Sequence variation in the early genes E1E4, E6 and E7 of human papilloma virus type 6.

The majority of condylomata acuminata (anogenital warts) are caused by infection with Human Papilloma Virus type 6 (HPV-6). We have sequenced the HPV-6 early genes, E1-E4, E6 and E7 from wart biopsy DNA samples sourced from the UK and USA and derived a consensus sequence for these genes and the proteins they encode. When compared to the prototype HPV-6b sequence, published over 12 years ago, the E1-E4 consensus sequence showed 3/91 (3.3%) amino acid changes, the E6 consensus sequence showed 1/150 (0.7%) changes and the E7 consensus sequence showed 1/98 (1.0%) changes. Since many of the early gene sequences from biopsy material were more similar to the HPV-6a subtype than HPV-6b, this data supports the use of HPV-6a as the HPV-6 prototype.

Induction of single and dual cytotoxic T-lymphocyte responses to viral proteins in mice using recombinant hybrid Ty-virus-like particles.

The induction of cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) responses to viral proteins is thought to be an essential component of protective immunity against viral infections. Methods for generating such responses in a reproducible manner would be of great value in vaccine development. We demonstrate here that the recombinant antigen-presentation system based on the yeast transposon (Ty) particle-forming p1 protein is a potent means of inducing CTL responses to a variety of viral CTL epitopes, including influenza virus nucleoprotein (two epitopes), Sendai virus and vesicular stomatitis virus nucleoproteins, and the V3 loop of human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) gp120. CTL were primed by hybrid Ty-virus-like particles (VLP) carrying the minimal epitope or as much as 19,000 MW of protein. Ty-VLP carrying two different epitopes (dual-epitope Ty-VLP) were capable of priming CTL responses in two different strains of mice or against two epitopes in the same individual. Furthermore, co-administration of a mixture of two different Ty-VLP carrying single epitopes could induce responses to both epitopes in the same individual. Ty-VLP appear to represent a reproducible and flexible system for inducing CTL responses in mice, and warrant further evaluation in primates.

Synthesis of recombinant baculoviruses expressing the outer capsid protein VP2 of five BTV serotypes and the induction of neutralizing antibodies to homologous and heterologous BTV serotypes.

DNA representing RNA segment L2 of 5 different bluetongue virus (BTV) serotypes (BTV-1, -2, -11, -13 and -17) corresponding to the gene that codes for the BTV neutralization antigen VP2, have been inserted individually into baculovirus transfer vectors in lieu of the 5' coding region of the polyhedrin gene of Autographa california nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AcNPV). After co-transfection of Spodoptera frugiperda cells with wild-type AcNPV DNA in the presence of the derived transfer vector DNAs, polyhedrin-negative recombinant baculoviruses were recovered. When S. frugiperda cells were infected with each of these viruses, protein was made similar in size and antigenic properties to the authentic BTV VP2 protein. To evaluate the biological activities of these proteins, antibodies were raised to them in guinea pigs. The neutralization capabilities of these antisera were tested against homologous and, for two of the higher titered sera, heterologous BTV serotypes. Each antiserum neutralized the infectivity of the homologous virus serotype. In heterologous virus challenges, the serum raised to the VP2 protein of BTV-13 also neutralized the infectivity of BTV-1, and to lesser extents BTV-3, -16, -8 and -9 (BTV-2, -10, -11, -15 were not tested). The serum raised to the VP2 of BTV-17 neutralized BTV-20 and -21, and to lesser extents BTV-4 and -8 (again, BTV-2, -10, -11, -15 were not tested).

Hybrid human immunodeficiency virus Gag particles as an antigen carrier system: induction of cytotoxic T-cell and humoral responses by a Gag:V3 fusion.

