1
|
Beddingfield BJ, Hartnett JN, Wilson RB, Kulakosky PC, Andersen KG, Robles-Sikisaka R, Grubaugh ND, Aybar A, Nunez MZ, Fermin CD, Garry RF. Zika Virus Non-Structural Protein 1 Antigen-Capture Immunoassay. Viruses 2021; 13:v13091771. [PMID: 34578352 PMCID: PMC8473068 DOI: 10.3390/v13091771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2021] [Revised: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 09/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Infection with Zika virus (ZIKV), a member of the Flavivirus genus of the Flaviviridae family, typically results in mild self-limited illness, but severe neurological disease occurs in a limited subset of patients. In contrast, serious outcomes commonly occur in pregnancy that affect the developing fetus, including microcephaly and other major birth defects. The genetic similarity of ZIKV to other widespread flaviviruses, such as dengue virus (DENV), presents a challenge to the development of specific ZIKV diagnostic assays. Nonstructural protein 1 (NS1) is established for use in immunodiagnostic assays for flaviviruses. To address the cross-reactivity of ZIKV NS1 with proteins from other flaviviruses we used site-directed mutagenesis to modify putative epitopes. Goat polyclonal antibodies to variant ZIKV NS1 were affinity-purified to remove antibodies binding to the closely related NS1 protein of DENV. An antigen-capture ELISA configured with the affinity-purified polyclonal antibody showed a linear dynamic range between approximately 500 and 30 ng/mL, with a limit of detection of between 1.95 and 7.8 ng/mL. NS1 proteins from DENV, yellow fever virus, St. Louis encephalitis virus and West Nile virus showed significantly reduced reactivity in the ZIKV antigen-capture ELISA. Refinement of approaches similar to those employed here could lead to development of ZIKV-specific immunoassays suitable for use in areas where infections with related flaviviruses are common.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Brandon J. Beddingfield
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA; (B.J.B.); (J.N.H.)
| | - Jessica N. Hartnett
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA; (B.J.B.); (J.N.H.)
| | - Russell B. Wilson
- Autoimmune Technologies, Limited Liability Company, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA; (R.B.W.); (P.C.K.)
| | - Peter C. Kulakosky
- Autoimmune Technologies, Limited Liability Company, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA; (R.B.W.); (P.C.K.)
| | - Kristian G. Andersen
- Department of Immunology and Microbial Science, Scripps Research, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA; (K.G.A.); (R.R.-S.); (N.D.G.)
- Scripps Translational Science Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, Scripps Research, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Refugio Robles-Sikisaka
- Department of Immunology and Microbial Science, Scripps Research, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA; (K.G.A.); (R.R.-S.); (N.D.G.)
- Scripps Translational Science Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, Scripps Research, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Nathan D. Grubaugh
- Department of Immunology and Microbial Science, Scripps Research, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA; (K.G.A.); (R.R.-S.); (N.D.G.)
- Scripps Translational Science Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, Scripps Research, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Argelia Aybar
- MediPath Instituto de Patologia Molecular, Universidad Tecnológica de Santiago (UTESA), Santiago 51000, Dominican Republic;
| | - Maria-Zunilla Nunez
- Centro de Investigaciones Biomédicas y Clínicas (CINBIOCLI), Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra (PUCMM), Santiago 51034, Dominican Republic;
| | - Cesar D. Fermin
- Instituto de Innovacion Biotecnologia e Industria (IIBI), Santo Domingo 10135, Dominican Republic;
- Ministerio de Salud Publica (MSP), Santo Domingo 10514, Dominican Republic
| | - Robert F. Garry
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA; (B.J.B.); (J.N.H.)
- Zalgen Labs, Limited Liability Company, Germantown, MD 20876, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-504-988-2027
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Jeste S, Hyde C, Distefano C, Halladay A, Ray S, Porath M, Wilson RB, Thurm A. Changes in access to educational and healthcare services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities during COVID-19 restrictions. J Intellect Disabil Res 2020; 64:825-833. [PMID: 32939917 DOI: 10.1111/jir.12776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 119] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2020] [Revised: 08/17/2020] [Accepted: 08/18/2020] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND COVID-19 restrictions have significantly limited access to in-person educational and healthcare services for all, including individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs). The objectives of this online survey that included both national and international families were to capture changes in access to healthcare and educational services for individuals with IDDs that occurred shortly after restrictions were initiated and to survey families on resources that could improve services for these individuals. METHODS This was an online survey for caregivers of individuals with (1) a genetic diagnosis and (2) a neurodevelopmental diagnosis, including developmental delay, intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorder or epilepsy. The survey assessed (1) demographics, (2) changes in access to educational and healthcare services and (3) available and preferred resources to help families navigate the changes in service allocation. RESULTS Of the 818 responses (669 within the USA and 149 outside of the USA), most families reported a loss of at least some educational or healthcare services. Seventy-four per cent of parents reported that their child lost access to at least one therapy or education service, and 36% of respondents lost access to a healthcare provider. Only 56% reported that their child received at least some continued services through tele-education. Those that needed to access healthcare providers did so primarily through telemedicine. Telehealth (both tele-education and telemedicine) was reported to be helpful when available, and caregivers most often endorsed a need for an augmentation of these remote delivery services, such as 1:1 videoconference sessions, as well as increased access to 1:1 aides in the home. CONCLUSIONS COVID-19 restrictions have greatly affected access to services for individuals with syndromic IDDs. Telehealth may provide opportunities for delivery of care and education in a sustainable way, not only as restrictions endure but also after they have been lifted.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- S Jeste
- Semel Institute for Neuroscience, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - C Hyde
- Semel Institute for Neuroscience, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - C Distefano
- Semel Institute for Neuroscience, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - A Halladay
- Autism Science Foundation, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - S Ray
- The Mighty, Glendale, CA, USA
| | | | - R B Wilson
- Semel Institute for Neuroscience, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - A Thurm
- Neurodevelopmental and Behavioral Phenotyping Service, National Institute of Mental Health, NIH, DHHS, Bethesda, MD, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Riffe DM, Christensen JD, Wilson RB. Vibrational dynamics within the embedded-atom-method formalism and the relationship to Born-von-Kármán force constants. J Phys Condens Matter 2018; 30:455702. [PMID: 30207297 DOI: 10.1088/1361-648x/aae09f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
We derive expressions for the dynamical matrix of a crystalline solid with total potential energy described by an embedded-atom-method (EAM) potential. We make no assumptions regarding the number of atoms per unit cell. These equations can be used for calculating both bulk phonon modes as well the modes of a slab of material, which is useful for the study of surface phonons. We further discuss simplifications that occur in cubic lattices with one atom per unit cell. The relationship of Born-von-Kármán (BvK) force constants-which are readily extracted from experimental vibrational dispersion curves-to the EAM potential energy is discussed. In particular, we derive equations for BvK force constants for bcc and fcc lattices in terms of the functions that define an EAM model. The EAM-BvK relationship is useful for assessing the suitability of a particular EAM potential for describing vibrational spectra, which we illustrate using vibrational data from the bcc metals K and Fe and the fcc metal Au.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- D M Riffe
- Physics Department, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322-4415, United States of America
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
4
|
Cross RW, Boisen ML, Millett MM, Nelson DS, Oottamasathien D, Hartnett JN, Jones AB, Goba A, Momoh M, Fullah M, Bornholdt ZA, Fusco ML, Abelson DM, Oda S, Brown BL, Pham H, Rowland MM, Agans KN, Geisbert JB, Heinrich ML, Kulakosky PC, Shaffer JG, Schieffelin JS, Kargbo B, Gbetuwa M, Gevao SM, Wilson RB, Saphire EO, Pitts KR, Khan SH, Grant DS, Geisbert TW, Branco LM, Garry RF. Analytical Validation of the ReEBOV Antigen Rapid Test for Point-of-Care Diagnosis of Ebola Virus Infection. J Infect Dis 2016; 214:S210-S217. [PMID: 27587634 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiw293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ebola virus disease (EVD) is a severe viral illness caused by Ebola virus (EBOV). The 2013-2016 EVD outbreak in West Africa is the largest recorded, with >11 000 deaths. Development of the ReEBOV Antigen Rapid Test (ReEBOV RDT) was expedited to provide a point-of-care test for suspected EVD cases. METHODS Recombinant EBOV viral protein 40 antigen was used to derive polyclonal antibodies for RDT and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay development. ReEBOV RDT limits of detection (LOD), specificity, and interference were analytically validated on the basis of Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidance. RESULTS The ReEBOV RDT specificity estimate was 95% for donor serum panels and 97% for donor whole-blood specimens. The RDT demonstrated sensitivity to 3 species of Ebolavirus (Zaire ebolavirus, Sudan ebolavirus, and Bundibugyo ebolavirus) associated with human disease, with no cross-reactivity by pathogens associated with non-EBOV febrile illness, including malaria parasites. Interference testing exhibited no reactivity by medications in common use. The LOD for antigen was 4.7 ng/test in serum and 9.4 ng/test in whole blood. Quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction testing of nonhuman primate samples determined the range to be equivalent to 3.0 × 105-9.0 × 108 genomes/mL. CONCLUSIONS The analytical validation presented here contributed to the ReEBOV RDT being the first antigen-based assay to receive FDA and World Health Organization emergency use authorization for this EVD outbreak, in February 2015.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Robert W Cross
- Galveston National Laboratory, University of Texas Medical Branch
| | - Matthew L Boisen
- Corgenix, Broomfield, Colorado Department of Microbiology and Immunology Zalgen Labs, Germantown, Maryland
| | | | - Diana S Nelson
- Corgenix, Broomfield, Colorado Zalgen Labs, Germantown, Maryland
| | | | | | | | - Augustine Goba
- Lassa Fever Program, Kenema Government Hospital Ministry of Health and Sanitation
| | - Mambu Momoh
- Lassa Fever Program, Kenema Government Hospital Ministry of Health and Sanitation Eastern Polytechnic Institute, Kenema, Sierra Leone
| | - Mohamed Fullah
- Lassa Fever Program, Kenema Government Hospital Ministry of Health and Sanitation Eastern Polytechnic Institute, Kenema, Sierra Leone
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Ha Pham
- Corgenix, Broomfield, Colorado
| | | | - Krystle N Agans
- Galveston National Laboratory, University of Texas Medical Branch
| | - Joan B Geisbert
- Galveston National Laboratory, University of Texas Medical Branch
| | | | | | | | - John S Schieffelin
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine
| | | | - Momoh Gbetuwa
- Lassa Fever Program, Kenema Government Hospital Ministry of Health and Sanitation
| | - Sahr M Gevao
- Lassa Fever Program, Kenema Government Hospital University of Sierra Leone, Freetown
| | | | | | | | - Sheik Humarr Khan
- Lassa Fever Program, Kenema Government Hospital Ministry of Health and Sanitation
| | - Donald S Grant
- Lassa Fever Program, Kenema Government Hospital Ministry of Health and Sanitation
| | | | | | - Robert F Garry
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology Zalgen Labs, Germantown, Maryland
