Bovine adenovirus type 3 E1B(small) protein is essential for growth in bovine fibroblast cells

In order to study the function of bovine adenovirus type 3 (BAV-3) E1A and E1B(small) proteins, we constructed two mutants: (a) BAV102A carries an in-frame deletion in the coding region for the E1A protein (nt 831-1080); (b) BAV102B carries an insertion of triple stop codons in the E1B region (nt 1654, 178 bp downstream of the E1B(small) start codon), which stops the translation of the E1B(small) gene. BAV102A virus could grow to the wild-type BAV-3 titer in transformed cell line VIDO R2 (HAV-5 E1 transformed) cells, but no progeny virus could be found in fetal bovine retina cells (FBRC). RT-PCR and Western blot analysis showed that neither mRNA transcripts nor protein expression of early genes [E1B(small) and DNA binding protein (DBP)] could be detected in BAV102A infected FBRC. The BAV102B grew 1.5 log less than wild-type BAV-3 in FBRC; however, no BAV102B progeny virus could be observed in bovine fibroblast (BFB) cells. No appreciable difference was observed in DBP transcript synthesis between wild-type BAV-3- or BAV102B-infected FBRC. However, compared to wild-type BAV-3, BAV102B viral DNA synthesis and fiber gene expression were found to be slightly reduced in FBRC. In contrast, compared to wild-type BAV-3, DBP transcripts and viral DNA synthesis were drastically reduced in BAV102B-infected BFB cells. In addition, no fiber gene expression could be detected in BAV102B-infected BFB cells. These results suggest that BAV-3 E1A is essential for virus replication and is required for activating the transcription of other BAV-3 early genes. However, the requirement for E1B(small) protein for BAV-3 replication appears to be cell type-dependent.

Noninvasive/invasive correlates of exaggerated ventricular interdependence in cardiac tamponade

Ventricular interdependence is that property of the normal heart such that distension of one ventricle alters the distensibility and filling pressure of the other. This phenomenon coupled with reciprocal changes in right and left heart venous return during normal quiet respiration results in minor decreases in left ventricular stroke volume, systolic blood pressure, pulse pressure, total electromechanical systole (Q-A2), left ventricular ejection time and mitral e-wave velocity during inspiration and minor increases in these parameters during expiration. Opposite changes in these parameters occur in the right heart with increases occurring during inspiration and decreases during expiration. Exaggerated ventricular interdependence occurs in cardiac tamponade when the pericardial constraint limits the total contents in the pericardial sac. This, together with the decreased effective left ventricular filling pressure which occurs during inspiration, is responsible for the exaggerated decrease in stroke volume, blood pressure, pulse pressure, left ventricular ejection time and mitral e-wave velocity in this condition. These observations, together with the echocardiographic findings of right atrial collapse, right ventricular collapse, and inferior vena cava plethora constitute the noninvasive diagnosis of pericardial tamponade. The utility of these noninvasive tests in detecting both the presence and degree of increased pericardial pressure was evaluated in 33 invasively studied patients with pericardial effusion. In Group 1 (n = 13) intrapericardial pressure was elevated but less than both right atrial pressure and pulmonary wedge pressure, in Group 2 (n = 10) intrapericardial pressure equaled right atrial pressure but was less than pulmonary wedge pressure, and in Group 3 (n = 10) intrapericardial pressure equaled right atrial pressure and pulmonary wedge pressure. From these data it is concluded that right atrial and right ventricular collapse are highly sensitive techniques for predicting increased intrapericardial pressure in all three groups, but fail to predict the level of intrapericardial pressure and the severity of hemodynamic compromise. However, the absence of inferior vena cava plethora helped separate Group 1 patients from Groups 2 and 3 patients, thereby aiding in distinguishing a group of patients with severe hemodynamic derangement requiring urgent intervention. Exaggerated reciprocal changes in mitral and tricuspid e-wave velocity is a very sensitive finding for increased intrapericardial pressure. However, its presence correlates poorly with the severity of tamponade. Acute pericardial tamponade is a clinical diagnosis determined by the integration of the history, physical exam and appropriate noninvasive physiologic and imaging techniques.

