Microbiology Commons^™

Functional Interplay Between The B-Box 2 And The B30.2(Spry) Domains Of Trim5Α, Xi Ling, Byeongwoon Song, Shi-Hua Xiang, Joseph Sodroski

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

The retroviral restriction factors, TRIM5α and TRIMCyp, consist of RING and B-box 2 domains separated by a coiled coil from carboxy-terminal domains. These carboxy-terminal domains (the B30.2(SPRY) domain in TRIM5α and the cyclophilin A domain in TRIMCyp) recognize the retroviral capsid. Here we show that some B-box 2 changes in TRIM5α, but not in TRIMCyp, resulted in decreased human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) capsid binding. The phenotypic effects of these B-box 2 changes on the restriction of retroviral infection depended on the potency of restriction and the affinity of the TRIM5α interaction with the viral capsid, two properties specified by the …

Characterization Of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Monomeric And Trimeric Gp120 Glycoproteins Stabilized In The Cd4-Bound State: Antigenicity, Biophysics, And Immunogenicity, Barna Dey, Marie Pancera, Krisha Svehla, Yuuei Shu, Shi-Hua Xiang, Jeffrey Vainshtein, Yuxing Li, Joseph Sodroski, Peter D. Kwong, John R. Mascola, Richard Wyatt

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 exterior gp120 envelope glycoprotein is highly flexible, and this flexibility may contribute to the inability of monomeric gp120 immunogens to elicit broadly neutralizing antibodies. We previously showed that an S375W modification of a critical interfacial cavity central to the primary receptor binding site, the Phe43 cavity, stabilizes gp120 into the CD4-bound state. However, the immunological effects of this cavity-altering replacement were never tested. Subsequently, we screened other mutations that, along with the S375W alteration, might further stabilize the CD4-bound state. Here, we define a selected second cavity-altering replacement, T257S, and analyze the double mutations …

Georgeoral Immunization Of Rhesus Macaques With Adenoviral Hiv Vaccines Using Enteric-Coated Capsules, George T. Mercier, Pramod N. Nehete, Marco F. Passeri, Bharti N. Nehete, Eric A. Weaver, Nancy Smyth Templeton, Kimberly Schluns, Stephanie S. Buchl, K. Jagannadha Sastry, Michael A. Barry

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

Targeted delivery of vaccine candidates to the gastrointestinal (GI) tract holds potential for mucosal immunization, particularly against mucosal pathogens like the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Among the different strategies for achieving targeted release in the GI tract, namely the small intestine, pH sensitive enteric coating polymers have been shown to protect solid oral dosage forms from the harsh digestive environment of the stomach and dissolve relatively rapidly in the small intestine by taking advantage of the luminal pH gradient. We developed an enteric polymethacrylate formulation for coating hydroxy-propyl-methyl-cellulose (HPMC) capsules containing lyophilized Adenoviral type 5 (Ad5) vectors expressing HIV-1 gag …

A Protein Encoded By The Bovine Herpesvirus 1 Latency-Related Gene Interacts With Specific Cellular Regulatory Proteins, Including Ccaat Enhancer Binding Protein Alpha, Florencia Meyer, Sandra Perez, Vicki Geiser, Mark Sintek, Melissa Inman, Clinton J. Jones

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

Following acute infection, bovine herpesvirus 1 establishes latency in sensory neurons of trigeminal ganglia (TG). Reactivation from latency occurs periodically, resulting in the shedding of infectious virus. The latency-related (LR) RNA is abundantly expressed in TG of latently infected calves, and the expression of LR proteins is necessary for dexamethasone-induced reactivation from latency. Previously published studies also identified an alternatively spliced LR transcript which is abundantly expressed in TG at 7 days after infection and has the potential to encode a novel LR fusion protein. Seven days after infection is when extensive viral gene expression is extinguished in TG and …

Genetic Microheterogeneity And Phenotypic Variation Of Helicobacter Pylori Arginase In Clinical Isolates, Justin Hovey, Emily Watson, Melanie Langford, Ellen Hildebrandt, Sangeetha Bathala, Jeffrey Bolland, Domenico Spadafora, George Mendz, David Mcgee

School of Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

Background: Clinical isolates of the gastric pathogen Helicobacter pylori display a high level of genetic macro- and microheterogeneity, featuring a panmictic, rather than clonal structure. The ability of H. pylori to survive the stomach acid is due, in part, to the arginase-urease enzyme system. Arginase (RocF) hydrolyzes L-arginine to L-ornithine and urea, and urease hydrolyzes urea to carbon dioxide and ammonium, which can neutralize acid.