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Boisen ML, Cross RW, Hartnett JN, Goba A, Momoh M, Fullah M, Gbakie M, Safa S, Fonnie M, Baimba F, Koroma VJ, Geisbert JB, McCormick S, Nelson DKS, Millett MM, Oottamasathien D, Jones AB, Pham H, Brown BL, Shaffer JG, Schieffelin JS, Kargbo B, Gbetuwa M, Gevao SM, Wilson RB, Pitts KR, Geisbert TW, Branco LM, Khan SH, Grant DS, Garry RF. Field Validation of the ReEBOV Antigen Rapid Test for Point-of-Care Diagnosis of Ebola Virus Infection. J Infect Dis 2016; 214:S203-S209. [PMID: 27521365 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiw261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The 2013-2016 West African Ebola virus disease (EVD) epidemic is the largest recorded. Triage on the basis of clinical signs had limited success, and the time to diagnosis by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) could exceed 5 days. Here we describe the development and field validation of the ReEBOV Antigen Rapid Test (ReEBOV RDT) to aid triage of individuals with suspected EVD. METHODS Samples from patients with suspected EVD were submitted to Kenema Government Hospital, Sierra Leone, for Lassa fever and EVD screening throughout 2014. Banked residual clinical samples were tested in November 2014 and January 2015 in a blinded field trial to estimate the clinical effectiveness of the ReEBOV RDT, compared with EBOV-specific qRT-PCR. RESULTS Preliminary ReEBOV RDT performance demonstrated a positive percentage agreement (PPA) of 91.1% (195 of 214 results; 95% confidence interval [CI], 86.5%-94.6%) and a negative percentage agreement (NPA) of 90.2% (175 of 194; 95% CI, 85.1%-94.0%). The final estimates used by the Food and Drug Administration to determine whether to grant emergency use authorization for the test, which excluded a qRT-PCR reference method threshold cutoff, were a PPA of 62.1% (72 of 116 results; 95% CI, 52.6%-70.9%) and a NPA of 96.7% (58 of 60; 95% CI, 88.5%-99.6%), with a diagnostic likelihood of 18.6. A subsequent, independent evaluation by the World Health Organization generated results consistent with the preliminary performance estimates. CONCLUSIONS The ReEBOV RDT demonstrated the potential to provide clinically effective rapid and accurate point-of-care test results and, thus, to be a powerful tool for increasing triage efficiency.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Matthew L Boisen
- Corgenix, Broomfield, Colorado Department of Microbiology and Immunology
| | - Robert W Cross
- Galveston National Laboratory, University of Texas Medical Branch
| | | | - Augustine Goba
- Lassa Fever Program, Kenema Government Hospital Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Freetown, Sierra Leone
| | - Mambu Momoh
- Lassa Fever Program, Kenema Government Hospital Eastern Polytechnic Institute, Kenema Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Freetown, Sierra Leone
| | - Mohamed Fullah
- Lassa Fever Program, Kenema Government Hospital Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Freetown, Sierra Leone
| | - Michael Gbakie
- Lassa Fever Program, Kenema Government Hospital Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Freetown, Sierra Leone
| | - Sidiki Safa
- Lassa Fever Program, Kenema Government Hospital Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Freetown, Sierra Leone
| | - Mbalu Fonnie
- Lassa Fever Program, Kenema Government Hospital Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Freetown, Sierra Leone
| | - Francis Baimba
- Lassa Fever Program, Kenema Government Hospital Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Freetown, Sierra Leone
| | - Veronica J Koroma
- Lassa Fever Program, Kenema Government Hospital Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Freetown, Sierra Leone
| | - Joan B Geisbert
- Galveston National Laboratory, University of Texas Medical Branch
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Ha Pham
- Corgenix, Broomfield, Colorado
| | | | - Jeffrey G Shaffer
- Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana
| | - John S Schieffelin
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Infectious Diseases, Tulane University
| | - Brima Kargbo
- Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Freetown, Sierra Leone
| | | | - Sahr M Gevao
- Lassa Fever Program, Kenema Government Hospital Eastern Polytechnic Institute, Kenema Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Freetown, Sierra Leone
| | | | | | | | | | - Sheik H Khan
- Lassa Fever Program, Kenema Government Hospital Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Freetown, Sierra Leone
| | - Donald S Grant
- Lassa Fever Program, Kenema Government Hospital Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Freetown, Sierra Leone
| | - Robert F Garry
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology Zalgen Labs, Germantown, Maryland
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Goba A, Khan SH, Fonnie M, Fullah M, Moigboi A, Kovoma A, Sinnah V, Yoko N, Rogers H, Safai S, Momoh M, Koroma V, Kamara FK, Konowu E, Yillah M, French I, Mustapha I, Kanneh F, Foday M, McCarthy H, Kallon T, Kallon M, Naiebu J, Sellu J, Jalloh AA, Gbakie M, Kanneh L, Massaly JLB, Kargbo D, Kargbo B, Vandi M, Gbetuwa M, Gevao SM, Sandi JD, Jalloh SC, Grant DS, Blyden SO, Crozier I, Schieffelin JS, McLellan SL, Jacob ST, Boisen ML, Hartnett JN, Cross RW, Branco LM, Andersen KG, Yozwiak NL, Gire SK, Tariyal R, Park DJ, Haislip AM, Bishop CM, Melnik LI, Gallaher WR, Wimley WC, He J, Shaffer JG, Sullivan BM, Grillo S, Oman S, Garry CE, Edwards DR, McCormick SJ, Elliott DH, Rouelle JA, Kannadka CB, Reyna AA, Bradley BT, Yu H, Yenni RE, Hastie KM, Geisbert JB, Kulakosky PC, Wilson RB, Oldstone MBA, Pitts KR, Henderson LA, Robinson JE, Geisbert TW, Saphire EO, Happi CT, Asogun DA, Sabeti PC, Garry RF. An Outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease in the Lassa Fever Zone. J Infect Dis 2016; 214:S110-S121. [PMID: 27402779 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiw239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Kenema Government Hospital (KGH) has developed an advanced clinical and laboratory research capacity to manage the threat of Lassa fever, a viral hemorrhagic fever (VHF). The 2013-2016 Ebola virus (EBOV) disease (EVD) outbreak is the first to have occurred in an area close to a facility with established clinical and laboratory capacity for study of VHFs. METHODS Because of its proximity to the epicenter of the EVD outbreak, which began in Guinea in March 2014, the KGH Lassa fever Team mobilized to establish EBOV surveillance and diagnostic capabilities. RESULTS Augustine Goba, director of the KGH Lassa laboratory, diagnosed the first documented case of EVD in Sierra Leone, on 25 May 2014. Thereafter, KGH received and cared for numbers of patients with EVD that quickly overwhelmed the capacity for safe management. Numerous healthcare workers contracted and lost their lives to EVD. The vast majority of subsequent EVD cases in West Africa can be traced back to a single transmission chain that includes this first diagnosed case. CONCLUSIONS Responding to the challenges of confronting 2 hemorrhagic fever viruses will require continued investments in the development of countermeasures (vaccines, therapeutic agents, and diagnostic assays), infrastructure, and human resources.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Augustine Goba
- Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Program, Kenema Government Hospital
| | - S Humarr Khan
- Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Program, Kenema Government Hospital
| | - Mbalu Fonnie
- Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Program, Kenema Government Hospital
| | - Mohamed Fullah
- Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Program, Kenema Government Hospital
| | - Alex Moigboi
- Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Program, Kenema Government Hospital
| | - Alice Kovoma
- Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Program, Kenema Government Hospital
| | - Vandi Sinnah
- Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Program, Kenema Government Hospital
| | - Nancy Yoko
- Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Program, Kenema Government Hospital
| | - Hawa Rogers
- Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Program, Kenema Government Hospital
| | - Siddiki Safai
- Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Program, Kenema Government Hospital
| | - Mambu Momoh
- Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Program, Kenema Government Hospital
| | | | | | - Edwin Konowu
- Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Program, Kenema Government Hospital
| | - Mohamed Yillah
- Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Program, Kenema Government Hospital
| | - Issa French
- Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Program, Kenema Government Hospital
| | | | | | - Momoh Foday
- Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Program, Kenema Government Hospital
| | | | - Tiangay Kallon
- Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Program, Kenema Government Hospital
| | | | - Jenneh Naiebu
- Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Program, Kenema Government Hospital
| | | | - Abdul A Jalloh
- Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Program, Kenema Government Hospital
| | - Michael Gbakie
- Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Program, Kenema Government Hospital
| | - Lansana Kanneh
- Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Program, Kenema Government Hospital
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - John D Sandi
- Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Program, Kenema Government Hospital
| | | | - Donald S Grant
- Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Program, Kenema Government Hospital Ministry of Health and Sanitation
| | | | - Ian Crozier
- World Health Organization Sierra Leone Ebola Response Team, Freetown, Sierra Leone Infectious Diseases Institute, Mulago Hospital Complex, Kampala, Uganda
| | - John S Schieffelin
- Section of Infectious Disease, Department of Pediatrics Section of Infectious Disease, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine
| | - Susan L McLellan
- Section of Infectious Disease, Department of Pediatrics Section of Infectious Disease, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine Department of Tropical Medicine
| | - Shevin T Jacob
- Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, University of Washington, Seattle
| | - Matt L Boisen
- Corgenix, Broomfield, Colorado Zalgen Labs, Germantown, Maryland
| | | | - Robert W Cross
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - William R Gallaher
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Parasitology, LSU Health Mockingbird Nature Research Group, Pearl River, Louisiana
| | | | - Jing He
- Department of Biochemistry, Tulane University
| | - Jeffrey G Shaffer
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine
| | | | - Sonia Grillo
- Naval Engineering Facilities Command, Naples, Italy
| | | | - Courtney E Garry
- Section of Infectious Disease, Department of Pediatrics Section of Infectious Disease, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine Autoimmune Technologies, New Orleans
| | | | | | - Deborah H Elliott
- Section of Infectious Disease, Department of Pediatrics Section of Infectious Disease, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine
| | - Julie A Rouelle
- Section of Infectious Disease, Department of Pediatrics Section of Infectious Disease, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine
| | - Chandrika B Kannadka
- Section of Infectious Disease, Department of Pediatrics Section of Infectious Disease, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine
| | - Ashley A Reyna
- Section of Infectious Disease, Department of Pediatrics Section of Infectious Disease, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine
| | - Benjamin T Bradley
- Section of Infectious Disease, Department of Pediatrics Section of Infectious Disease, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine
| | - Haini Yu
- Section of Infectious Disease, Department of Pediatrics Section of Infectious Disease, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine
| | | | | | - Joan B Geisbert
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston
| | | | | | | | | | | | - James E Robinson
- Section of Infectious Disease, Department of Pediatrics Section of Infectious Disease, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine
| | - Thomas W Geisbert
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston
| | - Erica Ollmann Saphire
- Department of Immunology and Microbial Science The Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla
| | - Christian T Happi
- Redeemer's University, Ede Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Nigeria
| | | | - Pardis C Sabeti
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Center for Systems Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Robert F Garry
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology Zalgen Labs, Germantown, Maryland
| | | |
Collapse
|
7
|
