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Biomedical subjects

D L Tyrrell

Publications and source records attributed to D L Tyrrell.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Efficacy of lamivudine in chronic hepatitis B patients with active viral replication and decompensated cirrhosis undergoing liver transplantation.

Liver transplantation for endstage hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection has been associated with survival inferior to that of liver transplantation in other chronic liver diseases due to HBV reinfection of the graft. Lamivudine is a new nucleoside analog with potent antiviral effects against hepatitis B. Our aim was to test its efficacy when used pre- and posttransplantation in HBV-DNA positive patients with endstage liver disease. Patients received oral lamivudine 100 mg daily both pretransplant and posttransplant. Viral serology, serum and tissue HBV-DNA and liver histology were assessed sequentially. Five consecutive patients with endstage hepatitis B were entered into the trial. Serum HBV-DNA was cleared pretransplant in all patients. Three of four transplanted patients cleared HBeAg and HBsAg postoperatively, whereas all four became negative for serum HBV-DNA (dot-blot and PCR). Liver biopsies were negative for HBV-DNA by PCR in 3 of 4 cases. Lymphocytes were negative for HBV-DNA by PCR in all cases. With follow-up of 3, 14, 16, and 26 months, two patients have normal liver enzymes and normal liver histology and two have developed recurrent hepatitis B. No significant side effects were seen. This pilot study shows that lamivudine can effectively inhibit hepatitis B virus in cirrhotic patients pretransplant and posttransplant. A lamivudine resistant mutant developed in two patients. Transplant recipients with actively replicating HBV related cirrhosis may achieve a good outcome after liver transplantation using lamivudine, but viral resistance is likely to be a significant problem.

Adult↗

Selective inhibition of the reverse transcription of duck hepatitis B virus by binding of 2',3'-dideoxyguanosine 5'-triphosphate to the viral polymerase.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication is mediated by the viral polymerase that possesses three functional domains: primer, DNA polymerase/reverse transcriptase, and RNase H. Using the Pekin duck as an animal model, we demonstrate a novel mechanism of inhibition of duck hepatitis B virus (DHBV) by 2,6-diaminopurine 2',3'-dideoxyriboside (ddDAPR), a prodrug of 2',3'-dideoxyguanosine (ddG). A selective and irreversible inhibition of DHBV DNA replication is found in ducklings treated with high doses of ddDAPR (20 to 50 mg/kg), but not with similar doses of 2',3'-dideoxycytidine (ddC). The inhibition mediated by ddDAPR occurs at a very early stage of the reverse transcription. Despite the inhibition of DHBV DNA replication by ddDAPR, the DNA polymerase and reverse transcriptase activities of the polymerase are found to remain active when tested on exogenous templates in activity gels. We have demonstrated direct binding of [alpha-32P]ddGTP to the DHBV polymerase expressed in an in vitro transcription and translation system. These results suggest that the binding of ddGTP to the polymerase blocks the initial DNA replication.

Animals↗

Mutation in HBV RNA-dependent DNA polymerase confers resistance to lamivudine in vivo.

The (-) enantiomer of 3'-thiacytidine (lamivudine) has been found to be a potent inhibitor of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) replication. Mutation of methionine to valine or isoleucine at the YMDD (tyrosine, methionine, aspartate, aspartate) motif of the HIV reverse transcriptase has been shown to be responsible for lamivudine resistance in HIV. The hepadnaviruses also have the YMDD motif in their DNA polymerase. Therefore, it is possible that hepadnaviruses could develop lamivudine resistance by a similar mutation at this motif. We analyzed the HBV from a liver transplantation patient who developed recurrent HBV viremia during lamivudine treatment. The polymerase gene was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and the region coding for the YMDD motif was sequenced. The pretreatment HBV sequence coded for YMDD, while the lamivudine-resistant mutant HBV coded for YIDD (tyrosine, isoleucine, aspartate, aspartate). With the documented changes in the YMDD motif of lamivudine-resistant HIV, it is likely that the methionine-to-isoleucine mutation in the YMDD motif of the HBV polymerase contributes significantly to the lamivudine-resistance of HBV isolated from this patient.

