PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

S Günther

Publications and source records attributed to S Günther.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

Familial clustering of HBV pre-C and pre-S mutants.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Little is known about the persistence and risk of infection with hepatitis B viruses (HBV) containing mutations in the pre-C and pre-S region. The aim of this study was to study the long-term persistence and the risk of intrafamilial spreading of these variants. METHODS: Serological markers were analyzed immunologically and pre-C and pre-S sequences of HBV DNA in sera from several members of five families by DNA amplification and direct sequencing. RESULTS: In most HBV-DNA positive individuals of each family, either the dominant HBV population or a subpopulation had a stop codon in the pre-C region which prevented expression of e-antigen. The pre-S region of the dominant virus populations of 8/15 HBV-DNA positive sera showed different deletions or a pre-S2 translation initiation codon mutation in addition to various point mutations. Selection for pre-C and pre-S mutant viruses from a predominant "wildtype" virus population was observed in three individuals during the natural course of infection. Persistence of a pre-C/pre-S double mutant virus as a stable strain for 6 years was found in one patient. CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate extensive intrafamilial clustering of HBV variants with mutations in the pre-C and pre-S regions due to patient-specific selection mechanisms and long-term persistence of some mutants as stable strains. The type of viruses found suggests that occasionally virus subpopulations are selectively transmitted or become a dominant virus population after selection.

Cluster Analysis↗
PubMed1997

Hepatitis B virus sequence changes evolving in liver transplant recipients with fulminant hepatitis.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Patients undergoing liver transplantation for hepatitis B virus (HBV) related liver cirrhosis are at major risk of developing HBV recurrence, and occasionally fulminant hepatitis. Here we tested in a longitudinal study whether specific viral variants are associated with fulminant HBV infection in the graft. METHODS: The complete HBV genomes isolated from the sera of three patients with HBV and HBV and hepatitis delta virus (HDV) coinfection during chronic infection before and during fulminant reinfection after transplantation were amplified and directly sequenced. RESULTS: Twenty, 25 and 19 mutations, distributed over the entire genome, were identified which differed between the HBV genomes isolated from each patient during chronic and fulminant infection, respectively. This reflects a much higher rate of nucleotide sequence changes than expected from the natural variation of HBV. No common HBV mutation emerged in any of the three cases during fulminant infection. However, precore defective viruses were found to be present in all three patients at the time of fulminant infection and in two of the patients before fulminant infection. Two of the patients had preS2-defective HBVs both before and after transplantation. A point mutation in the 'a'-determinant of the surface protein emerged in one case after transplantation under treatment with polyclonal HBV specific immunoglobulins. CONCLUSIONS: Many new, but no specific common mutations emerged during fulminant HBV reinfection. Although HBeAg defective variants were found in all cases studied, the presence of these variants also during chronic infection in two cases demonstrates that they are not sufficient to cause fulminant hepatitis. Thus, other factors than the emergence of a specific viral strain seem to contribute to the development of fulminant reinfection in a liver graft.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Maltitol and maltobionate act differently on maltose- and maltooligosaccharide hydrolysis by human small intestinal glucoamylase-maltase indicating two different enzyme binding modes.

The hydrolysis of maltose and maltotriose at the same catalytic site of glucoamylase-maltase has been demonstrated. Maltitol acts as a competitive inhibitor, Ki = 69 (+/-10) mM, of the maltose hydrolysis and as a noncompetitive inhibitor of the hydrolysis of maltotriose, Ki = Kii = 29 (+/-4) mM, and maltotetraose, Ki = Kii = 30 (+/-3) mM. Maltobionate was not hydrolyzed by the enzyme and did not influence the maltose hydrolysis. In contrast, in hydrolysis of maltooligosaccharides it acts as an uncompetitive inhibitor. For the hydrolysis of maltotriose, Kii = 25(+/-8) mM, and maltotetraose, Kii = 30(+/-4) mM was found. According to a characteristic of this rare inhibition pattern a simultaneous decrease of the apparent Km and the apparent Vmax of maltooligosaccharide hydrolysis with increasing maltobionate concentrations was observed. We were able to discriminate two different binding modes for glucoamylase-maltase. Maltitol binds to the free enzyme (maltose binding mode) as well as to the maltooligosaccharide-enzyme complex, whereas maltobionate binds only to the oligosaccharide-enzyme complex (oligosaccharide binding mode). This could be shown by the different inhibition behaviors of maltitol and maltobionate depending on the substrate: maltose or maltooligosaccharides.

Binding Sites↗
PubMed1996

Hepatitis B virus genomes of patients with fulminant hepatitis do not share a specific mutation.

