bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hepatitis‐B virus infection in black children with hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Kew M.C. , Hodkinson J. , Paterson A.C. , Song E.
Published: March 2007

The hepatitis B virus (HBV) status of six unselected South African Black children, aged 10 to 16 years, with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was investigated. The characteristics of the tumor were similar to those seen in Black adults. Hepatitis B surface antigen and antibody to the core antigen were present in the serum of all the children, and hepatitis Be antigen was detected in four of the children. The serum of the two patients without e antigen was positive for e antibody, and all sera were negative for hepatitis B surface antibody. Taken in conjunction with the HBV status of southern African Black adults with HCC, these findings raise the possibility that nearly all, if not all, Black patients with this tumor are or have been infected with HBV. Moreover, if HBV is oncogenic, tumor formation may occur within 10 years of the initial infection, which occurs in early childhood in southern African Blacks.
A one‐year virological survey of acute lntussusception in childhood
Authors: Nicolas J.C. , Ingrand D. , Fortier B. , Bricout F.
Published: March 2007

A prospective study was carried out during 1 year in order to correlate intussusceptions in childhood with a viral infection. A virus was incriminated in 50% of the 64 patients in this survey. Adenovirus infections remain predominant as compared to rotavirus infections.
The detection of hbv‐dna in serum by molecular hybridisation: A more sensitive method for the detection of complete hbv particles
Authors: Weller Ian V.D. , Fowler Martin J.F. , Monjardino Jon , Thomas Howard C.
Published: March 2007

Existing methods for detecting complete virus particles in the serum of patients with chronic HBV infection are either insensitive or indirect. A method is described in which Dane particle‐associated DNA is extracted from a small volume of serum and detected by molecular hybridization using 32P‐labeled cloned HBV‐DNA or HBV‐DNA extracted from the serum of an immunosuppressed patient, followed by autoradiography and densitometry. There was a positive correlation between the amount of HBV‐DNA detected using HBV particle‐derived and cloned HBV‐DNA probes. The amount of HBV‐DNA detected in serum samples showed a positive correlation with the HBV‐DNA polymerase. The method was more sensitive than the DNA polymerase and HBeAg assays in detecting complete virus particles. It may be useful in determining the level of infectivity in patients and in monitoring response to antiviral therapy.
Reexamination of hepatitis B virus subtypes and e‐antigen expression by radioimmunoassays
Authors: Shorey James , Mushahwar Isa K. , Shorey Jill , Overby Lacy R.
Published: March 2007

Radioimmunoassay methods were used to determine both the hepatitis B virus (HBV) subtype and hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) and antibody (anti‐HBe) status of a group of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)‐positive blood donors. The study involved sera containing HBV of the three major occidental subtypes, adw2, ayw3, and ayw2. The previously reported association of the y‐type virus with HBeAg and the d types with anti‐HBe was again observed. However, when the two y subgroups, ayw2 and ayw3, were considered individually, it was evident that the ayw3 specimens alone accounted for the association with HBeAg while the ayw2 sera were strongly associated with anti‐HBe. The study also indicated that the prevalence of HBeAg declined and that of anti‐HBe increased progressively with advancing age. On the average, ayw2 donors were significantly older than the adw2 donors, and donors from both of these groups were older than the ayw3 donors. It is postulated that the observed age differences account, at least in part, for the differing prevalence of e markers in the three HBV subtype groups, and that these age differences, in turn, may reflect a tendency for infections with the ayw2 viral strain to persist longer than adw2 infections, and both of these longer than ayw3 infections. Alternately, the three subtypes may represent epidemiologic shifts from remote ayw2 and adw2 infections to more recent ayw3 infections.
A simple and rapid test for the identification of clinical herpes simplex virus isolates
Authors: Lancz Gerald J. , Specter Steven C.
Published: March 2007

A simple procedure is described which permits the rapid identification of clinical herpes simplex virus isolates. The test utilizes Staphylococcus aureus to which antiviral immunoglobulins had been adsorbed. Adherence of the antibody‐coated bacteria to virus‐infected cells is readily seen by light microscopy. Indirect immunofluorescence and the S aureus adherence reaction were found to be approximately of equal sensitivity for the detection of virus antigens.
Detection of antibodies to cytomegalovirus by an improved counterimmunoelectrophoretic procedure
Authors: Tegtmeier Gary E. , Sweet George H. , Bayer William L.
Published: March 2007

An improved counterimmunoelectrophoretic (CIE) procedure for detection of antibodies to human cytomegalovirus (CMV) is described. The procedure, which uses high ionic strength buffer and concentrated antigen, is as sensitive and specific as complement fixation (CF), indirect hemagglutination (IHA), and anti‐complement immunofluorescence (ACIF) but requires concentration of some sera. In studies on sera from 118 normal blood donors, the percent correlation of CIE results with those by CF, IHA, and ACIF were 97.5, 98.3, and 98.3, respectively, and exceeded slightly the correlations among the latter three procedures. The appearance of precipitation immediately or early after a CIE run and of more than one line of precipitate was indicative of high titers by the other procedures, while single lines of late precipitation occurred with most low titer sera but also with many of those of high titer.
Neonatal rotavirus infection: Role of lacteal neutralising alpha1‐anti‐trypsin and nonimmunoglobulin antiviral activity in protection
Authors: Totterdell Barbara M. , Nicholson K. G. , Macleod J. , Chrystie I. L. , Banatvala J. E.
Published: March 2007