Adult↗

Generation of duck hepatitis B virus polymerase mutants through site-directed mutagenesis which demonstrate resistance to lamivudine [(--)-beta-L-2', 3'-dideoxy-3'-thiacytidine] in vitro.

Hepatitis B virus replication is very sensitive to lamivudine. A single amino acid change in human immunodeficiency virus reverse transcriptase is responsible for high-level resistance to this compound. Duck hepatitis B virus mutants were created bearing the analogous amino acid change in the duck hepatitis B virus polymerase. Viral DNA production was reduced 92% for the wild-type virus at 2 micrograms of lamivudine per ml, while the mutants required 40 micrograms of lamivudine per ml to inhibit replication by greater than 80%.

Animals↗

Branched structures in the intracellular DNA of herpes simplex virus type 1.

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) replication produces large intracellular DNA molecules that appear to be in a head-to-tail concatemeric arrangement. We have previously suggested (A. Severini, A.R. Morgan, D.R. Tovell, and D.L.J. Tyrrell, Virology 200:428-435, 1994) that these DNA species may have a complex branched structure. We now provide direct evidence for the presence of branches in the high-molecular-weight DNA produced during HSV-1 replication. On neutral agarose two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, a technique that allows separation of branched restriction fragments from linear fragments, intracellular HSV-1 DNA produces arches characteristic of Y junctions (such as replication forks) and X junctions (such as merging replication forks or recombination intermediates). Branched structures were resolved by T7 phage endonuclease I (gene 3 endonuclease), an enzyme that specifically linearizes Y and X structures. Resolution was detected by the disappearance of the arches on two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Branched structures were also visualized by electron microscopy. Molecules with a single Y junction were observed, as well as large tangles containing two or more consecutive Y junctions. We had previously shown that a restriction enzyme which cuts the HSV-1 genome once does not resolve the large structure of HSV-1 intracellular DNA on pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. We have confirmed that result by using sucrose gradient sedimentation, in which both undigested and digested replicative intermediates sediment to the bottom of the gradient. Taken together, our experiments show that the intracellular HSV-1 DNA is held together in a large complex by frequent branches that create a network of replicating molecules. The fact that most of these branches are Y structures suggests that the network is held together by frequent replication forks and that it resembles the replicative intermediates of bacteriophage T4. Our findings add complexity to the simple model of rolling-circle DNA replication, and they pose interesting questions as to how the network is formed and how it is resolved for packaging into progeny virions.

Animals↗

Duck hepatitis B virus polymerase acts as a suppressor of core protein translation.

Nucleocapsid assembly in hepadnavirus replication requires selective encapsidation of the pregenomic RNA template and the viral polymerase by the core proteins. It has been shown that an encapsidation signal located at the 5' end of the pregenomic RNA is responsible for its interaction with the polymerase. In the present study, we have shown that a region located at the 3' periphery of the core open reading frame may interact with the viral polymerase in duck hepatitis B virus. By using an in vitro rabbit reticulocyte lysate translation system, we found that interaction of the polymerase with this region resulted in selective suppression of core mRNA translation. Insertion of this putative inhibitory sequence into the CD4 gene also led to a selective inhibition of CD4 mRNA translation in the presence of polymerase. Specific inhibition of core protein synthesis was observed in a chicken hepatoma cell line (LMH) cotransfected with core and polymerase plasmid DNA.

Animals↗

Intracellular metabolism of 2',3'-dideoxynucleosides in duck hepatocyte primary cultures.