The pathogenesis of fulminant hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is not well understood. The aim of this study was to investigate whether there is an association between specific viral variants and a fulminant disease course. The entire HBV genomes from the serum of eight patients with fulminant HBV infection and one patient with fulminant hepatitis during reinfection after liver transplantation were investigated. After isolation and amplification of viral DNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), plus and minus strands were directly sequenced. Sequence data were analyzed by comparative sequence alignments with 35 and 2 complete HBV genome sequences from patients without and with fulminant hepatitis, respectively. Several point mutations were present in all regions of the genomes. Many nucleotide changes had never or rarely been found in the reported HBV isolates from patients without fulminant hepatitis. A distinct mutation present in all genomes was not identified. Clusters of rare and unique mutations were observed in the enhancer II core promoter region. Mutations previously suggested to be associated with fulminant HBV infection were not consistently found. A precore stop codon mutation at nucleotide position 1896 or an A-to-T mutation at nucleotide position 1762 and a G-to-A mutation at nucleotide position 1764 in the core promoter region were present in four and three cases, respectively. Fulminant HBV infection does not appear to be caused by a specific genomic mutation. However, various mutations clustering in the enhancer II core promoter region may contribute to a fulminant disease course.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Accumulation and persistence of hepatitis B virus core gene deletion mutants in renal transplant patients are associated with end-stage liver disease.

In renal transplant recipients, chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection often leads to cirrhosis and liver failure. In this study, we investigated whether or not in these patients viral variants would emerge despite immunosuppression, and whether they are associated with a specific course of liver disease. In a population of 552 renal transplant recipients hepatitis B 24 surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive patients were available for a 2-year follow-up. By polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and DNA sequencing, HBV genomes with deletions in the middle of the core gene (C-gene) were found in 9 out of the 24 patients. Seven of the 9 patients (group I) showed either persistent or increasing amounts of these variants; all patients had cirrhosis, and 5 died of end-stage liver disease. The viral variants emerged at least 1 year before liver failure. In 2 out of the 9 patients, the core deletion variants disappeared, and no further deterioration of the liver function was observed thereafter. In the remaining 15 patients (group II) without deletion mutants detected at any time, only 3 had cirrhosis (P < .001, group I vs. II), and none died (P < .001). Between both groups, there were no statistically significant differences in the other relevant variables that were examined. These results indicate that HBV C-gene deletion mutants can accumulate in long-term immunosuppressed patients, and that their persistence is associated with progressive liver disease. The accumulation of these variants may be caused by the development of cirrhosis or could be involved in hepatopathogenesis.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1996

Population data for the STR systems HumTH01, HumVWA and FES/FPS in a population sample from lower Franconia.

Population data studies for the three tetranucleotide STR systems HumTH01, HumVWA and FES/ FPS were carried out on a Caucasian population sample from Lower Franconia (Germany). The observed heterozygosities were 0.83, 0.80 and 0.73, respectively, and the discrimination power of the triplex was 0.9995. All loci were in accordance with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium tested using the chi 2-analysis.

Alleles↗
PubMed1996

Hepatitis B virus variants with core gene deletions in the evolution of chronic hepatitis B infection.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Genomic variants of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) with core gene deletions have been identified in patients with chronic active hepatitis B, but the significance of these mutations in the course of chronic HBV infection remains unknown. The aim of this study was to longitudinally analyze the changes of HBV core gene deletion variants under the enhanced immune pressure of interferon alfa treatment and hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) to antibody to hepatitis B e antigen (anti-HBe) seroconversion. METHODS: HBV precore/core gene was amplified in 358 serum samples from 67 chronic HBV carriers (all HBeAg-positive) followed up for a period of 2-11 years. The core gene deletions were analyzed by gel electrophoresis, cloning, and DNA sequencing. RESULTS: HBV mutants with core gene deletions (37-250 base pairs) were detected in patients with long-standing HBV replication and ongoing hepatic inflammation, always together with the wild-type strain. They were associated with a significantly lower level of viremia and a high rate of seroconversion to anti-HBe. Core gene deletion mutants were preferentially eliminated after seroconversion, in contrast to the accumulation of HBV strains with a precore stop codon. CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate that HBV variants with core gene deletions may inhibit HBV replication, do not persist in preference of the wild-type HBV under enhanced immune pressure, and do not confer resistance to interferon alfa treatment.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Type, prevalence, and significance of core promoter/enhancer II mutations in hepatitis B viruses from immunosuppressed patients with severe liver disease.

