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M C Kuo

Publications and source records attributed to M C Kuo.

11 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

A universal T cell epitope-containing peptide from hepatitis B surface antigen can enhance antibody specific for HIV gp120.

Peptide-based vaccines that directly target T cell or B cell epitopes may have significant advantages over conventional vaccines. Further, synthetic chimeric peptides that combine strong T cell epitopes with poorly immunogenic, but immunodominant, B cell epitopes or strain-conserved B cell epitopes may be useful in eliciting antibody to such important regions. Here we characterize a human T cell epitope analyzed in 54 individuals immunized with a hepatitis B virus surface Ag vaccine. Primary cultures from a total of 59 immunized donors were assessed for their ability to respond to hepatitis B virus surface Ag and peptides, and five were non-responders (8.5%). T cell lines were established from the remaining 54 responders. Of the responders, it was found that the peptide representing amino acids 19 through 33 (19-33) elicited significant proliferation in lines derived from 50 donors. This "universal" T cell epitope, which was recognized in donors of many different HLA-DR and -DQ haplotypes, was then used to construct a chimeric peptide containing 19-33 and the third V region loop structure (V3 loop) of HIV-1 envelope gp 120, in an attempt to augment the immune response to the V3 loop peptide. The V3 loop is the region to which significant neutralizing antibody is directed. Thus, a strong immune response to a synthetic peptide that contains the strain-conserved V3 loop region could have significant therapeutic implications. The V3 loop/19-33 peptide was then used to prime mice, to determine whether V3 loop-specific antibody could be induced. The peptide elicited potent 19-33-specific proliferation in T cells isolated from draining lymph nodes, and in six of six mice anti-V3 loop antibody was elicited. Further, V3 loop/19-33-primed animals made significant levels of antibody that bound rgp120. These data suggest that, when a major T cell epitope is synthesized in tandem with the V3 loop, a significant immune response against the loop can be elicited. Thus, given the finding that neutralizing antibody may play a role in the control and/or prevention of HIV infection, an HIV vaccine composed of a T cell epitope-containing peptide may prove effective. In addition, this type of approach can be generalized to the design of peptide-based vaccines.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1992

Cytotoxic T lymphocytes from HIV-1 seropositive individuals recognize immunodominant epitopes in Gp160 and reverse transcriptase.

The CTL response to HIV-1 is more vigorous than for any known human pathogen and may be a significant factor in preventing the progression to symptomatic disease. T cell lines, generated by non-specific stimulation with PHA and IL-2, may be reproducibly used to identify HIV-1 isolate-invariant epitopes recognized by the CTL of infected individuals. The CTL response in each of 12 infected individuals to envelope and reverse transcriptase (RT) is dominated by the recognition of one or two viral isolate-invariant epitopes. Seven subjects respond to a single gp160 epitope; three subjects recognize 2 gp160 epitopes. There is a significant increase in recognition of epitopes in the C terminal 104 amino acids of gp41 (p less than 0.002); in fact 40% of the subjects that respond to gp160 recognize the C terminal 20-mer. The CTL-mediated lysis of gp160-expressing targets is MHC restricted, but not all individuals that share the same serologically defined class I-restricting element respond to the same epitope. Recognition of the terminal 20mer is restricted by both A30 and B8. The response to RT in six subjects is distributed over the RT protein. The six subjects recognize four separate regions defined by truncated RT-vaccinia recombinants, but none of the subjects' CTL demonstrate significant recognition of the RT epitope identified in H-2k mice and some humans.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1992

[Clinical and scanning electron microscopic studies on Norwegian scabies infection].