Expressed breast milks (EBMs) were collected from mothers of rotavirus (RV)‐excreting babies and from mothers whose babies were RV free during an outbreak of asymptomatic RV infection in a newborn nursery to determine the role of lacteal anti‐RV neutralising activity, alpha1‐anti‐trypsin activity, and nonimmunoglobulin antiviral factor in protection of neonates from RV infection, and although all of the above factors were present in the majority of the EBMs, no correlation could be found between their presence in EBM and protection from RV infection. A significant rise in both neutralising activity and subgroup 2 antibodies, was demonstrated in the EBM of one mother who experienced a subgroup 2 RV‐associated diarrhoea during lactation. However, the alpha1‐anti‐trypsin activity and the nonimmunoglobulin antiviral levels remained the same. The importance of these factors in passive immunity with reference to virus dose is discussed.
Inactivation of DNA‐polymerase associated with hepatitis B virus
Authors: Nath Nrapendra , Fang Chyang T. , Dodd Roger Y.
Published: March 2007

The effects of heat, sodium hypochlorite, diethyl ether, and ethyl alcohol on the activity of DNA polymerase (DNA‐P) associated with hepatitis B virsus (HBV) in serum were evaluated. The response of DNA‐P to heating at 60°C for 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120, 180, and 240 minutes was studied and the data suggested that there may be two types of DNA‐P. The majority of DNA‐P was type ‘a’, and it showed a one log redution (D60) at 60°C in 36 minutes, while the remaining activity was type ‘b’ that showed a one log reduction (D60) in 340 minutes. Treatment of DNA‐P with sodium hypochlorite at concentrations of 250 and 500 parts per million (ppm) of available chlorine resulted in a 20 to 25% reduction in DNA‐P activity within one minute. Complete loss in detectable DNA‐P activity occurred within one minute when available Cl‐ was 2500 ppm or greater. Various concentrations of ethyl alcohol (ranging from 10 to 70%) caused gradually increasing inactivation of DNA‐P activity in ten minutes at 4°C. Ninety percent inactivation occurred with 60% alcohol. Overnight treatment of DNA‐P‐reactive material with diethyl ether at 4°C led to loss of detectable activity. A reduction in the titer of HBsAg was found following treatment with alcohol or ether. The possible use of DNA‐P assay as an indicator of the rate of inactivation of HBV is proposed.
Electron microscopy of human hepatitis B virus cores by negative staining‐carbon film technique
Authors: Onodera Shiroh , Ohori Hitoshi , Yamaki Mitsuo , Ishida Nakao
Published: March 2007

The ultrastructure of the nucleocapsid component of human hepatitis B virus (core particle) was studied by negative staining‐carbon film technique. Using this method an improved image of core particles was obtained in respect of resolution and contrast. Two‐dimensional crystalline arrays of core particles were formed in vitro. Under these arrays the distance between the particle centers was 28.3 nm, corresponding to the capsid diameter, when analyzed through optical diffraction patterns. Positively stained images of these arrays revealed that core particles contain an electron‐dense center of nucleoid‐like area about 21 nm in diameter. The capsid surface rarely exhibited small capsomeres, ie, small spheres or ring‐like structures measuring 4.0–4.2 nm. From the dimension of these structures and the analysis by Markham's rotational technique, it was suggested that each of these capsomeres is an individual subunit (monomer) and 180 of these subunits build up the core particle capsid according to the icosahedral symmetry (T = 3), but not clustering into distinct morphological features.
False RIA IgM titres to herpes simplex virus and cytomegalovirus: Factors causing them, and their absorption by protein A‐sepharose/IgG‐protein A‐sepharose
Authors: Torfason Einar G. , Diderholm Hans
Published: March 2007

A method for the absorption of false radioimmunoassay (RIA) IgM titres against herpes simplex virus (HSV) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) is presented. The serum specimens were absorbed by a mixture of protein A‐Sepharose and protein A‐Sepharose saturated with normal human gamma globulin (PAS/IgG). The detection of rheumatoid factor of IgM class (IgM‐RF) as well as antinuclear antibodies (ANA) of both IgM and IgG class by solid‐phase RIA is also described, and their role in the false IgM results was studied.

It was found that the PAS/IgG absorption removed 50–90% of both IgM‐RF and total IgG. The reduction of IgM‐ANA clustered at 50–90% or nothing, whereas the reduction of IgG‐ANA was approximately 50%. The studies with HSV and CMV antigens indicated that the removal of false IgM titres was more effective than the removal of each of these four factors. It was concluded that the IgM‐RF titres alone were not sufficiently high to explain the false IgM results, but the ANA activity probably contributed.
Prevalence of antibodies to human cytomegalovirus in Urban, Kibbutz, and bedouin children in southern Israel
Authors: Sarov Batia , Naggan Lechaim , Rosenzveig Rely , Katz Shira , Haikin Hava , Sarov Israel
Published: March 2007

Prevalence of antibody to human cytomegalovirus (CMV) was determined in a sample of 860 healthy children aged 1–13 years in Beer Sheva, in the Negev region of Israel. Three groups of children were tested: (1) urban Jewish children of low, middle, and high socioeconomic levels; (2) 8 rural communes (kibbutz) in which children live in close contact with each other from the 6th week of life under good hygienic conditions and a high standard of living; (3) Bedouin, seminomadic Arabs living in relatively poor hygienic conditions in the desert.

Kibbutz children showed a significantly higher rate of CMV seropositivity by the second year of life than urban Jewish and Bedouin children (76% versus 44% and 54% respectively) with a gradual increase to 94% in the 10–13‐year age group. Among children living in urban populations a significantly higher prevalence of CMV seropositivity was associated with crowding, but not with other socioeconomic indicators (place of residence, country of origin, or education level of parents). A marked rise of CMV seropositivity with age was found in urban Jewish children in the 2–5‐year age group during which time they attend nurseries (44% to 67%) and in the Bedouin children in the 6–9‐year age group (59% to 86%) when they first attend school.