On the mode of action of methionine enkephalin, FK 33-824 and naloxone in regulating the hemolymph glucose level in the fresh water field crab Oziotelphusa senex senex

The possible involvement of opioid system in the regulation of hemolymph glucose level in the fresh water crab Oziotelphusa senex senex Fabricius, was investigated. Opioid agonist and antagonist was also used in addition to methionine-enkephalin itself. Injection of the opioid, methionine-enkephalin and FK 33-824 significantly elevated hemolymph glucose level. In contrast, injection of naloxone in to crab resulted in decrease in hemolymph glucose level. Injection of naloxone prior to injection of methionine-enkephalin blocked the hyperglycemic action of methionine-enkephalin. Injection of methionine-enkephalin, FK 33824 and naloxone produced no significant effect on hemolymph glucose level in eyestalk-less crab. The alterations in the intact crab hemolymph glucose level hypothesised to be due to stimulation of release of hyperglycemic hormone during methionine-enkephalin and FK 33824 treatment and blocking of release of hyperglycemic hormone during naloxone treatment from the eyestalks of crab Oziotelphusa senex senex.

Changing trends in outcome of typhoid ileal perforations over three decades in Pondicherry

Two hundred and forty eight cases of proved typhoid ileal perforation were admitted and treated in three phases in the department of surgery during 1966-1998. Of these, 71% patients belonged to second and third decades of life. Male female ratio was 4:1. Abdominal pain (100%) fever (95%) and constipation (87%) were the main presenting symptoms. Abdominal guarding and rigidity (84%) were the principal physical signs. Plain radiograph of abdomen showed evidence of pneumoperitoneum in 57% of cases. The Widal test was positive for S. typhi in 74% of cases. Blood and bone marrow culture were positive for S. typhi in 9% and 30% respectively. Histology of the excised edges of perforation confirmed typhoid pathology in 62% of specimens. Many of the patients were treated conservatively in the first phase. In phase two and three vigorous resuscitation and early surgery was resorted to. Simple closure in two layers and wedge resection were the treatment of choice in most of the cases. Bypass, ileostomy and resection were done on few occasions. Chloramphenicol was the only drug used in the first phase. Other broad spectrum antibiotics were added to chloramphenicol with metranidazole in the second phase. Ciprofloxacin and metronidazole were the drugs of choice in the third phase. The mortality rate showed a dramatic improvement from 47.2% (first phase) to 17.7% (second phase) and as low as 7% in the last phase. The lag period (advent of symptoms to time of admission to hospital) showed definite correlation with mortality. Septicemia, wound infection, dehiscence, enterocutaneous fistula were the principal postoperative complications.

Evidence for a hyperglycemic effect of methionine-enkephalin in the prawns Penaeus indicus and Metapenaeus monocerus

The influence of methionine-enkephalin on carbohydrate metabolism of the prawns Penaeus indicus and Metapenaeus monocerus was studied. Injection of the opioid methionine-enkephalin into intact prawns induced significant hyperglycemia in a dose-dependent manner. Total tissue (midgut gland and muscle) carbohydrate and glycogen levels decreased following methionine-enkephalin injection, with a significant activation of phosphorylase in intact prawns, indicating glycogenolysis leading to hyperglycemia. In contrast, injection of methionine-enkephalin into eyestalk-ablated crabs did not affect the levels of hemolymph glucose, total tissue carbohydrates and glycogen, and activity of phosphorylase. These results support an earlier hypothesis for crabs which proposed that methionine-enkephalin acts as a neurotransmitter in crustaceans and stimulates the release of hyperglycemic hormone in inducing hyperglycemia.

