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Biomedical subjects

E S Poole

Publications and source records attributed to E S Poole.

7 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1995

Selection of aminoacyl-tRNAs at sense codons: the size of the tRNA variable loop determines whether the immediate 3' nucleotide to the codon has a context effect.

Codon context can affect translational efficiency by several molecular mechanisms. The base stacking interactions between a codon-anticodon complex and the neighboring nucleotide immediately 3' can facilitate translation by amber suppressors and the tRNA structure is also known to modulate the sensitivity to context. In this study the relative rates of aminoacyl-tRNA selection were measured at four sense codons (UGG, CUC, UUC and UCA), in all four 3' nucleotide contexts, through direct competition with a programmed frameshift at a site derived from the release factor 2 gene. Two codons (UGG and UUC) are read by tRNAs with small variable regions and their rates of aminoacyl-tRNA selection correlated with the potential base stacking strength of the 3' neighboring nucleotide. The other two codons (CUC and UCA) are read by tRNAs with large variable regions and the rate of selection of the aminoacyl-tRNAs in these cases varied little among the four contexts. Re-examination of published data on amber suppression also revealed an inverse correlation between context sensitivity and the size of the variable region. Collectively the data suggest that a large variable loop in a tRNA decreases the influence of the 3' context on tRNA selection, probably by strengthening tRNA-ribosomal interactions.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1992

A search for Chlamydia trachomatis in synovial fluids from patients with reactive arthritis using the polymerase chain reaction and antigen detection methods.

A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique to detect Chlamydia trachomatis DNA was used to examine synovial specimens from patients with reactive arthritis. We were able to detect C. trachomatis DNA in synovial specimens which had been seeded with intact elementary bodies or chlamydial DNA. However, we were unable to detect chlamydial DNA in unseeded synovial specimens from 10 patients with sexually acquired reactive arthritis, 17 patients with reactive arthritis and 11 control patients with other arthropathies. In addition, using a monoclonal antibody technique, we were unable to detect chlamydial antigen in any of the synovial cell deposits examined. We conclude that C. trachomatis DNA was not present in the joints of these patients at the time of synovial fluid collection, and suggest that either DNA degradation occurred rapidly after viable chlamydiae had entered the joint or that chlamydial DNA was not present at any stage of the reactive response.

Antigens, Bacterial↗
PubMed1990

A DNA diagnostic service.

We describe the use of techniques of DNA analysis for the diagnosis of certain inherited diseases during life and in the prenatal period, and for the diagnosis of some infectious diseases. Most local and some national needs for predictive genetic testing have been met. The costs of establishing our service are presented and are compared with those of similar services recently established in the United Kingdom. In the 12 month period described, running costs were approximately $57,000 and salaries for the two scientific officers and the medical technologist required to run the service were $97,000. The prerequisites for the successful running of such a service are discussed.

Costs and Cost Analysis↗
PubMed1988

A survey of virus infections in New Zealand, 1982-6.

Between 1982 and 1986 virus infections were identified in 16,372 cases. These identifications were based on virus isolation and/or serological evidence of infection by the main virus diagnostic laboratories at Auckland, Waikato, Christchurch and Dunedin hospitals, and at the National Health Institute. The most frequent virus identifications reported were herpes simplex (46.7%), rotavirus (11.8%), respiratory syncytial virus (5.7%), and adenovirus (5.6%). During this period of surveillance, the most prominent feature has been the high incidence of herpes simplex which reached a peak in 1983 but which has abated only slightly since. Significant trends and virus outbreaks or epidemics were detected with the regular reporting of monthly virus identifications in the New Zealand Virus Report (NZVR); these included a measles epidemic in Auckland in 1984/85, major influenza A outbreaks in 1983, 1985 and 1986, the respiratory syncytial virus epidemic in the winter of 1986, the increased incidence of rotavirus predominantly in young infants and children during the winter months, outbreaks of enterovirus type 71 and parainfluenza type 3 infections in 1986, and rubella in 1984.

Disease Outbreaks↗
PubMed1983

Rubella immunisation and immunity in a defined population.

The level of rubella immunity was measured in the population of Milton. Rubella antibody was measured by haemagglutination-inhibition in women and men aged 16 to 34 years. Details were sought of past rubella infection, immunisation and records of immunisation. Overall 11.3% of the women were not immune by the laboratory criterion. All women younger than 25 years had detectable rubella antibody, though 13.8% had low antibody levels not regarded as immune according to current criteria. These low antibody levels probably reflect the high prevalence of vaccine-induced immunity. Most of these women are likely to be immune and other methods of rubella screening are needed to identify the truly susceptible women. Women aged 32-34 years had the highest level of rubella susceptibility, 9% without any detectable rubella antibody. Although the Milton population may not be representative of the total New Zealand population, in this area there was an encouragingly low proportion of women who could be regarded as definitely susceptible to rubella.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

Rubella immunisation history as a guide to immunity.

If rubella immunisation is highly effective accurate recall of past immunisation should enable determination of immune state. The accuracy of recall was studied in a group of young adults aged 16-24 who had been offered Cendehill vaccination at school 10-11 years previously. The subjects were asked whether they had been vaccinated and blood was taken for rubella serology. School records of rubella immunisation were compared with the histories of immunisation. A positive history of immunisation at school was correct in 32 out of 33 cases (97%). In contrast a negative history was accurate in only 14 out of 43 cases (33%). Ways of improving the memory of immunization are needed if this is to be used to determine immune state in young women.

Adolescent↗