders were evaluated for five constituents of EBV nuclear antigens (EBNA-1, -2, -3, -4, and -6). To circumvent interference by autoantibodies in the sera, fusion proteins synthesized in Escherichia coli were used as specific antigens. By ELISA the average IgG antibody titers to domains of the five EBNAs, especially the amino-terminal domain of EBNA-2, in sera of patients with Sjögren's syndrome were slightly higher than those in normal sera. The tendency of sera from Sjögren's syndrome patients to have higher reactivities to the EBNA domains was also observed by immunoblotting. By comparison, few heightened serologic responses to EBNAs were observed in sera from patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Further analyses are required to determine if EBV is associated with Sjögren's syndrome in any way.

Antibodies, Viral↗
PubMed1991

Evolutionary pathways of N2 neuraminidases of swine and human influenza A viruses: origin of the neuraminidase genes of two reassortants (H1N2) isolated from pigs.

The complete nucleotide sequences of the neuraminidase (NA) genes of two reassortant (H1N2) and two H3N2 influenza A viruses isolated from pigs were determined and phylogenetic relationships between these and previously reported N2 NA genes were investigated. On the basis of pairwise nucleotide sequence identity, the NA genes of two reassortants, A/sw/Kanagawa/2/78 and A/sw/Ehime/1/80, were most closely related to those of human influenza A virus strains isolated in 1972 and the earliest available swine H3N2 influenza A viruses, respectively. Phylogenetic trees showed that the NA genes can be segregated into three groups, including lineages for (i) swine strains, (ii) the earliest human strain and (iii) recent human strains. The evolutionary tree for the 11 nucleotide and amino acid sequences suggested that the NAs of A/sw/HK/4/76 and A/sw/Kanagawa/2/78 belong to the lineage for recent human viruses. In contrast, the NA genes of the A/sw/HK/3/76 and H1N2 reassortant A/sw/Ehime/1/80 viruses were found to be of a swine lineage. The swine virus NA genes were further characterized by the cocirculation of two distinct lineages. Although the rates of synonymous (silent) substitutions for the swine and human viruses were nearly identical (0.00946 to 0.00884 per site per year), the rate of non-synonymous (amino acid changing) substitutions for swine virus NA genes was about 60% of that for the human virus.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1991

Homotypic and heterotypic protection against influenza virus infection in mice by recombinant vaccinia virus expressing the haemagglutinin or nucleoprotein of influenza virus.

Recombinant vaccinia virus expressing the influenza virus haemagglutinin (HA) or nucleoprotein (NP) genes from A/SW/Hong Kong/1/74 (H1N1) under the control of a hybrid promoter containing the P7.5 early promoter element and promoter of the gene encoding the major protein of cowpox virus A type inclusion body was constructed to investigate protective immunity against homologous and heterologous viruses in mice. These recombinant vaccinia viruses produced authentic influenza virus HA and NP in infected cells. The recombinant vaccinia virus-influenza virus HA conferred efficient subtype-specific protection although mice challenged with heterologous influenza viruses underwent initial infection. By contrast, immunization with the recombinant vaccinia-influenza virus NP limited virus multiplication in the lungs against challenge infection with all H1N1 and H3N2 influenza viruses examined, although less efficiently. These results will prompt the re-examination of the possibility of using the recombinant vaccinia virus-influenza virus NP as a cross-protective vaccine.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Studies on Japanese-produced chick embryo cell culture rabies vaccines.

We studied the potency, antibody response, and side reactions of commercial Japanese chick embryo cell (CEC) rabies vaccines for humans. The CEC rabies vaccines had indexes of 10(5.1) and 10(6.0) in Habel tests, and have had potencies higher than those of the International Reference Vaccine II by National Institutes of Health (NIH) tests. Thirty healthy adults received 1 ml of the CEC rabies vaccines subcutaneously as primary immunization on days 0 and 7. Between six and 12 months after the primary immunization, 22 of the 30 subjects showed neutralizing antibody levels greater than or equal to 1:40 by the rapid fluorescent focus inhibition test (RFFIT). The 30 subjects had been given booster immunizations of the CEC rabies vaccines at 8-14 months in addition to the primary immunization. Six to 12 months after the booster immunizations, 27 of the 30 subjects showed antibody levels greater than or equal to 1:40. No severe side reactions were reported during the course of vaccination. Thus we conclude that CEC rabies vaccine is effective and safe for pre-exposure immunization.

Adult↗