The epithelium-specific ETS protein EHF/ESE-3 is a context-dependent transcriptional repressor downstream of MAPK signaling cascades

Exon trapping and cDNA selection procedures were used to search for novel genes at human chromosome 11p13, a region previously associated with loss of heterozygosity in epithelial carcinomas. Using these approaches, we found the ESE-2 and ESE-3 genes, coding for ETS domain-containing transcription factors. These genes lie in close proximity to the catalase gene within a approximately 200-kilobase genomic interval. ESE-3 mRNA is widely expressed in human tissues with high epithelial content, and immunohistochemical analysis with a newly generated monoclonal antibody revealed that ESE-3 is a nuclear protein expressed exclusively in differentiated epithelial cells and that it is absent in the epithelial carcinomas tested. In transient transfections, ESE-3 behaves as a repressor of the Ras- or phorbol ester-induced transcriptional activation of a subset of promoters that contain ETS and AP-1 binding sites. ESE-3-mediated repression is sequence- and context-dependent and depends both on the presence of high affinity ESE-3 binding sites in combination with AP-1 cis-elements and the arrangement of these sites within a given promoter. We propose that ESE-3 might be an important determinant in the control of epithelial differentiation, as a modulator of the nuclear response to mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling cascades.

A family study of juvenile obsessive-compulsive disorder

OBJECTIVES

To determine whether juvenile obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is familial and whether the rate of Tourette syndrome (TS) and tic disorders is higher among relatives of patients with OCD than among relatives of controls subjects.

METHOD

We assessed first-degree relatives of 35 juvenile OCD probands (aged 16 years or less) and 34 matched, psychiatrically unaffected control subjects, using the Diagnostic Interview for Children and Adolescents-Revised (DICA-R) (unpublished), a Questionnaire for tic disorders, the Children's Version of Leyton's Obsessional Inventory (CV-LOI), and the Children's Version of the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (CY-BOCS). Similarly, we assessed adult relatives, using the Schedule for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry (SCAN), Leyton's Obsessional Inventory (LOI), the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS), and a Questionnaire for tic disorders. The diagnoses were determined by consensus, using DSM-III-R criteria. We calculated age-corrected morbid risk, using Weinberg's method.

RESULTS

The morbid risk for OCD among the relatives of OCD probands was 4.96%, while none of the relatives of unaffected control subjects had OCD. We did not diagnose TS in any of the relatives of either OCD probands or control subjects. We diagnosed chronic motor tic disorders in only 1 of the relatives of OCD probands, while none of the relatives of control subjects had any tic disorder.

CONCLUSION

Most juvenile cases of OCD are nonfamilial and unrelated to tic disorders, while only a few are familial. There is a need to re-examine the issue of familiality in cases of OCD, as well as its relation to TS, using larger community samples to better understand the hypotheses of familial transmission and comorbidity with tic disorders.

Evaluation of efficacy and safety of iron polymaltose complex and folic acid (Mumfer) vs iron formulation (ferrous fumarate) in female patients with anaemia

Treatment of iron deficiency anaemia with conventional oral preparations is handicapped by unpredictable haematological response in addition to potential for irritating gastrointestinal adverse events. Iron polymaltose complex (IPC), a novel oral iron formulation with better absorbability, predictable haematinic response and less side effects was compared with oral ferrous fumarate in 100 female patients with documented iron deficiency anaemia. Clinical parameters (pallor, weakness) as well as biochemical parameters (Hb, serum iron, total iron binding capacity) show favourable changes with IPC; the physician and patient assessment also favour IPC over ferrous fumarate.

Involvement of opioid peptides in the regulation of reproduction in the prawn Penaeus indicus

The possible involvement of an endogenous opioid system in the regulation of ovarian development in the prawn Penaeus indicus was investigated. Injection of leucine-enkephalin significantly increased the ovarian index and oocyte diameter in a dose-dependent manner. In contrast, injection of methionine-enkephalin significantly decreased the ovarian index and oocyte diameters. These results provide evidence to support the hypothesis that an opioid system is involved in the regulation of reproduction in crustaceans.

