Biomedical subjects

J F Wang

Publications and source records attributed to J F Wang.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1997

Cytokine signaling through the novel tyrosine kinase RAFTK in Kaposi's sarcoma cells.

A number of cytokines, including basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), oncostatin M (OSM), IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), have been postulated to have a role in the pathogenesis of Kaposi's sarcoma (KS). The proliferative effects of bFGF and OSM may be via their reported activation of the c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) signaling pathway in KS cells. We now report that KS cells express a recently identified focal adhesion kinase termed RAFTK which appears in other cell systems to coordinate surface signals between cytokine and integrin receptors and the cytoskeleton as well as act downstream to modulate JNK activation. We also report that the tyrosine kinase receptor FLT-4, present on normal lymphatic endothelium, is robustly expressed in KS cells. Treatment of KS cells with VEGF-related protein (VRP), the ligand for the FLT-4 receptor, as well as with the cytokines bFGF, OSM, IL-6, VEGF, or TNF-alpha resulted in phosphorylation and activation of RAFTK. Following its activation, there was an enhanced association of RAFTK with the cytoskeletal protein paxillin. This association was mediated by the hydrophobic COOH-terminal domain of the kinase. Furthermore, JNK activity was increased in KS cells after VEGF or VRP stimulation. We postulate that in these tumor cells RAFTK may be activated by a diverse group of stimulatory cytokines and facilitate signal transduction to the cytoskeleton and downstream to the growth promoting JNK pathway.

Animals↗

PubMed1997

DNA binding activity of the mammalian translation elongation complex: recognition of chromium- and transplatin-damaged DNA.

The elongation factor complex, EF-1H, serves an essential function in protein biosynthesis in eukaryotic cells, although the role of EF-1H in other physiological processes is unknown. In this report, we demonstrate that three components of EF-1H (EF-1 beta, EF-1 delta, EF-1 gamma) bind to DNA modified with chromium (Cr), a potent DNA-damaging agent and an established human carcinogen. The EF-1H complex also binds to transplatin modified DNA but not to cisplatin-modified DNA. These results demonstrate that the EF-1H complex has functional DNA binding activity and is capable of recognizing the distortions in DNA structure resulting from the covalent binding of Cr and transplatin to DNA.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1997

Nitric oxide donor SIN-1 mediated down-regulation of the G-protein alpha-subunit in C6 glioma cells.

In C6 glioma cells, the nitric oxide (NO) donor 3-morpholinosynonimine hydrochloride (SIN-1) (0.5 mM) produced a significant decrease in the stimulatory G-protein alpha subunit (G alpha(s)) levels. Northern hydridization did not detect any differences in G alpha(s) mRNA levels after SIN-1 treatment. Furthermore SIN-1 increased endogenous and cholera toxin-catalyzed ADP-ribosylation of G alpha(s). 2-phenyl-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl-3-oxide (PTIO) (0.5mM), a NO scavenger, had no effect on endogenous or cholera toxin-catalyzed ADP-ribosylation of G alpha(s), but reversed the increase in endogenous and cholera toxin-catalyzed ADP-ribosylation of G alpha(s) induced by SIN-1. These results suggest that increasing ADP-ribosylation may be involved in SIN-1 mediated G alpha(s) down-regulation.

Adenosine Diphosphate Ribose↗

PubMed1997

C-fiber mechanical stimulus-response functions are different in inflammatory versus neuropathic hyperalgesia in the rat.

To compare changes in primary afferent nociceptors associated with inflammatory versus neuropathic hyperalgesia, we evaluated in rats the mechanical stimulus-response function of isolated C-fiber primary afferent nociceptors to 10-s stimuli of differing mechanical strengths; 36 fibers after prostaglandin E2, 28 fibers from streptozotocin-diabetic rats and 46 fibers from control, non-treated rats were examined. Intradermal injection of prostaglandin E2 decreased mechanical threshold of 19 of 35 (54%) C-fibers. C-fibers that demonstrated a decrease in the mechanical threshold after prostaglandin E2 also showed an increased response to suprathreshold stimuli. The increase in the number of action potentials in prostaglandin E2-treated C-fibers was greatest at lower magnitude stimulus intensities, i.e. near threshold; the response to higher magnitude stimulus intensities was unchanged from that in control animals. In contrast, an increase in the number of action potentials seen in C-fibers from streptozotocin-diabetic rats was not seen at low-magnitude stimulus intensities; rather, a pronounced increase in response was seen at high-magnitude stimulus intensities. The von Frey hair thresholds for C-fibers in streptozotocin-diabetic rats were not different from those in control C-fibers. These data suggest that the changes in mechanical stimulus-response function of C-fibers are different in inflammatory compared to neuropathic mechanical hyperalgesia. These differences may underlie some of the differences in clinical features between inflammatory and neuropathic hyperalgesias.