The data suggest that close contact is of major importance in CMV infection in childhood. The clinical implications of early acquisition and high prevalence of CMV antibodies in the kibbutz setting are discussed.
Specific IgM class antibody production following infection with cytomegalovirus
Authors: Kangro Hillar O. , Griffiths Paul D. , Huber Timothy J. , Heath Raymond B.
Published: March 2007

Specific IgM class antibody production was studied in different groups of patients with characterized cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections using a radioimmunoassay (RIA). In pregnant women, IgM antibodies were detected only following primary infection and generally persisted less than 4 months. The demonstration of CMV‐specific IgM during pregnancy is therefore diagnostic of recent primary CMV infection.

In patients with symptomatic CMV infections, the appearance of IgM antibody was shown to be closely related to the onset of symptoms and coincided with production of complement fixing (CF) antibody. IgM antibodies were at maximum levels 3–4 weeks after presentation but generally declined to low or undetectable levels by 3–4 months. The significance of the results of testing for CMV‐specific IgM in relation to clinical and other serological findings in these patients is discussed.

IgM antibody production was also demonstrated in renal transplant patients with primary infections and in 6 of 21 recipients with secondary infections. In both groups the antibodies became detectable 3–6 weeks after transplantation but the titres were much higher following primary infection. IgM antibodies persisted throughout follow‐up periods of up to 2 years after transplantation in some cases.
Adsorption of purified human cytomegalovirus and induction of early antigens in different cells
Authors: Einhorn Lena , Gadler Håkan , Wahren Britta
Published: March 2007

Different human and nonhuman cells were assayed for their capacity to adsorb human cytomegalovirus (CMV Ad. 169) and to support CMV infection in vitro. The CMV adsorptive capacity was assayed by measuring cell‐bound radioactivity after addition of purified 3H‐ or 125I‐labeled CMV or by a bioassay for residual infectious virus in the supernatant fluid. Many of the human and nonhuman cell types adsorbed CMV. Induction of CMV early nuclear antigens in the same cells was assayed by anticomplement immunofluorescence staining of fixed cells 1–3 days after infection. CMV early antigens were induced in the human and nonhuman cells that showed a high degree of CMV adsorption.
Solid‐phase immune electron microscopy (SPIEM) by use of protein A and its application for characterization of selected adenovirus serotypes
Authors: Svensson Lennart , von Bonsdorff Carl‐Henrik
Published: March 2007

Staphylococcal protein A was used for the anchoring of specific antibodies for a solid‐phase immune electron microscope method (SPIEM). More IgG adsorbed to grids in the absence of protein A than in its presence. However, the virus trapping efficiency was markedly improved in the presence of protein A. The specificity of the test was evaluated by use of different adenovirus preparations and matching rabbit hyperimmune sera. The degree of serological reaction was evaluated by counting the number of particles attached to the grid. Type specific reactions and inter‐ and intrasubgroup reactions were identified.
Inapparent genital herpes simplex virus infection in college women
Authors: McCaughtry Mary L. , Fleagle Genevra S. , Docherty John J.
Published: March 2007

During a six‐month period, 600 gynecological samples were collected from 585 women with typical herpes lesions, women with non‐herpes symptoms (ie, vaginitis, moniliasis, trichomoniasis, etc), and normal women seen at the student health center gynecological clinic and processed for herpes simplex virus (HSV) isolation. From these specimens, 29 samples from 25 of the 585 women (4.3%) were positive for HSV. When these isolates were typed using plaque diameter in chick cells, heat stability of viral thymidine kinase (T.K.), and restriction endonuclease patterns it was found that 18 samples (15 patients or 60%) were HSV‐2 and 11 samples (10 patients or 40%) were HSV‐1. Inapparent HSV infections constituted 20.0% of the virologically confirmed samples (5 of 25 patients) and represented 0.9% of the total patients studied (5 of 585). The inapparent infections were about equally divided between the two HSV types (2 were HSV‐2 and 3 were HSV‐1). and 4 of 5 occurred in the presence of clinically diagnosed monilia.
Cocirculation of different rotavirus strains in a local outbreak of infantile gastroenteritis: Monitoring by rapid and sensitive nucleic acid analysis
Authors: Follett Edward A. C. , Desselberger Ulrich
Published: March 2007

Rotaviruses isolated from 22 patients during a local outbreak of infantile gastroenteritis in October/November 1981 were genotyped by establishing their RNA migration patterns on polyacrylamide gels. A highly sensitive silver staining procedure was used to visualize the RNAs. It was found that strains with at least four different RNA patterns cocirculated and also showed serological differences.
Clinical and serological response in humans following immunization with gripax influenza vaccine
Authors: Morag Abraham , Levy Reuven , Weil Gilda , Zakay‐Rones Zichria
Published: March 2007

A commercial trivalent formol‐inactivated influenza vaccine (Gripax) was tested. The vaccine consisted of equal amounts of A/England/321/77 (H3N2), B/Hong Kong/8/73, and A/USSR/99/177 (H1N1) strains.

One hundred four females were injected intramuscularly. Eighty‐eight (74.6%) were 17–24 yr old and 16 (15.4%) were 29–45 yr old. Seventy subjects were immunized with 1,200 IU, 24 with 1,680 IU, and 10 with 2,400 IU.

