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O Jarrett

Publications and source records attributed to O Jarrett.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Comparative studies of the efficacy of a recombinant feline leukaemia virus vaccine.

The efficacy of three feline leukaemia virus (FeLV) vaccines was compared. Kittens were immunised with either a recombinant subunit vaccine, Leucogen, or one of two inactivated virus vaccines, Leukocell 2 or Leucat. On subsequent challenge by intraperitoneal inoculation of FeLV of subgroup A (FeLV-A), only Leucogen gave significant protection. In a second experiment, kittens vaccinated with Leucogen were protected against oronasal challenge with a phenotypic mixture of FeLV of subgroups A, B and C. These results indicate that a recombinant vaccine, containing only the protein moiety of the surface glycoprotein of FeLV-A, can provide better protection than the inactivated virus vaccines tested against challenge with virus of the same subgroup, and can also protect against challenge by all three subgroups of FeLV.

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Suppression of virus burden by immunization with feline immunodeficiency virus Env protein.

Whole inactivated virus (WIV) vaccines derived from the FLA cell line protect cats against challenge with feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV). To discover whether the protective effects of WIV could be reproduced by the isolated Env component, either WIV or immunoaffinity-purified FIV gp120 from the FL4 cell line was administered to cats. Although both vaccines induced high levels of virus neutralizing antibodies, purified Env was much less effective than WIV in protecting cats against viraemia. However, reduced virus load in PBMCs was evident in all Env-immunized cats compared to controls. Analyses of antibody responses to bacterial expression products of FIV Env, which were high in Env-immunized cats but low in animals receiving the WIV vaccine, suggested that the partially denatured, monomeric Env induces a less effective antiviral immune response than WIV. Hence, the superior immunogenicity of WIV may be due to the presentation of the native oligomeric structure of Env on virions.

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Immunogenicity of a peptide from a major neutralising determinant of the feline immunodeficiency virus surface glycoprotein.

The third variable region (V3) of the feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) surface glycoprotein is predicted to have similar physical properties to that of HIV and has been shown to contain immunodominant and neutralizing epitopes. Immunological characteristics of this region were investigated further using a peptide corresponding to the middle of the putative FIV V3 loop. The peptide was recognized in ELISA by sera from the majority of naturally FIV-infected cats, and absorbed a significant fraction of the virus neutralizing activity from a pool of sera of cats naturally infected with FIV, confirming the immunogenic nature of this region. A sheep immunized with an octameric form of the peptide (multiple antigenic peptide; MAP) in Freund's complete adjuvant generated neutralizing antibody to a higher titre than infected cats. However, immunization of cats with the same MAP in an acceptable adjuvant formulation (Quil A) induced antibody and cytotoxic T-cell responses to the immunizing peptides but only minimal neutralizing activity. These responses did not significantly alter the kinetics of infection or the proviral load after challenge with a homologous strain of FIV, compared with naive controls. While the potential efficacy of peptide vaccines to lentiviruses remains to be determined, this study shows that the immune response evoked may be highly dependent on the delivery and adjuvant regime used.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

A longitudinal study of feline immunodeficiency virus-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes in experimentally infected cats, using antigen-specific induction.

The evolution of the virus-specific cytotoxic T-lymphocyte response in two cats experimentally infected with feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) was monitored. Effector cells were derived from peripheral blood lymphocytes during the acute and chronic phases of infection (0 to 21 and 62 to 127 weeks, respectively) and from the spleen and lymph nodes at 127 weeks after infection. Lymphocytes were restimulated in vitro with paraformaldehyde-fixed, autologous lymphoblasts which had been infected with recombinant vaccinia viruses expressing FIV GAG or ENV proteins. Unstimulated lymphocytes were also used as effectors in some assays. 51Cr-labelled autologous skin fibroblasts infected with recombinant vaccinia viruses were used as targets. FIV GAG-specific cytotoxic precursors were detected in restimulated circulating lymphocytes during acute infection in both cats. The onset of this activity was as early as 2 weeks postinfection (p.i.) in one cat. From 62 weeks p.i. neither FIV GAG- nor ENV-specific precursors could be detected in the peripheral blood. However, at 127 weeks p.i., GAG- and ENV-specific cytotoxic precursors were detected in lymphocytes isolated from lymph nodes. The FIV-specific cytotoxic cells were predominantly major histocompatibility complex class I restricted. No cytotoxic activity was detected from unstimulated lymphocytes. These studies demonstrate the use of an assay system for dissecting the FIV-specific cytotoxic cell response and show that precursor cells appear in the circulation very early after infection and prior to a detectable antibody response. Our results also suggest that the persistent high-level circulating antiviral cytotoxic T-lymphocyte responses seen in human immunodeficiency virus-infected humans may not be a feature of FIV infections in cats.