Robinson JE, Hastie KM, Cross RW, Yenni RE, Elliott DH, Rouelle JA, Kannadka CB, Smira AA, Garry CE, Bradley BT, Yu H, Shaffer JG, Boisen ML, Hartnett JN, Zandonatti MA, Rowland MM, Heinrich ML, Martínez-Sobrido L, Cheng B, de la Torre JC, Andersen KG, Goba A, Momoh M, Fullah M, Gbakie M, Kanneh L, Koroma VJ, Fonnie R, Jalloh SC, Kargbo B, Vandi MA, Gbetuwa M, Ikponmwosa O, Asogun DA, Okokhere PO, Follarin OA, Schieffelin JS, Pitts KR, Geisbert JB, Kulakoski PC, Wilson RB, Happi CT, Sabeti PC, Gevao SM, Khan SH, Grant DS, Geisbert TW, Saphire EO, Branco LM, Garry RF. Most neutralizing human monoclonal antibodies target novel epitopes requiring both Lassa virus glycoprotein subunits. Nat Commun 2016; 7:11544. [PMID: 27161536 PMCID: PMC4866400 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms11544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 125] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2016] [Accepted: 04/07/2016] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Lassa fever is a severe multisystem disease that often has haemorrhagic manifestations. The epitopes of the Lassa virus (LASV) surface glycoproteins recognized by naturally infected human hosts have not been identified or characterized. Here we have cloned 113 human monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) specific for LASV glycoproteins from memory B cells of Lassa fever survivors from West Africa. One-half bind the GP2 fusion subunit, one-fourth recognize the GP1 receptor-binding subunit and the remaining fourth are specific for the assembled glycoprotein complex, requiring both GP1 and GP2 subunits for recognition. Notably, of the 16 mAbs that neutralize LASV, 13 require the assembled glycoprotein complex for binding, while the remaining 3 require GP1 only. Compared with non-neutralizing mAbs, neutralizing mAbs have higher binding affinities and greater divergence from germline progenitors. Some mAbs potently neutralize all four LASV lineages. These insights from LASV human mAb characterization will guide strategies for immunotherapeutic development and vaccine design.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- James E Robinson
- Section of Infectious Disease, Department of Pediatrics, Tulane University School of Medicine, 1430 Tulane Avenue, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, USA
| | - Kathryn M Hastie
- Department of Immunology and Microbial Science, Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, California 92037, USA
| | - Robert W Cross
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, 301 University Boulevard, Galveston, Texas 77555, USA
| | - Rachael E Yenni
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Tulane University School of Medicine, 1430 Tulane Avenue, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, USA
| | - Deborah H Elliott
- Section of Infectious Disease, Department of Pediatrics, Tulane University School of Medicine, 1430 Tulane Avenue, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, USA
| | - Julie A Rouelle
- Section of Infectious Disease, Department of Pediatrics, Tulane University School of Medicine, 1430 Tulane Avenue, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, USA
| | - Chandrika B Kannadka
- Section of Infectious Disease, Department of Pediatrics, Tulane University School of Medicine, 1430 Tulane Avenue, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, USA
| | - Ashley A Smira
- Section of Infectious Disease, Department of Pediatrics, Tulane University School of Medicine, 1430 Tulane Avenue, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, USA
| | - Courtney E Garry
- Section of Infectious Disease, Department of Pediatrics, Tulane University School of Medicine, 1430 Tulane Avenue, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, USA.,Autoimmune Technologies, LLC, 1010 Common St #1705, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, USA
| | - Benjamin T Bradley
- Section of Infectious Disease, Department of Pediatrics, Tulane University School of Medicine, 1430 Tulane Avenue, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, USA
| | - Haini Yu
- Section of Infectious Disease, Department of Pediatrics, Tulane University School of Medicine, 1430 Tulane Avenue, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, USA
| | - Jeffrey G Shaffer
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, USA
| | - Matt L Boisen
- Corgenix, Inc., 11575 Main Street #400, Broomfield, Colorado 80020, USA
| | - Jessica N Hartnett
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Tulane University School of Medicine, 1430 Tulane Avenue, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, USA
| | - Michelle A Zandonatti
- Department of Immunology and Microbial Science, Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, California 92037, USA
| | - Megan M Rowland
- Zalgen Labs, LLC, 20271 Goldenrod Lane, Suite 2083, Germantown, Maryland 20876, USA
| | - Megan L Heinrich
- Zalgen Labs, LLC, 20271 Goldenrod Lane, Suite 2083, Germantown, Maryland 20876, USA
| | - Luis Martínez-Sobrido
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester, New York 14642, USA
| | - Benson Cheng
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester, New York 14642, USA
| | - Juan C de la Torre
- Department of Immunology and Microbial Science, Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, California 92037, USA
| | - Kristian G Andersen
- Department of Immunology and Microbial Science, Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, California 92037, USA
| | - Augustine Goba
- Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Program, Kenema Government Hospital, 1 Combema Road, Kenema, Sierra Leone
| | - Mambu Momoh
- Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Program, Kenema Government Hospital, 1 Combema Road, Kenema, Sierra Leone.,Department of Laboratory Sciences Polytechnic College, 2 Combema Road, Kenema, Sierra Leone
| | - Mohamed Fullah
- Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Program, Kenema Government Hospital, 1 Combema Road, Kenema, Sierra Leone.,Department of Laboratory Sciences Polytechnic College, 2 Combema Road, Kenema, Sierra Leone
| | - Michael Gbakie
- Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Program, Kenema Government Hospital, 1 Combema Road, Kenema, Sierra Leone
| | - Lansana Kanneh
- Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Program, Kenema Government Hospital, 1 Combema Road, Kenema, Sierra Leone
| | - Veronica J Koroma
- Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Program, Kenema Government Hospital, 1 Combema Road, Kenema, Sierra Leone
| | - Richard Fonnie
- Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Program, Kenema Government Hospital, 1 Combema Road, Kenema, Sierra Leone
| | - Simbirie C Jalloh
- Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Program, Kenema Government Hospital, 1 Combema Road, Kenema, Sierra Leone
| | - Brima Kargbo
- Ministry of Health and Sanitation, 4th Floor Youyi Building, Freetown, Sierra Leone
| | - Mohamed A Vandi
- Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Program, Kenema Government Hospital, 1 Combema Road, Kenema, Sierra Leone.,Ministry of Health and Sanitation, 4th Floor Youyi Building, Freetown, Sierra Leone
| | - Momoh Gbetuwa
- Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Program, Kenema Government Hospital, 1 Combema Road, Kenema, Sierra Leone.,Ministry of Health and Sanitation, 4th Floor Youyi Building, Freetown, Sierra Leone
| | - Odia Ikponmwosa
- Department of Medicine, Institute of Lassa Fever Research and Control, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Km. 87, Benin/Auchi Road, Irrua, Nigeria
| | - Danny A Asogun
- Department of Medicine, Institute of Lassa Fever Research and Control, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Km. 87, Benin/Auchi Road, Irrua, Nigeria
| | - Peter O Okokhere
- Department of Medicine, Institute of Lassa Fever Research and Control, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Km. 87, Benin/Auchi Road, Irrua, Nigeria
| | - Onikepe A Follarin
- Department of Medicine, Institute of Lassa Fever Research and Control, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Km. 87, Benin/Auchi Road, Irrua, Nigeria.,Department of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Redeemer's University, Off Gbongan-Oshogbo Road, Ede, Nigeria.,African Center of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Disease (ACEGID), Redeemer's University, Off Gbongan-Oshogbo Road, Ede, Nigeria
| | - John S Schieffelin
- Section of Infectious Disease, Department of Pediatrics, Tulane University School of Medicine, 1430 Tulane Avenue, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, USA.,Section of Infectious Disease, Department of Internal Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, 1430 Tulane Avenue, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, USA
| | - Kelly R Pitts
- Corgenix, Inc., 11575 Main Street #400, Broomfield, Colorado 80020, USA
| | - Joan B Geisbert
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, 301 University Boulevard, Galveston, Texas 77555, USA
| | - Peter C Kulakoski
- Autoimmune Technologies, LLC, 1010 Common St #1705, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, USA
| | - Russell B Wilson
- Autoimmune Technologies, LLC, 1010 Common St #1705, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, USA
| | - Christian T Happi
- Department of Medicine, Institute of Lassa Fever Research and Control, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Km. 87, Benin/Auchi Road, Irrua, Nigeria.,Department of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Redeemer's University, Off Gbongan-Oshogbo Road, Ede, Nigeria.,African Center of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Disease (ACEGID), Redeemer's University, Off Gbongan-Oshogbo Road, Ede, Nigeria
| | - Pardis C Sabeti
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Center for Systems Biology, Harvard University, 1350 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA.,Center for Systems Biology, Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard, 415 Main Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, USA.,Department of Immunology and Infectious Disease, Harvard School of Public Health, 677 Huntington Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | - Sahr M Gevao
- Department of Medicine, University of Sierra Leone, Freetown, Sierra Leone
| | - S Humarr Khan
- Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Program, Kenema Government Hospital, 1 Combema Road, Kenema, Sierra Leone.,Ministry of Health and Sanitation, 4th Floor Youyi Building, Freetown, Sierra Leone
| | - Donald S Grant
- Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Program, Kenema Government Hospital, 1 Combema Road, Kenema, Sierra Leone.,Ministry of Health and Sanitation, 4th Floor Youyi Building, Freetown, Sierra Leone
| | - Thomas W Geisbert
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, 301 University Boulevard, Galveston, Texas 77555, USA
| | - Erica Ollmann Saphire
- Department of Immunology and Microbial Science, Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, California 92037, USA.,The Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, California 92037, USA
| | - Luis M Branco
- Zalgen Labs, LLC, 20271 Goldenrod Lane, Suite 2083, Germantown, Maryland 20876, USA
| | - Robert F Garry
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Tulane University School of Medicine, 1430 Tulane Avenue, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, USA.,Zalgen Labs, LLC, 20271 Goldenrod Lane, Suite 2083, Germantown, Maryland 20876, USA
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Boisen ML, Schieffelin JS, Goba A, Oottamasathien D, Jones AB, Shaffer JG, Hastie KM, Hartnett JN, Momoh M, Fullah M, Gabiki M, Safa S, Zandonatti M, Fusco M, Bornholdt Z, Abelson D, Gire SK, Andersen KG, Tariyal R, Stremlau M, Cross RW, Geisbert JB, Pitts KR, Geisbert TW, Kulakoski P, Wilson RB, Henderson L, Sabeti PC, Grant DS, Garry RF, Saphire EO, Branco LM, Khan SH. Multiple circulating infections can mimic the early stages of viral hemorrhagic fevers and possible human exposure to filoviruses in Sierra Leone prior to the 2014 outbreak. Viral Immunol 2015; 28:19-31. [PMID: 25531344 DOI: 10.1089/vim.2014.0108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Lassa fever (LF) is a severe viral hemorrhagic fever caused by Lassa virus (LASV). The LF program at the Kenema Government Hospital (KGH) in Eastern Sierra Leone currently provides diagnostic services and clinical care for more than 500 suspected LF cases per year. Nearly two-thirds of suspected LF patients presenting to the LF Ward test negative for either LASV antigen or anti-LASV immunoglobulin M (IgM), and therefore are considered to have a non-Lassa febrile illness (NLFI). The NLFI patients in this study were generally severely ill, which accounts for their high case fatality rate of 36%. The current studies were aimed at determining possible causes of severe febrile illnesses in non-LF cases presenting to the KGH, including possible involvement of filoviruses. A seroprevalence survey employing commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay tests revealed significant IgM and IgG reactivity against dengue virus, chikungunya virus, West Nile virus (WNV), Leptospira, and typhus. A polymerase chain reaction-based survey using sera from subjects with acute LF, evidence of prior LASV exposure, or NLFI revealed widespread infection with Plasmodium falciparum malaria in febrile patients. WNV RNA was detected in a subset of patients, and a 419 nt amplicon specific to filoviral L segment RNA was detected at low levels in a single patient. However, 22% of the patients presenting at the KGH between 2011 and 2014 who were included in this survey registered anti-Ebola virus (EBOV) IgG or IgM, suggesting prior exposure to this agent. The 2014 Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak is already the deadliest and most widely dispersed outbreak of its kind on record. Serological evidence reported here for possible human exposure to filoviruses in Sierra Leone prior to the current EVD outbreak supports genetic analysis that EBOV may have been present in West Africa for some time prior to the 2014 outbreak.