A follow‐up for adverse side effects was carried out during 72 hr following vaccination. There was no absence from work or school, nor did the subjects develop any systemic symptoms (fever and malaise). Local reactogenic effects were minor and included painless erythema and induration of low degree, which were observed in small numbers of the recipients and lasted for no more than 24–48 hr. Localized, axillary lymphadenopathy was noted in one subject.

Seventy‐four paired sera samples were tested for hemagglutination inhibition (HI) response. A highly reactive response to A/England and B/Hong Kong strains was observed, as evidenced by an at‐least fourfold increase of titers. There was no significant change when a dose of 400 IU or more was given: An 83.6% and 89.4% response was, respectively, recorded for A/England and 69.0% and 73.6%, respectively, for B/Hong Kong. However, when the dose of A/USSR was increased, the response was significantly elevated from 56.0 to 84.2%. All the sera tested for neuraminidase inhibition antibody showed a satisfactory response.

Regardless of the dose, a single administration of the vaccine sufficed to confer a high degree of immunity against the “old” circulating strains: 94–100% against A/England and 79–90.9% against B/Hong Kong. Immunization with 400 IU of the recent strain A/USSR conferred immunity in 50.9% of the cases, whilc the administration of a dose equal to or larger than 560 IU elicited a far higher rate of immunity‐89.4%. The high quality of the vaccine is evidenced by the conversion rate from nonimmune to the immune state, as well as by the lack of undesirable side effects.
Two distinct types of non‐A, non‐B hepatitis in a cardiovascular surgical unit
Authors: Ohori Hitoshi , Nagatsuka Yasuko , Kanno Atsushi , Abe Yasuyuki , Ishida Nakao
Published: March 2007

The incidence of non‐A, non‐B hepatitis in a cardiovascular surgical unit was examined among the 204 patients who received blood transfusion and extracorporeal circulation while undergoing open heart surgery during April 1979 to December 1981. Among 115 adult patients (20 to 69 years old) 46 (43%) developed non‐A, non‐B hepatitis, whereas the incidence in younger patients (1 to 19 years old) was much lower (21.8%, 19 out of 89).

When monthly incidence was examined during the study period, two nosocomial epidemics, the first during September 1979 to February 1980 and second during October 1980 to January 1981, were found. When clinical features such as maximum ALT level and the proportion of icterus were examined, the features of the above two epidemics were taken to be different from those consistently observed through the study period. The epidemic type hepatitis not only resulted in more severe clinical features than the nonepidemic type, but the sera of the former contained immune complexes at a higher rate (80%) than did the latter (7.6%).
Isolation and Identification of Enteric Adenoviruses
Authors: Wigand R. , Baumeister H. G. , Maass G. , Kühn J. , Hammer H. J.
Published: March 2007

Thirty‐four out of 64 faecal samples with adenovirus particles, as seen by electron microscopy, were found to contain adenovirus 40 or 41 by direct isolation and neutralization in Chang's conjunctival cells, mostly within one week. (Ad40 and 41 candidate viruses are serologically related.) 6 other adenovirus specics were isolated; 6 samples gave equivocal results, and 18 were negative. A genus‐specific ELISA with an antihexon coat yielded positive results in 40 out of 55 samples; the test failed to identify adenovirus antigen in 10 out of 17 specimens, which were found negative by culture. All of them were negative by immunfluorescence of inoculated Chang cell cultures. Hence the failures are probably due to insufficient amount of virus in the samples. The predominance of only two adenovirus species associated with gastroenteritis in children and the ease of cultivating and identifying them should help to elucidate their etiological significance.
Phosphonoformic acid‐inhibitable nucleotide incorporation as a measure of hepatitis B viral DNA polymerase activity
Authors: Lin Hsiang Ju , Kwan Jenny Ping‐Wan , Wu Pui‐Chee , Chak Winnie
Published: March 2007

This paper describes an assay for hepatitis B DNA polymerase which is based on the use of phosphonoformic acid (PFA), a known inhibitor of the viral enzyme, with particulate fractions prepared from blood plasma or serum. The assay makes possible the measurement of the viral enzyme activity in the presence of DNA polymerases unrelated to hepatitis B. The activities of the latter were largely but incompletely suppressed in the presence of 0.4 M KCl, and they were altogether excluded from nucleotide incorporation which was inhibited by PFA. Thus, particulate fractions obtained from HBsAg‐negative blood had mean DNA polymerase activities of 1 ± 1 (SD) pmol/liter/hr with a lower 90th percentile range of 0–3 pmol/liter/hr. Particulate fractions prepared from blood that was positive for both HBsAg and HBeAg had polymerase activities of 58 ± 66 pmol/liter/hr with an upper 90th percentile range of 4–322 pmol/liter/hr. PFA concentration was optimized using a commercial preparation of the inhibitor, in which the degree of purity was determined. The method utilizes 3H‐labeled deoxyribonucleoside triphosphates and is performed on 6 ml of plasma or serum. The effects of precursor concentration and specific activities on the rate of nucleotide incorporation were studied, and the optimal combinations were indicated. Other parameters of the proposed assay were also studied.
Characterization of rotaviral RNA isolated from children with gastroenteritis in two hospitals in rotterdam
Authors: Buitenwerf J. , Alphen M. Muilwijk‐Van , Schaap G. J. P.
Published: March 2007