Little is known about the functional significance of hepatitis B virus (HBV) sequence heterogeneity. Here we analyzed the type, frequency, and function of mutations in the core promoter/enhancer II region of HBV in immunosuppressed patients. The major HBV population in immunosuppressed patients with severe liver disease had deletions, insertions, and/or base changes in this region. Such mutations were not found in immunosuppressed patients with mild disease. Except for two mutations, all created a hepatocyte nuclear factor 1 (HNF1) binding site or a potential HNF3 binding site. Occasionally, known binding sites for C/EBP and HNF4 were additionally duplicated. Eleven mutated core promoter prototype sequences were functionally tested in the context of a wild-type genome by transfection in Huh7 cells. Despite the diversity of mutations tested, all decreased steady-state levels of pre-C mRNA drastically and increased those of the C mRNA/ pregenomic RNA. This correlated with reduced levels of secreted hepatitis B e antigen and increased intracellular levels of core and Pol proteins and replicative HBV DNA intermediates. The levels of secreted HBV DNA-containing particles were also increased although most of the mutations reduced the levels of pre-S/S mRNA and pre-S1, and pre-S2 proteins as well as secretion of hepatitis B surface antigen. These data reveal a novel class of HBV variants with HNF1 binding sites in the core promoter which are characterized by a defect in hepatitis B e antigen expression, enhanced replication, and altered protein levels, all probably mediated by altered transcription factor binding. The phenotype of these variants and their prevalence only in immunosuppressed patients with severe liver disease may indicate that they play a role in pathogenesis.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1995

Spinal distribution and brainstem projection of lamina I neurons in the pigeon.

Lamina I neurons of the spinal dorsal horn serve nociception both in mammals and in birds. The projection of these neurons to the brain is largely unknown in birds. Injections of retrogradely transported fluorescent tracers into various brainstem nuclei showed that these neurons, which are distributed throughout the spinal cord, heavily project to the nucleus of the solitary tract and the parabrachial area but not to the hypothalamus. Injections into the nucleus of the solitary tract revealed a group of neurons located in Lissauer's tract of thoracic segments. These results point to a functional role of spinal lamina I neurons in avian visceronociception.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Extraction of high quality DNA from bloodstains using diatoms.

A simple method is described for the extraction of high quality DNA for PCR amplification. The DNA was extracted by using Chelex-100 ion exchange resin or a special cell lysis buffer containing proteinase K. For further purification the DNA was bound to silica in the presence of a chaotrophic agent. Hence it is possible to unlimitedly wash the bound DNA and inhibitory substances are removed. By using diatoms as a source of silicates, this method is very economical and can therefore be used as a routine method.

Blood Stains↗
PubMed1995

Determinants of cord-blood IgE concentrations in 6401 German neonates.

For screening atopy risk in 6401 (84%) of all infants born during the year 1990 in six obstetric departments of five German cities, cord-blood IgE values were determined with CAP-RAST-FEIA. After cases with elevated IgA values had been excluded, 25% of the values were above the detection limit of 0.35 kU/l, and 8.5% were above 0.9 kU/l. Boys had significantly higher values than girls (P < 0.001). The distribution of values was significantly different for different nationalities of mothers (P < 0.001). The percentage of elevated values (> 0.9 kU/l) increased significantly with the number of close family members with atopic history (P < 0.001). Regarding the atopic history of the father, siblings, and mother separately, only the mother's history had a significant association with the cord-blood IgE class (P < 0.001). The IgE values of 81 twin pairs correlated significantly with a coefficient of r = 0.4909 (P < 0.001). The smoking history of the parents during pregnancy showed an association with cord-blood IgE values (P < 0.02). No significant association could be shown between cord-blood IgE distribution and other variables, i.e., gestational age, birth size, birth modus, Apgar score, cord-blood pH value, neonatal problems, parity, age of the mother, medication during pregnancy, educational level of mother or father, time of year, or obstetric department. It is hypothesized that, in addition to some postpartum contamination or placental transfer of maternal IgE, cord-blood IgE values are also determined by the fetal immunologic reaction to intrauterine exposure to allergens and trigger factors, and by genetic influences.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗
PubMed1995

Temperature dependence of cell-cell fusion induced by the envelope glycoprotein of human immunodeficiency virus type 1.