The immunogenicity and efficacy of replication-defective and replication-competent bovine adenovirus-3 expressing bovine herpesvirus-1 glycoprotein gD in cattle

Replication-competent and replication-defective bovine adenovirus type 3 recombinants expressing the bovine herpesvirus type 1 (BHV-1) glycoprotein D (gD) were tested for induction of gD specific immune responses in calves using intratracheal (1st and 2nd immunization) and sub-cutaneous (3rd immunization) route of immunization. The replication-defective recombinant BAV501 induced systemic immune responses against gD as low titers of anti gD-IgG were detected in the serum. However, the efficacy of the replication-competent BAV3.E3gD to induce gD-specific antibodies in the serum and the nasal secretions was superior to that of replication-defective BAV501 when both viruses were given at the same dosage. Partial protection from challenge was induced in calves immunized with replication-competent BAV3.E3gD. A dramatic increase in the titers of anti-gD IgG and IgA levels, both in serum and nasal secretions, following BHV-1 challenge (anamnestic response) suggested that the animals immunized with replication-defective BAV501 had been primed for gD-specific antibody responses.

Optimization of bovine coronavirus hemagglutinin-estrase glycoprotein expression in E3 deleted bovine adenovirus-3

Adenoviral vectors expressing foreign genes have many desirable properties in applications such as vaccination. Recently, we have generated replication-competent (E3 deleted) bovine adenovirus-3 (BAV-3) recombinants expressing significant amounts of glycoprotein D (gD) of bovine herpesvirus-1 (a DNA virus). However, attempts to express the RNA virus genes using the same strategy were not successful. In an effort to optimize the expression, we have constructed several BAV-3 recombinants carrying the hemagglutinin esterase (HE) gene of bovine coronavirus (BCV) in the E3 region with or without exogenous transcription control elements. The expression studies suggest that the introduction of a 137 bp chimeric intron upstream of the HE cDNA is able to increase the level of HE gene expression. The introduction of a SV40 early promoter or human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) immediate early (IE) promoter into the expression cassette changed the kinetics of the HE expression. However, the recombinant BAV-3 containing HE under the HCMV IE promoter replicated less efficiently than the wild-type BAV-3. These studies should prove useful in expression of other RNA viral genes in the E3 region of BAV-3 expression system.

A double-blind placebo-controlled study on prophylactic use of cisapride on feed intolerance and gastric emptying in preterm neonates

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate whether prophylactic use of cisapride will reduce the incidence of feed intolerance and gastro-esophageal reflux, and improve gastric emptying in early neonatal period in preterm babies.

DESIGN

Double blind randomized controlled trial.

SETTING

Hospital based.

SUBJECTS

Forty nine preterm babies between 29-34 weeks of gestation were administered either cisapride or placebo.

METHODS

Babies were enrolled in the study once they reached 30 ml/kg/day of enteral feeding or when 25% of total fluid intake was received through the enteral route. Those with sepsis, congenital malformations and on aminophylline were excluded. The subjects were randomized to receive either cisapride or placebo in a dose of 0.2 mg/kg/dose every 8 hourly for 14 days or till discharge. During the study period babies were observed for clinical signs of feed intolerance as judged by increase in abdominal girth, increased prefeed gastric residuals or vomiting. Gastro-esophageal reflux and gastric emptying time was assessed by Technetium phytate scan on day 7 +/- 1.

RESULTS

Feed intolerance was noticed in 59% of study and 41% of control population. No significant difference was noticed in the two groups in the total number of episodes of feed intolerance (1.54 +/- 2.4 vs 1.18 +/- 1.6). Nearly 50% of babies in each group had gastro-esophageal reflux. Gastric emptying time (mean (SD) and median) was found to be comparable (p = 0.70) in those on drug and placebo (58.1 (32.2 min) 48.8 min) vs (53.8 (34.6 min) 43.4 min).