Rotavirus RNA was extracted from stools collected from children with gastroenteritis in two hospitals in Rotterdam. Electrophoresis of the RNAs showed that at least 19 different electropherotypes were isolated from stools collected in the period from 1977 to 1982. It was possible to identify the index case in some hospital‐acquired cases of rotaviral gastroenteritis.
A risk index for the prediction of the incidence of non‐A, non‐B posttransfusion hepatitis in open‐heart surgery patients
Authors: Nagatsuka Yasuko , Ohori Hitoshi , Kanno Atsushi , Abe Yasuyuki , Togoh Takao , Ishida Nakao
Published: March 2007

Risk factors related to the occurrence of non‐A, non‐B posttransfusion hepatitis (PTH) were statistically analyzed in 204 patients (115 adults and 89 children) who received blood transfusion and extracorporeal circulation during open‐heart surgery. The PTH incidence, irrespective of age or body weight, was affected by both transfusion volume and circulation time, ie, the incidence increased cumulatively with the increment of these two variables. Based upon such statistical analysis, a “PTH‐risk index,” from which one can objectively predict the probability of PTH, was devised by the summation of standardized transfusion volumes (Vs) and circulation time (Ts). As a result, a high correlation between the obtained PTH‐risk index and actual incidence was found. The obtained straight regression line between PTH‐risk index and the actual incidence rate enabled us to predict the incidence of PTH in open‐heart surgery patients.
An antigen/antibody system specific for an epidemic non‐A, non‐B hepatitis in patients of a cardiovascular surgical unit
Authors: Ohori Hitoshi , Kanno Atsushi , Nagatsuka Yasuko , Yamada Ei , Onodera Shiroh , Tateda Akira , Abe Yasuyuki , Togoh Takao , Ishida Nakao
Published: March 2007

The antigen/antibody systems specific for non‐A, non‐B hepatitis (NANB) were studied using urine samples as the antigen source and sera for the antibody source. Two immunologically distinct systems, SO‐antigen/anti‐SO and MI‐antigen/anti‐MI were discovered. This paper deals chiefly with the characterization of the SO‐antigen, which was associated with an epidemic‐type non‐A, non‐B hepatitis found during September 1979 to February 1980 (first outbreak) and October 1980 to January 1981 (second outbreak) in the Cardiovascular Surgical Unit of Tohoku University Hospital. All patients who developed non‐A, non‐B hepatitis during the first and second epidemic periods had SO‐antigen in their urine (24 out of 24). After the epidemic, however, the detection rate of SO‐antigen gradually decreased among patients in the same unit, although posttransfusion non‐A, non‐B hepatitis continued to be found.

The initial detection of SO‐antigen occurred at or just after the elevation of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels during the episode of hepatitis and persisted in most cases throughout the elevated period. Anti‐SO antibody was detected relatively late (eight months after blood transfusion, in most cases) and apparently persisted longer than five years.

The immunological and physicochemical properties of SO‐antigen were also studied. It appeared to be neither a plasma protein nor a liver tissue component when the crossreactivity of SO‐antigen was examined by the immunodiffusion method. Absorption with insolubilized human serum and liver tissues failed to affect the anti‐SO antibody activity. The molecular weight of SO‐antigen was estimated to be 250,000, the sedimentation coefficient to be 11.0 S, and the buoyant density in CsCl to be 1.215 g/cm3. Electron microscopy showed that the SO‐antigen corresponded with uniform particles with a mean diameter of 11 nm. Sodium dodecyl sulfate‐polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS‐PAGE) analysis of SO‐antigen revealed only a single protein band corresponding to molecular weight 38,000.
Immunoperoxidase localization of papillomavirus antigen in cutaneous warts and bowenoid papulosis
Authors: Braun Lundy , Farmer Evan R. , Shah Keerti V.
Published: March 2007

Using the immunoperoxidase technique and a broadly cross‐reactive antiserum which detects infection with any papillomavirus, papillomavirus capsid antigen was demonstrated in 25 of 48 cutaneous papillomas and in two of 38 cutaneous dysplasias. Both positive dysplastic lesions were diagnosed on histopathologic examination as bowenoid papulosis. Antigen‐positive cutaneous warts were scattered in all age categories and at all body sites. In addition, there was little variation in antigen expression by morphologic type of wart. Antigen was localized in the nucleus of superficial epithelial cells. The amount of staining was variable, with some warts showing large numbers of stained nuclei. In other warts only isolated cells stained. In both cases of bowenoid papulosis, small foci of positively stained cells were observed. The finding of papillomavirus antigen in two of 21 cases of bowenoid papulosis is suggestive of an etiologic relationship between this lesion and a papillomavirus. An examination of antigen‐negative cases of bowenoid papulosis for a papillomavirus genome will be necessary to confirm these results.
Characterization of vilyuisk virus as a picornavirus
Authors: Lipton Howard L. , Friedmann Adam , Sethi Pradip , Crowther John R.
Published: March 2007

The V‐1 strain of Vilyuisk virus, isolated from the cerebrospinal fluid of a chronic case of encephalomyelitis in Siberia and subsequently passaged 41 times in mice, was examined to determine its serological relationship to Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus (TMEV) and encephalomyocarditis (EMC) virus and some physicochemical characteristics of the virion. On the basis of virion size (28 nm), icosahedral symmetry, buoyant density (1.33 g/ml), sedimentation coefficient (150S), and capsid polypeptide profile, Vilyuisk virus appears to belong to the family Picornaviridae. Acute phase mouse antisera were used to study the antigenic relatedness of Vilyuisk, GDVII (the prototypic strain TMEV), and EMC viruses by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The results indicate that Vilyuisk and GDVII viruses are similar but distant subtypes, and that Vilyuisk and EMC viruses are unrelated.
Ultrastructural alterations in hepatocytes and sinus endothelia in experimental non‐A, non‐B hepatitis in chimpanzees with and without immunoglobulin prophylaxis
Authors: Spichtin Hans‐Peter , Eder Gerald , Gudat Fred , Krey Gunthild , Bianchi Leonardo
Published: March 2007