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Histologic classification and immunophenotype of lymphosarcomas in cats with naturally and experimentally acquired feline immunodeficiency virus infections.

Lymphosarcoma (malignant lymphoma) is the commonest hematopoietic tumor in the cat. Many cases are associated with feline leukemia virus (FeLV) infection, but epidemiologic and experimental data suggest that feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) may also have a role in lymphomagenesis. In this paper, we describe the clinical presentation, histologic classification, and immunophenotype of lymphosarcoma in eight domestic cats with natural or experimental FIV infections. The tumors were often of unusual distribution, with the majority of cases conforming to the least common anatomic classification of "miscellaneous." Histopathologic and immunophenotypic analysis using a panel of anti-cat and cross-reactive anti-human monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies identified seven of these tumors as high-grade B cell lymphomas of the centroblastic or immunoblastic subtypes. The remaining case was a T-cell tumor associated with a concurrent FeLV infection. Our findings, together with the results of an analysis of FIV proviral DNA in these tumors, indicate that the B-cell lymphosarcomas were comparable to those observed in human and simian immunodeficiency virus infections and that the role of FIV in lymphomagenesis is indirect and related to the potential for malignant transformation during polyclonal B cell activation.

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Molecular analysis of tumours from feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV)-infected cats: an indirect role for FIV?

Five tumours, which arose in cats naturally or experimentally infected with feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), were examined with molecular probes to establish tumour cell lineage and to screen for integrated viral sequences. Three of the tumours were classed as B-cell lymphomas on the basis of morphology, immunocytochemistry, rearrangement of immunoglobulin heavy chain genes and lack of rearrangement of T-cell receptor (TCR) beta-chain genes. Two of these B-cell tumours arose in specific pathogen-free (SPF) cats experimentally infected with FIV. One case of multi-centric lymphosarcoma came from a cat naturally infected with both FIV and feline leukaemia virus (FeLV). This tumour contained integrated FeLV proviral sequences and was judged to be of T-cell origin on the basis of TCR gene rearrangement. The fifth case was a mast cell tumour. Rearrangement of the c-myc locus was not found in any of the FIV-associated tumours but was shown to be present in a rare immunoblastic B-cell lymphoma which arose in an uninfected SPF cat. None of the FIV-associated tumours showed evidence of integrated FIV sequences by Southern blot hybridisation, despite isolation of infectious virus from in vitro cultures of tumour cells in I case. These results confirm that FIV-associated tumours can occur in the absence of FeLV and suggest that the role of FIV in lymphomagenesis is generally indirect.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Prevalence of specific anti-Cryptosporidium IgG, IgM and IgA antibodies in cat sera using an indirect immunofluorescence antibody test.

Sera from 258 healthy and sick domestic and feral cats were screened for specific anti-Cryptosporidium antibodies using an indirect immunofluorescence antibody test (IFA). Sera were positive for IgG, IgM and IgA antibodies in 192 (74%), 84 (32%) and 67 (26%) samples, respectively. Antibody was not detected at dilutions of 1:10 and 1:20 or greater in any of eight specific pathogen-free kittens. IgM and IgA antibody classes were more prevalent in sick than in healthy domestic cats. The presence of IgM and/or IgA antibodies indicated early infection. However, these antibody classes were present in sera from cats either positive or negative for Cryptosporidium infection by faecal examination. Pronounced polar fluorescence was observed in the sporozoites in positive samples under fluorescence microscopy. The higher prevalence of specific anti-Cryptosporidium antibodies and the absence of Cryptosporidium oocysts in faecal samples from some IFA-positive animals suggests that detection of these antibodies in sera from cats could be helpful for the diagnosis of feline cryptosporidiosis.

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Involvement of gag- and env-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes in protective immunity to feline immunodeficiency virus.