Results: The degree of variation in arginase was explored at the DNA sequence, enzyme activity and protein expression levels. To this end, arginase activity was measured from 73 minimally-passaged clinical isolates and six laboratory-adapted strains …

Evolutionary Endocrinology: The Developing Synthesis Between Endocrinology And Evolutionary Genetics, Anthony J. Zera, Lawrence G. Harshman, Tony D. Williams

Anthony Zera Publications

A productive synthesis of endocrinology and evolutionary genetics has occurred during the past two decades, resulting in the first direct documentation of genetic variation and correlation for endocrine regulators in nondomesticated animals. In a number of insect genetic polymorphisms (dispersal polymorphism in crickets, butterfly wing-pattern polymorphism), blood levels of ecdysteroids and juvenile hormone covary with morphology, development, and life history. Genetic variation in insulin signaling may underlie life history trade-offs in Drosophila. Vertebrate studies identified variation in brain neurohormones, bone-regulating hormones, and hormone receptor gene sequences that underlie ecologically important genetic polymorphisms. Most work to date has focused on genetically …

Genomeblast: A Web Tool For Small Genome Comparison, Guoqing Lu, Liying Jiang, Resa M. K. Helikar, Thaine W. Rowley, Luwen Zhang, Xianfeng Chen, Etsuko N. Moriyama

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

Background: Comparative genomics has become an essential approach for identifying homologous gene candidates and their functions, and for studying genome evolution. There are many tools available for genome comparisons. Unfortunately, most of them are not applicable for the identification of unique genes and the inference of phylogenetic relationships in a given set of genomes.

Results: GenomeBlast is a Web tool developed for comparative analysis of multiple small genomes. A new parameter called "coverage" was introduced and used along with sequence identity to evaluate global similarity between genes. With GenomeBlast, the following results can be obtained: (1) unique genes in each …

Pichia Pastoris Fermentation Optimization: Energy State And Testing A Growth-Associated Model , Bradley A. Plantz, Jayanta Sinha, Lorelie Villarete, Kenneth W. Nickerson, Vicki Schlegel

Papers in Microbiology

A growth-associated model was applied to the production of recombinant ovine interferon-τ (rOvIFN-τ) with Pichia pastoris for the purpose of manufacturing pre clinical and clinical active material. This model predicts that product yields will be the greatest when the specific growth of the culture is maintained at a steady and optimal rate. However, rOvIFN-τ yields did not meet the expected linear model but most closely corresponded to a polynomial relationship. After transitioning from glycerol to methanol, product accumulated for 31–45 h, and then the yield decreased. This production shift, which has been termed decoupling, was clearly related to time on …

Molecularly Cloned Shiv-1157ipd3n4: A Highly Replication- Competent, Mucosally Transmissible R5 Simian-Human Immunodeficiency Virus Encoding Hiv Clade C Env, R. J. Song, A.-L. Chenine, R. A. Rasmussen, C. R. Ruprecht, S. Mirshahidi, D. R. Grisson, W. Xu, J. B. Whitney, L. M. Goins, H. Ong, P.-L. Li, E. Shai-Kobiler, T. Wang, C. M. Mccann, Hong Zhang, Charles Wood, C. Kankasa, W. E. Secor, H. M. Mcclure, E. Strobert, J. G. Else, R. M. Ruprecht

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) clade C causes >50% of all HIV infections worldwide, and an estimated 90% of all transmissions occur mucosally with R5 strains. A pathogenic R5 simian-human immunodeficiency virus (SHIV) encoding HIV clade Cenv is highly desirable to evaluate candidate AIDS vaccines in nonhuman primates. To this end, we generated SHIV-1157i, a molecular clone from a Zambian infant isolate that carries HIV clade C env. SHIV-1157i was adapted by serial passage in five monkeys, three of which developed peripheral CD4^{4 T-cell depletion. After the first inoculated monkey developed AIDS at week 137 postinoculation, …}

Genome Of Invertebrate Iridescent Virus Type 3 (Mosquito Iridescent Virus), Gustavo A. Delhon, Edan R. Tulman, Claudio L. Afonso, Zhiqiang Lu, James J. Becnel, Bettina A. Moser, Gerald F. Kutish, Daniel L. Rock