Three chimpanzees were inoculated with an infectious factor VIII preparation. Two of the chimpanzees received in addition a human immunoglobulin preparation as used for prophylaxis in humans. All three chimpanzees developed an acute limited non‐A, non‐B hepatitis as judged from light and electron microscopic markers after an incubation period of two weeks. The use of immunoglobulin did not prevent the infection. A prolonged incubation of 15 weeks, however, was observed in one animal when alanine aminotransferase (ALT) elevation was used as criterion of infection. In the electron microscope, non‐A, non‐B hepatitis was characterized by tubular structures, spongelike inclusions and attaching curved membranes, in the absence of nuclear viruslike particles. An additional finding were viruslike particles in crystalline arrays which were found in the cytoplasm of sinusoidal‐lining endothelial cells and tubuloreticular complexes.
Junin virus activity in two rural populations of the Argentine hemorrhagic fever (AHF) endemic area
Authors: Weissenbacher Mercedes C. , Sabattini Marta S. , Avila María M. , Sangiorgio Patricia M. , De Sensi María R. F. , Contigiani Marta S. , Levis Silvana Del C. , Maiztegui Julio I.
Published: March 2007

To determine the prevalence of inapparent infection with Junin virus among the rural population and its relation to the clinical disease, a serological study was carried out in two zones of the endemic area of Argentine hemorrhagic fever (AHF). From the first appearance of AHF in the zones (1963) and the moment of the survey (1977), 14 years had passed. A total of 695 serum samples were obtained, 540 from Córdoba and 155 from Buenos Aires. Of the 695 serum samples, 83 were positive for neutralizing antibodies against Junin virus. Total infection (clinical and inapparent cases) reached 11.6% and 12.03% in the Buenos Aires and Córdoba zones, respectively, showing that the total prevalence of infection in two zones separated by 320 miles, are very much alike. In Córdoba province, the prevalence of clinical infection was 7.59%, while that for inapparent infection was 4.44%. Values for the Province of Buenos Aires were 9.67% and 1.93%, respectively.

In addition to a low prevalence of inapparent infections, the results of this survey show that roughly 90% of the population is susceptible to contract the disease; this stresses the need to immunize susceptible individuals in the endemic area.
Indirect and reverse radioimmunoassays and their apparent specificities in the detection of antibodies to enteroviruses in human sera
Authors: Torfason Einar G. , Frisk Gun , Diderholm Hans
Published: March 2007

Indirect radioimmunoassays (RIAs) of IgM and IgG antibodies to enteroviruses have been developed, using coxsackieviruses B1 and B3, and echoviruses 11 and 30. The titres of IgM and IgG were assayed in paired sera from patients infected with one of these viruses or coxsackieviruses A7, A9, A16, B2, B4, B5 or echoviruses 4, 17, or 25. Both IgM and IgG were found in almost all serum pairs with each of the four viruses used as an antigen, and there were no certain differences between titres obtained with homologous and heterologous antigens. The convalescent phase specimens contained significantly higher titres compared with the acute phase specimens, the difference being most pronounced for IgG. Of the specimens from patients with nonenterovirus infections, a relatively high percentage contained IgM and IgG against enterovirus antigen. However, no increases in titres were seen between acute and convalescent specimens. When specimens from younger patients, aged 2 days to 22 months, without evidence of enterovirus infections, were assayed with enterovirus antigen, the frequency of IgM titres was seen to increase with age. Almost all specimens from newborns were negative, whereas the specimens from 12‐ to 22‐month‐old children showed a high frequency of IgM titres. In specimens from patients aged 2 days to 8 months, the ratio between IgM and IgG titres increased with age, probably due to a loss of maternal IgG. The IgG titres in specimens from 8.5‐ to 22‐month‐old children were similar to the titres of specimens from the patients with nonenterovirus infections.

A reverse IgM assay was also developed, using the same viruses and serum specimens as for the indirect assays. In contrast to the indirect IgM assay, the reverse IgM assay was apparently type specific, provided that the amount of labeled virus was carefully standardized. The reverse IgM RIA detected and identified antibody responses better than the neutralization test. Attempts to develop a reverse IgG assay were promising concerning the specificity, but the sensitivity was low.
Community‐acquired non‐A, non‐B hepatitis: Clinical characteristics and chronicity
Authors: Sampliner Richard E. , Woronow Daniel I. , Alter Miriam J. , Smallwood Linda A. , Tabor Edward , Deinhardt Friedrich , Roggendorf Michael , Gerety Robert J.
Published: March 2007

The characteristics of 86 patients with acute non‐A, non‐B hepatitis were compared to 23 patients with acute hepatitis A and 76 with acute hepatitis B by medical record reviews of patients seen at 5 hospitals in Baltimore, Maryland, as part of case‐control study of viral hepatitis. Results of serum aminotransferase levels, bilirubin, albumin, and prothrombin times alone could not distinguish the type of viral hepatitis because of extensive overlap. The alanine aminotransferase range for non‐A, non‐B hepatitis was 56 to 1819 IU/liters, for hepatitis A 250 to 1995 IU/liters, and for hepatitis B 203 to 2120 IU/liters. The ranges of aspartate aminotransferase and bilirubin for the types of hepatitis also overlapped. Fewer patients with non‐A, non‐B hepatitis or hepatitis A had a prolonged prothrombin time compared to patients with hepatitis B. Hepatic encephalopathy was seen only in two patients with hepatitis B.