Definition of the immunological mechanisms involved in protective immunity against lentiviral infections is crucial to the development of an effective vaccine. The induction of gag- and env-specific cell-mediated immune responses was studied in cats following vaccination with whole inactivated feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV). Cats were immunized by inoculation with three doses of paraformaldehyde-inactivated FIV, derived from the feline lymphoid cell line, FL-4, which is persistently infected with the Petaluma isolate of FIV. Autologous or allogeneic skin fibroblasts either infected with recombinant FIV gag- or env-vaccinia virus or pulsed with FIV env peptides were used as targets in chromium-51 release assays. Effector cells were fresh peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Following the third immunization, all vaccinated cats, but none of the control cats immunized with adjuvant alone, had detectable FIV env-specific lymphocytotoxicity in their peripheral blood. Two cats also exhibited gag-specific activity. There was no recognition of either allogeneic skin fibroblasts infected with recombinant vaccinia virus or autologous target cells infected with wild-type vaccinia virus, indicating the specificity and MHC-restricted nature of the response. Vaccinated cats, but not control cats, were protected from challenge with the homologous Petaluma isolate of FIV. Partial epitope mapping of the env-specific cytotoxic response was performed using overlapping 10-amino acid peptides from the env V3 domain of FIV. This response appeared to be directed at env peptide 1 (RAISSWKQRN) and env peptide 3 (QRNRWEWRPD), which lie adjacent to a beta-turn within the V3 domain.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Protection against homologous but not heterologous challenge induced by inactivated feline immunodeficiency virus vaccines.

Whole inactivated virus vaccines from the FL4 cell line protected against challenge with homologous feline immunodeficiency virus (Petaluma strain) but not against a heterologous FIV isolate (GL-8) which is distinct from the Petaluma strain in virus neutralization. Protection was associated with a type-specific neutralizing antibody response and was retained when the challenge virus was propagated in an unrelated cell line.

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Induction of feline immunodeficiency virus-specific cell-mediated and humoral immune responses following immunization with a multiple antigenic peptide from the envelope V3 domain.

Cytotoxic T-cell determinants should be an important component of a vaccine against feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV). Epitope mapping studies have revealed an immunodominant neutralization epitope within the third variable (V3) domain of the viral envelope glycoprotein comprizing 17 amino acids (residues 390-406: RAISSWKQRNRWEWRPD). We have investigated the induction of FIV-specific cytotoxicity and anti-peptide antibody in cats immunized with a multiple antigenic peptide (MAP) containing this epitope. Virus-specific lymphocytotoxicity was determined using autologous or allogeneic skin fibroblasts as target cells labelled with chromium-51 and pulsed with overlapping 10 amino acid peptides. Cytotoxic effector cells derived from fresh peripheral blood were detected in five out of 10 immunized cats. The cell-mediated immune response appeared to be directed to envelope peptide 1 (RAISSWKQRN) and peptide 2 (SWKQRNRWEW), with recognition of peptide 3 (QRNRWEWRPD) in only one cat. An antibody response to the 17 amino acid peptide immunogen was detected in seven immunized cats, which was directed to envelope peptides 2 and 3. These results suggest that different epitopes may be recognized by the cell-mediated and humoral immune responses. None of the cats was protected from challenge with the Glasgow8 isolate of FIV (FIV/GL-8). This study has implications for vaccine strategies using synthetic peptides to induce virus-specific cell-mediated immune responses.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Cytokine production by cats infected with feline immunodeficiency virus: a longitudinal study.

The immune responsiveness of cats naturally or experimentally infected with feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) was studied. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from naturally infected, symptomatic animals displayed depressed proliferation and interleukin-2 (IL-2) production in response to mitogens, which was accompanied by a significant increase in IL-1, IL-6 and tumour necrosis factor (TNF) production. Longitudinal studies were performed over a period of 4 years in experimentally infected animals. The responses of cells from these cats to concanavalin A (Con A) were consistently less than those from uninfected cats throughout the period but, owing to variation between cats, were significantly lower on only a few occasions. By contrast, the responses of cells to pokeweed mitogen (PWM) were severely affected and declined progressively throughout the 4-year period. In general, responses to Con A but not PWM could be restored by the addition of exogenous IL-2. The decline in immune responsiveness was concurrent with a decline in feline (f)CD4+ cells and an inversion in the CD4:CD8 ratio. Peak production of IL-1, IL-6 and TNF coincided with periods of depressed immune responses. Additionally, immunodeficient responses and elevated levels of proinflammatory cytokines were concurrent with the presence of clinical signs. We conclude that, like human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), FIV infection results in significant perturbation of the immune response. Responses to PWM appear to correlate with disease progression which suggests that the CD3 pathway is affected in the earlier stages of the disease and that additional activation pathways such as CD2 may not be affected until the animal enters the acquired immune deficient syndrome (AIDS) stage of the disease.

