Virology Commons^™

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 …

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 …

Characterization Of Hiv-1 Subtype C Envelope Glycoproteins From Perinatally Infected Children With Different Courses Of Disease, Hong Zhang, Federico Hoffmann, Jun He, Xiang He, Chipepo Kankasa, John T. West, Charles D. Mitchell, Ruth M. Ruprecht, Guillermo Orti, Charles Wood

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

Background: The causal mechanisms of differential disease progression in HIV-1 infected children remain poorly defined, and much of the accumulated knowledge comes from studies of subtype B infected individuals. The applicability of such findings to other subtypes, such as subtype C, remains to be substantiated. In this study, we longitudinally characterized the evolution of the Env V1–V5 region from seven subtype C HIV-1 perinatally infected children with different clinical outcomes. We investigated the possible influence of viral genotype and humoral immune response on disease progression in infants.

Results: Genetic analyses revealed that rapid progressors (infants that died in the first …

Design Clues From Functional Constraints And Broadly Neutralizing Antibodies, Tongqing Zhou, Ling Xu, Barna Dey, Ann J. Hessell, Shahzad Majeed, Donald Van Ryk, Shi-Hua Xiang, Xinzhen Yang, Mei-Yun Zhang, Michael B. Zwick, James Arthos, Dennis R. Burton, Dimiter S. Dimitrov, Joseph Sodroski, Richard Wyatt, Gary J. Nabel, Peter D. Kwong

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

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 …

Cross-Subtype T-Cell Immune Responses Induced By A Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Group M Consensus Env Immunogen, Eric A. Weaver, 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, Zhongjing Lu

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 group M consensus 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 …

Aids And Associated Malignancies, Charles Wood, William Harrington Jr.

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

AIDS associated malignancies (ARL) is a major complication associated with AIDS patients upon immunosuppression. Chronically immunocompromised patients have a markedly increased risk of developing lymphoproliferative disease. In the era of potent antiretrovirals therapy (ARV), the malignant complications due to HIV-I infection have decreased in developed nations where ARV is administered, but still poses a major problem in developing countries where HIV-l incidence is high and ARV is still not yet widely available. Even in ARV treated individuals there is a concern that the prolonged survival of many HIV-l carriers is likely to eventually result in an increased number of malignancies …

Rdr6 Has A Broad-Spectrum But Temperature-Dependent Antiviral Defense Role In Nicotiana Benthamiana, Feng Qu, Xiaohong Ye, Guichuan Hou, Shirley Sato, Thomas E. Clemente, Thomas Jack Morris

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

SDE1/SGS2/RDR6, a putative RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRP) from Arabidopsis thaliana, has previously been found to be indispensable for maintaining the posttranscriptional silencing of transgenes, but it is seemingly redundant for antiviral defense. To elucidate the antiviral role of this RdRP in a different host plant and to evaluate whether plant growth conditions affect its role, we down-regulated expression of the Nicotiana benthamiana homolog, NbRDR6, and examined the plants for altered susceptibility to various viruses at different growth temperatures. The results we describe here clearly show that plants with reduced expression of NbRDR6 were more susceptible to all viruses tested …

Aids And Associated Malignancies, Charles Wood, William Harrington

Papers in Virology

AIDS associated malignancies (ARL) is a major complication associated with AIDS patients upon immunosuppression. Chronically immunocompromised patients have a markedly increased risk of developing lymphoproliferative disease. In the era of potent antiretrovirals therapy (ARV), the malignant complications due to HIV-1 infection have decreased in developed nations where ARV is administered, but still poses a major problem in developing countries where HIV-l incidence is high and ARV is still not yet widely available. Even in ARV treated individuals there is a concern that the prolonged survival of many HIV-l carriers is likely to eventually result in an increased number of malignancies …