Collapse
|
9
|
Boisen ML, Oottamasathien D, Jones AB, Millett MM, Nelson DS, Bornholdt ZA, Fusco ML, Abelson DM, Oda SI, Hartnett JN, Rowland MM, Heinrich ML, Akdag M, Goba A, Momoh M, Fullah M, Baimba F, Gbakie M, Safa S, Fonnie R, Kanneh L, Cross RW, Geisbert JB, Geisbert TW, Kulakosky PC, Grant DS, Shaffer JG, Schieffelin JS, Wilson RB, Saphire EO, Branco LM, Garry RF, Khan SH, Pitts KR. Development of Prototype Filovirus Recombinant Antigen Immunoassays. J Infect Dis 2015; 212 Suppl 2:S359-67. [PMID: 26232440 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiv353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Throughout the 2014-2015 Ebola outbreak in West Africa, major gaps were exposed in the availability of validated rapid diagnostic platforms, protective vaccines, and effective therapeutic agents. These gaps potentiated the development of prototype rapid lateral flow immunodiagnostic (LFI) assays that are true point-of-contact platforms, for the detection of active Ebola infections in small blood samples. METHODS Recombinant Ebola and Marburg virus matrix VP40 and glycoprotein (GP) antigens were used to derive a panel of monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies. Antibodies were tested using a multivariate approach to identify antibody-antigen combinations suitable for enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and LFI assay development. RESULTS Polyclonal antibodies generated in goats were superior reagents for capture and detection of recombinant VP40 in test sample matrices. These antibodies were optimized for use in antigen-capture ELISA and LFI assay platforms. Prototype immunoglobulin M (IgM)/immunoglobulin G (IgG) ELISAs were similarly developed that specifically detect Ebola virus-specific antibodies in the serum of experimentally infected nonhuman primates and in blood samples obtained from patients with Ebola from Sierra Leone. CONCLUSIONS The prototype recombinant Ebola LFI assays developed in these studies have sensitivities that are useful for clinical diagnosis of acute ebolavirus infections. The antigen-capture and IgM/IgG ELISAs provide additional confirmatory assay platforms for detecting VP40 and other ebolavirus-specific immunoglobulins.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Matt L Boisen
- Corgenix, Broomfield, Colorado Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine
| | | | | | | | | | - Zachary A Bornholdt
- Department of Immunology and Microbial Science, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California
| | - Marnie L Fusco
- Department of Immunology and Microbial Science, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California
| | - Dafna M Abelson
- Department of Immunology and Microbial Science, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California
| | - Shun-Ichiro Oda
- Department of Immunology and Microbial Science, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Mambu Momoh
- Lassa Fever Program, Kenema Government Hospital Eastern Polytechnic College, Kenema
| | | | | | - Michael Gbakie
- Section of Infectious Disease, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Tulane University
| | - Sadiki Safa
- Lassa Fever Program, Kenema Government Hospital
| | | | | | - Robert W Cross
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston
| | - Joan B Geisbert
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston
| | - Thomas W Geisbert
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston
| | | | - Donald S Grant
- Zalgen Labs, Germantown, Maryland Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Freetown, Sierra Leone
| | - Jeffery G Shaffer
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine
| | - John S Schieffelin
- Section of Infectious Disease, Department of Pediatrics Section of Infectious Disease, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Tulane University
| | | | - Erica Ollmann Saphire
- Department of Immunology and Microbial Science, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California
| | | | - Robert F Garry
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine Zalgen Labs, Germantown, Maryland
| | - S Humarr Khan
- Lassa Fever Program, Kenema Government Hospital Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Freetown, Sierra Leone
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
10
|
Seyer L, Greeley N, Foerster D, Strawser C, Gelbard S, Dong Y, Schadt K, Cotticelli MG, Brocht A, Farmer J, Wilson RB, Lynch DR. Open-label pilot study of interferon gamma-1b in Friedreich ataxia. Acta Neurol Scand 2015; 132:7-15. [PMID: 25335475 DOI: 10.1111/ane.12337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/24/2014] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES/AIMS This is an open-label trial of the safety of interferon gamma-1b (IFN-γ) and its effect on frataxin levels and neurologic measures in 12 children with Friedreich ataxia. MATERIALS AND METHODS Interferon gamma-1b was administered via subcutaneous injection three times weekly. The dose increased from 10 to 50 mcg/m(2) during the first four weeks and then remained at 50 mcg/m(2) for final eight weeks. Safety assessments included laboratory testing, electrocardiogram, and monitoring of adverse events. The primary efficacy outcome measure was frataxin level in whole blood. Secondary measures included frataxin levels in multiple tissues, frataxin mRNA levels, Friedreich Ataxia Rating Scale (FARS) scores and other neurologic evaluations. Statistical analyses were performed via SAS and STATA. RESULTS Interferon gamma-1b was well tolerated with no serious adverse events, and only two subjects reporting severe adverse events and subsequent dose reductions. Small but significant changes in frataxin levels were observed in red blood cells, PBMC, and platelets after 12 weeks of treatment. However, the magnitude of change was small and varied between tissues. Mean improvement in FARS score was equivalent to roughly 18 months of disease progression after 12 weeks of treatment (P = 0.008). No other statistically significant changes were observed. No statistically significant relationships were observed between frataxin protein levels, FARS scores, and in vivo IFN-γ levels. CONCLUSIONS Interferon gamma-1b improved FARS scores without a clear relationship to changes in frataxin levels. Larger, longer placebo-controlled trials including biochemical assessments in affected tissues are necessary to evaluate fully the efficacy and utility of IFN-γ in FRDA.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- L Seyer
- Departments of Pediatrics and Neurology, Penn Medicine/CHOP Friedreich's Ataxia Center of Excellence, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - N Greeley
- Departments of Pediatrics and Neurology, Penn Medicine/CHOP Friedreich's Ataxia Center of Excellence, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - D Foerster
- Departments of Pediatrics and Neurology, Penn Medicine/CHOP Friedreich's Ataxia Center of Excellence, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - C Strawser
- Departments of Pediatrics and Neurology, Penn Medicine/CHOP Friedreich's Ataxia Center of Excellence, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - S Gelbard
- Departments of Pediatrics and Neurology, Penn Medicine/CHOP Friedreich's Ataxia Center of Excellence, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Y Dong
- Departments of Pediatrics and Neurology, Penn Medicine/CHOP Friedreich's Ataxia Center of Excellence, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - K Schadt
- Departments of Pediatrics and Neurology, Penn Medicine/CHOP Friedreich's Ataxia Center of Excellence, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - M G Cotticelli
- Departments of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, Penn Medicine/CHOP Friedreich's Ataxia Center of Excellence, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - A Brocht
- Department of Neurology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - J Farmer
- Friedreich Ataxia Research Alliance, Downingtown, PA, USA
| | - R B Wilson
- Departments of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, Penn Medicine/CHOP Friedreich's Ataxia Center of Excellence, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - D R Lynch
- Departments of Pediatrics and Neurology, Penn Medicine/CHOP Friedreich's Ataxia Center of Excellence, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Althoff J, Wilson RB, Ogrowsky D, Pour P. The fine structure of pancreatic duct neoplasm in Syrian golden hamsters. Prog Exp Tumor Res 2015; 24:397-405. [PMID: 538258 DOI: 10.1159/000402114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
|
12
|
Wilson RB, Apgar BA, Martin LW, Cahill DG. Thermoreflectance of metal transducers for optical pump-probe studies of thermal properties. Opt Express 2012; 20:28829-28838. [PMID: 23263123 DOI: 10.1364/oe.20.028829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
We report measurements of the temperature dependence of the optical reflectivity, dR/dT of fifteen metallic elements at a wavelength of λ = 1.03 μm by time-domain thermoreflectance (TDTR); and the thermoreflectance of thin-films of Pt, Ta, Al, Au, SrRuO(3), and LaNiO(3) over the wavelength range 0.4 < λ < 1.6 μm using variable angle spectroscopic ellipsometry. At λ = 1.03 μm, Al, Ta, Re, Ru, have high values of thermoreflectance, dR/dT > 6∙10(-5) K(-1), and are good choices as optical transducers for TDTR experiments using a Yb:fiber laser oscillator. If low optical reflectivity and the associated high degree of steady-state heating are not a concern, LaNiO(3) provides an exceptionally sensitive thermometer in the infrared; (1/R)(dR/dT) > 2.5∙10(-4) K(-1) in the wavelength range 0.85 < λ < 1.3 μm. This compilation of data will assist in the design and interpretation of optical pump-probe studies of thermal properties.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- R B Wilson
- Department of Materials Science, and Materials Research Laboratory, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA.