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

Iridoviruses (IVs) are classified into five genera: Iridovirus and Chloriridovirus, whose members infect invertebrates, and Ranavirus, Lymphocystivirus, and Megalocytivirus, whose members infect vertebrates. Until now, Chloriridovirus was the only IV genus for which a representative and complete genomic sequence was not available. Here, we report the genome sequence and comparative analysis of a field isolate of Invertebrate iridescent virus type 3 (IIV-3), also known as mosquito iridescent virus, currently the sole member of the genus Chloriridovirus. Approximately 20% of the 190-kbp IIV-3 genome was repetitive DNA, with DNA repeats localized in 15 apparently noncoding regions. Of …

Genome Of Horsepox Virus, Gustavo A. Delhon, C. L. Afonso, Z. Lu, L. Zsak, N. T. Sandybaev, U. M. Kerembekova, V. L. Zaitsev, G. F. Kutish, D. L. Rock

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

Here we present the genomic sequence of horsepox virus (HSPV) isolate MNR-76, an orthopoxvirus (OPV) isolated in 1976 from diseased Mongolian horses. The 212-kbp genome contained 7.5-kbp inverted terminal repeats and lacked extensive terminal tandem repetition. HSPV contained 236 open reading frames (ORFs) with similarity to those in other OPVs, with those in the central 100-kbp region most conserved relative to other OPVs. Phylogenetic analysis of the conserved region indicated that HSPV is closely related to sequenced isolates of vaccinia virus (VACV) and rabbitpox virus, clearly grouping together these VACV-like viruses. Fifty-four HSPV ORFs likely represented fragments of 25 orthologous …

Virion-Associated Restriction Endonucleases Of Chloroviruses, Irina V. Agarkova, David Dunigan, James L. Van Etten

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

Chloroviruses are large, double-stranded-DNA, plaque-forming viruses that infect certain eukaryotic chlorella- like green algae. The prototype of the genus is Paramecium bursaria chlorella virus 1 (PBCV-1). Chlorovirus genomes contain various amounts of methylated nucleotides due to virus-encoded DNA methyltransferases (MTases); about 25% of the MTases are associated with companion DNA site-specific (restriction) endonucleases (REases). These enzymes constitute virally encoded restriction-modification (R/M) systems. Although several of the chlorovirus R/M systems are characterized, their biological functions are unknown. The PBCV-1 proteome reveals that two virus-encoded REases, but not their companion MTases, are virion associated, suggesting that viral REases might help degrade the …

Evolutionary Genetics Of Juvenile Hormone And Ecdysteroid Regulation In Gryllus: A Case Study In The Microevolution Of Endocrine Regulation, Anthony J. Zera

Anthony Zera Publications

During the past 15 years the first detailed synthesis of endocrinology and population genetics has begun, in which natural genetic variations for endocrine regulators have been characterized, almost exclusively in species of the cricket genus Gryllus. Artificial selection studies have documented that regulators of the juvenile hormone titer can rapidly evolve and exhibit levels of genetic variability similar to other physiological traits. Strong genetic correlations exist between some but not all regulators of the JH titer during the juvenile stage. No genetic correlation exists between regulators functioning in juvenile and adult stages, and thus, endocrine regulation can evolve independently in …

Cross-Subtype T-Cell Immune Responses Induced By A Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Group M Consensus Env Immunogen†0--, Eric A. Weaver, Zhongjing Lu, Zenaido T. Camacho, Fatiha Moukdar, Hua-Xin Liao, Ben-Jiang Ma, Mark Muldoon, James Theiler, Gary J. Nabel, Norman L. Letvin, Bette T. Korber, Beatrice H. Hahn, Barton F. Haynes, Feng Gao

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

The genetic diversity among globally circulating human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) strains is a serious challenge for HIV-1 vaccine design. We have generated a synthetic groupMconsensus env gene (CON6) for induction of cross-subtype immune responses and report here a comparative study of T-cell responses to this and natural strain env immunogens in a murine model. Three different strains of mice were immunized with CON6 as well as subtype A, B, or C env immunogens, using a DNA prime-recombinant vaccinia virus boost strategy. T-cell epitopes were mapped by gamma interferon enzyme-linked immunospot analysis using five overlapping Env peptide sets from …

Intermediary Metabolism And Life-History Trade-Offs: Differential Metabolism Of Amino Acids Underlies The Dispersal-Reproduction Trade-Off In A Wing-Polymorphic Cricket, Anthony J. Zera, Zhangwu Zhao