Two typical cases of Norwegian scabies were studied clinically, scanning electron microscopically and histopathologically. Case 1 was a boy with Down's syndrome and case 2 was a man with adult T cell leukemia/lymphoma. Their clinical pictures showed hyperkeratotic plaques and warty crusts on hands, feet, ears, elbows and buttocks. Direct examination of the KOH preparation revealed many embryonated sarcoptic eggs, postpartum egg-shells, fecal pellets, larvae and male and female adult mites. Histopathologic examination showed several burrows inside the thick horny layer. Many sarcoptic egg-shells, mites and fecal pellets were found in the burrows. Psoriasiform hyperplasia and parakeratosis were noted, too. The size and shape of the sarcoptic eggs and the detailed structure of mites and molt were observed by using a scanning electron microscope. Besides, hook-like structures were noted at the tarsi of both forelegs and hindlegs. We suggest that the larvae crawl out from longitudinal openings in the egg-shell by the use of hook-like structures. The mites also used these hook-like structures to make the burrows. Scanning electron microscopy provides a good method to understand the dynamics of these burrowing parasites. It is helpful in illustrating the behavior of the scabies mites in their burrows in Norwegian scabies patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Amino acid sequence of Fel dI, the major allergen of the domestic cat: protein sequence analysis and cDNA cloning.

The complete primary structure of Fel dI (International Union of Immunological Societies nomenclature), the major allergen produced by the domestic cat, Felis domesticus, was determined by protein sequence analysis and cDNA cloning. Protein sequencing of Fel dI from an immunoaffinity-purified extract of house dust revealed that the allergen is composed of two polypeptide chains. Degenerate oligonucleotides derived from the protein sequence were used in polymerase chain reaction amplification of cat salivary gland cDNA to demonstrate that the two chains are encoded by different genes. Chain 1 of Fel dI shares amino acid homology with rabbit uteroglobin, while chain 2 is a glycoprotein with N-linked oligosaccharides.

Allergens↗
PubMed1991

Complete sequence of the allergen Amb alpha II. Recombinant expression and reactivity with T cells from ragweed allergic patients.

This study defines the complete primary structure of Amb alpha II, an important allergen produced by short ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia). The deduced amino acid sequence derived from the cDNA indicates that Amb alpha II shares approximately 65% sequence identity with the Amb alpha I multigene family of allergens. Full-length cDNA encoding Amb alpha I.1 and Amb alpha II have been expressed in E. coli and purified. An in-frame linker encoding polyhistidine has been added to the 5' end of the cDNA to facilitate purification using Ni2+ ion affinity chromatography, yielding greater than 90% pure recombinant protein in a single step. T cells from patients allergic to ragweed proliferate in response to pollen extract as well as purified recombinant Amb alpha I.1 and Amb alpha II. T cell lines established using either Amb alpha I.1 or II as the stimulating Ag exhibit a high level of cross-reactivity to both proteins. This result is entirely consistent with the extensive primary sequence identity shared by these two proteins. These data suggest that allergic humans recognize shared T cell epitopes on these two related molecules.

Allergens↗
PubMed1991

Cloning of Amb a I (antigen E), the major allergen family of short ragweed pollen.

To determine the structure of Amb a I (previously called antigen E), the major allergen from short ragweed, cDNA from pollen was cloned into lambda gt11 and lambda gt10. One of the three distinct clones isolated from the lambda gt11 library by screening with anti-denatured Amb a I antibodies was used to screen both libraries for other Amb a I sequences. Multiple clones were isolated and sequenced and proved to be highly homologous but nonidentical. The clones could be divided into three groups based on sequence similarity, and in accordance with the International Union of Immunological Societies-approved nomenclature (Marsh, D. G., Goodfriend, L., King, T. P., Lowenstein, H., and Platts-Mills, T. A. E. (1986) Bull. WHO 64, 767-770) they have been designated Amb a I.1, Amb a I.2, and Amb a I.3. Clones within a group have greater than 99% identity, and similarity among groups is 85-90% at the nucleotide level. The amino acid sequence of four peptides (isolated from antigen E obtained from the Research Resources Branch of the National Institutes of Health) containing 132 amino acids was identical to one of the clones (Amb a I.1). The presence of multiple naturally occurring isoelectric forms of Amb a I was demonstrated by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and Western blotting. Southern blot analysis demonstrates the presence of multiple Amb a I-related sequences in the ragweed genome. Amb a I is therefore not a single molecule but rather a family of closely related proteins.