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
13
|
Wilson RB, Riffe DM. An embedded-atom-method model for alkali-metal vibrations. J Phys Condens Matter 2012; 24:335401. [PMID: 22836198 DOI: 10.1088/0953-8984/24/33/335401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
We present an embedded-atom-method (EAM) model that accurately describes the vibrational dynamics in the alkali metals Li, Na, K, Rb and Cs. The bulk dispersion curves, frequency-moment Debye temperatures and temperature-dependent entropy Debye temperatures are all in excellent agreement with experimental results. The model is also well suited for studying surface vibrational dynamics in these materials, as illustrated by calculations for the Na(110) surface.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- R B Wilson
- Physics Department, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322-4415, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
14
|
Wilson RB, Cahill DG. Experimental validation of the interfacial form of the Wiedemann-Franz law. Phys Rev Lett 2012; 108:255901. [PMID: 23004623 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.108.255901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2012] [Revised: 05/16/2012] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
The thermal conductivity of four Pd/Ir metal multilayers of total thickness 390 nm with 40, 80, 120, and 200 Pd/Ir interfaces are measured at temperatures between 78 and 295 K using time-domain thermoreflectance. The thermal interface conductance G of the Pd/Ir interface is derived from the differences in thermal conductivity between the multilayers. A comparison of G to previously reported data for the electronic specific resistance of the Pd/Ir interface at 4 K supports the validity of the interfacial form of the Wiedemann-Franz law. The Lorenz number deduced from this comparison is within 10% of the Sommerfeld value at all temperatures, well within the experimental uncertainties of ≈ 20%.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- R B Wilson
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, and Frederick Seitz Materials Research Laboratory, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
15
|
Badani H, Garry RF, Wilson RB, Wimley WC. Mechanism and Action of Flufirvitide, a Peptide Inhibitor of Influenza Virus Infection. Biophys J 2011. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2010.12.1392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022] Open
|
16
|
Merrett ND, Wilson RB, Cosman P, Biankin AV. Superior mesenteric artery syndrome: diagnosis and treatment strategies. J Gastrointest Surg 2009; 13:287-92. [PMID: 18810558 DOI: 10.1007/s11605-008-0695-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 177] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2008] [Accepted: 09/08/2008] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Superior mesenteric artery (SMA) syndrome is an unusual cause of vomiting and weight loss resulting from the compression of the third part of the duodenum by the SMA. Various medical and psychiatric conditions may result in the initial rapid weight loss which causes narrowing of the aortomesenteric angle. The vomiting and obstructive syndrome is then self-perpetuated regardless of the initiating factors. The young age and nonspecific symptoms often lead to a delay in diagnosis. DISCUSSION A series of eight cases is presented reviewing the presentation, investigations, surgical treatment by division of duodenum and duodenojejunostomy, and outcomes. CONCLUSION SMA syndrome is a well-described entity which must be considered as a cause of vomiting associated with significant weight loss in young adults. Surgical treatment should be allied with psychological assessment to treat any underlying psychosocial abnormality.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- N D Merrett
- Department of Upper Gastrointestinal Surgery, Bankstown Hospital, Suite 101/68 Eldridge Road, Bankstown, NSW 2200, Australia.
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
17
|
Bazzichi L, Giacomelli C, De Feo F, Giuliano T, Rossi A, Doveri M, Tani C, Wilson RB, Bombardieri S. Antipolymer antibody in Italian fibromyalgic patients. Arthritis Res Ther 2008; 9:R86. [PMID: 17822528 PMCID: PMC2212586 DOI: 10.1186/ar2285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2007] [Revised: 07/27/2007] [Accepted: 09/06/2007] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
The objectives of the present study were to evaluate the presence of antipolymer antibody (APA) seropositivity in 285 Italian patients affected by primary fibromyalgia (FM) and to verify whether APA levels correlate with disease severity and with cytokine levels.APA levels were determined on serum samples by an indirect ELISA kit that detects IgG APA. Cytokines (IL-1, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10 and TNFalpha) were measured by ELISA in plasma. The impact of FM on the quality of life was estimated using the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire, while pain severity was evaluated using a visual analogic scale. Patients were also characterized by the presence of tiredness, stiffness, nonrestorative sleep, anxiety, depression, tension headache, irritable bowel syndrome, temporomandibular dysfunction and Raynaud's phenomena. Using a cut-off value of 30 U, APA-positive values were detected in 60 FM patients (21.05%) and in 15 healthy control individuals (15.00%) without significant differences among their levels or the percentage of seropositivity. FM patients with moderate and severe symptoms had slightly higher APA levels with respect to patients with mild symptoms. APA-seropositive patients exhibited significant correlations between APA levels and the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire estimate (P = 0.042), tiredness (P = 0.003) and IL-1 levels (P = 0.0072). In conclusion, APA cannot be considered a marker of disease in Italian FM patients. The presence of APA, however, might permit the identification of a subset of FM patients with more severe symptoms and of patients who may respond differently to different therapeutic strategies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Laura Bazzichi
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Camillo Giacomelli
- Department of Psychiatry, Neurobiology, Pharmacology and Biotechnology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Francesca De Feo
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Tiziana Giuliano
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Alessandra Rossi
- Department of Psychiatry, Neurobiology, Pharmacology and Biotechnology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Marica Doveri
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Chiara Tani
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Russell B Wilson
- Autoimmune Technologies, L.L.C. 1010 Commons Suite 1705, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
| | - Stefano Bombardieri
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Wilson RB, Podder NK. Observation of period multiplication and instability in a dc glow discharge. Phys Rev E 2007; 76:046405. [PMID: 17995120 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.76.046405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2007] [Revised: 09/24/2007] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
The temporal dynamics in the fluctuations of the plasma floating potentials from an undriven dc glow discharge argon plasma at an intermediate gas pressure of 250mTorr and at the range of discharge currents I=6-50mA are investigated. In this study, the discharge current I is used as the plasma system's bifurcation parameter in analogy with the parameter space of a numerical dynamical system. Over several regions of the discharge current, the floating potential fluctuation time series data has been indicative of random noise, periodic oscillations, and irregular fluctuations. As the bifurcation parameter (discharge current) is increased, the Fourier spectrum of the data shows increased signs of period multiplication, quasiperiodicity, and instabilities. In addition, the computations of the correlation dimension provide some insight into the complex nature of the instabilities in the glow discharge plasma.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- R B Wilson
- Department of Math and Physics, Troy University, Troy, Alabama 36082, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
19
|
Zhao S, McDermott PF, White DG, Qaiyumi S, Friedman SL, Abbott JW, Glenn A, Ayers SL, Post KW, Fales WH, Wilson RB, Reggiardo C, Walker RD. Characterization of multidrug resistant Salmonella recovered from diseased animals. Vet Microbiol 2007; 123:122-32. [PMID: 17400409 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2007.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2007] [Revised: 02/27/2007] [Accepted: 03/01/2007] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Three hundred and eighty Salmonella isolates recovered from animal diagnostic samples obtained from four state veterinary diagnostic laboratories (AZ, NC, MO, and TN) between 2002 and 2003 were tested for antimicrobial susceptibilities and further characterized for bla(CMY) beta-lactamase genes, class 1 integrons and genetic relatedness using PFGE. Forty-seven serovars were identified, the most common being S. Typhimurium (26%), S. Heidelberg (9%), S, Dublin (8%), S. Newport (8%), S. Derby (7%), and S. Choleraesuis (7%). Three hundred and thirteen (82%) isolates were resistant to at least one antimicrobial, and 265 (70%) to three or more antimicrobials. Resistance was most often observed to tetracycline (78%), followed by streptomycin (73%), sulfamethoxazole (68%), and ampicillin (54%), and to a lesser extent chloramphenicol (37%), kanamycin (37%), amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (20%), and ceftiofur (17%). With regards to animal of origin, swine Salmonella isolates displayed the highest rate of resistance, being resistant to at least one antimicrobial (92%), followed by those recovered from turkey (91%), cattle (77%), chicken (68%), and equine (20%). Serovars commonly showing multidrug resistance (MDR) to > or =9 antimicrobials were S. Uganda (100%), S. Agona (79%), and S. Newport (62%), compared to S. Heidelberg (11%) and S. Typhimurium (7%). Class-1 integrons were detected in 43% of all isolates, and were found to contain aadA, aadB, dhfr, cmlA and sat1 gene cassettes alone or in various combinations. All ceftiofur resistant isolates (n=66) carried the bla(CMY) beta-lactamase gene. A total of 230 PFGE patterns were generated among the 380 isolates tested using XbaI, indicating extensive genetic diversity across recovered Salmonella serovars, however, several MDR clones were repeatedly recovered from different diseased animals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- S Zhao
- Office of Research, Center for Veterinary Medicine, U.S. Food & Drug Administration, Laurel, MD 20708, USA.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
20
|
Sainz B, Mossel EC, Gallaher WR, Wimley WC, Peters CJ, Wilson RB, Garry RF. Inhibition of severe acute respiratory syndrome-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV) infectivity by peptides analogous to the viral spike protein. Virus Res 2006; 120:146-55. [PMID: 16616792 PMCID: PMC2582734 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2006.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2005] [Revised: 02/09/2006] [Accepted: 03/01/2006] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV) is the cause of an atypical pneumonia that affected Asia, North America and Europe in 2002-2003. The viral spike (S) glycoprotein is responsible for mediating receptor binding and membrane fusion. Recent studies have proposed that the carboxyl terminal portion (S2 subunit) of the S protein is a class I viral fusion protein. The Wimley and White interfacial hydrophobicity scale was used to identify regions within the CoV S2 subunit that may preferentially associate with lipid membranes with the premise that peptides analogous to these regions may function as inhibitors of viral infectivity. Five regions of high interfacial hydrophobicity spanning the length of the S2 subunit of SARS-CoV and murine hepatitis virus (MHV) were identified. Peptides analogous to regions of the N-terminus or the pre-transmembrane domain of the S2 subunit inhibited SARS-CoV plaque formation by 40-70% at concentrations of 15-30 microM. Interestingly, peptides analogous to the SARS-CoV or MHV loop region inhibited viral plaque formation by >80% at similar concentrations. The observed effects were dose-dependent (IC50 values of 2-4 microM) and not a result of peptide-mediated cell cytotoxicity. The antiviral activity of the CoV peptides tested provides an attractive basis for the development of new fusion peptide inhibitors corresponding to regions outside the fusion protein heptad repeat regions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Sainz
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Tulane University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
21
|
