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Biomedical subjects

D S Peterson

Publications and source records attributed to D S Peterson.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Plasmodium falciparum-infected red blood cells selected for binding to cultured syncytiotrophoblast bind to chondroitin sulfate A and induce tyrosine phosphorylation in the syncytiotrophoblast.

An important pathogenic complication of malaria during human pregnancy is sequestration of Plasmodium-infected red blood cells (iRBCs) in the placental intervillous spaces. This sequestration is thought to be mediated in part by binding of the iRBCs to receptors expressed on the syncytiotrophoblast (ST) membrane. We report here the use of a dynamic system to study the consequences of this cytoadherence on ST function using human syncytiotrophoblast and the choriocarcinoma cell line, BeWo. Laboratory isolates of Plasmodium falciparum were selected for their ability to bind to ST and used to investigate binding-induced cellular changes in the ST. Treatment of the ST cells with chondroitinase ABC suggested that the selected parasites bind predominantly to chondroitin sulfate A, but other receptors for parasite binding may be involved. Intracellular signaling in the ST induced by iRBCs binding was investigated by assessing tyrosine phosphorylation of ST proteins following iRBC binding. We demonstrate for the first time that iRBC cytoadherence to syncytiotrophoblast enhances tyrosine phosphorylation of a series of proteins in these cells. This approach will be useful in further studies of ST function in the malaria-infected placenta, the dynamics of selection of syncytiotrophoblast-binding parasites, and the identification of new receptors for parasite cytoadherence in the placenta.

Adult↗

Alkyl modified anionic siloxanes as pseudostationary phases for electrokinetic chromatography. I. Synthesis and characterization.

Anionic water soluble siloxane polymers have been synthesized and characterized for electrokinetic chromatography. Siloxane polymers are of interest in electrokinetic chromatography because of the wide variety of chemistries that can be developed based on these backbones, including much of the stationary phase chemistry developed in the last 30 years. The siloxanes in this study have a sulfonate functional group. The siloxanes have different length alkyl chains (C8, C12, C18) attached to the backbone in differing densities. The methylene selectivity generally increases with increasing alkyl chain length and with increasing alkyl chain density. The electrophoretic mobility appears to pass through a maximum as more alkyl chain is added to the siloxane backbone. The efficiency also would seem to pass through a maximum as more alkyl chain is added. The chemical selectivities of the siloxane polymers are very different from sodium dodecyl sulfate but are similar to each other.

Chromatography, Micellar Electrokinetic Capillary↗

Effect of pendant chain lengths and backbone functionalities on the chemical selectivity of sulfonated amphiphilic copolymers as pseudo-stationary phases in electrokinetic chromatography.

Amphiphilic copolymers of AMPS (2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid) and hydrophobic monomers with various chemical structures were synthesized, characterized and used as novel electrokinetic chromatography polymeric pseudo-stationary phases, showing significant chemical selectivity differences from that of the conventional monomeric pseudo-stationary phase, sodium lauryl sulphate. Copolymers of AMPS and methacrylates with different pendant chain lengths (C8, C12 and C18) were investigated and no significant difference in chemical selectivity was observed among them. However, the spacer bonding chemistry was shown to contribute to significant chemical selectivity difference, e.g. poly(AMPS-lauryl methacrylate) showed different chemical selectivity from poly(AMPS-lauryl methacrylamide). Linear solvation energy relationship analysis of 20 solutes by eight different polymeric pseudo-stationary phases was employed to investigate the solute molecule structural contributions to the retention. Hydrogen-bonding properties (described by system constants b and a) of poly(AMPS-alkyl methacrylamide) were found stronger than those of poly(AMPS-alkyl methacrylate).

Chromatography, Micellar Electrokinetic Capillary↗

Synthesis and characterization of novel anionic siloxane polymers as pseudostationary phases for electrokinetic chromatography.

Four novel siloxane polymeric pseudostationary phases with three different ionic head groups have been synthesized and characterized for electrokinetic chromatography. Siloxane polymers are of interest in this application because of the wide range of chemistries that can be developed based on these backbones, including much of the chromatographic stationary phase chemistry developed in the last thirty years. All four of the siloxanes studied were synthesized by modification of a single methylhydrosiloxane polymer with highly acidic anionic functionalities. One of the siloxanes had both ionic groups and alkane chains attached to the siloxane backbone. The electrophoretic mobilities varied from being somewhat less than sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) to being much greater than SDS. The siloxanes substituted with ionic groups at all of the silicon sites showed significant nonequilibrium band broadening, severely limiting the efficiencies of these polymers. Substitution of 20% of the silicon sites with an alkyl group improved the efficiency of the separations and the peak symmetry. The chemical selectivities of the siloxane polymers are very different from SDS, but are similar to each other.

Chromatography↗

Novel alkyl-modified anionic siloxanes as pseudostationary phases for electrokinetic chromatography: II. Selectivity studied by linear solvation energy relationships.

