ABSTRACT
Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis (VEE) virus is an important human and veterinary pathogen of Central and South America. The virus can cause widespread epidemics, affecting hundreds of thousands of horses, and thousands of humans. Detection of the virus early in infection and in mosquito populations may allow epidemics to be predicted such that suitable prophylaxis, such as vaccination, can be used to reduce disease severity and transmission. The sensitivity and specificity of current immunoassays, based on conventional monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies, needs to be improved for the diagnosis of infection. We have examined phage display libraries expressing single-chain antibodies (scFv) produced from two different immune sources, a hybridoma cell line and an immunized mouse spleen. The libraries were panned against VEE virus to select for specific scFvs. scFvs isolated from both libraries were specific for the same epitope on the VEE virus and sequence analysis showed that the scFvs were almost identical apart from the CDR3 region of the heavy chain. The data presented in this article suggest that although scFvs may be useful tools for the detection of viruses, there are serious limitations with the use of phage display as a tool for the isolation of specific antibodies.
Subject(s)
Encephalitis Virus, Venezuelan Equine/immunology , Encephalomyelitis, Venezuelan Equine/diagnosis , Hybridomas/immunology , Immunoglobulin Fragments/isolation & purification , Spleen/immunology , Amino Acid Sequence , Animals , Antigens, Viral/immunology , Cell Line , Encephalitis Virus, Venezuelan Equine/genetics , Encephalomyelitis, Venezuelan Equine/immunology , Encephalomyelitis, Venezuelan Equine/virology , Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay , Humans , Immunoglobulin Fragments/immunology , Mice , Molecular Sequence Data , Peptide Library , Spleen/cytologyABSTRACT
Five chronic consumers of marihuana (through periods of 1 to 3 years) were studied and given a complete set of psychological tests (Rorschach, Wechsler, Phillipson, Psicodiagnóstico Miokinético). Brief case histories and tests results are presented for each subject. In all cases, marked depression, and anxiety, schizoid features, and poor control were detected. In four patients self-aggresion, inversion of sleep cycle, weakness of will and mental confusion were registered. In four subjects a definite psychotic profile was detected through Rorschach tests. Three patients suffered from visual hallucinations, and trends to sexual promiscuity. Memory failure and gaps were apparent in two cases. One patient developed a short-lasting paranoid delusion. Two patients showed no sign of abnormality in their E.E.G. The syndrome shows that marihuana abuse may lead to toxic psychosis similar to schizophrenia. The importance of a systematic use of complete sets of psychological tests is discussed, although their value for a differential diagnosis between toxic marihuana-psychosis and schizophrenia remains to be established. The need for careful search on marihuana abuse is emphasized. Regarding the physiopathology of marihuana-psychosis, some recent findings of neurochemistry are discussed, in particular those of biological theories of schizophrenia. This approach allows a parallel between both disorders. The possibility of both being accounted for by a common metabolic defect is suggested. Finally, the current contention that marihuana is harmless or innocuous is called to revision.
Subject(s)
Cannabis , Psychoses, Substance-Induced , Adult , Cannabis/adverse effects , Female , Humans , Male , Psychoses, Substance-Induced/diagnosis , Rorschach TestABSTRACT
Five chronic consumers of marihuana (through periods of 1 to 3 years) were studied and given a complete set of psychological tests (Rorschach, Wechsler, Phillipson, Psicodiagnóstico Miokinético). Brief case histories and tests results are presented for each subject. In all cases, marked depression, and anxiety, schizoid features, and poor control were detected. In four patients self-aggresion, inversion of sleep cycle, weakness of will and mental confusion were registered. In four subjects a definite psychotic profile was detected through Rorschach tests. Three patients suffered from visual hallucinations, and trends to sexual promiscuity. Memory failure and gaps were apparent in two cases. One patient developed a short-lasting paranoid delusion. Two patients showed no sign of abnormality in their E.E.G. The syndrome shows that marihuana abuse may lead to toxic psychosis similar to schizophrenia. The importance of a systematic use of complete sets of psychological tests is discussed, although their value for a differential diagnosis between toxic marihuana-psychosis and schizophrenia remains to be established. The need for careful search on marihuana abuse is emphasized. Regarding the physiopathology of marihuana-psychosis, some recent findings of neurochemistry are discussed, in particular those of biological theories of schizophrenia. This approach allows a parallel between both disorders. The possibility of both being accounted for by a common metabolic defect is suggested. Finally, the current contention that marihuana is harmless or innocuous is called to revision.
ABSTRACT
Five chronic consumers of marihuana (through periods of 1 to 3 years) were studied and given a complete set of psychological tests (Rorschach, Wechsler, Phillipson, Psicodiagnóstico Miokinético). Brief case histories and tests results are presented for each subject. In all cases, marked depression, and anxiety, schizoid features, and poor control were detected. In four patients self-aggresion, inversion of sleep cycle, weakness of will and mental confusion were registered. In four subjects a definite psychotic profile was detected through Rorschach tests. Three patients suffered from visual hallucinations, and trends to sexual promiscuity. Memory failure and gaps were apparent in two cases. One patient developed a short-lasting paranoid delusion. Two patients showed no sign of abnormality in their E.E.G. The syndrome shows that marihuana abuse may lead to toxic psychosis similar to schizophrenia. The importance of a systematic use of complete sets of psychological tests is discussed, although their value for a differential diagnosis between toxic marihuana-psychosis and schizophrenia remains to be established. The need for careful search on marihuana abuse is emphasized. Regarding the physiopathology of marihuana-psychosis, some recent findings of neurochemistry are discussed, in particular those of biological theories of schizophrenia. This approach allows a parallel between both disorders. The possibility of both being accounted for by a common metabolic defect is suggested. Finally, the current contention that marihuana is harmless or innocuous is called to revision.