We investigated cell-cell fusion induced by the envelope glycoprotein of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 strain IIIB expressed on the surface of CHO cells. These cells formed syncytia when incubated together with CD4-positive human lymphoblastoid SupT1 cells or HeLa-CD4 cells but not when incubated with CD4-negative cell lines. A new assay for binding and fusion was developed by using fluorescent phospholipid analogs that were produced in SupT1 cells by metabolic incorporation of BODIPY-labeled fatty acids. Fusion occurred as early as 10 min after mixing of labeled SupT1 cells with unlabeled CHO-gp160 cells at 37 degrees C. When both the fluorescence assay and formation of syncytia were used, fusion of SupT1 and HeLa-CD4 cells with CHO-gp160 cells was observed only at temperatures above 25 degrees C, confirming recent observations (Y.-K. Fu, T.K. Hart, Z.L. Jonak, and P.J. Bugelski, J. Virol. 67:3818-3825, 1993). This temperature dependence was not observed with influenza virus-induced cell-cell fusion, which was quantitatively similar at both 20 and 37 degrees C, indicating that cell-cell fusion in general is not temperature dependent in this range. gp120-CD4-specific cell-cell binding was found over the entire 0 to 37 degrees C range but increased markedly above 25 degrees C. The enhanced binding and fusion were reduced by cytochalasins B and D. Binding of soluble gp120 to CD4-expressing cells was equivalent at 37 and 16 degrees C. Together, these data indicate that during gp120-gp41-induced syncytium formation, initial cell-cell binding is followed by a cytoskeleton-dependent increase in the number of gp120-CD4 complexes, leading to an increase in the avidity of cell-cell binding. The increased number of gp120-CD4 complexes is required for fusion, which suggests that the formation of a fusion complex consisting of multiple CD4 and gp120-gp41 molecules is a step in the fusion mechanism.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

A novel method for efficient amplification of whole hepatitis B virus genomes permits rapid functional analysis and reveals deletion mutants in immunosuppressed patients.

Current knowledge of hepatitis B virus (HBV) sequence heterogeneity is based mainly on sequencing of amplified subgenomic HBV fragments. Here, we describe a method which allows sensitive amplification and simplified functional analysis of full-length HBV genomes with or without prior cloning. By this method, a large number of HBV genomes were cloned from sera of six immunosuppressed kidney transplant patients. Two size classes of HBV genomes, one 3.2 kb and another about 2.0 kb in size, were found in all patients. The genome population from one serum sample was studied in detail by size analysis of subgenomic PCR fragments and sequencing. Regions with deletions and insertions were mapped in the C gene and pre-S region. Up to 100% of HBV genomes in all other immunosuppressed patients also had deletions in the C gene. Our results demonstrate the potential of the established method for the structural and functional characterization of heterogeneous populations of complete virion-encapsidated HBV DNAs and suggest that HBV genomes with C gene deletions can have a selective advantage in immunosuppressed patients.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1995

Human small intestinal sucrase-isomaltase: different binding patterns for malto- and isomaltooligosaccharides.

The hydrolysis of maltose and isomaltose and of sucrose and isomaltose at two different catalytic sites of sucrase-isomaltase has been demonstrated. Maltose and sucrose are competing for the same catalytic center. This competing can be described by alternative substrate kinetics. Steady-state kinetic parameters Km and k0 (maximal reaction velocity per mol enzyme) for linear alpha-1,4 and alpha-1,6 glucosyloligosaccharides has been determined. Using these parameters subsite affinities for the catalytic sites of sucrase and isomaltase were computed. The different numbers of subsites for sucrase (2 subsites) and isomaltase (4 subsites) indicate, that the binding patterns for maltooligosaccharides and isomaltooligosaccharides are different. That means that for sucrase unproductive enzyme-maltooligosaccharide complexes are definitely less probable than the productive one. As in human small intestinal glucoamylase-maltase in the isomaltase moiety four subsites can be evaluated with affinity values (Ai): A1 = 2.6 (+/- 0.91), A2 = 13.8 (+/- 0.70), A3 = 1.1 (+/- 0.13) and A4 = 1.5 (+/- 0.13) kJ/mol using isomaltooligosaccharides. The two subsites of sucrase are evaluated to be A1 = 4.9 (+/- 0.70) and A2 = 16.7 (+/- 0.51) kJ/mol using maltooligosaccharides. The four subsite model for isomaltase and glucoamylase-maltase is an indication that these two enzymes are mechanistically homologous in binding linear glucosyl-oligosaccharides.

Catalysis↗
PubMed1995

Structure and selection of hepatitis B virus variants during the natural course of infection and interferon therapy.

The consequences of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection range from asymptomatic transient and chronic infections to mild and severe forms of hepatitis up to the development of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Immune-mediated destruction of infected liver cells plays a major role in HBV pathogenesis. Escape from immune-recognition by changing the antigenic make-up of HBV or by preventing the expression of some viral proteins leads to the emergence of viral variants. Variants can harbor mutations in the pre-core/core gene (pre C/C) or the preS/S gene, either of which can play a role in immune escape, viral persistence, and pathogenesis. A novel method has been developed to facilitate identification and functional analysis of full-length variant genomes of HBV, with implications for HBV diagnosis and therapy.

Genetic Variation↗