Forty‐two percent of non‐A, non‐B hepatitis patients followed for 6 months or longer continued to have elevated alanine aminotransferase levels. Chronic alanine aminotransferase elevation was independent of the source of infection: transfusion, parenteral drug use, or all other sources. Prolonged follow‐up is necessary to evaluate chronicity in patients with non‐A, non‐B hepatitis.
The immune response of healthy nigerian adults to small doses of hepatitis B vaccine: Comparison of 10‐ and 20‐μg doses
Authors: Ayoola E. A.
Published: March 2007

The immunogenic effect of hepatitis B vaccine (H‐B‐vax) was evaluated in 120 seronegative healthy Nigerians. Three doses of the vaccine were given at 0, 1, and 6 months. Serial blood samples were tested 1 month after each vaccination for hepatitis B surface antibody (anti‐HBs) and antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti‐HBc). Of 60 vaccines given 20 μg of the vaccine, 40% had significant anti‐HBs response 1 month after the first dose, 70% after the second dose, and 91.7% after the third dose. In the 60 vaccines given 10‐μg doses, the seroconversion rates were 35, 73.3, and 90%, respectively. It is concluded that this vaccine in 10‐μg doses is as effective as the larger doses in producing anti‐HBs. The administration of small doses would reduce the cost of large‐scale vaccination programs in developing countries.
Isolation and characterization of liver‐derived hepatitis B e antigen
Authors: Budkowska Agata , Petit Marie‐Anne , Karwowska Sylwia , Roszuk Danuta
Published: March 2007

Two subpopulations of hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) were isolated from a human liver infected with hepatitis B virus. HBeAg extracted from liver homogenate subsequent to treatment with buffered 3 M NaSCN or 0.5 M MgCl2 banded at the density of 1.13 g/cm3 in CsCl and was polydispersed on gel filtration. In contrast, HBeAg released with phosphate‐buffered saline (PBS) was detected mainly at a density of 1.20 g/cm3 in a CsCl gradient and consisted of low molecular weight species on gel chromatography. Polypeptides of 40,000 and 45,000 daltons were found in NaSCN and PBS‐released HBeAg preparations, respectively. The results are interpreted as suggestive that liver HBeAg is a dimer of the major core particle polypeptide in different physicochemical forms.
Comparative immunogenicity studies on epstein‐barr virus membrane antigen (MA) gp340 with novel adjuvants in mice, rabbits, and cotton‐top tamarins
Authors: Morgan A. J. , Epstein M. A. , North J. R.
Published: March 2007

The effectiveness of immunisation of mice, rabbits, and cotton‐top tamarins with small amounts of EB virus MA glycoprotein gp340, incorporated into artificial liposomes, has been compared using various routes of injection with or without additional adjuvants. Liposomes containing gp340 gave specific high titre antibodies after i.p. or i.v. administration, and the addition of lipid A to the liposomes resulted in a significant enhancement of the response. Antibodies generated by the above procedure were virus neutralising and bound gp340 specifically. These findings indicate an advantageous approach for use with a prototype vaccine for the prevention of EB virus infection.
Delta agent infection in melbourne
Authors: Hoy J. F. , Hansson B. G. , Dimitrakakis M. , Gust I. , Lucas C. R.
Published: March 2007

Evidence of infection with delta agent was sought in 284 patients with acute hepatitis B referred to Fairfield Hospital, Melbourne, between July 1, 1981, and June 30, 1982 and in 127 hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) carriers. Acute and convalescent serum samples from the patients with acute hepatitis B and single or multiple sera from the HBsAg carriers were tested for delta antigen (δL ag) and/or antibody (anti‐δL) by solid‐phase radioimmunoassay (SPRIA). Evidence of infection was detected in 14.4% of patients with acute hepatitis B and 7.1% of chronic HBsAg carriers. Eighty‐eight percent of those in whom delta agent infection was demonstrated were intravenous drug users.
Detection and characterization of hepatitis B virus DNA in serum of HBe antigen‐negative HBsAg carriers
Authors: Tur‐Kaspa Ran , Keshet Eli , Eliakim Marcel , Shouval Daniel
Published: March 2007

Sera from 153 Israeli patients in various stages of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection with undetectable hepatitis Be antigen (HBeAg) were studied for the presence of HBV DNA in the serum by molecular hybridization. HBV DNA was detected in 10 patients: 3 with acute hepatitis, 4 asymptomatic hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) carriers, 1 with chronic active hepatitis, 1 with cirrhosis, and 1 with mixed cryoglobulinemia. HBV DNA was detected in 7 of 10 HBeAg‐positive control samples tested. Hybridization analysis was used for quantitative comparison of HBV DNA levels in serum. HBV DNA levels, found in HBeAg‐negative patients sometimes exceeded the levels found in HBeAg‐positive patients. Restriction enzyme analysis of serum HBV DNA from four HBeAg‐negative samples gave undistinguishable digestion patterns as compared to 3 HbeAg‐positive samples. However, heterogeneity in HBV DNA restriction fragments was detected among HBV genomes in sera of HBeAg‐positive samples. These data demonstrate that HBV DNA may be present in the serum at various stages of HBV infection, regardless of HBeAg detection. Failure to detect HBeAg in these patients does not necessarily reflect low serum levels of viral particles, or the occurrence of HBV genome variants.
Genome variants of adenovirus 41 (subgroup G) from children with diarrhoea in South Africa
Authors: Kidd A. H.
Published: March 2007