CONCLUSION

Cisapride does not reduce the incidence of feed intolerance, gastro-esophageal reflux and does not improve gastric emptying in normal preterm neonates.

Comorbidity in juvenile obsessive-compulsive disorder: a report from India

OBJECTIVE

Using minimal exclusion criteria, to assess systematically the psychiatric comorbidity in children and adolescents with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and compare the findings with those of previous studies.

METHOD

Fifty-four children and adolescents who satisfied DSM-III-R criteria for OCD were assessed using a structured interview schedule, the Children's version of the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (CY-BOCS), and the questionnaire for tic disorders. All 54 subjects were recruited from the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (CAP) services of the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore, South India. Diagnoses were determined consensually after a review of all the available data.

RESULTS

Comorbidity was found in 69% of the sample: 22% were diagnosed with disruptive disorders; 20% met criteria for mood disorders; 19% had anxiety disorders; and 17% had tic disorders. Only 1 subject had bipolar disorder, and none had psychosis. The rates for individual diagnoses--in particular, the rates for disruptive disorders, bipolar disorder, and psychosis--were considerably lower than those reported in previous studies.

CONCLUSIONS

Patterns of comorbidity in this study differed from those previously reported. Novel patterns of comorbidity with disruptive disorders, bipolar disorder, and psychosis reported in a few recent studies were not replicated in this study. These differences are probably due to different ascertainment methods. Comorbidity needs to be assessed in large epidemiological samples before definite associations can be made between certain comorbid disorders and juvenile OCD.

Differential formation of octadecadienoic acid and octadecatrienoic acid products in control and injured/infected potato tubers

Lipoxygenases in plants have been implicated in the activation of defense responses against injury/infection. Pathogen-derived polyunsaturated fatty acids, such as arachidonic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid and their metabolites have been shown to elicit defense responses against pathogen infection in plants. However, not much is known about the role of host-derived fatty acids and their metabolites in plant defense responses. In this study, isolation and characterisation of endogenous lipoxygenase metabolites formed in potato tubers in response to injury/infection was undertaken. While 9-hydroperoxyoctadecadienoic acid (9-HPODE), derived from octadecdienoic acid (linoleic acid) is the major lipoxygenase product formed in control potato tubers, 9-hydroperoxyoctadecatrienoic acid (9-HPOTrE), derived from octadecatrienoic acid (alpha-linolenic acid) is the major lipoxygenase product formed in potato tubers in response to injury or infection with Rhizoctonia bataticola. As a result, the relative ratio of 9-HPODE to 9-HPOTrE showed a shift from 4:1 in control to 1:2 and 1:4.5 in injured and infected potato tubers respectively. From this study, it is proposed that lipoxygenase metabolites of octadecadienoic acid may be involved in physiological responses under control conditions, while octadecatrienoic acid metabolites are mediating the defense responses. This forms the first report on the differential formation of endogenous lipoxygenase products in potato tubers under control and stress conditions.

The contribution of ER quality control to the biologic functions of secretory IgM

Secretory IgM provides a first line of defense against pathogens and is uniquely capable of enhancing the primary humoral immune response. Complement activation is especially important for these activities. Here, Padmalatha Reddy and Ronald Corley discuss how the 'quality control' mechanisms that regulate IgM assembly and secretion play important roles in the developmental progression of B cells and in B-cell function.

Microbial transformation of delta 9(15)-africanene

Incubation of delta 9(15)-africanene with fungi Aspergillus niger and Rhizopus oryzae for 8 days yielded two oxidized derivatives, 10 alpha-hydroxy-delta 9(15)-africanene and 9 alpha,15-epoxyafricanane. The structure of the two products were assigned by interpretation of their spectral data.