Allergens↗
PubMed1979

Determination of individual side-chain conformations, tertiary conformations, and molecular topography of tyrocidine A from scalar coupling constants and chemical shifts.

We report for the decapeptide tyrocidine A: (a) H alpha and H beta chemical shifts and scalar coupling constants for most residues of tyrocidine A in methanol-d4 and dimethyl-d6 sulfoxide (Me2so-d6) and the H alpha and H beta chemical shifts for other residues; (b) scalar coupling constants 3J alpha beta for nine side chains in methanol-d4 but only seven side chains in Me2SO-d6, due to chemical shift degeneracy; the Gln9 and Tyr10 side chains in methanol-d4 were only approximately analyzed; (c) a total spin-spin analysis of Pro5 in Me2SO-d6 and, partly by comparison, also in methanol-d4; (d) conversion of 3J alpha beta values to side-chain conformations for all residues in methanol-d4; comparisons, where possible, led to the conclusion that side-chain conformations are similar in methanol-d4 and Me2SO-d6; (e) an absolute conformational analysis of Pro5 from 3J values and a method of assigning all pro-R,S protons; Pro5 has a Ramachandran B, C2-Cexo-Cendo conformation; (f) chi 1, chi 2 conformations of several aromatic residues based upon proton-chromophore distance measurement from anomalous chemical shifts and Johnson-Bovey diagrams; (g) pro-R and pro-S assignments of H beta's from anomalous chemical shifts, high-temperature dependence of anomalous chemical shifts, and backbone side-chain nuclear Overhauser effects; (h) most tertiary conformations of the whole tyrocidine A molecule possessing residues 4--8 and 10 in highly preferred (ca. 90%) chi 1 conformations, but residues 1--3 and 9 having at least two chi 1 rotamers; (2) description of three topographical regions of the molecule--a hydrophobic region, a flat hydrophilic surface on the other side of the molecule, and a hydrophilic region consisting of two peptide backbone units and the side chains of Asn8, Gln9, and Tyr10; (j) proposed side chain, beta-turn, and beta-pleated sheet conformations that readily account for all "normal" and anomalous chemical shifts.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1978

The quantitation of nuclear Overhauser effect methods for total conformational analysis of peptides in solution. Application to gramicidin S.

The [1H:1H] nuclear Overhauser effects (NOE's) and spin-lattice relaxation times (T1's) are reported for the backbone protons of the decapeptide gramicidin S. Several methods for calculating interproton distances from these measurements are presented. Ratios of interproton distances were obtained from [1H:1H] NOE's and from the combination of [1H:1H]NOE'S and T1 values. Actual proton-proton distances were calculated from these ratios either by using the known distance between two geminal protons or distances derived from scalar coupling constants. The interproton distances calculated for gramicidin S are consistent with a II' beta-turn/antiparallel beta-sheet conformation.

Gramicidin↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Clinical use of single-dose surfactant TA therapy for premature infants with severe respiratory distress syndrome.

A single dose of surfactant TA was given as rescue therapy to four small premature infants with severe respiratory distress syndrome requiring mechanical ventilation. Birth weights ranged from 810 to 1200 gm. The dose of 100-120 mg/kg was given at the mean age of 5 hours, with range of 3 to 7 hours. Following surfactant therapy, there was a significant improvement (p < 0.05) in a/APO2 (raising from 0.11 +/- 0.05 before treatment to 0.34 +/- 0.19 at 6 hours after treatment). There was also a significant reduction in the severity of respiratory distress syndrome at 24 hours post-therapy. One baby died of sepsis at 40 hours of life; one survived without complications. The other two cases developed severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia later. We concluded that early use of exogenous surfactant is beneficial in small premature infants with severe respiratory distress syndrome.

Female↗