Interspecies Transmission Of Chronic Wasting Disease Prions To Squirrel Monkeys (Saimiri Sciureus), Richard F. Marsh, Anthony E. Kincaid, Richard A. Bessen, Jason C. Bartz

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is an emerging prion disease of deer and elk. The risk of CWD transmission to humans following exposure to CWD-infected tissues is unknown. To assess the susceptibility of nonhuman primates to CWD, two squirrel monkeys were inoculated with brain tissue from a CWD-infected mule deer. The CWD-inoculated squirrel monkeys developed a progressive neurodegenerative disease and were euthanized at 31 and 34 months postinfection. Brain tissue from the CWD-infected squirrel monkeys contained the abnormal isoform of the prion protein, PrP-res, and displayed spongiform degeneration. This is the first reported transmission of CWD to primates.

Suppressors Of Rna Silencing Encoded By Plant Viruses And Their Role In Viral Infections, Feng Qu, Thomas Jack Morris

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

Published in FEBS Letters 579:26 (October 31, 2005), pp. 5958–5964; doi 10.1016/j.febslet.2005.08.041 Copyright © 2005 Federation of European Biochemical Societies; published by Elsevier B.V. Used by permission. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/00145793

Extraneural Prion Neuroinvasion Without Lymphoreticular System Infection, Jason C. Bartz, Crista Dejoia, Tammy Tucker, Anthony E. Kincaid, Richard A. Bessen

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

While prion infection of the lymphoreticular system (LRS) is necessary for neuroinvasion in many prion diseases, in bovine spongiform encephalopathy and atypical cases of sheep scrapie there is evidence to challenge that LRS infection is required for neuroinvasion. Here we investigated the role of prion infection of LRS tissues in neuroinvasion following extraneural inoculation with the HY and DY strains of the transmissible mink encephalopathy (TME) agent. DY TME agent infectivity was not detected in spleen or lymph nodes following intraperitoneal inoculation and clinical disease was not observed following inoculation into the peritoneum or lymph nodes, or after oral ingestion. …

Functional Mimicry Of A Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Coreceptor By A Neutralizing Monoclonal Antibody, Shi-Hua Xiang, Michael Farzan, Zhihai Si, Navid Madani, Liping Wang, Eric Rosenberg, James Robinson, Joseph Sodroski

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

Interaction of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) gp120 envelope glycoprotein with the primary receptor, CD4, promotes binding to a chemokine receptor, either CCR5 or CXCR4. The chemokine receptor-binding site on gp120 elicits CD4-induced (CD4i) antibodies in some HIV-1-infected individuals. Like CCR5 itself, the CD4i antibody 412d exhibits a preference for CCR5-using HIV-1 strains and utilizes sulfated tyrosines to achieve binding to gp120. Here, we show that 412d binding requires the gp120 β19 strand and the base of the V3 loop, elements that are important for the binding of the CCR5 N terminus. Two gp120 residues in the V3 …

Identification Of Cis-Acting Elements That Mediate The Replication And Maintenance Of Human Papillomavirus Type 16 Genomes In Saccharomyces Cerevisiae, Kitai Kim, Peter C. Angeletti, Elizabeth C. Hassebroek, Paul F. Lambert

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

Papillomaviruses contain small double-stranded DNA genomes that are maintained in persistently infected mammalian host epithelia as nuclear plasmids and rely upon the host replication machinery for replication. Papillomaviruses encode a DNA helicase, E1, which can specifically bind to the viral genome and support DNA synthesis. Under some conditions in mammalian cells, E1 is not required for viral DNA synthesis, leading to the hypothesis that papillomavirus DNA can be replicated solely by the host replication machinery. This machinery is highly conserved among eukaryotes. We and others found that papillomavirus DNA could replicate in a simple eukaryote, Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Specifically, papillomavirus …

Kaposi’S Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus/Human Herpesvirus 8 Replication And Transcription Activator Regulates Viral And Cellular Genes Via Interferon-Stimulated Response Elements, Jun Zhang, Jinzhang Wang, Charles Wood, Dongsheng Xu, Luwen Zhang