In attempts to increase the immunogenicity of recombinant antigens, a number of particulate antigen presentation systems have been developed. In this study, we used human immunodeficiency virus Gag particles as carriers for the human immunodeficiency virus envelope V3 region. Gag:V3 fusion proteins were expressed from baculovirus expression vectors; they migrated to the insect cell membrane and budded from the cells as hybrid particles. An immunization study carried out with rats showed that the particles elicited a strong anti-Gag antibody response and a weak antibody response to the V3 region. A strong anti-V3 cytolytic T-cell response was elicited in immunized mice. These data show that retroviral Gag particles can be used as antigen presentation vehicles.

Assembly of double-shelled, viruslike particles of bluetongue virus by the simultaneous expression of four structural proteins.

Bluetongue is a disease of ruminants. The etiologic agent is bluetongue virus (BTV), a gnat-transmitted member of the Orbivirus genus of the Reoviridae. The virus has a genome of 10 double-stranded RNA species L1 to L3, M4 to M6, S7 to S10). The L2 and M5 genes of BTV which encode the outer capsid proteins VP2 and VP5, respectively, were inserted into a recombinant baculovirus downstream of duplicated copies of the baculovirus polyhedrin promoter. Insect cells coinfected with this virus plus a recombinant baculovirus expressing the two major core proteins VP3 and VP7 of BTV (T.J. French and P. Roy, J. Virol. 64:1530-1536, 1990) synthesized noninfectious, double-shelled, viruslike particles. When purified, these particles were found to have the same size and appearance as authentic BTV virions and exhibited high levels of hemagglutination activity. Antibodies raised to the expressed particles contained high titers of neutralizing activity against the homologous BTV serotype. The assembly of these bluetongue viruslike particles after the simultaneous expression of four separate proteins is indicative of the potential of this technology for the production of a new generation of viral vaccines and for the study of complex, multiprotein structures.

Synthesis of bluetongue virus (BTV) corelike particles by a recombinant baculovirus expressing the two major structural core proteins of BTV.

The L3 and M7 genes of bluetongue virus (BTV), which encode the two major core proteins of the virus (VP3 and VP7, respectively), were inserted into a baculovirus dual-expression transfer vector and a recombinant baculovirus expressing both foreign genes isolated following in vivo recombination with wild-type Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus DNA. Spodoptera frugiperda insect cells infected with the recombinant synthesized large amounts of BTV corelike particles. These particles have been shown to be similar to authentic BTV cores in terms of size, appearance, stoichiometric arrangement of VP3 to VP7 (ratio, 2:15), and the predominance of VP7 on the surface of the particles. In infected insect cells, the corelike particles were observed in paracrystalline arrays. The formation of these structures indicates that neither the BTV double-stranded viral RNA species nor the associated minor core proteins are necessary for assembly of cores in insect cells. Furthermore, the three BTV nonstructural proteins NS1, NS2, and NS3, are not required to assist or direct the formation of empty corelike particles from VP3 and VP7.

Expression of two related nonstructural proteins of bluetongue virus (BTV) type 10 in insect cells by a recombinant baculovirus: production of polyclonal ascitic fluid and characterization of the gene product in BTV-infected BHK cells.

In vitro translation of bluetongue virus (BTV) double-stranded RNA in the rabbit reticulocyte lysate system has shown segment 10 (S10) to code for two related proteins, NS3 and NS3A. The presence of both products in vivo, however, has remained unconfirmed owing to the very low level of synthesis of the S10 gene product(s) in BTV-infected BHK cells. In the present work, a cDNA copy of BTV type 10 (BTV-10) S10 RNA was inserted into Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis baculovirus (AcNPV) in lieu of the 5' coding region of the AcNPV polyhedrin gene. Spodoptera frugiperda cells infected with the recombinant baculovirus synthesized two polypeptides, which were shown to represent NS3 and NS3A by Western blot (immunoblot) and peptide map analysis. Antibodies raised to the expressed NS3 by immunization of mice detected both NS3 and NS3A in BTV-10-infected BHK cells but not in purified BTV-10 virus particles. In contrast to in vitro translation of BTV S10 RNA in which NS3 and NS3A are synthesized in equimolar amounts, NS3 was the principle product both in the baculovirus expression system and in vivo in BTV-infected cells. The results indicate the caution which should be exercised when using the rabbit reticulocyte lysate system to predict the pattern of protein synthesis from a gene with alternative start codons. The expressed NS3 and NS3A proteins reacted strongly with sera from sheep infected with homologous and heterologous BTV serotypes, suggesting that the S10 gene products are highly conserved group-specific antigens.