Animals↗

PubMed1997

High mobility group proteins 1 and 2 recognize chromium-damaged DNA.

Chromium (Cr) is a human carcinogen and a potent DNA damaging agent. Incubation of DNA with CrCl3 resulted in dose-dependent binding of Cr to DNA and, at concentrations >20 microM, altered the electrophoretic mobility of a 100 bp oligonucleotide. We also demonstrate that high mobility group (HMG) proteins 1 and 2 bind Cr-damaged DNA (Cr-DNA). Protein binding was lesion density-dependent, with maximal binding to DNA treated with 100 microM CrCl3. HMG2 binds to Cr-DNA with a calculated Kd of approximately 10(-9) M. These proteins also bound DNA obtained from chromate-treated cells. These results suggest that the covalent attachment of Cr to DNA induces alterations in DNA structure which are recognized by HMG1 and HMG2. Therefore, these proteins may function as Cr-damaged DNA recognition proteins in vivo and as a consequence of binding, may play a role in directing the cellular response to Cr-DNA adduct formation.

Animals↗

PubMed1997

Attitudes, concerns, and fear of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome among registered nurses in the United States.

The article reports a study describing nurses' attitudes, concerns, and fear of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). A convenience sample consisting of 376 nurses in a mid-Atlantic state was drawn. An 84-item questionnaire was used to collect the data. Seven factors were derived from the subjects' responses using the Fear of AIDS Scale II: opinion and AIDS policy, blood and physical closeness to patients with AIDS, punishing the homosexual, ethics of care. "Who would care for me?" financial burden, and self-worth. Fear of AIDS Scale II scores ranked the highest whenever "self" was involved with AIDS issues or blood and physical closeness to a person with AIDS. There was a parallel increasing relationship between concern about contracting AIDS from patients and the fear of AIDS. A number of other significant correlations emerged from the study.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

Battered women's perceptions of loss and health.

The article reports a study investigating whether a positive relationship exists between a battered women's perceptions of loss and her perceptions of health. The study further investigated whether a period of time away from the abusive situation would change the battered women's perceptions of loss and her perceptions of health. A convenience sample of 20 women who had experienced battering and abuse and had sought help at a protective shelter was studied. Questionnaires on perception of loss, health response, and demographics were used for the collection of data. The findings indicated that a significant relationship exists between a battered women's perceptions of loss and her perception of health. Perceptions of loss and health were shown to decline after a period of 5 days away from the abusive situation. Additional qualitative data obtained from in-depth interviews were also found to be consistent with the quantitative results and supported the literature documented in this study.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

Degradation of IGF-binding protein-3 by proteases in cultured FRTL-5 rat thyroid cells.

