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Biomedical subjects

J M Best

Publications and source records attributed to J M Best.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Detection of antibodies to a linear epitope on the major coat protein (L1) of human papillomavirus type-16 (HPV-16) in sera from patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and children.

Antibodies to the major (L1) coat protein of human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV-16) in sera from patients with cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia (CIN) have been investigated by means of recombinant proteins and synthetic peptides. When L1-HPV-16 fusion proteins were used in immunoblot assays, no antibody reactivity was found in sera from 52 patients with CIN or from 21 unrelated children. Amino-acid sequence analyses indicated that L1-HPV-16 amino acids 473 to 492 may contain an HPV-16 type-restricted epitope since the greatest diversity occurs in this region. In the ELISA, seropositivity to peptides 473 to 492 was more common among CIN patients whose biopsies contained HPV-16 DNA (91%, 21 of 23) than among their children (24%, 5 of 21; p less than 0.001) or other CIN patients with HPV-16 DNA-negative biopsies (66%, 19 of 29; p less than 0.05), but was unrelated to the severity of the CIN lesion. Antibodies to L1-HPV-16 peptide 473 to 492 among seropositive CIN patients cross-reacted with the analogous L1-HPV-33, but not with the L1-HPV-6b peptide, and were predominantly IgM. In contrast, antibodies which recognized a less variable region of L1-HPV-16 (amino acids 279 to 293) showed no association with HPV-16 DNA status. Seropositivity to the L1-HPV-6b (amino acids 473-492) was less frequent (33%) among CIN patients and unassociated with HPV-16 DNA status (p greater than 0.1); however 51% (37 of 72) of patients with genital warts had antibodies to this peptide.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1992

Persistence of specific IgM and low avidity specific IgG1 following primary rubella.

Persistence of specific IgM in sera following primary rubella infection was compared with the maturation of the specific IgG1 response. 206 sera, from 171 patients with primary rubella, taken 1 day to 2.5 years after onset of illness, were tested. Rubella-specific IgM was detected by M-antibody capture radioimmunoassay in 100% of sera taken 15-28 days after onset, but in only 9% taken 3-4 months after onset. However, using the diethylamine (DEA) shift value (DSV) method, low avidity specific IgG1 was detected in 91% sera taken at 3-4 months and at 5-7 months 21% of sera remained positive. Using an avidity index method, with urea in the wash buffer, none of the sera were positive for low avidity specific IgG1 beyond 3 months after onset. With DEA in the wash buffer, the number of sera positive rose to 38% at 3-4 months. Thus, the DSV method for detecting low avidity specific IgG1 is a useful additional test for confirming or refuting a diagnosis of primary rubella and is of particular value for assessing pregnant patients.

Antibodies, Viral↗
PubMed1992

Rubella virus strains show no major antigenic differences.

To determine whether antigenic differences occur among rubella virus strains, five wild-type strains of rubella virus isolated in the UK, the USA, and in Japan between 1964 and 1987 and four attenuated vaccine strains were compared employing a panel of 28 monoclonal antibodies in neutralization, haemagglutination-inhibition, enzyme immunoassay, and indirect immunofluorescence assays. No antigenic differences were detected which confirms that rubella vaccines will protect against circulating strains and that rubella antigens used in serological tests for screening and diagnosis will detect antibodies induced by all strains.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1990

The dentist and the pediatric oncology patient.

As the survival rates for pediatric oncology patients continue to increase, more dentists will be faced with providing the necessary dental treatment to these complex dental problems. The dental resolution to the oral presentations of these disease conditions needs to be done in an understanding, supportive environment. The oral cavity and its relationship to both the child's positive self-image and quality of life presents the dental professional with a unique opportunity to enrich the human condition.

Child↗
PubMed1989

Fetal infection after maternal reinfection with rubella: criteria for defining reinfection.

Five cases of asymptomatic maternal reinfection with rubella are described that occurred in England and Wales during 1985-8 and resulted in intrauterine infection. The criteria for diagnosing reinfection are described. In four cases the rubella contact was with the woman's own children. Two women had therapeutic abortions, rubella virus being recovered from the products of conception, and three were delivered of infants with congenitally acquired disease. Though the risks associated with maternal reinfection with rubella are very small and being measured in a prospective study, it is hoped that the recently introduced augmented programme of rubella vaccination will reduce rubella in the community and therefore this small risk still further.

Female↗
PubMed1989

Growth of rubella virus in a glass bead propagator.

A glass sphere propagator with an air lift pump to circulate the medium, has been successfully used to produce large volumes of rubella virus. The system was productive, flexible and easy to operate.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Identification of immunogenic regions of the major coat protein of human papillomavirus type 16 that contain type-restricted epitopes.