Lynch DR, Farmer JM, Tsou AY, Perlman S, Subramony SH, Gomez CM, Ashizawa T, Wilmot GR, Wilson RB, Balcer LJ. Measuring Friedreich ataxia: complementary features of examination and performance measures. Neurology 2006; 66:1711-6. [PMID: 16769945 DOI: 10.1212/01.wnl.0000218155.46739.90] [Citation(s) in RCA: 143] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To examine the potential validity of performance measures and examination-based scales in Friedreich ataxia (FA) by examining their correlation with disease characteristics. METHODS The authors assessed the properties of a candidate clinical outcome measure, the Friedreich Ataxia Rating Scale (FARS), and simple performance measures (9-hole peg test, the timed 25-foot walk, PATA test, and low-contrast letter acuity) in 155 patients with FA from six institutions, and correlated the scores with disease duration, functional disability, activity of daily living scores, age, and shorter GAA repeat length to assess whether these measures capture the severity of neurologic dysfunction in FA. RESULTS Scores for the FARS and performance measures correlated significantly with functional disability, activities of daily living scores, and disease duration, showing that these measures meet essential criteria for construct validity for measuring the progressive nature of FA. In addition, the FARS and transformed performance measures scores were predicted by age and shorter GAA repeat length in linear regression models accounting for sex and testing site. Correlations between performance measures were moderate in magnitude, suggesting that each test captures separate yet related dimensions of neurologic function in FA and that a composite measure might better predict disease status. Composite measures created using cohort means and standard deviations predicted disease status better than or equal to single performance measures or examination-based measures. CONCLUSIONS The Friedreich Ataxia Rating Scale, performance measures, and performance measure composites provide valid assessments of disease progression in Friedreich ataxia.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- D R Lynch
- Department of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, PA 19104-4318, USA.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
22
|
Abstract
Miller, Norman G. (University of Nebraska College of Medicine, Omaha) and Richard B. Wilson. In vivo and in vitro observations of Leptospira pomona by electron microscopy. J. Bacteriol. 84:569-576. 1962.-Leptospira pomona 3341 was observed by electron microscopy, after the preparation of thin sections from culture material and from infected hamster tissue. The external membrane of low electron density envelops the entire leptospire and appears to be quite flexible, as suggested by its many folds. The spiral protoplasmic body is tubular in structure with a relatively dense wall and a central area of low electron density. Occasionally, very dark circumscribed bodies were seen imbedded in the protoplasmic wall. Detailed morphology is presented of a knoblike structure located at the end of the axial filament. Bifurcation of the axial filament could be demonstrated in leptospires from cultures. Leptospires were observed free or enclosed in vesicles within the cytoplasm of liver parenchymal and renal tubule cells. Erythrocytes located in kidney tissue also contained leptospires within the cytoplasm. The appearance of intracellular leptospires is much the same as those seen extracellularly or from culture.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- N G Miller
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Department of Pathology, University of Nebraska College of Medicine, Omaha, Nebraska
| | | |
Collapse
|
23
|
Szabo S, Haislip AM, Traina-Dorge V, Costin JM, Crawford BE, Wilson RB, Garry RF. Human, rhesus macaque, and feline sequences highly similar to mouse mammary tumor virus sequences. Microsc Res Tech 2005; 68:209-21. [PMID: 16276510 DOI: 10.1002/jemt.20233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Sequences highly similar (>95%) to the mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) env gene have been amplified from human DNA samples, including DNA samples from patients with breast cancer (BC) and persons who did not have BC. The sequences from human DNA were distinct from the MMTV sequences used as controls in these PCR reactions, indicating that these results are not simply due to contamination. In addition to both, mouse and human-related sequences were also amplified from some monkey and cat genomic DNA samples. These products were shown to be distinct from, but highly related to, the MMTV env gene, whereas, testing of other sources (lambda phage, snake, cockroach, sea urchin, chicken, or dog) demonstrated no specific amplification. A sequence 90% similar to the MMTV group antigen gene (gag) was amplified from cat DNA. These results indicate that DNA from vertebrate species other than rodents, including some but not all humans, monkeys, and cats, can contain sequences closely related to MMTV.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sara Szabo
- Department of Pathology, Children's Hospital, New Orleans, Louisiana 70118, USA.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
24
|
Sander DM, Szabo S, Gallaher WR, Deas JE, Thompson JJ, Cao Y, Luo-Zhang H, Liu LG, Colmegna I, Koehler J, Espinoza LR, Alexander SS, Hart DJ, Tom DM, Fermin CD, Jaspan JJ, Kulakosky PC, Tenenbaum SA, Wilson RB, Garry RF. Involvement of human intracisternal A-type retroviral particles in autoimmunity. Microsc Res Tech 2005; 68:222-34. [PMID: 16276517 DOI: 10.1002/jemt.20234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Prior studies have linked retroviruses to various arthropathies and autoimmune diseases. Sjögren's syndrome (SS), a systemic autoimmune disease, is characterized by aggressive infiltration of lymphocytes into the salivary and lacrimal glands, resulting in destruction of the glands and dry mouth and eyes (sicca syndrome). The infiltrating lymphocytes in SS may become overtly malignant, and thus, the incidence of lymphoma is greatly increased in SS patients. A human intracisternal A-type retroviral particle type I (HIAP-I) has been isolated from persons with SS. HIAP-I shares a limited number of antigenic epitopes with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), but is distinguishable from HIV by morphological, physical, and biochemical criteria. A substantial majority of patients with SS or systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) have serum antibodies to the proteins of this human retrovirus. Fewer than 3% of the normal blood donor population have antibodies to any HIAP-associated proteins. A second type of a human intracisternal A-type retrovirus, HIAP-II, was detected in a subset of patients with idiopathic CD4 lymphocytopenia (ICL), an AIDS-like immunodeficiency disease. Most HIAP-II positive ICL patients were also antinuclear antibody positive. Reviewed here are additional studies from several laboratories suggesting that HIAP or related viruses may be involved in SLE and other autoimmune conditions. Additionally, results of comprehensive surveys of autoimmune patients to determine seroreactivity to HIAP, and other human retroviruses, including HIV and human T-lymphotropic virus type I, are reported.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- David M Sander
- Graduate Program in Molecular and Cellular Biology and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Tulane University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
25
|
VandeVord PJ, Gupta N, Wilson RB, Vinuya RZ, Schaefer CJ, Canady AI, Wooley PH. Immune reactions associated with silicone-based ventriculo-peritoneal shunt malfunctions in children. Biomaterials 2004; 25:3853-60. [PMID: 15020161 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2003.10.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2003] [Accepted: 09/25/2003] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
The implantation of ventriculo-peritoneal (VP) shunting systems is the most commonly performed neurological procedure in children with hydrocephalus. Although the overall complication risk is low, the cumulative risk of shunt failure is high and unfortunately results in a high prevalence of revision surgeries. In this study, we explored the concept that some pediatric patients may develop an immune response to either the proteins attached to the silicone implant surface or to the biomaterial itself, and that this reaction may contribute to VP shunt failure in some individuals. The data displays that the sterile shunt malfunction group had a higher rate of protein deposition and increased levels of autoantibodies to the extracted surface proteins as compared to individuals with functioning shunting systems. The precise nature of the shunt-bound proteins that serve as antigens in this experiment have not yet been determined. The data also indicated that some individuals develop antibodies to polymeric substances that cross-react with partially polymerized acrylamide. The detection of significant amounts of shunt-bound protein, antibody responses to these proteins and to polymeric substances suggest that an immunological response to these proteins may play a role in the mechanism behind sterile shunt malfunctions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pamela J VandeVord
- Departments of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
26
|
Ogino S, Wilson RB, Grody WW. Bayesian risk assessment for autosomal recessive diseases: fetal echogenic bowel with one or no detectable CFTR mutation. J Med Genet 2004; 41:e70. [PMID: 15121798 PMCID: PMC1735756 DOI: 10.1136/jmg.2003.015065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- S Ogino
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115 USA.
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
27
|
|
28
|
|
29
|
|
30
|
|
31
|
Abstract
We previously reported that antibodies to squalene, an experimental vaccine adjuvant, are present in persons with symptoms consistent with Gulf War Syndrome (GWS) (P. B. Asa et al., Exp. Mol. Pathol 68, 196-197, 2000). The United States Department of Defense initiated the Anthrax Vaccine Immunization Program (AVIP) in 1997 to immunize 2.4 million military personnel. Because adverse reactions in vaccinated personnel were similar to symptoms of GWS, we tested AVIP participants for anti-squalene antibodies (ASA). In a pilot study, 6 of 6 vaccine recipients with GWS-like symptoms were positive for ASA. In a larger blinded study, only 32% (8/25) of AVIP personnel compared to 15.7% (3/19) of controls were positive (P > 0.05). Further analysis revealed that ASA were associated with specific lots of vaccine. The incidence of ASA in personnel in the blinded study receiving these lots was 47% (8/17) compared to an incidence of 0% (0/8; P < 0.025) of the AVIP participants receiving other lots of vaccine. Analysis of additional personnel revealed that in all but one case (19/20; 95%), ASA were restricted to personnel immunized with lots of vaccine known to contain squalene. Except for one symptomatic individual, positive clinical findings in 17 ASA-negative personnel were restricted to 4 individuals receiving vaccine from lots containing squalene. ASA were not present prior to vaccination in preimmunization sera available from 4 AVIP personnel. Three of these individuals became ASA positive after vaccination. These results suggest that the production of ASA in GWS patients is linked to the presence of squalene in certain lots of anthrax vaccine.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pamela B Asa
- Department of Microbiology, Tulane University Medical School, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, USA
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
32
|
Abstract
Most spinal muscular atrophy patients lack both copies of SMN1 exon 7 and most carriers have only one copy of SMN1 exon 7. We investigated the effect of SMN1/SMN2 heteroduplex formation on SMN gene dosage analysis, which is an assay to determine copy number of SMN1 exon 7 that utilizes multiplex quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with DraI digestion to differentiate SMN1 from SMN2. Heteroduplex formation in PCR is a well-described phenomenon. In addition to demonstrating the presence of heteroduplexes by sequence analysis of purified SMN1 bands, we compared the SMN1 signals in various genotype groups (total n = 260) to those in a group lacking SMN2 (n = 13), and we estimated the relative amounts of SMN1/SMN2 heteroduplexes. The SMN1 signal increased as SMN2 copy number increased despite a constant SMN1 copy number, although not all pairwise comparisons showed a statistically significant difference in the SMN1 signal. In conclusion, SMN1/SMN2 heteroduplexes form in SMN gene dosage analysis, falsely increasing the SMN1 signal. External controls for SMN gene dosage analysis should be chosen carefully with regard to SMN2 copy number. The effect of heteroduplex formation should be considered when performing quantitative multiplex PCR.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- S Ogino
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
33
|
Luo V, Lessin SR, Wilson RB, Rennert H, Tozer C, Benoit B, Leonard DG. Detection of clonal T-cell receptor gamma gene rearrangements using fluorescent-based PCR and automated high-resolution capillary electrophoresis. Mol Diagn 2001; 6:169-79. [PMID: 11571710 DOI: 10.1054/modi.2001.27056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Analysis of T-cell receptor gamma (TCR gamma) gene rearrangements by PCR is a powerful tool for detecting clonal T-cell populations for the diagnosis of lymphoid neoplasms. We report a method for TCR gamma PCR analysis using capillary electrophoresis (CE). METHODS AND RESULTS To define the threshold for identification of a predominant monoclonal population within a polyclonal background, we developed a novel objective parameter of the peak height ratio (Rn) of the peak of interest and the average of the two immediate flanking peaks. After evaluation of monoclonal, reactive, and normal T-cell populations, an Rn of 3.0 or greater was determined to be consistent with a monoclonal population, whereas an Rn between 1.9 and 3.0 was considered an intermediate range. This CE method was compared with the standard denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) method using previously evaluated clinical specimens. Eleven of 12 clinical specimens (92%) with a definitive diagnosis of T-cell lymphoma were monoclonal by CE, with 100% concordance with the DGGE method. Of nine specimens morphologically suspicious for T-cell lymphoma, five specimens were positive by CE analysis compared with four specimens by DGGE. In addition, 14 specimens for staging from patients with known T-cell lymphoma were studied using both the CE and DGGE methods, with a concordance of 86%. CONCLUSION CE is a powerful and efficient method for analysis of clonality by TCR gamma PCR.