In this study, we have found that IGF-binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) in calf serum added to tissue culture medium is degraded by cultured FRTL-5 cells and a major 31 kDa fragment of IGFBP-3 is produced. When FRTL-5 rat thyroid cells were cultured in 6H medium (modified F-12M medium containing TSH, insulin, hydrocortisone, somatostatin, transferrin, and glycyl-histidyl-lysine) containing 5% calf serum, both 44-46 and 31 kDa IGFBPs were found in conditioned medium by ligand blot analysis using 125I-labelled IGF-II. However, predominantly the 44-46 kDa IGFBP was detected in unconditioned 6H medium containing 5% calf serum. When calf serum in the media was replaced by human serum similar results were obtained, and the 44-46 kDa and 31 kDa IGFBPs were recognized using a human IGFBP-3 antibody following Western blot analysis. FRTL-5 cells secreted only small amounts of an endogenous 29 kDa IGFBP, thought to be IGFBP-5. To separate the 31 kDa fragment of IGFBP-3 from the endogenous IGFBP-5, culture media were fractionated by concanavalin-A-Sepharose chromatography and aliquots of both flow-through and eluate from the column were analyzed by ligand blotting. A 31 kDa IGFBP was found in the eluate fractions from concanavalin-A-Sepharose chromatography following the separation of conditioned 6H medium supplemented with calf serum, suggesting that this species was an N-linked glycoprotein and could be derived from the degradation of serum IGFBP-3 by FRTL-5 cells. Using a modified zymographic assay, we examined whether the degradation of IGFBP-3 could depend on the cell membrane. Confluent FRTL-5 cells were washed with PBS and overlaid with liquid agarose solution. After the agarose had solidified, unconditioned 6H medium containing 5% calf serum was incubated with the cells at 37 degrees C for 16 h. Both 44-46 and 31 kDa IGFBP species were found in the overlying, conditioned medium by ligand blot. However, the 31 kDa IGFBP was not found in medium in the absence of FRTL-5 cells, and no IGFBP could be found in serum-free conditioned medium from agarose-covered FRTL-5 cells. This suggests that the 44-46 kDa IGFBP-3 in serum was degraded to yield a 31 kDa fragment, while any endogenous IGFBP-5 could not pass out of the agarose. The degradation of 44-46 kDa IGFBP-3 in the modified zymographic assay was inhibited by phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride, EDTA, and aprotinin, but not by leupeptin. In summary, these results indicated that IGFBP-3 in calf serum added to culture medium could be degraded by FRTL-5 cells and that this may involve calcium-dependent serine proteases.

Animals↗

PubMed1996

Delta subunit inhibits neurosteroid modulation of GABAA receptors.

Neurosteroid modulation of GABAA receptors has been observed with all subunit combinations investigated; however, hetero-oligomeric GABAA receptors containing delta subunits were not studied previously. We describe the effect of delta subunit expression on 3alpha,21-dihydroxy-5alpha-pregnan-20-1 (THDOC)-induced potentiation of GABA-gated currents in transfected HEK 293 cells and in cerebellar granule cells in vitro. THDOC (100 nM) significantly potentiated GABA-gated currents in cells transfected with combinations of alpha1, alpha6, beta3, and gamma2 subunit cDNAs, whereas cotransfection of delta subunit cDNA inhibited this potentiation. In contrast, the direct Cl- channel activation by THDOC at higher concentrations (1-10 microM) was not significantly dependent on delta subunit cotransfection. These results suggest that the presence of the delta subunit inhibits GABAA receptor modulation but not the direct activation by neurosteroids. Cotransfection with delta subunit also affected the negative allosteric modulation by pregnenolone sulfate. THDOC potentiation of GABA-gated currents was greater in cerebellar granule cell cultures at 4 d in vitro (DIV) compared with those at 14 DIV. Single-cell reverse transcription-PCR analysis of the mRNAs expressed in cultured cerebellar granule cells shows that an increased number of granule cells at 14 DIV express delta subunit mRNAs as compared with 4 DIV granule cells. The presence of delta subunit mRNAs detected in individual cells correlated well with the lack of sensitivity to THDOC. These results suggest that developmental expression of GABAA receptor delta subunits may play an important role in determining the region-specific neurosteroid-induced modification of fast inhibitory synaptic function.

Allosteric Regulation↗

PubMed1996

Developmental changes of inhibitory synaptic currents in cerebellar granule neurons: role of GABA(A) receptor alpha 6 subunit.

Eye opening and increased motor activity after the second postnatal week in rats imply an extensive development of motor control and coordination. We show a parallel development change in spontaneous IPSC (sIPSC) kinetics in cerebellar granule neurons. sIPSCs were studied by whole-cell recordings in cerebellar slices, prepared from 7-30 postnatal day old rats. Early in development, sIPSCs had slow decay kinetics whereas in older rats faster decaying sIPSCs were found in larger proportion. Currents elicited by 1 mM GABA pulses (GABACs) in nucleated patches excised from cerebellar granule neurons revealed that GABACs kinetics better approximate sIPSC decay in young but not in more developed rats. The expression of alpha 6 subunit of GABAA receptors, unique in cerebellar granule neurons, has been shown to increase during development. Therefore, we took advantage of the recently reported selective inhibition of GABAA receptors by furosemide to characterize the relative contribution of alpha 6 subunits to native receptors in inhibitory synapses of cerebellar granule neurons. Although furosemide inhibition of sIPSCs amplitude was highly variable among distinct granule cells, it increased during development. At the same time, furosemide failed to inhibit sIPSCs recorded from Purkinje neurons. From the comparison of furosemide inhibition and kinetics of sIPSCs with GABACs recorded from mammalian HEK293 cells transfected with combinations of alpha 1 and alpha 6 GABAA receptor subunits together with beta 2 gamma 2 subunits, we propose that an increased alpha 6 subunit contribution in the molecular assembly of postsynaptic receptors in cerebellar glomeruli is responsible for the developmental changes observed.