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (also called human herpesvirus 8 [HHV-8]) replication and transcription activator (RTA) is apparently necessary and sufficient for the switch from viral latency to lytic replication. RTA may regulate open reading frame (ORF) K14 (viral OX-2 homologue) and ORF74 (viral G-protein-coupled receptor homologue) genes through an interferon-stimulated response element (ISRE)-like sequence (K14 ISRE) in the promoter region. RTA strongly activated a K14 ISRE-containing K14-ORF74 promoter reporter construct and a heterologous promoter reporter construct containing K14 ISRE. RTA could bind to K14 ISRE and other ISREs, activate promoter reporter constructs from interferon-simulated genes (ISGs), and selectively induce three endogenous …

Comparative Genomics Of Foot-And-Mouth Disease Virus, C. Carrillo, E. R. Tuhlman, Gustavo A. Delhon, Z. Lu, A. Carreno, A. Vagnozzi, G. F. Kutish, D. L. Rock

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

Here we present complete genome sequences, including a comparative analysis, of 103 isolates of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) representing all seven serotypes and including the first complete sequences of the SAT1 and SAT3 genomes. The data reveal novel highly conserved genomic regions, indicating functional constraints for variability as well as novel viral genomic motifs with likely biological relevance. Previously undescribed invariant motifs were identified in the 5’ and 3’ untranslated regions (UTR), as was tolerance for insertions/deletions in the 5’ UTR. Fifty-eight percent of the amino acids encoded by FMDV isolates are invariant, suggesting that these residues are critical for …

Human Dendritic Cells Transduced With Herpes Simplex Virus Amplicons Encoding Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 (Hiv-1) Gp120 Elicit Adaptive Immune Responses From Human Cells Engrafted Into Nod/Scid Mice And Confer Partial Protection Against Hiv-1 Challenge, Santhi Gorantla, Kathlyn Santos, Vakara Meyer, Stephen Dewhurst, William J. Bowers, Howard J. Federoff, Howard Gendelman, Larisa Poluektova

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

Small-animal models are needed to test human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) vaccine efficacy following viral challenge. To this end, we examined HIV-1-specific immune responses following immunization of nonobese diabetic-severe combined immunodeficient mice that were repopulated with human peripheral blood lymphocytes (hu-PBL-NOD/SCID mice). Autologous dendritic cells (DC) were transduced ex vivo with replicationdefective, helper virus-free, herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) amplicons that expressed HIV-1 gp120 and were then injected into the hu-PBL-NOD/SCID mice. This resulted in primary HIV-1-specific humoral and cellular immune responses. Serum samples from vaccinated animals contained human immunoglobulin G that reacted with HIV-1 Env proteins by enzyme-linked immunosorbent …

Modulation Of Human Herpesvirus 8/Kaposi’S Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus Replication And Transcription Activator Transactivation By Interferon Regulatory Factor 7, Jinzhang Wang, Jun Zhang, William Harrington Jr., John T. West, Charles Wood

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

Human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8)/Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus infection goes through lytic and latent phases that are regulated by viral gene products, but very little is known about the involvement of host proteins. The replication and transcription activator (RTA) is a viral protein sufficient to initiate lytic replication by activating downstream genes, including the viral early gene open reading frame 57 (ORF 57), which codes for a posttranscriptional activator. In this study, we demonstrate that cellular interferon regulatory factor 7 (IRF-7) negatively regulates this process by competing with RTA for binding to the RTA response element in the ORF 57 promoter to …

The Nuclear Localization Of The Arabidopsis Transcription Factor Tip Is Blocked By Its Interaction With The Coat Protein Of Turnip Crinkle Virus, Tao Ren, Feng Qu, Thomas Jack Morris

