Medical Sciences Commons^™

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 …

Whole Genome Expression Profiling Reveals A Significant Role For Immune Function In Human Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms, Guy M. Lenk, Gerard Tromp, Shantel Weinsheimer, Zoran Gatalica, Ramon Berguer, Helena Kuivaniemi

Wayne State University Associated BioMed Central Scholarship

Abstract

Background

Abdominal aortic aneurysms are a common disorder with an incompletely understood etiology. We used Illumina and Affymetrix microarray platforms to generate global gene expression profiles for both aneurysmal (AAA) and non-aneurysmal abdominal aorta, and identified genes that were significantly differentially expressed between cases and controls.

Results

Affymetrix and Illumina arrays included 18,057 genes in common; 11,542 (64%) of these genes were considered to be expressed in either aneurysmal or normal abdominal aorta. There were 3,274 differentially expressed genes with a false discovery rate (FDR) ≤ 0.05. Many of these genes were not previously known to be involved in …

Caenorhabditis Briggsae Methods, Scott Everet Baird, Helen M. Chamberlin

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Caenorhabditis briggsae is being developed in parallel to C. elegans as a model system, primarily for the study of evolution. Like C. elegans, C. briggsae is a protandrous hermaphrodite and like C. elegans, its genome has been sequenced. From this point, these two model systems diverge. The development, behavior, and physiology of C. elegans have been characterized through tens of thousands of genetic and molecular studies. Genetic and molecular characterizations of C. briggsae are relatively few. Experimental resources in C. elegans include a high density recombination map that is well integrated with the genome sequence. The C. briggsae …

An In Vitro Model Of Ovarian Cancer: Studying The Effects Of Talc And Pycnogenol®, Amber Renée Buz'zard

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Ovarian cancer is the sixth most common cancer and accounts for more deaths than any other cancer of the female reproductive system. The American Cancer Society has suggested that poor diet, talc and industrial pollutants may increase the risk of developing ovarian cancer. Talc is ubiquitous and concern is raised about its safety, role as a possible carcinogen and known ability to cause irritation and inflammation. Due to the silent nature of ovarian cancer, chemoprevention is a high priority. The most useful chemopreventive compounds will inhibit, delay or reverse carcinogenesis, and can be taken for long periods of time with …

The Role Of Mapks In B Cell Receptor-Induced Down-Regulation Of Egr-1 In Immature B Lymphoma Cells, Jiyuan Ke, Murali Gururajan, Anupam Kumar, Alan Simmons, Lilia Turcios, Ralph Lakshman Chelvarajan, David M. Cohen, David L. Wiest, John G. Monroe, Subbarao Bondada

Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics Faculty Publications

Cross-linking of the B cell receptor (BCR) on the immature B lymphoma cell line BKS-2 induces growth inhibition and apoptosis accompanied by rapid down-regulation of the immediate-early gene egr-1. In these lymphoma cells, egr-1 is expressed constitutively and has a prosurvival role, as Egr-1-specific antisense oligonucleotides or expression of a dominant-negative inhibitor of Egr-1 also prevented the growth of BKS-2 cells. Moreover, enhancement of Egr-1 protein with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate or an egr-1 expression vector rescued BKS-2 cells from BCR signal-induced growth inhibition. Nuclear run-on and mRNA stability assays indicated that BCR-derived signals act at the transcriptional level to …

Circadian Rhythmicity By Autocatalysis, Arun Mehra, Christian I. Hong, Mi Shi, Jennifer J. Loros, Jay C. Dunlap, Peter Ruoff

Dartmouth Scholarship

The temperature compensated in vitro oscillation of cyanobacterial KaiC phosphorylation, the first example of a thermodynamically closed system showing circadian rhythmicity, only involves the three Kai proteins (KaiA, KaiB, and KaiC) and ATP. In this paper, we describe a model in which the KaiA- and KaiB-assisted autocatalytic phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of KaiC are the source for circadian rhythmicity. This model, based upon autocatalysis instead of transcription-translation negative feedback, shows temperature-compensated circadian limit-cycle oscillations with KaiC phosphorylation profiles and has period lengths and rate constant values that are consistent with experimental observations.