Animals↗

PubMed1996

Differential display PCR reveals increased expression of 2',3'-cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphodiesterase by lithium.

Differential display PCR was used to study the effects of lithium on gene expression. Four candidate genes were isolated and verified by Northern hybridization after 1 week treatment of C6 glioma cells with therapeutically relevant concentrations of LiCl (1 mM). Sequencing analysis revealed three previously unidentified cDNA fragments in addition to a sequence with 99% homology with the cDNA for 2',3'-cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphodiesterase type II (CNPaseII). Since CNPaseII is important in myelinogenesis and possibly neuronal growth and repair, the present findings suggest that lithium treatment may regulate these processes.

2',3'-Cyclic Nucleotide 3'-Phosphodiesterase↗

PubMed1996

Sensitization of C-fibres by prostaglandin E2 in the rat is inhibited by guanosine 5'-O-(2-thiodiphosphate), 2',5'-dideoxyadenosine and Walsh inhibitor peptide.

Behavioral studies have shown that mechanical hyperalgesia induced by intradermal injection of prostaglandin E2 is blocked by inhibitors of the cAMP second messenger system. Similarly, injection of prostaglandin E2 also induces a decrease in mechanical threshold and an increase in the number of action potentials elicited by test stimuli in most C-fibre nociceptors. This change is called sensitization. To further evaluate the degree of correlation between primary afferent sensitization and mechanical hyperalgesia, we conducted a study to evaluate the effect of agents known to block the cAMP second messenger system and behavioral manifestations of mechanical hyperalgesia following injection of prostaglandin E2. The agents tested were guanosine 5'-O-(2-thiodiphosphate), an inhibitor of stimulatory guanine nucleotide-binding regulatory proteins; 2',5'-dideoxyadenosine, an inhibitor of adenylyl cyclase; and Walsh Inhibitor Peptide, an inhibitor of cAMP-dependent protein kinase. Single fibre electrophysiologic studies of 138 C-fibres, innervating the dorsum of the hind paw, was done in male Sprague-Dawley rats. The number of spikes evoked by a 10 s application of a threshold von Frey hair were determined before and after intradermal injection of test agents administered alone and in combination with prostaglandin E2. Injection of prostaglandin E2 with the test agent vehicle (saline or distilled water) resulted in a significant decrease in von Frey hair threshold and an increase in the number of spikes generated in response to threshold von Frey hairs. In contrast, co-injection of prostaglandin E2 with guanosine-5'-O-(2-thiodiphosphate), 2',5'-dideoxyadenosine or Walsh inhibitor peptide did not result in a significant decrease in von Frey hair mechanical threshold or increase in the number of spikes generated to the threshold stimuli, compared with vehicle/prostaglandin E2. It is suggested that guanosine 5'-O-(2-thiodiphosphate), 2',5'-dideoxyadenosine and Walsh inhibitor protein inhibited prostaglandin E2 sensitization of primary afferent C-fibres by inhibiting a stimulatory guanine nucleotide-binding regulatory protein, adenylyl cyclase, and protein kinase A, respectively. These results support the hypothesis that primary afferent sensitization by prostaglandin E2 underlies prostaglandin E2-induced hyperalgesia.

Animals↗

PubMed1996

Decreased production of reactive oxygen intermediates is an early event during in vitro apoptosis of rat thymocytes.