Anthony Zera Publications

Although the differential flow of metabolites through alternate pathways of intermediary metabolism is thought to be an important functional cause of life-history trade-offs, this phenomenon remains understudied. Using a radiolabeled amino acid, we quantified genetic differences in in vivo amino acid metabolism between morphs of the wing-polymorphic cricket Gryllus firmus that trade off early-age reproduction and dispersal capability. Lines selected for the flight-capable morph, which delays reproduction, oxidized a greater proportion of radiolabeled glycine and converted a greater amount into somatic lipid, mainly triglyceride (flight fuel). By contrast, lines selected for the flightless, reproductive morph converted a substantially greater proportion …

Biochemical Basis Of Specialization For Dispersal Vs. Reproduction In A Wing-Polymorphic Cricket: Morph-Specific Metabolism Of Amino Acids, Zhangwu Zhao, Anthony J. Zera

Anthony Zera Publications

The biochemical basis of specializations for dispersal vs. reproduction is an understudied aspect of dispersal polymorphism in insects. Using a radiolabelled amino acid, we quantified differences in in vivo amino acid metabolism between morphs of the wing-polymorphic cricket, Gryllus firmus, that trade-off early age reproduction and dispersal capability. Studies were conducted in crickets fed a variety of diets expected to influence amino acid and lipid metabolism. On the day of molt to adulthood, prior to the morph-specific trade-off between ovarian growth and biochemical preparation for flight (e.g. biosynthesis of triglyceride flight fuel), morphs did not differ in any aspect of …

Quorum Sensing In Dimorphic Fungi: Farnesol And Beyond, Kenneth W. Nickerson, Audrey L. Atkin, Jacob M. Hornby

Papers in Microbiology

Production of farnesol by Candida albicans is the first quorum- sensing system discovered in a eukaryote (29). In C. albicans, accumulated farnesol affects both dimorphism (29, 50) and biofilm formation (62). Fungal dimorphism is defined (64) as an environmentally controlled reversible interconversion of morphology, particularly yeast and mycelial morphologies. Interest in this shift derives from the dimorphic character of many fungi that are pathogenic toward plants and animals (64). Numerous chemical and environmental parameters can shift the yeast-mycelium dimorphism, including temperature, pH, glucose levels, nitrogen source, carbon dioxide levels, transition metals, chelating agents, and inoculum size or initial cell …

Genome Of Crocodilepox Virus, C. L. Afonso, E. R. Tulman, Gustavo A. Delhon, Z. Lu, G. J. Viljoen, D. B. Wallace, G. F. Kutish, D. L. Rock

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

Here, we present the genome sequence, with analysis, of a poxvirus infecting Nile crocodiles (Crocodylus niloticus) (crocodilepox virus; CRV). The genome is 190,054 bp (62% G+C) and predicted to contain 173 genes encoding proteins of 53 to 1,941 amino acids. The central genomic region contains genes conserved and generally colinear with those of other chordopoxviruses (ChPVs). CRV is distinct, as the terminal 33-kbp (left) and 13-kbp (right) genomic regions are largely CRV specific, containing 48 unique genes which lack similarity to other poxvirus genes. Notably, CRV also contains 14 unique genes which disrupt ChPV gene colinearity within the …

Analysis Of Hiv-2 Vpx By Modeling And Insertional Mutagenesis, Lisa A. Mahnke, Michael Belshan, Lee Ratner

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

Vpx facilitates HIV-2 nuclear localization by a poorly understood mechanism. We have compared Vpx to an NMR structure HIV- 1 Vpr in a central helical domain and probed regions of Vpx by insertional mutagenesis. A predicted loop between helices two and three appears to be unique, overlapping with a known novel nuclear localization signal. Overall, Vpx was found to be surprisingly flexible, tolerating a series of large insertions. We found that insertion within the polyproline-containing C-terminus destabilizes nuclear localization, whereas mutating a second helix in the central domain disrupts viral packaging. Other insertional mutants in the predicted loop and in …

Influence Of Bovine Respiratory Syncytial Virus F Glycoprotein N-Linked Glycans On In Vitro Expression And On Antibody Responses In Balb/C Mice, Holly A. Klink, Ryan Brady, Christina L. Topliff, Kent M. Eskridge, Subramaniam Srikumaran, Clayton L. Kelling

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

Bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) is an etiological component of the bovine respiratory tract disease complex. Infection with BRSV following vaccination, or re-infection following natural infection is common since protection is incomplete. The objectives of this study were to create plasmid DNA constructs encoding single or multiple N-glycosylation-site deletion BRSV fusion (F) proteins, and evaluate their expression in cell culture, and potential to induce anti-BRSV F antibody responses in BALB/ c mice. Four plasmid DNAs were constructed, each encoding 1-4 N-glycosylation-site deletions: Gly4, Gly2/4, Gly1/2/4 and Gly1/2/3/4. Each of the N-glycosylation-site deletion BRSV F proteins were expressed …