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 …

Desulfovibrio Desulfuricans G20 Tetraheme Cytochrome Structure At 1.5 A˚ And Cytochrome Interaction With Metal Complexes, Mrunalini Pattarkine, J J. Tanner, C A. Bottoms, Y H. Lee, Judy D. Wall

Faculty Works

The structure of the type I tetraheme cytochrome c3 from Desulfovibrio desulfuricans G20 was determined to 1.5 A˚ by X-ray crystallography. In addition to the oxidized form, the structure of the molybdate-bound form of the protein was determined from oxidized crystals soaked in sodium molybdate. Only small structural shifts were obtained with metal binding, consistent with the remarkable structural stability of this protein. In vitro experiments with pure cytochrome showed that molybdate could oxidize the reduced cytochrome, although not as rapidly as U(VI) present as uranyl acetate. Alterations in the overall conformation and thermostability of the metal-oxidized protein were investigated …

In Vitro Expression And Purification Of Class I Mhc Molecules, Loi Cheng

Honors Scholar Theses

The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) is a gene family responsible for many critical functions of the immune system in most vertebrates. The MHC consists of three classes differentiated by their structure and function, and MHC class I encodes antigen binding proteins as well as chaperone and accessory proteins such as tapasin. The purpose of this project is to reconstitute several human MHC class I molecules in their peptide-filled and peptide-deficient forms, and to purify these proteins for biochemical study. The expressed proteins include wild type and mutant variants of the fusion protein human leukocyte antigen HLA-B*0801-fos, and human beta-2-microglobulin (β2m). …

H2-M3-Restricted Cd8+ T Cells Are Not Required For Mhc Class Ib-Restricted Immunity Against Listeria Monocytogenes, Sarah E. F. D'Orazio, Christine A. Shaw, Michael N. Starnbach

Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics Faculty Publications

Studies using major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-Ia–deficient mice have shown that MHC-Ib–restricted CD8⁺ T cells can clear infections caused by intracellular pathogens such as Listeria monocytogenes. M3-restricted CD8⁺ T cells, which recognize short hydrophobic N-formylated peptides, appear to comprise a substantial portion of the MHC-Ib–restricted T cell response in the mouse model of L. monocytogenes infection. In this study, we isolated formyltransferase (fmt) mutant strains of L. monocytogenes that lacked the ability to add formyl groups to nascent polypeptides. These fmt mutant Listeria strains did not produce antigens that could be recognized by M3-restricted T …

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.

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 …

Tannerella Forsythia, A Periodontal Pathogen Entering The Genomic Era, Anne C. R. Tanner, Jacques Izard

Department of Food Science and Technology: Faculty Publications

Several questions need to be addressed to evaluate whether Tannerella forsythia is to be considered a periodontal pathogen. T. forsythia has been detected in periodontal health and disease, so could it be a pathogen? The species was not detected in many studies despite finding other putative pathogens, so could it be important in pathogenicity? The challenges of working with T. forsythia include its fastidious and anaerobic growth requirements for cultural detection. Thus, studies associating T. forsythia with periodontal and other oral infections have used noncultural approaches (immunoassays and DNA-based assays) in addition to cultural approaches. We feel …

Cpg Oligodeoxynucleotides Stimulate Cord Blood Mononuclear Cells To Produce Immunoglobulins., Cheri D Landers, Subbarao Bondada

Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics Faculty Publications

CpG oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) stimulate adult B cells leading to cellular proliferation and immunoglobulin production. It is unknown if CpG-ODNs similarly stimulate neonatal human B cells. Neonates have immature immune responses and are poorly responsive to thymus independent antigens such as polysaccharides. We determined umbilical cord cells' response to CpG-ODNs. Adult and umbilical cord B cells produced similar amounts of IgM (adult 1371 +/- 352 vs. cord 1873 +/- 1084 ng/ml) in response to CpG-ODN stimulation. Although CpG-ODN was able to stimulate adult IgG and IgA production, cord cells produced less IgG (153 +/- 58 vs. 10 +/- 2.5 ng/ml) and …

C-Jun N-Terminal Kinase (Jnk) Is Required For Survival And Proliferation Of B-Lymphoma Cells, Murali Gururajan, Roger Chui, Anbu K. Karuppannan, Jiyuan Ke, C. Darrell Jennings, Subbarao Bondada

Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics Faculty Publications

Several primary murine and human B lymphomas and cell lines were found to constitutively express high levels of the activated form of c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), a member of the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase family. Proliferation of murine B lymphomas CH31, CH12.Lx, BKS-2, and WEHI-231 and the human B lymphomas BJAB, RAMOS, RAJI, OCI-Ly7, and OCI-Ly10 was strongly inhibited by SP600125, an anthrapyrazolone inhibitor of JNK, in a dose-dependent manner. The lymphoma cells underwent apoptosis and arrested at the G2/M phase of cell cycle. Furthermore, JNK-specific small interfering RNA (siRNA) inhibited the growth of both murine and human B lymphomas. …

The Genetics Of Ray Pattern Variation In Caenorhabditis Briggsae, Scott Everet Baird, Cynthia R. Davidson, Justin C. Bohrer

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Background: How does intraspecific variation relate to macroevolutionary change in morphology? This question can be addressed in species in which derived characters are present but not fixed. In rhabditid nematodes, the arrangement of the nine bilateral pairs of peripheral sense organs (rays) in tails of males is often the most highly divergent character between species. The development of ray pattern involves inputs from hometic gene expression patterns, TGFβ signalling, Wnt signalling, and other genetic pathways. In Caenorhabditis briggsae, strain-specific variation in ray pattern has provided an entrée into the evolution of ray pattern. Some strains were fixed for a derived …

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, …

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 …

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 …

Cloning And Functional Analysis Of The Putative Tetracycline Resistance Gene Hp1165 In Helicobacter Pylori, Yuhuan Li

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Tetracycline has been used in combination with other antibiotics in treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection. However, tetracycline resistance has developed in clinical isolates of H. pylori, rendering treatment failure. Mutations in the 16S rRNA gene have been reported to mediate tetracycline resistance in some patient isolates. Nevertheless, the diversity of tetracycline resistance cases suggests multiple genes are involved. HPl 165, a putative tetracycline resistance gene in the genome of H. pylori 26695, displays 49.8% identity to the tetracycline efflux gene tetA (P) from Clostridium perfringens. To determine the function of the HPl 165 gene and gain a better understanding of …

The Recombinant Adeno-Associated Virus Vector (Raav2)-Mediated Apolipoprotein B Mrna-Specific Hammerhead Ribozyme: A Self-Complementary Aav2 Vector Improves The Gene Expression, Shumei Zhong, Shihua Sun, Ba-Bie Teng

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: In humans, overproduction of apolipoprotein B (apoB) is positively associated with premature coronary artery diseases. To reduce the levels of apoB mRNA, we have designed an apoB mRNA-specific hammerhead ribozyme targeted at nucleotide sequences GUA6679 (RB15) mediated by adenovirus, which efficiently cleaves and decreases apoB mRNA by 80% in mouse liver and attenuates the hyperlipidemic condition. In the current study, we used an adeno-associated virus vector, serotype 2 (AAV2) and a self-complementary AAV2 vector (scAAV2) to demonstrate the effect of long-term tissue-specific gene expression of RB15 on the regulation apoB mRNA in vivo. METHODS: We constructed a hammerhead ribozyme …

Ionizing Radiation And Endostatin Gene Therapy Against Lung Tumor, Xian Luo

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Although many advances have been made in radiotherapy, tumor radioresistance and normal tissue damage continue to always be important issues for radiation oncologists. Numerous reports have also documented that radiation exposure increases the risk for malignancy and suppresses immune mechanisms. However, increasing evidence has suggested that anti-angiogenic therapy that targets tumor blood supply may alter abnormal tumor vasculature, thus synergizing radiotherapy. The governing hypothesis of the present study was that modification of tumor vasculature by antiangiogenic gene therapy can increase the efficacy of radiotherapy and that radiation can also improve DNA transfection efficiency by increasing expression of the administered gene. …

Conversion Of Myoblasts To Physiologically Active Neuronal Phenotype, Yumi Watanabe, Sei Kameoka, Vidya Gopalakrishnan, Kenneth D Aldape, Zhizhong Z Pan, Frederick F Lang, Sadhan Majumder