Thymocyte apoptosis is one of the best characterized experimental models of apoptosis that can be induced by a variety of stimuli such as glucocorticoids, ionizing radiation, antibodies, and toxins. Recently, it has been suggested that oxidative stress is a common mediator of apoptosis. However, little is known about the production and possible function of reactive oxygen intermediates (ROI) in thymocytes. We used a highly sensitive flow cytometric assay with the hydrogen peroxide-sensitive dye, 2',7'-dichlorofluorescin diacetate (DCFH-DA), to measure intracellular ROI production in rat thymocytes, to study its primary sources, and to compare ROI levels in normal and apoptotic thymocytes. Apoptosis was induced by incubating the cells in the presence or absence of dexamethasone (Dex) at 37 degrees C in vitro. Normal thymocytes spontaneously produced significant amounts of ROI. Catalase or superoxide dismutase did not affect this intracellular fluorescence, presumably due to their failure to penetrate into the cells. However, N-acetyl-L-cysteine significantly attenuated the fluorescence in a dose-dependent manner. Significant inhibition of the intracellular fluorescence was also observed by addition of N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), that could not be reversed by L-arginine. The addition of N-nitro-D-arginine methyl ester (D-NAME) also caused considerable inhibition. This indicates that the inhibition by L-NAME or D-NAME is due to a direct scavenging effect, and nitric oxide production is not likely to be involved. In contrast to neutrophils and macrophages whose superoxide anions are released from membrane-bound NADPH oxidase, the production of ROI in thymocytes is likely to originate mainly from mitochondria, as indicated by the inhibitory effect of the addition of rotenone or antimycin A. The addition of lymphocyte simulators phytohemagglutinin (PHA), concanavalin A (Con A), or phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) enhanced intracellular fluorescence of thymocytes. This increase was abrogated by addition of rotenone or antimycin A. The ROI production was decreased with time after incubation of the thymocytes for 1, 3, and 6 h in vitro. The appearance of apoptosis of thymocytes in vitro, as indicated by DNA content of cells by flow cytometry and DNA ladder formation in agarose gel electrophoresis, was delayed, as compared to the time course of the decreased ROI production. The addition of Dex to the culture medium accelerated both of these processes. The results suggest that a decreased spontaneous production of ROI in thymocytes precedes the spontaneous in vitro apoptosis and Dex exaggerates these changes.

Animals↗

PubMed1996

Distinct deactivation and desensitization kinetics of recombinant GABAA receptors.

The functional role of the large heterogeneity in GABAA receptor subunit genes and its role in setting the properties of inhibitory synapses in the CNS is poorly understood. A kinetic comparison between currents elicited by ultra-rapid application with a piezoelectric translator of 1 mM GABA to mammalian cells transfected with cDNAs encoding distinct GABAA receptor subunits revealed that the intrinsic deactivation and desensitization properties depend on subunit combination. In particular, receptors containing alpha 6 with beta 2 gamma 2 subunits were endowed with a significantly slower deactivation as compared to those receptors containing alpha 1 with beta 2 gamma 2 subunits. While desensitization produced by prolonged GABA applications on alpha 1 beta 2 gamma 2 receptors was characterized by a rapid exponential decay followed by a slower decay and a steady state response, alpha 6 beta 2 gamma 2 receptors lacked desensitization. Furthermore, GABAA receptors lacking the gamma 2 subunit were characterized by a much larger non-desensitization component and a very rapid deactivation. Lastly, analysis of GABA-activated currents in cells cotransfected with alpha 1 and alpha 6 together with beta 2 gamma 2 subunit revealed unique kinetic properties. Our results suggest that distinct subunit composition confers specific deactivation and desensitization properties that may profoundly affect synaptic decay kinetics and the capability to sustain high frequency synaptic inputs.

Cell Line↗

PubMed1996

Using factor analysis to explore nurses' fear of AIDS in the United States of America.

The purpose of this study was to create a reliable research instrument to test the fear of AIDS (FOA) and to explore the dimension of FOA among nurses. We hypothesized that certain factors, such as physical closeness to AIDS patients or HIV-positive blood and nontolerance of homosexuals, increase fear of AIDS among nurses. A sample of 365 nurses in a mid-Atlantic state of the United States was surveyed with an 82-item Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practice (KAP) questionnaire to examine the fear of AIDS among nurses in the United States. Using correlation, item and factorial analysis, a 23-item FOA Scale II (alpha = 0.826) was created and seven FOA factors were identified. Factor analysis was used to help understand the dimensions of FOA as measured by FOA Scale II. Principal components analysis was used to analyse the correlation matrix because some items were on a five-point scale and some were on a three-point scale. The varimax rotation was used, because if one were to define dimensions then these dimensions should be as independent of each other as possible. The coefficient alpha of 0.826 obtained from using FOA Scale II indicated that FOA could be considered to be a general factor; but the general factor could be exhibited through several avenues. It was determined that FOA could be represented by four or by seven dimensions, and if one uses the eigenvalue of 1 for a cut-off point then one would argue that there were seven factors. If one used the screen test, then one could assume that there were four factors of interest. Our decision for the analysis of this paper was to attempt the interpretation of the seven factors. We used both the factor loadings-the correlation of the item score with the linear combination-and the factor score coefficients (the weights of the items to form the linear combinations) to interpret the factor. The factor analysis thus seems to give insight into the dimensions of FOA as measured by FOA Scale II. Fear of AIDS seems to be exhibited in the following seven ways: (a) support for policies which would protect me from AIDS, (b) fear of contact with blood and bodily fluids of AIDS patient, (c) turning against those who have AIDS, (d) only care for those who deserve to be helped, (e)concern that I would have no help if I had AIDS, (f) concern about the financial burden of AIDS, and (g) loss of self-worth for one who has AIDS.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