The intracellular fate of the potent duck hepatitis B virus (DHBV) inhibitor 2,6-diaminopurine 2',3'-dideoxyriboside (ddDAPR), its deamination product 2',3'-dideoxyguanosine (ddG), and the less effective DHBV-inhibitor 2',3'-dideoxycytidine (ddC) was investigated in duck hepatocyte primary cultures. After a 1-min exposure of [3H]ddDAPR to duck blood, 95% of the compound was converted to ddG. Similarly, [3H]ddDAPR was converted rapidly to ddG in duck hepatocyte primary cultures, with ddG exhibiting resistance to further catabolism. The major pathway of ddG utilization in these cells was phosphorylation, yielding a concentration of 2.1 and 1.9 microM total ddG nucleotides after 5 and 26 hr, respectively, of exposure to 4 microM ddG. Removal of exogenous ddG led to a rapid (T1/2 = 1.6 hr) decrease in the total intracellular ddG nucleotide pools. Duck hepatocytes treated with 4 microM ddC exhibited a time-dependent accumulation of ddC nucleotides, culminating in a maximum intracellular total ddC nucleotide concentration of 1.4 microM after 24-26 hr. The intracellular total ddC nucleotide level decreased with a T1/2 of 4.4 hr following the removal of exogenous ddC. The formation of ddC nucleotides was reduced in the presence of excess 2'-dideoxycytidine implicating deoxycytidine kinase in the initial step of ddC phosphorylation. A 25-fold excess of 2'-deoxycytidine had no effect on ddG phosphorylation in duck hepatocytes. However, a 92% inhibition of ddG nucleotide formation occurred in duck hepatocytes treated for 5 hr with 4 microM [3H]dG + 100 microM adenosine in the presence of the adenosine deaminase inhibitor 2'-deoxycoformycin, suggesting that, in these cells, adenosine kinase is involved in the ddG phosphorylation process.

Animals↗

Mechanism of inhibition of duck hepatitis B virus polymerase by (-)-beta-L-2',3'-dideoxy-3'-thiacytidine.

We have used the endogenous reverse transcriptase reaction of viral core particles from duck liver to elucidate the mechanism of inhibition of duck hepatitis B virus (DHBV) replication by the nucleoside analog (-)-beta-L-2',3'-dideoxy-3'-thiacytidine (3TC). As is the case in human immunodeficiency virus replication, 3TC-5'-triphosphate (3TC-TP) acts as a chain terminator for the DNA polymerase activities. The results of several different experiments support this conclusion, which explains the potent activity of 3TC against the hepadnaviruses. In isolated DHBV core particles, 3TC-TP inhibited the reverse transcriptase in a manner that resembled competitive inhibition with respect to dCTP. However, the kinetics of inhibition was not linear on a double-reciprocal plot for the highest concentrations of 3TC-TP and the lowest concentration of dCTP. This anomaly would be expected if binding to the nucleotide site was followed by DNA chain termination. Calculations that used only the linear part of the curve yielded a Ki of 0.78 +/- 0.10 microM 3TC-TP. The inhibition of core particles incubated in vitro with 3TC-TP was not reversed by removal of the free inhibitor. 3TC-TP inactivated the reverse transcriptase activity in a concentration-dependent manner. The Km of the chain termination reaction was calculated at 0.71 +/- 0.05 microM. Similar competitive kinetics and irreversible inhibition were also obtained on the endogenous DNA polymerase from viral particles from serum, suggesting that 3TC-TP also acts as a chain terminator of the DNA-directed DNA polymerase of DHBV replication.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Study of the structure of replicative intermediates of HSV-1 DNA by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis.

DNA from HSV-1-infected cells was separated by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis into two virus-specific bands: one that migrated as the linear monomer genome (152 kb) and another that remained at the origin of the gel. The latter band contained the replicating HSV-1 DNA, as determined by pulse-labeling with [3H]thymidine. To investigate the structure of this "gel origin" DNA, we constructed a HSV-1 KOS mutant bearing a unique PacI restriction site (HSV-1 PAC1DTK). Partial digestion of gel origin PAC1DTK DNA at late times postinfection (24-48 hr) demonstrated the presence of linear concatemers on pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. Within each concatemer, the long (L) regions of adjacent monomer genomes were found in the two possible orientations. In addition, shorter-than-unit-size fragments that corresponded in size to the left end fragments of the viral genome were detected with the UL region in the two possible orientations. At early times postinfection (8-12 hr), digestion with PacI released only a trace of linear fragments, and most of the gel origin DNA did not migrate on pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. Multiple cuts with EcoRI (a restriction enzyme that cuts the HSV-1 KOS genome 12 times) were necessary to release linear fragments that migrated from the origin of the gel. These results indicate that replicative intermediates of HSV-1 DNA are linked in a large network that needs to be unraveled before packaging takes place. This network may be composed of linear molecules linked together by frequent recombination events or of products of a mode of replication other than simple rolling circle (e.g., theta replication).