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Repressor element 1 (RE1)-silencing transcription factor (REST)/neuron-restrictive silencer factor (NRSF) can repress several terminal neuronal differentiation genes by binding to a specific DNA sequence (RE1/neuron-restrictive silencer element [NRSE]) present in their regulatory regions. REST-VP16 binds to the same RE1/NRSE, but activates these REST/NRSF target genes. However, it is unclear whether REST-VP16 expression is sufficient to cause formation of functional neurons either from neural stem cells or from heterologous stem cells. Here we show that the expression of REST-VP16 in myoblasts grown under muscle differentiation conditions blocked entry into the muscle differentiation pathway, countered endogenous REST/NRSF-dependent repression, activated the REST/NRSF target …

Phylogenetic Analyses Of Texas Isolates Indicate An Evolving Subtype Of The Clade B Feline Immunodeficiency Viruses, Eric A. Weaver, Ellen W. Collisson, Margaret Slater, Guan Zhu

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

Rigorous phylogenetic analyses were used to compare the nucleotide sequences of feline immunodeficiency virus strains isolated from Texas and throughout the world. The envelope V3-V4 sequences and capsid gene of the Texas isolates formed a cluster between subtypes B and E. Statistical comparisons with other published sequences confirmed that the Texas group is a unique cluster, possibly a new subtype, arising from subtype B.

Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) was initially isolated in 1987 from a cat in California with severe immunodeficiency and has been recognized as a common worldwide feline pathogen (11, 14, 19, 20, 33). FIV-infected cats exhibit a …

Cd46-Mediated Transduction Of A Species D Adenovirus Vaccine Improves Mucosal Vaccine Efficacy, Zenaido T. Camacho, Mallory A. Turner, Michael A. Barry, Eric A. Weaver

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

The high levels of preexisting immunity against Adenovirus type 5 (Ad5) have deemed Ad5 unusable for translation as a human vaccine vector. Low seroprevalent alternative viral vectors may be less impacted by preexisting immunity, but they may also have significantly different phenotypes from that of Ad5. In this study we compare species D Ads (26, 28, and 48) to the species C Ad5. In vitro transduction studies show striking differences between the species C and D viruses. Most notably, Ad26 transduced human dendritic cells much more effectively than Ad5. In vivo imaging studies showed strikingly different transgene expression profiles. The …

Phylogenetic Analyses Of Texas Isolates Indicate An Evolving Subtype Of The Clade B Feline Immunodeficiency Viruses, Eric A. Weaver, Ellen W. Collisson, Margaret Slater, Guan Zhu

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

Rigorous phylogenetic analyses were used to compare the nucleotide sequences of feline immunodeficiency virus strains isolated from Texas and throughout the world. The envelope V3-V4 sequences and capsid gene of the Texas isolates formed a cluster between subtypes B and E. Statistical comparisons with other published sequences confirmed that the Texas group is a unique cluster, possibly a new subtype, arising from subtype B.

Impaired Antigen Receptor Induced Calcium Mobilization In A Phospholipase C-Gamma1 Deficient B Cell Line., Natarajan Muthusamy, Do Joon Park, Hei-Won Rho, Sue Goo Rhee, Subbarao Bondada

Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics Faculty Publications

B lymphocytes express phospholipase C-gamma(1) (PLC-gamma(1)) and phospholipase C-gamma(2) (PLC-gamma(2)) isozymes. However, the relative importance of these two isozymes in B cell signaling is not known. We report here the identification and analysis of a B cell line deficient in PLC-gamma(1). Mature splenic B lymphocytes and a panel of cell lines representing pre-B, immature and mature B cell stages expressed phospholipase C-gamma (PLC-gamma), but not the beta or delta isoforms of phospholipase C (PLC). While all the tested B cell lines and primary splenic B cells expressed PLC-gamma(1) and PLC-gamma(2) isozymes, the L1.2 B cell line exclusively expressed PLC-gamma(2), but …

Determination Of The Optimal Form Of A Dna Vaccine To Induce An Effective Immune Response Against A Murine B-Cell Lymphoma, Deepti Aurora

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Tumor vaccines are a promising alternative to chemotherapy for the treatment of cancer. To be effective and safe, a cancer vaccine should specifically target antigens expressed only on tumor cells. The B-cell tumor-derived Ig receptor may be considered a model tumor antigen for cancer vaccine development. Specifically the immunoglobulin idiotype (ld) encoded by the variable region genes (VH and VL) provides a target antigen. Promising results have been obtained in clinical studies of ld vaccination using ld proteins. However, ld protein is laborious and time-consuming to produce. Gene-based vaccines, on the other hand, are inexpensive and offer ease of manipulation …