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

We have previously reported that TIP, an Arabidopsis protein, interacts with the coat protein (CP) of Turnip crinkle virus (TCV) in yeast cells and that this interaction correlated with the resistance response in the TCV-resistant Arabidopsis ecotype Dijon-17. TIP was also able to activate transcription of reporter genes in yeast cells, suggesting that it is likely a transcription factor. We have now verified the physical interaction between TIP and TCV CP in vitro and showed that CP mutants unable to interact with TIP in yeast cells bind TIP with much lower affinity in vitro. Secondly, we have performed gel shift …

In Vitro And In Vivo Translational Efficiencies Of The 5′ Untranslated Region From Eight Genotype 2 Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus Field Isolates, Christina L. Topliff, Seung K. Chon, Ruben O. Donis, Kent M. Eskridge, Clayton L. Kelling

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

We determined the in vitro and in vivo translational efficiency mediated by the internal ribosomal entry site (IRES) from eight BVDV2 field isolates varying in virulence using a bicistronic reporter vector in rabbit reticulocyte lysates (RRL), and in primate and bovine cell lines. Using a T7-promoter system, the high virulence isolates had greater translational efficiencies in bovine lymphocytes (BL-3 cells), than did the low virulence isolates. The low virulence isolates translated with greater efficiencies than the high virulence isolates in RRL, African green monkey kidney (CV-1) and bovine turbinate (BT) cells. Our results demonstrate that despite a high degree of …

Dichotomy In Cross-Clade Reactivity And Neutralization By Hiv-1 Sera: Implications For Active And Passive Immunotherapy, Lisa A. Cavacini, Mark Duval, Ajay Patil, Charles Wood, Kanneth H. Mayer, Ruth M. Ruprecht, Marshall L. Posner

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

The identification of broadly reactive and cross-clade neutralizing antibodies will facilitate the development of a more universally effective vaccine for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Antibodies in sera from individuals infected with Clade B HIV bind native primary viral isolates, and virus binding correlates with neutralization and stable clinical disease. In this study, we quantified cross-clade antibody reactivity and neutralization by Clades B and C sera. Primary viral isolates were captured by serum IgG bound to anti-human IgG and quantitated as p24 released by lysis of captured virus. Neutralization was determined using PHA-stimulated PBMC. Clade B antibodies reacted more frequently with …

Replication And Encapsidation Of Papillomaviruses In Saccharomyces Cerevisiae, Peter C. Angeletti

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

Improvements in methodologies to recapitulate and study particular biological functions of the

papillomavirus life cycle have led to great advances in our knowledge of these viruses. Described in

this chapter are techniques that allow low-copy and high-copy replication of full-length human

papillomavirus (HPV) genomes, as well as assembly of virus-like particles, in Saccharomyces

cerevisiae (yeast). This system has several distinct advantages that make it an attractive complement

to the well-established raft-culturing system. First, yeast are inexpensive, rapid, and simple to culture

in the lab. Second, they provide an ever-widening array of genetic tools to analyze HPV functions

—most recently notable, …

Proteomic Fingerprints Distinguish Microglia, Bone Marrow, And Spleen Macrophage Populations, Yoshimi Enose, Christopher J. Destache, Andrea L. Mack, James R. Anderson, Fred Ullrich, Pawel Ciborowski, Howard E. Gendelman

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

Mononuclear phagocytes (MP; dendritic cells, monocytes, tissue macrophages, and microglia) maintain tissue homeostasis and provide a first line of defense against invading pathogens. In specific circumstances, MPs also induce inflammatory responses and as such affect disease onset and progression. Despite intensive research into MP biology, little is known of the functional and molecular properties of individual MP subtypes. Using a novel proteomics platform, unique protein patterns and protein identities were observed among populations of spleen and bone marrow macrophages and microglia. Cells were obtained from C57BL/6 mice and were cultivated in macrophage colony-stimulating factor. MP subtypes were indistinguishable by morphological …