Animals↗

Duck hepatitis B virus polymerase produced by in vitro transcription and translation possesses DNA polymerase and reverse transcriptase activities.

Activities of the hepadnavirus polymerases are known to include those of DNA polymerase, reverse transcriptase and RNase H. To date, it has been difficult or impossible to clone and express the product as an active enzyme. In this study, full length capped RNA encoding Duck Hepatitis B Virus (DHBV) polymerase was produced by in vitro transcription from a T7 promoter. The RNA was translated in a rabbit reticulocyte lysate system and produced an 35S-Methionine labelled 79 Kd band on SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The translation product showed DNA polymerase and reverse transcriptase activities on exogenous templates (respectively) of DNA or RNA with random DNA hexamer primers. The same RNA transcripts were also microinjected into Xenopus oocytes, but appeared to be toxic and gave no detectable translation product. Production of hepadnavirus polymerase by in vitro transcription/translation may provide a useful tool for structure/function and pharmacological studies on this important group of polymerases.

Animals↗

Nucleobase transporter-mediated permeation of 2',3'-dideoxyguanosine in human erythrocytes and human T-lymphoblastoid CCRF-CEM cells.

Several 2',3'-dideoxynucleosides (ddNs), agents that inhibit the replication of human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis B virus, enter mammalian cells by simple diffusion. In this report, we show that the membrane permeation of 2',3'-dideoxyguanosine (ddG) in human erythrocytes and CCRF-CEM cells, in contrast with that of other ddNs, is transporter-mediated. Inward fluxes of ddG in both cell types were inhibited by adenine, hypoxanthine, and acyclovir, but not by inhibitors of nucleoside transport (nitrobenzylthioinosine, dipyridamole, dilazep). Fluxes of ddG in human erythrocytes were attributable to a single, rate-saturable process (Km, 380 +/- 90 microM and Vmax, 7.9 +/- 0.8 pmol/s/microliter cell water) that was competitively inhibited by adenine (Ki, 16 microM). These results showed that ddG entered human erythrocytes and CCRF-CEM cells by a transporter-mediated process that was also the basis for entry of purine nucleobases. In contrast, inward fluxes of 2,6-diaminopurine-2',3'-dideoxyriboside (ddDAPR), a prodrug of ddG, were not affected by purine nucleobases or nucleoside transport inhibitors in either cell type. Thus, the permeation properties of ddDAPR resembled those of 2',3'-dideoxyadenosine, a diffusional permeant (cell uptake is transporter-independent), and contrasted with those of ddG, the deamination product of ddDAPR. This study demonstrated that the nucleobase moiety of ddNs is an important determinant of membrane permeation.

Biological Transport↗

Quantitative oropharyngeal Epstein-Barr virus shedding in renal and cardiac transplant recipients: relationship to immunosuppressive therapy, serologic responses, and the risk of posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection plays a major role in the pathogenesis of posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD). Quantitative oropharyngeal EBV shedding measured by a DNA-DNA dot blot assay and the genotype of isolates determined by a polymerase chain reaction assay were studied in 23 renal and 23 cardiac transplant recipients followed over the first posttransplant year. Five patients developed PTLD and two additional PTLD renal transplant recipients were studied from the time of diagnosis. Significantly higher levels of EBV were observed in primary versus reactivation infection (P < .04) when sequential courses of antilymphocyte globulins or > 4 g of methylprednisolone were used in the first 6 months after transplant and in patients with versus those without PTLD (P < .04), although the former group had a high incidence of primary infection. Patients with the highest EBV shedding had the poorest serologic responses. All PTLD patients shed EBV-1, which was also shed by patients without PTLD.