Anionic, water-soluble siloxane polymers modified with different lengths of alkyl chains have very different selectivity than sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) micelles when used as pseudostationary phases in electrokinetic chromatography. The siloxanes in this study are random copolymers with side chains bearing sulfonate groups and alkyl groups (C8, C12, or C18), with the proportion of alkyl groups between 10 and 25% of the total. The differences in selectivity have been studied by linear solvation energy relationships (LSERs). The siloxanes in general have been found to be more cohesive, less polar, more able to interact with solutes through n- and pi-electrons, and more able to accept hydrogen bonds than SDS micelles, while the ability to act as hydrogen bond donors is not significantly different than SDS micelles. In addition, the performance in a pH 7.0 Tris buffer has been investigated and the siloxanes were found to have higher methylene selectivities and more variable electrophoretic mobilities than in borate buffers.

Alkylation↗

EBL-1, a putative erythrocyte binding protein of Plasmodium falciparum, maps within a favored linkage group in two genetic crosses.

The Duffy binding-like (DBL) superfamily of Plasmodium falciparum encompasses genes which encode ligands for host cell receptors. This superfamily includes two distinct groups of genes, the var genes which encode antigenically variant cytoadherence proteins (PfEMP1), and the eba-175 gene which encodes a glycophorin A binding protein involved in erythrocyte invasion. Here we describe another DBL superfamily member related to eba-175, the ebl-1 gene. Like the eba-175 gene, ebl-1 is a single copy gene encoding DBL domains that have sequences and an overall arrangement distinct from var genes. The inheritance of ebl-1 was found to be strongly favored in two genetic crosses in which one parental clone lacked a chromosome segment carrying the gene. A proliferation phenotype has been previously linked to the same chromosome segment in the first genetic cross. These results suggest that ebl-1 and eba-175 are related members of a multigene family involved in the invasion of erythrocytes by P. falciparum.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

An anionic siloxane polymer as a pseudostationary phase for electrokinetic chromatography.

A novel polymeric pseudostationary phase for electrokinetic chromatography is introduced and characterized. Siloxane polymers are of interest for this application because of the range of chemistries that could be developed based on these backbones, and because successful development of siloxane polymers would make it possible to employ much of the stationary phase chemistry developed in the past thirty years. A commercially available water-soluble siloxane with a hydroxy-terminated alkyl group was converted to the sulfate derivative. This siloxane polymer is water-soluble, effectively eliminating this limitation associated with siloxane polymers. When employed as a pseudostationary phase, this compound provided rapid, efficient, and selective separations. The electrophoretic mobility of the polymer was less than sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and poly(sodium 10-undecenylsulfate), providing a compressed migration time range, which is the main limiting factor for this polymer. The chemical selectivity of the siloxane sulfate was somewhat different than SDS micelles. The siloxane was employed in buffers modified with a large amount of acetonitrile to separate a number of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons. The addition of acetonitrile caused an apparent discontinuity in the electrophoretic mobility of the polymer, which may indicate a change in the structure with increasing organic solvent content.

Buffers↗

Expressed var genes are found in Plasmodium falciparum subtelomeric regions.

The antigenic variation and cytoadherence of Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes are modulated by a family of variant surface proteins encoded by the var multigene family. The var genes occur on multiple chromosomes, often in clusters, and 50 to 150 genes are estimated to be present in the haploid parasite genome. Transcripts from var genes have been previously mapped to internal chromosome positions, but the generality of such assignments and the expression sites and mechanisms that control switches of var gene expression are still in early stages of investigation. Here we describe investigations of closely related var genes that occur in association with repetitive elements near the telomeres of P. falciparum chromosomes. DNA sequence analysis of one of these genes (FCR3-varT11-1) shows the characteristic two-exon structure encoding expected var features, including three variable Duffy binding-like (DBL) domains, a transmembrane sequence, and a carboxy-terminal segment thought to anchor the protein product in knobs at the surface of the parasitized erythrocyte. FCR3-varT11-1 cross-hybridizes with var genes located close to the telomeres of many other P. falciparum chromosomes, including a transcribed gene (FCR3-varT3-1) in chromosome 3 of the P. falciparum FCR3 line. The relatively high level transcription from this gene shows that the polymorphic chromosome ends of P. falciparum, which have been proposed to be transcriptionally silent, can be active expression sites for var genes. The pattern of the FCR3-varT11-1 and FCR3-varT3-1 genes are variable between different P. falciparum lines, presumably due to DNA rearrangements. Thus, recombination events in subtelomeric DNA may have a role in the expression of novel var forms.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Isolation of multiple sequences from the Plasmodium falciparum genome that encode conserved domains homologous to those in erythrocyte-binding proteins.

Open reading frames in the Plasmodium falciparum genome encode domains homologous to the adhesive domains of the P. falciparum EBA-175 erythrocyte-binding protein (eba-175 gene product) and those of the Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium knowlesi Duffy antigen-binding proteins. These domains are referred to as Duffy binding-like (DBL), after the receptor that determines P. vivax invasion of Duffy blood group-positive human erythrocytes. Using oligonucleotide primers derived from short regions of conserved sequence, we have developed a reverse transcription-PCR method that amplifies sequences encoding the DBL domains of expressed genes. Products of these reverse transcription-PCR amplifications include sequences of single-copy genes (including eba-175) and variably transcribed genes that cross-hybridize to multiple regions of the genome. Restriction patterns of the multicopy genes show a high degree of polymorphism among different parasite lines, whereas single-copy genes are generally conserved. Characterization of the single-copy genes has identified a gene (ebl-1) that is related to eba-175 and is likely to be involved in erythrocyte invasion.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The large diverse gene family var encodes proteins involved in cytoadherence and antigenic variation of Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes.