Locatization Of Human Herpesvirus 8 In Human Sperms By In Situ Pcr, Omar Bagasra, Deepa Patel, Lisa Bobroski, Jamil A. Abbasi, Alex U. Bagasra, Hasna Baidouri, Twaina Harris, Albert El-Roeiy, Zsolt Lengvarszky, Homayoon Farzadegan, Charles Wood

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

Objectives: Defining the mechanism of infection with human herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8) or Kaposi’s sarcoma associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is an important clinical issue. HHV-8 has been linked to Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS) development in HIV-1-infected individuals, and KS develops in 40% of those infected with both viruses. A series of epidemiological data suggest that sexual transmission is one of the routes of transmission for HHV-8. In our studies, we sought to assess the cellular reservoirs of HHV-8 DNA in the semen of HIV-1-infected men and the potential role of HHV-8 infected spermatozoa in horizontal transmission. Design and methods: A nested polymerase chain reaction …

Compartmentalization Of Hiv-1 In The Central Nervous System: Role Of The Choroid Plexus, Evan J. Burkala, Jun He, John T. West, Charles Wood, Carol K. Petito

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

Objectives: To determine the genetic and phenotypic composition of HIV-1 found in the choroid plexus (CPx) and its relationship to virus in the brain and peripheral lymphoid tissue. Design: Phenotypic and molecular comparisons of HIV-1 found in autopsy brain, CPx, and spleen tissues. Methods: HIV-1 was co-cultured from matched postmortem brain (basal ganglia), CPx, and spleen tissues of AIDS patients with and without HIV-associated encephalitis and dementia. Viral phenotypes were determined by infection of monocyte-derived macrophages, MT-2 or co-receptor-specific cell lines. Viral env and pol sequences were determined from genomic DNA isolated directly from tissues or co-cultures, and phylogenetic comparisons …

Guidelines For The Management Of Hiv Infection In Pregnant Women And The Prevention Of Mother-To-Child Transmission Of Hiv, David Hawkins, M. Blott, P. Clayden, A, De Ruiter, G. Foster, C. Gilling-Smith, B. Gosrani, H. Lyall, D. Mercey, M.-L. Newell, S. O'Shea, R. Smith, J. Sunderland, Charles Wood, G. Taylor

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

The prevalence of HIV infection amongst women giving birth in England and Wales has increased every year since 1990. Results from the Unlinked Anonymous Surveys of infection in pregnancy, show that in 2003, the prevalence reached one in 180 (0.56%) in inner London, one in 271 in outer London (0.37%) and one in 1,282 (0.08%) in the rest of England [1]. The majority of these women are from sub-Saharan Africa. The Department of Health policy of recommending an HIV test to every pregnant woman [2] has resulted in an increase in the proportion of these women who are aware of …

Antigenicity And Immunogenicity Of A Synthetic Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Group M Consensus Envelope Glycoprotein, Feng Gao, Eric A. Weaver, Zhongjing Lu, Yingying Li, Hua-Xin Liao, Benjiang Ma, S. Munir Alam, Richard M. Scearce, Laura L. Sutherland, Jae-Sung Yu, Julie M. Decker, George M. Shaw, David C. Montefiori, Bette T. Korber, Beatrice H. Hahn, Barton F. Haynes

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

Genetic variation of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) represents a major obstacle for AIDS vaccine development. To decrease the genetic distances between candidate immunogens and field virus strains, we have designed and synthesized an artificial group M consensus env gene (CON6 gene) to be equidistant from contemporary HIV-1 subtypes and recombinants. This novel envelope gene expresses a glycoprotein that binds soluble CD4, utilizes CCR5 but not CXCR4 as a coreceptor, and mediates HIV-1 entry. Key linear, conformational, and glycan-dependent monoclonal antibody epitopes are preserved in CON6, and the glycoprotein is recognized equally well by sera from individuals infected with different HIV-1 …