Replication-defective bovine adenovirus type 3 as an expression vector

Although recombinant human adenovirus (HAV)-based vectors offer several advantages for somatic gene therapy and vaccination over other viral vectors, it would be desirable to develop alternative vectors with prolonged expression and decreased toxicity. Toward this objective, a replication-defective bovine adenovirus type 3 (BAV-3) was developed as an expression vector. Bovine cell lines designated VIDO R2 (HAV-5 E1A/B-transformed fetal bovine retina cell [FBRC] line) and 6.93.9 (Madin-Darby bovine kidney [MDBK] cell line expressing E1 proteins) were developed and found to complement the E1A deletion in BAV-3. Replication-defective BAV-3 with a 1.7-kb deletion removing most of the E1A and E3 regions was constructed. This virus could be grown in VIDO R2 or 6.93.9 cells but not in FBRC or MDBK cells. The results demonstrated that the E1 region of HAV-5 has the capacity to transform bovine retina cells and that the E1A region of HAV-5 can complement that of BAV-3. A replication-defective BAV-3 vector expressing bovine herpesvirus type 1 glycoprotein D from the E1A region was made. A similar replication-defective vector expressing the hemagglutinin-esterase gene of bovine coronavirus from the E3 region was isolated. Although these viruses grew less efficiently than the replication-competent recombinant BAV-3 (E3 deleted), they are suitable for detailed studies with animals to evaluate the safety, duration of foreign gene expression, and ability to induce immune responses. In addition, a replication-competent recombinant BAV-3 expressing green fluorescent protein was constructed and used to evaluate the host range of BAV-3 under cell culture conditions. The development of bovine E1A-complementing cell lines and the generation of replication-defective BAV-3 vectors is a major technical advancement for defining the use of BAV-3 as vector for vaccination against diseases of cattle and somatic gene therapy in humans.

Isolation and characterization of a near-haploid human cell line

Mammalian somatic cells are usually diploid. Occasional rare human tumors have been shown to have a hypodiploid karyotype. We have isolated a near-haploid subclone (P1-55) from a heterogeneous human leukemia cell line, KBM-7. These near-haploid cells have approximately half the human diploid DNA content and have a haploid karyotype except for a disomy of chromosome 8 (25, XY, +8, Ph(+)). This cell line maintains a majority of cells with a near-haploid karyotype for at least 12 weeks in culture. By serial subcloning, we have isolated near-haploid subclones that maintain ploidy for at least 8 months in culture. Near-haploid cells can also be efficiently isolated from mixed ploidy cultures by size selection. The availability of this human near-haploid cell line should facilitate the genetic analysis of cultured human cells.

INVESTIGATION OF BREAST LUMPS: AN EVALUATION

70 patients with 72 palpable breast lumps were assessed by Physical Examination (PE), Mammography (MG), Ultrasound Scan (USS) and Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC). The individual and collective value of these investigations have been assessed and a cost effective algorithm suggested.

Transcription mapping and characterization of 284R and 121R proteins produced from early region 3 of bovine adenovirus type 3

We established the transcription map of early region (E) 3 of bovine adenovirus 3 (BAV-3) by Northern blot, S1 nuclease protection assays, cDNA sequencing, and RT-PCR analysis. Five major classes of mRNAs were identified, which shared the 3' ends. Four classes of mRNAs transcribed from the E3 promoter also shared the 5' end, while one major class of mRNA transcribed from the major late promoter contained a tripartite leader sequence at the 5' end. These five transcripts have the potential to encode four proteins, namely 284R, 121R, 86R, and 82R. To identify the proteins, rabbit antiserum was prepared using a bacterial fusion protein encoding 284R or 121R protein. Serum against 284R immunoprecipitated protein of 26-32 kDa in in vitro translated and transcribed mRNA and three proteins of 48, 67, and 125 kDa from BAV-3-infected cells. Western blots and enzymatic digestions confirmed that the 284R protein is a glycoprotein, which contains only N-linked oligosaccharides, both high mannose (48 kDa) and complex types (67 kDa). Serum against 121R immunoprecipitated a protein of 14.5 kDa from in vitro translated and transcribed mRNA and BAV-3-infected cells. Although 121R protein shows limited sequence similarity to a 14.7-kDa protein of human adenovirus 5, the 284R protein appears to be unique to BAV-3. Since proteins encoded by the E3 region appear to influence adenovirus pathogenesis, the 284R protein may contribute to the unique pathogenic properties of BAV-3.