The relationship between changes in lipid fuel availability and tissue fructose 2,6-bisphosphate concentrations and pyruvate dehydrogenase complex activities in the fed state.

An elevated concentration of non-esterified fatty acids in the fed state elicited inhibition of cardiac, but not hepatic, pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDH). There was a modest decline in fructose 2,6-bisphosphate (Fru-2,6-P2) concentration in heart, and, to a lesser extent, in liver. Surgical stress decreased PDH activities and Fru-2,6-P2 concentrations in both heart and liver. Only the former response was abolished if postoperative lipolysis was inhibited. Surgery also decreased the [Fru-2,6-P2] in gastrocnemius: this response was abolished if lipolysis was inhibited.

Effects of nutritional status and acute variation in substrate supply on cardiac and skeletal-muscle fructose 2,6-bisphosphate concentrations.

We examined the long-term effects of nutritional status and the acute effects of changes in exogenous carbohydrate- and lipid-substrate supply and utilization on fructose 2,6-bisphosphate (Fru-2,6-P2) concentrations in heart, gastrocnemius and soleus. Starvation decreased Fru-2,6-P2 concentrations in all three muscles. The acute administration of insulin and glucose increased skeletal-muscle Fru-2,6-P2 in the fed, but not in the starved, state, but cardiac Fru-2,6-P2 was unchanged. Cardiac and skeletal-muscle Fru-2,6-P2 concentrations were unaffected by acute increases in fatty acid supply produced by the administration of corn oil plus heparin, or by acute decreases in fatty acid supply produced by inhibition of lipolysis. Differences in cardiac and skeletal-muscle Fru-2,6-P2 concentrations observed in response to starvation were not reversed by administration of glucose or glucose plus insulin, or by inhibition of lipolysis, even though changes in citrate (heart), acylcarnitine (heart) and glycogen (skeletal muscle) were observed. Concentrations remained low for at least 8 h after chow re-feeding, but the fed value was restored by 24 h.

Acute effects of surgery on carbohydrate production and utilization in the fed rat.

1. The work utilized a model of uncomplicated abdominal surgery (laparotomy under ether anaesthesia) to delineate the effects of abdominal trauma on glucose homoeostasis in the fed rat. 2. Regulation of glucose production and utilization was investigated by observing the response to the administration of glucose, insulin plus glucose and 5-methylpyrazole 3-carboxylic acid. 3. Glucose administration suppressed hepatic glucose output as assessed by portal-venous concentration differences in control or surgically stressed rats. In contrast, glycaemia was increased and lactaemia decreased in the latter group. Portal-venous concentrations differences for lactate were unaffected. 4. Surgery increased plasma fatty acid concentrations and the antilipolytic response to glucose or glucose plus insulin was diminished. Post-operative increases in fatty acid concentrations were associated with inhibition of hepatic pyruvate dehydrogenase complex which was reversed by insulin, indicating a differential sensitivity of adipose tissue and liver to the hormone. 5. The model of surgical stress utilized, while affecting extrahepatic glucose disposal, did not elicit depletion of liver glycogen or inactivation of L-pyruvate kinase. 6. It is concluded that the initial response to uncomplicated abdominal surgery involves carbohydrate conservation rather than increased glucose production, with effects to decrease extrahepatic glucose uptake and hepatic glucose oxidation.

The relationship between fat synthesis and oxidation in the liver after re-feeding and its regulation by thyroid hormone.