PubMed1996

Alpha 6 and gamma 2 subunit antisense oligodeoxynucleotides alter gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor pharmacology in cerebellar granule neurons.

To characterize the role of the alpha 6 subunit in gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors in cerebellar granule cells, primary cerebellar cultures were treated with antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) complementary to and overlapping the initial codon of the alpha 6 subunit cDNA. The specific reduction in the expression of the alpha 6 receptor subunit protein after a 48-hr antisense ODN treatment was assessed with the use of immunoblot assays. Sister cultures were treated in parallel with mismatched (scrambled) ODNs. Inhibition of GABA-gated currents by furosemide, a selective inhibitor of GABAA receptors containing alpha 6 subunits, was attenuated after the alpha 6 antisense treatment. Furosemide was tested in parallel in transfected cells expressing various combinations of the alpha 1 and alpha 6 subunits, which showed that the relative abundance of these subunit mRNAs determines the extent of furosemide-induced inhibition of GABA-gated currents. Compared with control or mismatched ODN-treated cell cultures, treatment of granule neurons with alpha 6 antisense ODNs caused a decrease in GABA-induced maximal current density and increased the half-maximal concentration derived from GABA dose-response curves. Furthermore, the depletion of alpha 6 subunits from cerebellar granule cells enhanced flunitrazepam-induced potentiation of GABA-activated currents. In contrast, gamma 2 antisense ODN treatments of cell cultures increased the receptor sensitivity to GABA and potently decreased the response to flunitrazepam. Our results show that alpha 6 and gamma 2 subunit expression can be blocked with the use of synthetic ODNs and that these subunits are crucial determinants of the pharmacological properties of native GABAA receptors in cerebellar granule cells.

Allosteric Regulation↗

PubMed1996

[Molecular epidemiology of meningococcal meningitis in Mali: isolation of a new class 1 protein variant (P1.y)].

The study deals with 570 strains of Neisseriaceae isolated between 1989 and 1994 in Mali: 396 of the strains were isolated from samples of cerebrospinal fluid and 174 from the throat. Serogroup C accounted for 55% of all strains. Antigenic structure was determined by ELISA, SDS-PAGE and transfer to nitrocellulose membrane for immunoblotting with monoclonal antibodies produced at the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics. For serogroup A, the class 1 protein types found were P1.7 for strains isolated prior to 1994 and P1.9 for strains isolated in 1994. P1.7 is specific to clone IV-1 and P1.9 to clone III-1, which was responsible for the 1994 epidemic. All strains of serogroup C isolated from fluid CSF and most strains isolated from the throat exhibit a new type of class 1 protein which the authors have designated P1.y. P1.y is characteristic of Malian strains of serogroup C; it is rare or absent in strains from other countries (Burkina Faso, Ghana, Italy, USA). The nucleotide sequence of the gene expressing P1.y and the corresponding amino acid sequence were determined at the National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, England.

Bacterial Proteins↗

PubMed1995

Isolation of virus-neutralizing RNAs from a large pool of random sequences.

RNA and ribonuclease-resistant RNA analogs that bound and neutralized Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) were isolated from a large pool of random sequences by multiple cycles of in vitro selection using infectious viral particles. The selected RNA pool of RSV-binding sequences at a concentration of 0.16 microM completely neutralized the virus. Of 19 sequences cloned from the selected pool, 5 inhibited RSV infection. The selected RNA and RNA analogs were shown to neutralize RSV by interacting with the virus, rather than by adversely affecting the host cells. The selection of the anti-RSV RNA and RNA analogs by intact virions immediately suggests the potential application of this approach to develop RNA and RNA analogs as inhibitors of other viruses such as human immunodeficiency virus.

Antiviral Agents↗