Adolescent↗

High levels of Epstein-Barr virus in the oropharynx: a predictor of disease progression in human immunodeficiency virus infection.

The role of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) on the progression of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is not well defined. The objective of this prospective study was to determine the prevalence of EBV excretion and the role that EBV might have on HIV disease progression. Fifty-two homosexual males were studied, all of whom had positive EBV serology. Twenty-four of the 27 HIV-seropositive and 14 of the 25 HIV-seronegative subjects had detectable levels of EBV DNA in oropharyngeal cells. In addition to a greater prevalence of detectable EBV, the level of excretion was higher among HIV-seropositives than among HIV-seronegatives, and higher among group III than among group II HIV-seropositive men. These results are consistent with earlier studies showing a relationship between immunosuppression and EBV reactivation. The EBV excretion levels in a control group of 52 age-matched heterosexual males were substantially lower than those found in the homosexual group. In a proportional hazards regression analysis EBV excretion was found to be the best single predictor of progression of HIV infection (P less than 0.001). HIV p24 core antigenemia (P = 0.048) and low EBNA (P = 0.024) were significant predictors independent of EBV excretion. Whether EV directly accelerates the time to progression or is merely a marker of underlying subclinical immunosuppression remains an open question.

Antigens, Viral↗

Synthesis and antiviral and cytotoxic activity of iodohydrin and iodomethoxy derivatives of 5-vinyl-2'-deoxyuridines, 2'-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine, and uridine.

A series of new 5-(1-hydroxy-2-iodoethyl)-2'-deoxyuridine and uridine compounds (11, 16) was synthesized by the regiospecific addition of HOI to the vinyl substituent of 5-vinyl-2'-deoxyuridine (10a), 5-vinyl-2'-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine (10b), 5-vinyluridine (10c), and (E)-5-(2-iodovinyl)-2'-deoxyuridine (4b). Treatment of the iodohydrins 11a-c with methanolic sulfuric acid afforded the corresponding 5-(1-methoxy-2-iodoethyl) derivatives (12a-c). In contrast, reaction of 5-(1-hydroxy-2-iodoethyl)-2'-deoxyuridine (11a) with sodium carbonate in methanol afforded a mixture of 5-(1-hydroxy-2-methoxyethyl)-2'-deoxyuridine (13) and 2,3-dihydro-3-hydroxy-5-(2'-deoxy-beta-D-ribofuranosyl)- furano[2,3-d]pyrimidin-6(5H)-one (14). The most active compound, 5-(1-methoxy-2-iodoethyl)-2'-deoxyuridine (12a, ID50 = 0.1 micrograms/mL), which exhibited antiviral activity (HSV-1) 100-fold higher than that of the 5-(1-hydroxy-2-iodoethyl) analogue (11a), was less active than IVDU or acyclovir (ID50 = 0.01-0.1 micrograms/mL range). The C-5 substituent in the 2'-deoxyuridine series was a determinant of cytotoxic activity, as determined in the in vitro L1210 screen, where the relative activity order was CH(OH)CHI2 (16) greater than CH(OMe)CH2I (12a) greater than CH(OH)CH2I (11a) congruent to CH(OH)CH2OMe (13). The 2'-substituent was also a determinant of cytotoxic activity in the 5-(1-hydroxy-2-iodoethyl) (11a-c) and 5-(1-methoxy-2-iodoethyl) series of compounds, where the relative activity profile was 2'-deoxyuridine greater than 2'-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine greater than uridine (11a greater than 11b greater than or equal to 11c; 12a greater than 12b greater than 12c). The most active cytotoxic agent (16), possessing a 5-(1-hydroxy-2,2-diiodoethyl) substituent (ED50 = 0.77 micrograms/mL), exhibited an activity approaching that of melphalan (ED50 = 0.15 micrograms/mL). All compounds tested, except for 13 and 14, exhibited high affinity (Ki = 0.035-0.22 mM range relative to deoxyuridine, Ki = 0.125) for the murine NBMPR-sensitive erythrocyte nucleoside transport system, suggesting that these iodohydrins are good permeants of cell membranes.