Collapse
MESH Headings
- Biopsy
- Clone Cells
- DNA Primers
- DNA, Neoplasm/analysis
- Electrophoresis, Capillary
- Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel
- Fluorescence
- Gene Rearrangement, gamma-Chain T-Cell Antigen Receptor/genetics
- Genes, T-Cell Receptor gamma/genetics
- Humans
- Lymphoma, T-Cell/genetics
- Lymphoma, T-Cell/pathology
- Lymphoma, T-Cell, Cutaneous/genetics
- Lymphoma, T-Cell, Cutaneous/pathology
- Paraffin Embedding
- Polymerase Chain Reaction/methods
- Sensitivity and Specificity
- Skin Neoplasms/genetics
- Skin Neoplasms/pathology
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- V Luo
- Molecular Pathology Laboratory, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104-4283, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
34
|
Mansfield ES, Wilson RB, Fortina P. Analysis of short tandem repeat markers by capillary array electrophoresis. Methods Mol Biol 2001; 163:151-61. [PMID: 11242940 DOI: 10.1385/1-59259-116-7:151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/19/2023]
|
35
|
Rohrbach BW, Legendre AM, Baldwin CA, Lein DH, Reed WM, Wilson RB. Epidemiology of feline infectious peritonitis among cats examined at veterinary medical teaching hospitals. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2001; 218:1111-5. [PMID: 11318361 DOI: 10.2460/javma.2001.218.1111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To determine proportions of cats in which feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) was diagnosed on an annual, monthly, and regional basis and identify unique characteristics of cats with FIP. DESIGN Case-control study. SAMPLE POPULATION Records of all feline accessions to veterinary medical teaching hospitals (VMTH) recorded in the Veterinary Medical Data Base between January 1986 and December 1995 and of all feline accessions for necropsy or histologic examination at 4 veterinary diagnostic laboratories. PROCEDURE Proportions of total and new feline accessions for which a diagnosis of FIP was recorded were calculated. To identify characteristics of cats with FIP, cats with FIP were compared with the next cat examined at the same institution (control cats). RESULTS Approximately 1 of every 200 new feline and 1 of every 300 total feline accessions at VMTH in North America and approximately 1 of every 100 accessions at the diagnostic laboratories represented cats with FIP. Cats with FIP were significantly more likely to be young, purebred, and sexually intact males and significantly less likely to be spayed females and discharged alive than were control cats. The proportion of new accessions for which a diagnosis of FIP was recorded did not vary significantly among years, months, or regions of the country. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results indicated that FIP continues to be a clinically important disease in North America and that sexually intact male cats may be at increased risk, and spayed females at reduced risk, for FIP. The high prevalence of FIP and lack of effective treatment emphasizes the importance of preventive programs, especially in catteries.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- B W Rohrbach
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville 37901, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
36
|
Megonigal MD, Rappaport EF, Wilson RB, Jones DH, Whitlock JA, Ortega JA, Slater DJ, Nowell PC, Felix CA. Panhandle PCR for cDNA: a rapid method for isolation of MLL fusion transcripts involving unknown partner genes. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2000; 97:9597-602. [PMID: 10920186 PMCID: PMC16910 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.150241797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Identifying translocations of the MLL gene at chromosome band 11q23 is important for the characterization and treatment of leukemia. However, cytogenetic analysis does not always find the translocations and the many partner genes of MLL make molecular detection difficult. We developed cDNA panhandle PCR to identify der(11) transcripts regardless of the partner gene. By reverse transcribing first-strand cDNAs with oligonucleotides containing coding sequence from the 5' MLL breakpoint cluster region at the 5' ends and random hexamers at the 3' ends, known MLL sequence was attached to the unknown partner sequence. This enabled the formation of stem-loop templates with the fusion point of the chimeric transcript in the loop and the use of MLL primers in two-sided PCR. The assay was validated by detection of the known fusion transcript and the transcript from the normal MLL allele in the cell line MV4-11. cDNA panhandle PCR then was used to identify the fusion transcripts in two cases of treatment-related acute myeloid leukemia where the karyotypes were normal and the partner genes unknown. cDNA panhandle PCR revealed a fusion of MLL with AF-10 in one case and a fusion of MLL with ELL in the other. Alternatively spliced transcripts and exon scrambling were detectable by the method. Leukemias with normal karyotypes may contain cryptic translocations of MLL with a variety of partner genes. cDNA panhandle PCR is useful for identifying MLL translocations and determining unknown partner sequences in the fusion transcripts.
Collapse
MESH Headings
- Alleles
- Alternative Splicing/genetics
- Child
- DNA, Complementary/analysis
- DNA, Complementary/chemistry
- DNA, Complementary/genetics
- DNA-Binding Proteins/genetics
- Exons/genetics
- Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase
- Humans
- Infant
- Karyotyping
- Male
- Molecular Sequence Data
- Myeloid-Lymphoid Leukemia Protein
- Neoplasm Proteins
- Nucleic Acid Conformation
- Oncogene Proteins, Fusion/genetics
- Peptide Elongation Factors
- Polymerase Chain Reaction/methods
- Proto-Oncogenes
- RNA, Messenger/analysis
- RNA, Messenger/genetics
- Reproducibility of Results
- Rhabdomyosarcoma, Alveolar/genetics
- Sarcoma, Ewing/genetics
- Templates, Genetic
- Transcription Factors/genetics
- Transcriptional Elongation Factors
- Translocation, Genetic/genetics
- Tumor Cells, Cultured
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M D Megonigal
- Division of Oncology, Joseph Stokes, Jr., Research Institute, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, 19104, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
37
|
Abstract
Hypomagnesemia after total thyroidectomy has not been studied extensively. Our anecdotal experience suggests that it may be important in some patients after thyroid excision. The hypomagnesemic hypocalcemic syndrome has been described in other disease states in which a state of functional hypoparathyroidism exists. This study was designed to determine the incidence of hypomagnesemia after total thyroidectomy and relate it to hypocalcemia and symptoms during the postoperative period. A prospective study of all patients undergoing total thyroidectomy between September 1994 and July 1996 was performed. Patient data, thyroid function, retrosternal extension, initial versus reoperative surgery, operative details, parathyroid resection, and pathology were recorded. Calcium, magnesium, electrolytes, blood count, liver function tests, and albumin were measured prior to surgery and twice daily during the postoperative period. Fifty patients underwent total thyroidectomy: 68% were hypocalcemic, 72% were hypomagnesemic, and 36% were symptomatic during the postoperative period. Hypomagnesemia and gender were associated with hypocalcemia. Volume of fluid and neck dissection were associated with low magnesium levels. Hypomagnesemia and parathyroid resection were risk factors for symptoms after thyroidectomy. No patients developed permanent hypoparathyroidism. Transient hypocalcemia and hypomagnesemia occur frequently after total thyroidectomy. The etiology of this phenomenon is probably multifactorial. Patients are more likely to be symptomatic when both cations are low, and attempting to correct only hypocalcemia may prolong symptoms. It is important to monitor both calcium and magnesium levels after total thyroidectomy and to correct deficiencies to facilitate prompt resolution of symptoms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- R B Wilson
- Department of Surgery, Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick, New South Wales, Australia
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
38
|
Wilson RB, Lynch DR, Farmer JM, Brooks DG, Fischbeck KH. Increased serum transferrin receptor concentrations in Friedreich ataxia. Ann Neurol 2000; 47:659-61. [PMID: 10805340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/16/2023]
Abstract
Mitochondrial iron accumulation is thought to underlie the pathophysiology of Friedreich ataxia and may occur at the expense of cytosolic iron. Decreases in cytosolic iron induce expression of the transferrin receptor, some of which is released into the serum. Here, we demonstrate that serum transferrin receptor concentrations are increased in patients with Friedreich ataxia, which supports the hypothesis that it is a disease of abnormal intracellular iron distribution.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- R B Wilson
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia 19104, USA
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
39
|
Megonigal MD, Cheung NK, Rappaport EF, Nowell PC, Wilson RB, Jones DH, Addya K, Leonard DG, Kushner BH, Williams TM, Lange BJ, Felix CA. Detection of leukemia-associated MLL-GAS7 translocation early during chemotherapy with DNA topoisomerase II inhibitors. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2000; 97:2814-9. [PMID: 10706619 PMCID: PMC16012 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.050397097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Leukemias with MLL gene translocations are a complication of primary cancer treatment with DNA topoisomerase II inhibitors. How early translocations appear during primary cancer treatment has not been investigated. We tracked the leukemic clone with an MLL gene translocation during neuroblastoma therapy in a child who developed acute myeloid leukemia. The karyotype of the leukemic clone showed del(11)(q23). We used panhandle PCR-based methods to isolate the breakpoint junction involving MLL and an unknown partner gene. Marrow DNA from neuroblastoma diagnosis and DNA and RNA from serial preleukemic marrows were examined for the translocation. The karyotypic del(11)(q23) was a cryptic t(11;17). GAS7, a growth arrest-specific gene at chromosome band 17p13, was the partner gene of MLL. Two different MLL-GAS7 fusion transcripts were expressed. The translocation was already detectable by 1.5 months after the start of neuroblastoma treatment. The translocation was not detectable in the marrow at neuroblastoma diagnosis or in peripheral blood lymphocyte DNAs of six normal subjects. GAS7 is a new partner gene of MLL in treatment-related acute myeloid leukemia. MLL gene translocations can be present early during anticancer treatment at low cumulative doses of DNA topoisomerase II inhibitors. Although MLL has many partner genes and most have not been characterized, panhandle PCR strategies afford new means for detecting MLL gene translocations early during therapy when the partner gene is unknown.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M D Megonigal
- Division of Oncology, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, and Department of Pediatrics, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
40
|
Abstract
Growth and differentiation of Candida albicans over a broad pH range underlie its ability to infect an array of tissues in susceptible hosts. We identified C. albicans RIM101, RIM20, and RIM8 based on their homology to components of the one known fungal pH response pathway. PCR product-disruption mutations in each gene cause defects in three responses to alkaline pH: filamentation, induction of PRA1 and PHR1, and repression of PHR2. We find that RIM101 itself is an alkaline-induced gene that also depends on Rim20p and Rim8p for induction. Two observations indicate that a novel pH response pathway also exists. First, PHR2 becomes an alkaline-induced gene in the absence of Rim101p, Rim20p, or Rim8p. Second, we created strains in which Rim101p activity is independent of Rim20p and Rim8p; in these strains, filamentation remains pH dependent. Thus, pH governs gene expression and cellular differentiation in C. albicans through both RIM101-dependent and RIM101-independent pathways.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- D Davis
- Department of Microbiology, Columbia University, New York, New York 10032, USA
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
41
|
Abstract
For some time, gene disruptions in Candida albicans have been made with the hisG-URA3-hisG ('Ura-blaster') cassette, which can be re-used in successive transformations of a single strain after homologous excision of URA3. However, the hisG repeats are too large for efficient PCR amplification of the entire cassette, so it cannot be used for PCR product-directed gene disruptions. We describe here a gene disruption cassette, URA3-dpl200, with 200 bp flanking repeats that permit efficient PCR amplification. After transformation and integration to produce both arg5::URA3-dpl200 and rim101::URA3-dpl200 alleles, we find that arg5::dpl200 and rim101::dpl200 segregants, respectively, can be obtained. We have used the cassette to create rim101::dpl200/rim101::URA3-dpl200 mutants exclusively through PCR product-directed disruption.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- R B Wilson
- Department of Microbiology, Institute of Cancer Research, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
42
|
Rennert H, Golde T, Wilson RB, Spitalnik SL, Van Deerlin VM, Leonard DG. A novel, non-nested reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test for the detection of the t(15;17) translocation: a comparative study of RT-PCR cytogenetics, and fluorescence In situ hybridization. Mol Diagn 1999; 4:195-209. [PMID: 10553020 DOI: 10.1016/s1084-8592(99)80023-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The development of a rapid and simple reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay is described that identifies the promyelocytic leukemia- retinoic acid receptor alpha (PML-RARa) hybrid messenger RNA (mRNA), a characteristic feature of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). METHODS AND RESULTS Randomly primed complementary (cDNA) is synthesized from leukocyte RNA and amplified in the presence of Taq Gold in 2 separate reaction tubes containing primer pairs specific for intron 3 (bcr 3, long [L] form mRNA transcript) and intron 6 (bcr 1, short [S] form)/exon 6 (bcr 2, variant [V] form) breakpoints in PML, respectively. The different sized products generated from each RNA transcript (S, L, or V forms) are readily and unambiguously distinguishable after agarose gel electrophoresis without the need for either nested PCR or hybridization. The sensitivity of the assay is 1 in 10,000 to 1 in 100,000. The separate amplification of a b2-microglobulin transcript controls for adequate RNA and cDNA preparation. The newly developed assay was used clinically for the evaluation of 78 patients with APL. It was rapid and more sensitive than cytogenetic karyotyping, both for the diagnosis of APL and the assessment of minimal residual disease (MRD) after therapy. RT-PCR detected PML-RARa mRNA in all cases positive for the t(15;17) translocation by cytogenetics. However, as many as 50% and 80% of the diagnostic specimens and the specimens for MRD assessment, respectively, that were positive by RT-PCR were negative by cytogenetics. The ratio of cases with L-form to S-form PML-RARa fusion transcript was 2:1, whereas 3 cases (10%) had fusion sites in exon 6 of the PML gene (V forms). In addition, approximately 50% of the patients were diagnosed morphologically with microgranular M3V-type leukemia, but no significant correlation with PML breakpoints was found. CONCLUSION The current assay is rapid, sensitive, and specific without using nested PCR or hybridization.