The human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum evades host immunity by varying the antigenic and adhesive character of infected erythrocytes. We describe a large and extremely diverse family of P. falciparum genes (var) that encode 200-350 kDa proteins having the expected properties of antigenically variant adhesion molecules. Predicted amino acid sequences of var genes show a variable extracellular segment with domains having receptor-binding features, a transmembrane sequence, and a terminal segment that is a probable submembrane anchor. There are 50-150 var genes on multiple parasite chromosomes, and some are in clustered arrangements. var probes detect two classes of transcripts in steady-state RNA: 7-9 kb var transcripts, and an unusual family of 1.8-2.4 kb transcripts that may be involved in expression or rearrangements of var genes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Switches in expression of Plasmodium falciparum var genes correlate with changes in antigenic and cytoadherent phenotypes of infected erythrocytes.

Plasmodium falciparum expresses on the host erythrocyte surface clonally variant antigens and ligands that mediate adherence to endothelial receptors. Both are central to pathogenesis, since they allow chronicity of infection and lead to concentration of infected erythrocytes in cerebral vessels. Here we show that expression of variant antigenic determinants is correlated with expression of individual members of a large, multigene family named var. Each var gene contains copies of a motif that has been previously shown to bind diverse host receptors; expression of a specific var gene correlated with binding to ICAM-1. Thus, our findings are consistent with the involvement of var genes in antigenic variation and binding to endothelium.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Nicotine enhances interleukin production of rat splenic T lymphocytes.

Very little is known regarding the effects of nicotine, the most pharmacologically active component of tobacco products, on T lymphocyte activity or interleukin production. Therefore, rats were implanted subcutaneously with osmotic mini-pumps containing either physiological saline, nicotine (1.5 mg/kg/day) or a high dose of nicotine (4.5 mg/kg/day) for a period of 14 days. The ability of the splenic T lymphocytes to respond to the polyclonal T lymphocyte mitogens, Concanavalin A (ConA) or phytohemagglutinin (PHA), and the ability of mitogen stimulated splenic T lymphocytes to produce interleukin 2 (IL2) were determined. Treatment with nicotine suppressed, in a dose dependent fashion, the ability of splenic T lymphocytes to respond to mitogen, but dramatically enhanced the ability of mitogen stimulated lymphocytes to generate IL2.

Animals↗

Nucleotide sequence and transcription of a trypomastigote surface antigen gene of Trypanosoma cruzi.

In previous studies we identified a 500-bp segment of the gene, TSA-1, which encodes an 85-kDa trypomastigote-specific surface antigen of the Peru strain of Trypanosoma cruzi. TSA-1 was shown to be located at a telomeric site and to contain a 27-bp tandem repeat unit within the coding region. This repeat unit defines a discrete subset of a multigene family and places the TSA-1 gene within this subset. In this study, we present the complete nucleotide sequence of the TSA-1 gene from the Peru strain. By homology matrix analysis, fragments of two other trypomastigote specific surface antigen genes, pTt34 and SA85-1.1, are shown to have extensive sequence homology with TSA-1 indicating that these genes are members of the same gene family as TSA-1. The TSA-1 subfamily was also found to be active in two other strains of T. cruzi, one of which contains multiple telomeric members and one of which contains a single non-telomeric member, suggesting that transcription is not necessarily dependent on the gene being located at a telomeric site. Also, while some of the sequences found in this gene family are present in 2 size classes of poly(A)+ RNA, others appear to be restricted to only 1 of the 2 RNA classes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Prevalence of the dihydrofolate reductase Asn-108 mutation as the basis for pyrimethamine-resistant falciparum malaria in the Brazilian Amazon.

Pyrimethamine resistance in cultivated laboratory isolates of Plasmodium falciparum is linked to the dihydrofolate reductase mutation Asn-108, a mutation that acts by interrupting drug binding within the active site of the enzyme. To determine the prevalence of this mutation in endemic regions harboring pyrimethamine-resistant malaria, we used a mutation-specific polymerase chain reaction assay to survey P. falciparum strains from a wide section of the Brazilian Amazon. Mutations were identified directly from blood samples without intervening steps of in vitro cultivation. Of 42 samples collected from four states in Brazil, 38 (90%) contained the Asn-108 codon AAC that confers pyrimethamine resistance, four samples contained only the wild-type Ser-108 codon AGC, and none contained the Thr-108 codon ACC found in cycloguanil-resistant pyrimethamine-sensitive strains. These findings indicate that a very high incidence of the Asn-108 DHFR mutation is responsible for pyrimethamine resistance in the Amazon, and they are consistent with recent failure rates reported for Fansidar (pyrimethamine-sulfadoxine). We suggest that limited use of proguanil be evaluated as an alternative to pyrimethamine.

Animals↗