EARLY DIAGNOSIS IN POST RENAL TRANSPLANT OPPORTUNISTIC INFECTIONS: A FRESH LOOK

A total of 86 renal transplant patients who were transplanted with live related donor (LRD) and live unrelated donor (LURD) kidneys were studied for opportunistic infections. Immune diagnosis of Toxoplasma, Cytomegalovirus (CMV), Herpes-simplex virus type II (HSV-2), Aspergillosis and Tuberculosis was carried out in these patients along with sputum examination, CSF studies and biopsy of lymphnode and other tissues in few cases. A high degree of Toxoplasma, CMV & HSV-2 positivity was seen in transplanted patients. However sensitivity of serological diagnosis of tuberculos was found to be low with standard criteria, which increased significantly when modified criteria were used. It is concluded that regular immunological monitoring should be carried out in transplanted patients so as to reach an early diagnosis and management of opportunistic infections.

Development of porcine adenovirus-3 as an expression vector

Porcine adenovirus-3 (PAV-3) was developed as an expression vector using homologous recombination in Escherichia coli BJ 5183. As a prerequisite, the complete genome of PAV-3 was first introduced as a PacI restriction fragment into a bacterial plasmid. The plasmid, when PacI restricted and transfected into swine testicular cells, produces an infectious virus. The potential of this procedure was demonstrated by the construction of several PAV-3 recombinants. Part of the E3 region, which is nonessential for virus replication under cell culture conditions, was identified and deleted from the virus genome. The gene for glycoprotein D (gD) of pseudorabies virus (PRV), which elicits PRV-neutralizing antibodies in pigs, was cloned and expressed from the E3 region of PAV-3. A 50 kDa polypeptide was identified in recombinant PAV-3-infected cell lysates by immunoprecipitation assays using gD-specific monoclonal antibodies. In another experiment, a region between the right inverted terminal repeat and the promoter of the E4 region was used to clone and express the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) gene under the control of SV40 immediate early promoter. CAT gene expression was observed irrespective of the orientation of the CAT gene. These results indicate that the helper-independent recombinant PAV-3 could be used as an expression vector and has potential as a recombinant vaccine vector in pigs.

Characterization of early region 1 and pIX of bovine adenovirus-3

The mRNAs from early region 1 (E1) and pIX of bovine adenovirus type 3 (BAV-3) have been studied by Northern blot, S1 nuclease, and cDNA analysis and transcriptional maps for the regions were constructed. The transcriptional map for the E1 region of BAV-3 is different from those of mouse and human adenoviruses for which transcriptional maps for the regions have been constructed. The E1A region of BAV-3 is located between 0.8 and 10.5 map units and several different transcripts are produced from the region using alternative splice donor sites. The transcripts from the E1A region overlap with those of E1B and pIX. In BAV-3, the E1B region maps between 4.2 and 10.5 map units and encodes two major mRNA species. The mRNAs of E1B region differ from each other in that the smaller mRNA coding for the 157R protein has a large intron removed from a region corresponding to the coding region of E1B 420R protein. As in HAVs, the E1B 420R protein of BAV-3 could be translated only by internal initiation from the larger bicistronic mRNA as there are no transcripts produced exclusively for the production of 420R protein. The transcriptional unit of pIX is transcribed from an independent promoter and encodes a structural component of the adenovirus capsid. To identify and characterize the proteins produced from the region, antibodies were raised in rabbits that recognized specific proteins in Western blot and immunoprecipitation assays.