The administration of glucose to 48 h-starved euthyroid or hyperthyroid rats led to decreased blood concentrations of fatty acids and ketone bodies in both groups, but fatty acid concentrations were higher and ketone-body concentrations lower in the latter group. Decreased ketonaemia was not due to increased ketone-body clearance. Flux through carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 was increased, consistent with the effects of hyperthyroidism on enzyme activity demonstrated in vitro. Correlations between the concentrations of ketone bodies and long-chain acylcarnitine measured in freeze-clamped liver samples indicated that a lower proportion of the product of beta-oxidation was used for ketone-body synthesis. Citrate concentrations were unaffected by hyperthyroidism, but lipogenesis was increased. The results are discussed in relation to the factors controlling hepatic carbon flux and energy requirements after re-feeding.

Ketone-body metabolism after surgical stress or partial hepatectomy. Evidence for decreased ketogenesis and a site of control distal to carnitine palmitoyltransferase I.

Rats were subjected to laparotomy, or laparotomy and partial hepatectomy, at 0-48 h before administration of water or medium-chain-length triacylglycerol, having been starved post-operatively. Functional hepatectomies were performed at intervals after the intragastric load. Blood ketone-body concentrations after medium-chain triacylglycerol administration and/or functional hepatectomy of these rats were compared with values obtained in starved control rats. Decreased ketonaemia in response to medium-chain triacylglycerol was observed for up to 48 h after partial hepatectomy and at 1 and 2 h after laparotomy, but not at 24 or 48 h after laparotomy. Rates of ketone-body clearance after functional hepatectomy were unaffected by prior laparotomy or partial hepatectomy. Ketonaemia after medium-chain-triacylglycerol administration was only partially blocked by inhibition of CPT I (carnitine palmitoyltransferase I). The results demonstrate sustained effects of partial hepatectomy and short-term effects of surgical stress to decrease ketonaemia via inhibition of ketogenesis at site(s) distal to CPT I.

Ischaemia and tissue pyruvate dehydrogenase activities in the rat: a comparison of the effects of cervical dislocation and pentobarbital anaesthesia.

The work defined the relationship between [long-chain acylcarnitine] and PDHa activities in hearts, kidneys and livers of rats sampled after cervical dislocation or pentobarbital anaesthesia. Although tissue [long-chain acylcarnitine] correlated with fatty acid availability or its mitochondrial oxidation in anaesthetized rats, this was not the case for hearts or kidneys of rats sampled after cervical dislocation. Cardiac [long-chain acylcarnitine] and PDHa activities were higher in rats killed by cervical dislocation. Metabolite changes within the hearts were consistent with tissue hypoxia and the effects of cervical dislocation were mimicked in hearts of pentobarbital-anaesthetized rats by 20s ischaemia. Renal and hepatic PDHa activities were unaffected by this short period of ischaemia. The susceptibility of cardiac PDHa to hypoxia or ischaemia may explain the variability in activities often observed within or between laboratories.

Effects of surgical stress on the response of hepatic carnitine metabolism to 48 h starvation in the rat.

Rats subjected to laparotomy and handling of the liver were starved for 48 h, starting either immediately after surgery or 48 h later. Surgery enhanced the rise in plasma non-esterified fatty acid concentrations after starvation without affecting the responses of blood or liver ketone bodies. Thus in surgically stressed rats, blood and liver ketone body concentrations were inappropriately low for the blood fatty acid concentrations. In the control rats, starvation increased hepatic carnitine concentrations, mainly through increases in short-chain acylcarnitine. Surgical stress decreased or abolished these increases. This may possibly contribute to the blunted ketonaemic response observed after surgery.

Blood carnitine concentrations are increased after surgical stress.

Elevated plasma carnitine concentrations are demonstrated in surgically stressed and partially hepatectomized rats. The response to surgical stress was observed only when the rats were fed, suggesting that exogenous sources of carnitine may be required for maintaining tissue carnitine concentrations during stress. The results are discussed with respect to the changes in fatty acid metabolism which are associated with these conditions.