The Latent Membrane Protein 1 Of Epstein-Barr Virus (Ebv) Primes Ebv Latency Cells For Type I Interferon Production, Dongsheng Xu, Kristen Brumm, Luwen Zhang

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) latency has been associated with a variety of human cancers. Latent membrane protein 1 (LMP-1) is one of the key viral proteins required for transformation of primary B cells in vitro and establishment of EBV latency. We have previously shown that LMP-1 induces the expression of several interferon (IFN)-stimulated genes and has antiviral effect (Zhang, J., Das, S. C., Kotalik, C., Pattnaik, A. K., and Zhang, L. (2004) J. Biol. Chem. 279, 46335–46342). In this report, a novel mechanism related to the antiviral effect of LMP-1 is identified. We show that EBV type III latency cells, in …

Influence Of N-Linked Glycosylation Of Porcine Reproductive And Respiratory Syndrome Virus Gp5 On Virus Infectivity, Antigenicity, And Ability To Induce Neutralizing Antibodies, Israrul H. Ansari, Byungjoon Kwon, Fernando A. Osorio, Asit K. Pattnaik

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) glycoprotein 5 (GP5) is the most abundant envelope glycoprotein and a major inducer of neutralizing antibodies in vivo. Three putative N-linked glycosylation sites (N34, N44, and N51) are located on the GP5 ectodomain, where a major neutralization epitope also exists. To determine which of these putative sites are used for glycosylation and the role of the glycan moieties in the neutralizing antibody response, we generated a panel of GP5 mutants containing amino acid substitutions at these sites. Biochemical studies with expressed wild-type (wt) and mutant proteins revealed that the mature GP5 contains high-mannose-type …

Characterization Of Functional Domains Of Equine Infectious Anemia Virus Rev Suggests A Bipartite Rna-Binding Domain, Jae-Hyung Lee, Sean C. Murphy, Michael Belshan, Wendy O. Sparks, Yvonne Wannemuehler, Sijun Liu, Thomas J. Hope, Drena Dobbs, Susan Carpenter

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

Equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) Rev is an essential regulatory protein that facilitates expression of viral mRNAs encoding structural proteins and genomic RNA and regulates alternative splicing of the bicistronic tat/rev mRNA. EIAV Rev is characterized by a high rate of genetic variation in vivo, and changes in Rev genotype and phenotype have been shown to coincide with changes in clinical disease. To better understand how genetic variation alters Rev phenotype, we undertook deletion and mutational analyses to map functional domains and to identify specific motifs that are essential for EIAV Rev activity. All functional domains are contained within the …

Farnesol Restores Wild-Type Colony Morphology To 96% Of Candida Albicans Colony Morphology Variants Recovered Following Treatment With Mutagens, Ellen C. Jensen, Jacob M. Hornby, Nicole E. Pagliaccetti, Chuleeon M. Wolter, Kenneth Nickerson, Audrey L. Atkin

Kenneth Nickerson Papers

Candida albicans is a diploid fungus that undergoes a morphological transition between budding yeast, hyphal, and pseudohyphal forms. The morphological transition is strongly correlated with virulence and is regulated in part by quorum sensing. Candida albicans produces and secretes farnesol that regulates the yeast to mycelia morphological transition. Mutants that fail to synthesize or respond to farnesol could be locked in the filamentous mode. To test this hypothesis, a collection of C. albicans mutants were isolated that have altered colony morphologies indicative of the presence of hyphal cells under environmental conditions where C. albicans normally grows only as yeasts. All …

Conserved Amino Acids Of The Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 2 Vpx Nuclear Localization Signal Are Critical For Nuclear Targeting Of The Viral Preintegration Complex In Non-Dividing Cells, Michael Belshan, Lisa A. Mahnke, Lee Ratner

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

The HIV-2 viral accessory protein Vpx is related to, but distinct from the Vpr protein of HIV-1. Vpx is packaged into virions and as a component of the viral preintegration complex (PIC) is required for efficient virus replication in non-dividing cells. We have previously reported that the minimal transferable region of Vpx that contained karyophilic properties was aa 65 to 72. Analysis of Vpx sequences from various HIV-2/SIV strains reveals that this region contains highly conserved amino acids, including two basic residues (K68, R70) and three tyrosines (Y66, Y69, Y71). Here, we demonstrate that mutation of the basic or tyrosine …