Animals↗

Paramyxovirus membrane protein enhances antibody production to new antigenic determinants in the actin molecule: a model for virus-induced autoimmunity.

Paramyxovirus membrane (M) protein specifically binds to cellular actin but not to bovine serum albumin or myoglobin, as determined by affinity chromatography and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The binding site for M protein on actin is different from the binding sites for antiactin antibodies. The interaction of M protein with actin resulted in production of antibodies to several new antigenic sites on the actin molecule. Five rabbits immunized with actin alone produced antibodies against the N-terminal sequence (residues 1 to 39). Another five rabbits immunized with a mixture of M protein and actin produced antibodies against a C-terminal fragment and a central region as well as the N-terminal fragment. By immunoblotting with proteolytic fragments of actin, the new antigenic sites were located between amino acid residues 40 to 113, 114 to 226, and 227 to 375. Antisera taken from some patients with recent measles virus infections demonstrated antiactin antibodies to sites other than the N-terminal fragment of actin (amino acids 1 to 39). The interaction of paramyxovirus M protein with actin and the subsequent production of antibodies to new antigenic sites may serve as a model for one of the mechanisms of virus-induced autoimmunity.

Actins↗

Growth of bacterial biofilms on Tenckhoff catheter discs in vitro after simulated touch contamination of the Y-connecting set in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis.

We simulated touch contamination of peritoneal dialysis fluids perfused through an in vitro system with a modified Robbins' device (MRD) and Y-connecting tubings, to study the pathogenesis of bacterial biofilm (BB) growth on Tenckhoff catheter (TC) discs. The spike ends of Y-connecting sets were dipped in a suspension of freshly cultured cells of Staphylococcus epidermidis (3 X 10(8) cfu/ml), and connected to 2 litres of 0.5% dianeal solution which was perfused through the MRD with plugs containing TC discs. Four simulated clinical exchanges were performed with or without prior flushing and/or bleach treatment of the Y sets. Control experiments were done with fresh Dianeal solution with no contamination, flushing, or bleach treatment. BB growth on the TC discs was examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy and quantitated by routine culture of scrapings from the discs. We noted that touch contamination of dialysis fluids via the spike ends of the connecting sets can generate dense BB growth on TC discs in this experimental system (62 +/- 8% by SEM and 10.2 +/- 8.3 X 10(3) cfu/ml by culture). This growth of BB was significantly reduced by flushing the Y set with sterile Dianeal solution (24.3 +/- 3% by SEM and 5.7 +/- 3.5 X 10(1) cfu/ml by culture) and was absent by bleach treatment. We conclude that although bleach treatment of Y sets can prevent BB growth, the 'flushing' procedure alone can significantly reduce BB growth on TC from touch contamination of dialysate fluid.

Bacterial Adhesion↗

Antibodies to measles virus surface polypeptides in an immunized student population before and after booster vaccination.

Serum specimens collected from 82 students before and after booster immunization with live measles virus (MV) vaccine were tested for MV surface protein-specific antibodies using a previously developed competitive enzyme immunoassay (EIA). The specificity of the assay in measuring antibodies against three sites on the haemagglutinin (H) and two on the fusion (F) protein was demonstrated. All subjects in this study were vaccinated, as one to two year-olds, three times with inactivated killed vaccine and later once or more with live vaccine. Fifty-three students were administered only live measles virus vaccine (M), whereas 29 were vaccinated with the MV combined with mumps and rubella (MMR). There was a clear tendency to a lower increase in antibody titres when MMR vaccine was used. This difference between the groups was most pronounced in antibodies against the site defined by a monoclonal antibody (mAb) I29. Antibodies to the site defined by the mAb 16AG5 on the F protein had no correlation with any of the other tests which suggests that subjects originally vaccinated with killed vaccine may have developed a distinct response to this site.

Adult↗