We have identified regions of the major capsid protein, L1, of the human papillomavirus (HPV) type 16 (HPV-16 L1), that are recognized by five monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) raised to a bacterial fusion protein containing residues 172 to 375 of HPV-16 L1. All five MAbs recognized HPV-16-infected tissue sections by immunohistochemistry, but not sections infected with HPV-1a (cutaneous warts), HPV-6b or -11 (genital warts). MAbs 3D1, 5A4 and 1D6 also recognized HPV-2-infected sections (cutaneous warts); MAb 8C4 recognized only sections containing HPV-16. Four MAbs (8C4, 3D1, 1D6 and 5A4) recognized a synthetic peptide corresponding to residues 269 to 284 of HPV-16 L1; within this region a minimum antibody binding site was identified, a tripeptide 276 to 278. However the complete epitope appears to extend beyond these residues and beyond HPV-16 L1 (269 to 284). The fifth MAb, 1C6, recognized bacterial fusion proteins containing HPV-6b L1, -16 L1 or -18 L1 using immunoblots, yet appeared HPV-16-specific when tested on infected tissue sections. This MAb recognized five amino acids within a different region of HPV-16 L1 (residues 299 to 313).

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1989

Prevalence of antibodies to herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 in pregnant women, and estimated rates of infection.

There has been a recent increase in notifications of genital herpes but it is not known whether this has been reflected in the pregnant population. We have therefore carried out a study to determine the prevalence of herpes simplex antibodies in pregnant women and to estimate the incidence of primary infection. Sera were collected from 3533 women at antenatal clinics and tested for total antibodies to herpes simples virus (HSV), and if positive, for specific antibodies to HSV-2. Estimates of HSV-1 seroprevalence were derived from the HSV-2 seronegative population. HSV-1 seroprevalence was nearly 100% in black women born in Africa or the Caribbean and 60-80% in white, Asian and UK born black women. It was lower in women in non-manual employment. HSV-2 seroprevalence was related to age, rising from 0 at age 16 to 40% at age 35 in black women, and to about 10% in Asian and white women. The estimated incidence of primary HSV-2 infection during pregnancy, per 1000 pregnancies, was about 2.4 in Asian women, 5 in white women, and 20 in black women. Estimates of the incidence of neonatal infection were derived from these figures and compared to the nationally reported rates.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

In vivo expression of rubella antigens on human leucocytes: detection by flow cytometry.

Flow cytometry has been used to detect in vivo expression of rubella antigens on human leucocytes. Sequential samples of peripheral blood were obtained from four volunteers with naturally acquired rubella and five persons immunised with RA27/3 rubella vaccine. Leucocytes were stained for rubella antigens using a pool of rubella monoclonal antibodies. Rubella antigens were detected on the leucocytes of all four volunteers with naturally acquired rubella between 1 and 13 days after onset of illness. Viral antigens were expressed more frequently on the monocyte (9-51%) than the lymphocyte (less than 1-4%) and granulocyte (less than 1-3%) populations. Among the vaccines, rubella antigens were detected on the leucocytes of four of the five volunteers between 5 and 12 days after immunisation. The expression of viral antigens was more transient and the proportion of cells exhibiting rubella-specific fluorescence considerably lower following vaccination (1-12%) than natural infection (9-51%). Our results demonstrate that flow cytometry provides a rapid and sensitive analytical technique for detecting viral antigens on leucocytes from infected persons. Leucocytes may play an important role in the pathogenesis of rubella infection.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Class-specific herpes simplex virus antibodies in sera and cervical secretions from patients with cervical neoplasia: a multi-group comparison.

Serum and cervical secretions were collected from patients with cervical dysplasia, carcinoma-in-situ (CIS), squamous cell carcinoma (cervical SCC), and controls with normal cervices, attending clinics within the West Lambeth Health District, London. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were used to examine cervical secretory IgA (sIgA) and serum IgG and IgA antibodies to herpes simplex virus (HSV). Sexual and demographic factors were considered during data analysis, which involved fitting multiple linear or multiple logistic regressions to HSV antibody levels. Prevalence of sIgA-HSV and levels of serum antibodies to HSV in all groups were compared with those of gynaecology controls. Caucasian women with mild dysplasia had a significantly higher prevalence of sIgA-HSV. Serum IgG levels to HSV (IgG-HSV) were significantly elevated in women with mild dysplasia and severe dysplasia/CIS. Serum IgA levels to HSV1 (IgG-HSV1) were significantly higher in women with cervical SCC (after adjusting for smoking habits) and other genital tumours. Significantly higher levels of serum IgA to HSV2 (IgA-HSV2) were also found among Caucasian women with cervical SCC. The possible role of HSV as a co-factor in cervical carcinogenesis is discussed.

Antibodies, Viral↗
PubMed1987

Maternal rubella at St Thomas' Hospital in 1978 and 1986: support for augmenting the rubella vaccination programme.

The effects of the rubella epidemics in 1978 and 1986 among patients attending antenatal clinics at St Thomas' Hospital were compared. Although many pregnant women who had been exposed to rubella-like illnesses were investigated in both 1978 (269) and 1986 (160), the number of cases of maternal rubella was substantially lower in 1986 (1) than in 1978 (17). Rubella vaccination of 11-14-year-old girls was introduced in the United Kingdom in 1970, but 10% of our patients were susceptible and only 36% gave a definite history of vaccination. Despite the smaller number of maternal rubella cases, substantial resources were expended on assessing patients who had been exposed to or who presented with rubella-like illnesses. In 1978 an intensification of the selective rubella vaccination campaign was recommended, but experience in the 1986 epidemic supports the view that the programme should be augmented by vaccination of preschool children with a combined measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine, with a view to rubella eradication.

Adolescent↗