Uneven Distribution Of Mhc Class Ii Epitopes Within The Influenza Virus, Sherry R. Crowe, Shannon C. Miller, Pamela S. Adams, Richard Dutton, Allen G. Harmsen, Frances E. Lund, Troy D. Randall, Deborah M. Brown, Susan Swain, David L. Woodland

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

The identification of T cell epitopes is crucial for the understanding of the host immune response during infection. While much is known about the MHC class I-restricted response following influenza virus infection of C57BL/6 mice, with over 16 CD8 epitopes identified to date, less is known about the MHC class II-restricted response. Currently, only a few I-A^b-restricted T helper epitopes have been identified. Therefore, several important questions remain about how many class II epitopes exist in this system and whether these epitopes are evenly distributed within the most abundant viral proteins. In order to address these questions, we …

Prevalence And Serovars Of Salmonella In The Feces Of Free-Ranging White-Tailed Deer (Odocoileus Virginianus) In Nebraska, David G. Renter, David P. Gnad, Jan M. Sargeant, Scott E. Hygnstrom

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

To determine the prevalence and serovars of Salmonella in free-ranging deer, we cultured feces from white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) harvested by hunters during a regular firearm season in southeastern Nebraska (USA). We recovered Salmonella from 5 (1%; 95% confidence interval: 0.37– 2.20%) of 500 samples and identified four different Salmonella enterica serovars [Litchfield (1), Dessau (1), Infantis (2), and Enteritidis (1)]. Although the prevalence of Salmonella in free-ranging deer appears to be low, the serovars recovered are known to be pathogenic to humans and animals.

Factors Associated With Hiv Prevalence In A Pre-Partum Cohort Of Zambian Women, Janet S. St. Lawrence, W. Klaskala, C. Kankasa, J. T. West, Charles D. Mitchell, Charles Wood

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

An ongoing study of mother-to-child human transmission in Zambian women (n = 3,160) allowed us to examine the association of medical injections with HIV serostatus while simultaneously accounting for other factors known to be correlated with HIV prevalence. Multi-method data collection included structured interviews, medical record abstraction, clinical examinations, and biological measures. Medically administered intramuscular or intravenous injections in the past five years (but not blood transfusions) were overwhelmmgly correlated with HIV prevalence, exceeding the contribution of sexual behaviors in a multivariable logistic regression. Statistically significant associations with HIV also were found for some demographic variables, sexual behaviors, alcohol …

A Group M Consensus Envelope Glycoprotein Induces Antibodies That Neutralize Subsets Of Subtype B And C Hiv-1 Primary Viruses, Hua-Xin Lin, Laura L. Sutherland, Shi-Mao Xia, Mary E. Brock, Richard M. Scearce, Stacie Vanleeuwen, S. Munir Alam, Mildred Mcadams, Eric A. Weaver, Zenaido T. Camacho, Ben-Jiang Ma, Yingying Li, Julie M. Decker, Gary J. Nabel, David C. Montefiori, Beatrice H. Hahn, Bette T. Korber, Feng Gao, Barton F. Haynes

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

HIV-1 subtype C is the most common HIV-1 group M subtype in Africa and many parts of Asia. However, to date HIV-1 vaccine candidate immunogens have not induced potent and broadly neutralizing antibodies against subtype C primary isolates. We have used a centralized gene strategy to address HIV-1 diversity, and generated a group M consensus envelope gene with shortened consensus variable loops (CON-S) for comparative studies with wildtype (WT) Env immunogens. Our results indicate that the consensus HIV-1 group M CON-S Env elicited cross-subtype neutralizing antibodies of similar or greater breadth and titer than the WT Envs tested, indicating the …

Myxozoan Genera: Definition And Notes On Taxonomy, Life-Cycle Terminology And Pathogenic Species, Jiří Lom, Iva Dyková

Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology: Library Materials

A list of myxozoan genera is presented in the current taxonomical scheme. These genera are defined; their type species and most important pathogens along with their hosts are listed. Simultaneously, definitions of actinospore stages representing sexual stages of the myxosporean life cycle are given; altogether, 17 actinospore collective groups with 180 types have been described. Life cycles of the two classes of the phylum Myxozoa, Malacosporea and Myxosporea, are briefly outlined with specification of the appropriate terms. Up to now, 4 malacosporean and 2,180 myxosporean species assigned to a total of 62 genera, have been established. The surviving classification of …