Collapse
MESH Headings
- Biomarkers, Tumor/genetics
- Bone Marrow Examination
- Chromosomes, Human, Pair 15/genetics
- Chromosomes, Human, Pair 15/ultrastructure
- Chromosomes, Human, Pair 17/genetics
- Chromosomes, Human, Pair 17/ultrastructure
- Exons/genetics
- Female
- Humans
- In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence
- Karyotyping
- Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute/diagnosis
- Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute/genetics
- Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute/pathology
- Male
- Moloney murine leukemia virus/enzymology
- Neoplasm Proteins/genetics
- Neoplasm, Residual
- Neoplastic Cells, Circulating
- Oncogene Proteins, Fusion/genetics
- RNA, Messenger/analysis
- RNA, Neoplasm/analysis
- RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase/metabolism
- Retroviridae Proteins/metabolism
- Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction/methods
- Sensitivity and Specificity
- Time Factors
- Translocation, Genetic
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- H Rennert
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Health System, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
43
|
Chen KL, Wang YL, Rennert H, Joshi I, Mills JK, Leonard DG, Wilson RB. Duplications and de novo deletions of the SMNt gene demonstrated by fluorescence-based carrier testing for spinal muscular atrophy. Am J Med Genet 1999; 85:463-9. [PMID: 10405443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/13/2023]
Abstract
Approximately 95% of individuals with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) lack both copies of the SMNt gene at 5q13. The presence of a nearly identical centromeric homolog of the SMNt gene, SMNc, necessitates a quantitative polymerase chain reaction approach to direct carrier testing. Adapting a radioactivity-based method described previously, multiplex polymerase chain reaction was performed using fluorescently labeled primers followed by analysis on an ABI 373a DNA sequencer. The SMNt copy number was calculated from ratios of peak areas using both internal and genomic standards. Samples from 60 presumed carriers (50 parents of affected individuals and 10 relatives implicated by linkage analysis) and 40 normal control individuals were tested. Normalized results (to the mean of five or more control samples harboring two copies of the SMNt gene) were consistently within the ranges of 0.4 to 0.6 for carriers (one copy) and 0.8 to 1.2 for normal controls (two copies), without overlap. Combining linkage analyses with direct carrier test results demonstrated de novo deletions associated with crossovers, unaffected individuals carrying two SMNt gene copies on one chromosome and zero SMNt gene copies on the other chromosome, and unaffected individuals with three copies of the SMNt gene. This report demonstrates that fluorescence-based carrier testing for SMA is accurate, reproducible, and useful for genetic risk assessment, and that carrier testing may need to be combined with linkage analysis in certain circumstances.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- K L Chen
- Molecular Pathology Laboratory, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
44
|
Wilson RB. Disciplinary introversion in colleges of veterinary medicine. J Am Vet Med Assoc 1999; 214:1772-3. [PMID: 10382015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/13/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- R B Wilson
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman 99164, USA
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Abstract
BACKGROUND To identify risk factors for local recurrence and overall survival in patients with extremity soft tissue sarcoma. METHODS A retrospective study was performed of all patients with extremity soft tissue sarcoma treated at the Combined Surgical Oncology Clinic in the Institute of Oncology at Prince of Wales Hospital between 1972 and 1992. Variables analysed included clinical presentation, patient characteristics, tumour characteristics, treatment factors and outcome. RESULTS One hundred and nineteen patients were eligible for the study. The most common type of presentation was with a painless mass, usually in the thigh. Local control rates at 5 and 10 years were 75% and 73%. Local control was higher in patients who had more radical surgery and in those who received adjuvant radiotherapy. Tumour size and high grade were independent risk factors for poorer survival. Patients over 50 had poorer survival than younger patients and those who presented with recurrent tumours also tended to have poor survival compared to patients presenting de novo. The respective 5- and 10-year survival rates were 65% and 62%. CONCLUSION This study suggests that local control of extremity soft tissue sarcoma is improved by radical surgery and by the addition of radiotherapy when more conservative procedures are used. Overall survival appeared to be largely determined by patient (age, recurrent presentation) and tumour characteristics (grade, size).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- R B Wilson
- Department of Surgery, Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick, New South Wales, Australia
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
46
|
Abstract
Disruption of newly identified genes in the pathogen Candida albicans is a vital step in determination of gene function. Several gene disruption methods described previously employ long regions of homology flanking a selectable marker. Here, we describe disruption of C. albicans genes with PCR products that have 50 to 60 bp of homology to a genomic sequence on each end of a selectable marker. We used the method to disrupt two known genes, ARG5 and ADE2, and two sequences newly identified through the Candida genome project, HRM101 and ENX3. HRM101 and ENX3 are homologous to genes in the conserved RIM101 (previously called RIM1) and PacC pathways of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Aspergillus nidulans. We show that three independent hrm101/hrm101 mutants and two independent enx3/enx3 mutants are defective in filamentation on Spider medium. These observations argue that HRM101 and ENX3 sequences are indeed portions of genes and that the respective gene products have related functions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- R B Wilson
- Department of Microbiology and Institute of Cancer Research, Columbia University, New York, New York 10032, USA
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
47
|
Wilson RB, Gluck OS, Tesser JR, Rice JC, Meyer A, Bridges AJ. Antipolymer antibody reactivity in a subset of patients with fibromyalgia correlates with severity. J Rheumatol 1999; 26:402-7. [PMID: 9972976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/10/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To determine the prevalence of antipolymer antibodies (APA) in patients with fibromyalgia (FM) and autoimmune disease control groups and to determine if the presence of these antibodies correlates with severity in patients with FM. METHODS Sera from patients with FM (n = 47), osteoarthritis (OA) (n = 16), and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) (n = 13) were analyzed. Patients with implants of any kind and patients with concurrent autoimmune conditions were excluded from study. Banked sera from autoimmune disease controls including poly/dermatomyosis (n = 15), RA (n = 30), systemic lupus erythmatosus (SLE) (n = 30), and systemic sclerosis (SSc) (n = 30) were also analyzed. To determine if seroreactivity correlates with severity, banked sera from patients with FM assessed as severe (n = 28) or mild (n = 37) and from controls (n = 21) were assayed. RESULTS Following analysis, the prevalence of seroreactivity was found to be higher in patients with FM (22/47, 47%) compared to patients with OA (3/16, 19%; p<0.1) or RA (1/13, 8%; p<0.05) and the autoimmune disease control sera from poly/dermatomyosis (2/15, 13%; p<0.05), and patients with RA (3/30, 10%; p<0.01), SLE (1/30, 3%; p<0.01), and SSc (1/30, 3%; p<0.01). The prevalence of APA seroreactivity was also significantly higher in patients with severe FM (17/28, 61%) compared to patients with mild FM (11/37, 30%; p<0.05) and controls (4/21, 19%; p<0.01). In addition, both mean threshold and mean tolerance dolorimetry scores were significantly lower in the seropositive patients with mild FM (1.33+/-0.21, 1.95+/-0.25, respectively) compared to the seronegative patients (1.83+/-0.08, 2.53+/-0.11; p<0.05 for both comparisons, respectively). CONCLUSION These results reveal that an immunological response, production of anti-polymer antibodies, is associated with a subset of patients with FM. The results also suggest that the APA assay may be an objective marker in the diagnosis and assessment of FM and may provide additional avenues of investigation into the pathophysiological processes involved in FM.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- R B Wilson
- Autoimmune Technologies, L.L.C., New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, USA.
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
48
|
|
49
|
Abstract
Friedreich's ataxia (FRDA) is caused by point mutations or trinucleotide repeat expansions in both alleles of the gene encoding frataxin. Studies of frataxin homologues in lower eukaryotes suggest that mitochondrial iron accumulation may underlie the pathophysiology of FRDA. To evaluate the possible role of iron-chelation therapy for FRDA, we measured serum iron and ferritin concentrations in 10 FRDA patients. The measurements were within normal limits, suggesting that iron-chelation therapy for FRDA may be problematic.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- R B Wilson
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia 19104, USA
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
50
|
Abstract
Using genomic DNA from patients with follicular lymphoma, we performed polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplifications to detect t(14;18) translocations. Unexpectedly large products of approximately 1 kilobase (kb) were detected by gel electrophoresis in 2 of 50 positive cases. In these 2 cases, sequence analyses showed novel breakpoints in the 3' untranslated region of bcl-2, approximately 800 bp downstream of the major breakpoint region (mbr). The breakpoints in IgH occurred in JH4 in one patient and JH5 in the other. Sequences just upstream of the new bcl-2 breakpoints suggest a mechanism of translocation that may include minisatellite core-mediated recombination. In one of our two patients with novel bcl-2 breakpoints, the approximately 1 kb product obtained using conventional mbr primers was detectable only when a nested PCR was performed. These findings have important implications for diagnosis and minimal residual disease detection in t(14;18)-positive lymphomas.
Collapse
MESH Headings
- Adult
- Base Sequence
- Chromosomes, Human, Pair 14/genetics
- Chromosomes, Human, Pair 14/ultrastructure
- Chromosomes, Human, Pair 18/genetics
- Chromosomes, Human, Pair 18/ultrastructure
- DNA, Neoplasm/genetics
- Female
- Genes, Immunoglobulin/genetics
- Genes, bcl-2
- Humans
- Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains/genetics
- Lymphoma, Follicular/genetics
- Lymphoma, Follicular/pathology
- Molecular Sequence Data
- Neoplasm, Residual
- Polymerase Chain Reaction
- Sequence Analysis, DNA
- Translocation, Genetic
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Y L Wang
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia 19104, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|