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Risk of feline infectious peritonitis in cats naturally infected with feline coronavirus.

A longitudinal survey of 820 cats in 73 households was conducted over a period of 6 years to establish the fate of pet cats that were seropositive after natural exposure to feline coronavirus (FCoV). In particular, their risk of developing feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) was determined. The seropositive cats were assigned to 1 of 3 groups: cats from households in which FIP had recently been diagnosed; cats from households in which FIP had not been diagnosed, but from which kittens had been relocated and subsequently died of FIP; and cats from households in which FIP had not been diagnosed. Cats in the first group were not at greater risk of developing FIP than were cats in the other 2 groups. Consequently, any household in which seropositive cats live must be considered a potential source of FCoV that can cause FIP. There was no evidence that the enhanced disease, which has been described after experimentally induced infection of seropositive cats, exists in nature. Thus, analysis of the survival of the seropositive cats over periods of up to 36 months indicated that their risk of developing FIP decreased with time, suggesting the development of immunity rather than increased susceptibility to disease. In addition, of 56 cats deemed to have been naturally reinfected because their anti-FCoV antibody titers decreased and subsequently increased, only 3 developed FIP.

Animal Feed↗

Relationship among Lewis phenotype, clotting factors, and other cardiovascular risk factors in young adults.

An increased risk of ischemic heart disease has been reported in men with the Lewis blood group phenotype Le(a-b-). We have investigated the relationship between Lewis phenotype and cardiovascular risk factors in 1714 participants in the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults Study, an ongoing investigation on life-styles and evolution of cardiovascular risk factors. No significant differences were observed among Lewis phenotypes for body mass index, blood lipid levels, blood pressure, or clotting factors VII and fibrinogen. However, in white men with blood groups A, B, or AB, and the Le(a-b-) phenotype, significantly higher levels of factor VIII (p < 0.01) and von Willebrand factor (p < 0.03) were observed than in those with other Lewis phenotypes (Le[a+b-] or Le[a-b+]). Two-way analysis of variance indicated a significant interaction between blood group and Lewis phenotype (p = 0.0053) in terms of relationship to factor VIII. A similar trend was observed in black men with blood type A, B, or AB, and phenotype Le(a-b-) for factor VII/von Willebrand factor and in women with blood type A, B, or AB, and phenotype Le(a-b-) for factor VIII. Our data suggest that the Le(a-b-) phenotype and blood groups A, B, and AB, by virtue of their association with raised levels of factor VIII and von Willebrand factor, may be risk markers for future atherothrombotic disease.

ABO Blood-Group System↗

The generation of monoclonal antibodies recognising novel epitopes by immunisation with solid matrix antigen-antibody complexes reveals a polymorphic determinant on feline CD4.

Monoclonal antibodies were generated against the feline homologue of CD4 (fCD4) by immunisation of mice with solid matrix antigen-antibody complexes of monoclonal antibody Fel7 (anti-fCD4) and formalin-fixed Staphylococcus A (SMAA-fCD4). The resulting fusion produced nine monoclonal antibodies each of which recognised a major population of feline lymphocytes and which immunoprecipitated a 55 kDa ligand from the feline T lymphosarcoma cell line 3201. Epitope mapping of the antibodies against soluble fCD4 by surface plasmon resonance indicated that the antibodies recognised five separate epitopes distinct from that defined by the Fel7 antibody used to prepare the SMAA-fCD4. These data demonstrate that SMAA complexes are an efficient means of generating monoclonal antibodies recognising novel epitopes on an antigen. One monoclonal antibody (vpg39) recognised an epitope that was expressed variably between cats, being either present or completely absent. Analysis of peripheral blood lymphocytes from specific pathogen free cats suggested that failure to react with the vpg39 antibody was an inherited trait.

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