Hepatic glycogen synthesis on carbohydrate re-feeding after starvation. A regulatory role for pyruvate dehydrogenase in liver and extrahepatic tissues.

Glucose administration to 48 h-starved rats increased hepatic glucose, lactate, pyruvate and glycogen concentrations and re-activated PDH (pyruvate dehydrogenase complex) in kidney, but not in heart or liver. Dichloroacetate together with glucose re-activated PDH in all three tissues, decreased hepatic lactate and pyruvate concentrations and impaired glycogen resynthesis. Thus on re-feeding, delayed PDH re-activation is important for provision of precursors for hepatic glyconeogenesis.

Effects of dexamethasone on carnitine metabolism in liver and extrahepatic tissues.

The in vivo effects of dexamethasone administration on liver and extrahepatic tissue carnitine concentrations were assessed in 48-h-starved rats. In heart and kidney, but not in liver, dexamethasone significantly increased total carnitine concentration. Acute (2.5 h) treatment with 2-tetradecylglycidate (TDG), a specific inhibitor of carnitine palmitoyl transferase 1, not only increased total hepatic carnitine concentrations, but also permitted an effect of dexamethasone (a further increase in hepatic carnitine concentration). The results are discussed in terms of acute (substrate-mediated) and chronic (hormonal) control of carnitine turnover.

Carnitine metabolism in livers and hearts of 48h-starved rats: the contribution of fat and carbohydrate to acylcarnitine formation.

The work investigated the effects of administration of 2-tetradecylglycidate (TDG), an inhibitor of mitochondrial long-chain fatty acid oxidation, alone or in combination with glucose, on concentrations of free and acylated carnitine in livers and hearts of 48 h-starved rats. The only significant effect of TDG in the heart was to decrease [short-chain acylcarnitine]. This demonstrates that in heart, fat oxidation is linked to the formation of short-chain acylcarnitine. Cardiac [short-chain acylcarnitine] was not significantly decreased by TDG if the rats were also administered glucose, suggesting that acyl CoA derived from glucose may be used for short-chain acylcarnitine formation in TDG-treated rats. TDG significantly decreased in [free carnitine]. No changes in [short-chain acylcarnitine] were observed. This indicates that formation of short-chain acylcarnitine in liver is not determined by the rates of fat oxidation. It was calculated that at least 63% of the acyl-groups esterified to carnitine were generated by intramitochondrial beta-oxidation. The effects of glucose and TDG on hepatic concentrations of free and long-chain acylcarnitine were additive, suggesting that extramitochondrial fat oxidation can contribute to acylcarnitine formation in liver.

Liver carnitine metabolism after partial hepatectomy in the rat. Effects of nutritional status and inhibition of carnitine palmitoyltransferase.

This study examined the effects of partial hepatectomy on hepatic carnitine and acylcarnitine concentrations in fed or 24 h-starved partially hepatectomized (PH) or sham-operated (SO) rats at 1 or 4 days after surgery. The ratio of free to esterified carnitine was low in fed PH rats at day 1: the low ratio was increased to the SO value when mitochondrial fat oxidation was inhibited by 2-tetradecylglycidate. Starvation (24 h) increased plasma [non-esterified fatty acid] in PH or SO rats, the increases being greater at day 1 than at day 4. Hepatic [long-chain acylcarnitine] were also increased. These latter increases were a consequence of increased mitochondrial fat oxidation since they were not observed in PH or SO rats treated with 2-tetradecylglycidate. Whereas the starvation-induced increase in long-chain acylcarnitine was associated with increased [ketone body] in livers of SO rats at both day 1 and day 4 after surgery, [ketone body] was inappropriately low for the steady-state long-chain [acylcarnitine] in livers of PH rats at the first post-operative day. This was not a consequence of a decrease in [total carnitine] in the liver. The results are discussed with reference to the role of the liver in determining the relative proportions of the fat fuels available for extrahepatic tissues and the effects of liver cell proliferation on hepatic triacylglycerol metabolism.