Fifteen strains of faecal adenovirus from 3 continents (4 from Europe, 4 from Canada, and 7 from South Africa) were typed as Ad41a by restriction enzyme analysis of the DNA using Sma I. The DNA of the strains was further compared by digestion with 9 other restriction enzymes. All strains had the same cleavage sites for enzymes Bam HI, Bgl I, Sst I, Pvu II, and Xho I, indicating a close relationship. The Canadian and European strains also had the same cleavage sites for Hind III, Eco RI, Bst EII, and Kpn I, within the limits of resolution of the technique. Only one of the 7 South African strains had a combination of restriction sites identical to the European and Canadian strains, whereas Hind III, Eco RI, Bst EII, and Kpn I digests of the other 6 South African Ad41 DNAs showed the existence of 4 other genome types of Ad41. All 15 Ad41a strains studied were easily distinguished from Ad40 strains using any of the 10 restriction enzymes.
Dynamics of viral growth, viral enzymatic activity, and antigenicity in murine lungs during the course of influenza pneumonia
Authors: Astry Calvin L. , Yolken Robert H. , Jakab George J.
Published: March 2007

Mice were infected by aerosol inhalation with influenza A/PR8/34 virus, and the kinetics of infection were monitored by the measurement of infectious virus, viral neuraminidase activity, and viral antigen as detected by enzyme immunoassay. Pulmonary levels of neuraminidase activity closely paralleled the infectious titers quantitated by standard egg inoculation techniques. Both viral neuraminidase activity and viral antigen increased in a dose‐dependent manner during the early stages of the viral infection. After day 5, however, viral neuraminidase activity precipitously declined, whereas viral antigen levels remained elevated at high concentration for up to 60 days. Immunosuppressive treatment with cyclophosphamide resulted in the prolonged maintenance of peak virus titers without any additional increases in viral antigen. Previously infected mice were resistant to reinfection with homologous virus as evidenced by the lack of detectable viral neuraminidase activity and the lack of generation of additional viral antigen. These data define the temporal relationship between levels of infectious virus, neuraminidase activity, and viral antigen in an experimental model of influenza virus infection.
Immune response of adults to sequential influenza vaccination
Authors: Powers Robert D. , Hayden Frederick G. , Samuelson Joel , Gwaltney Jack M.
Published: March 2007

Annual immunization against influenza is recommended for numerous individuals, but the antibody response to sequential vaccination has not been well characterized. Levels of hemagglutination‐inhibition antibody were measured in adults given either two or three doses of trivalent influenza vaccine at six‐month intervals. A significant rise in the number of individuals with antibody titers of ≥40 was seen for all three antigens only after initial vaccination. Repeated vaccination was necessary to maintain adequate antibody levels only to the A/Brazil (H1N1) antigen; it did not significantly affect the proportions of individuals with protective levels of antibody to either the A/Bangkok (H3N2) or the B/Singapore 222/79 antigens. These findings do not support the current recommendation for annual immunization when the vaccine formulation has not changed.
Antibody responses to mumps virus proteins in natural mumps infection and after vaccination with live and inactivated mumps virus vaccines
Authors: Julkunen Ilkka , Väänänen Pertti , Penttinen Kari
Published: March 2007

Paired sera from 20 patients with acute mumps infection, 16 from persons vaccinated with live attenuated mumps virus vaccine, and 12 from persons vaccinated with formalin‐inactivated virus vaccine were studied for mumps antibodies by single radial hemolysis (SRH), hemagglutination inhibition (HI), and by enzyme immunoassays (EIA) specific for whole virus, envelope glycoprotein, and nucleocapsid antibodies. Mumps patients had diagnostic rises in serum mumps antibodies in 90–100% of the cases depending on the method of assay. Vaccination resulted in seroconversion in 75–88% (live vaccine) and in 92% (inactivated vaccine) of the cases as detected by SRH or EIAs, whereas HI detected seroconversion only in 38% and 58% of the cases, respectively.

Immunoprecipitation analyses revealed that all sera from mumps patients and nearly all postvaccination sera had antibodies against the main structural proteins of mumps virus. By immunoblotting, antibodies against denatured hemagglutinin‐neuraminidase (HN) and fusion protein (F) were detected in 15–25 % of mumps patients and persons vaccinated with live vaccine, whereas most postvaccination sera from those vaccinated with inactivated vaccine had HN (92%) and F (83%) protein antibodies, suggesting that antibodies against the denatured form of proteins are formed.
Human spumavirus replication in human cells
Authors: Loh Philip C. , Matsuura Faye M.
Published: March 2007

It was previously reported that the replication of the human syncytium‐forming virus (HSFV), a spumavirus, occurred only in fibroblast‐like cell lines (human fetal diploid lung #645 [HFDL]) but not in epithelial‐like lines (recovered amnion) [RA]. Factors that may be involved in such a phenomenon were the subject of this investigation. While both permissive (HFDL) and nonpermissive (RA) cell lines supported the replication of several representative animal viruses and adsorbed HSFV equally well, immunofluorescent staining of HSFV antigens revealed markedly fewer fluorescing cells in nonpermissive cultures. Infectious center assays of infected nonpermissive cells indicated the formation of significantly fewer infectious centers. The rate of DNA synthesis was markedly greater in the permissive cell lines. In addition, in the permissive cell line, the amount of proviral DNA revealed by the Hirt procedure and isopycnic banding in CsCl was significantly increased and was infectious as determined by the calcium phosphate‐DMSO transfection assay. These results indicate that resistance of HSFV infection in nonpermissive cell cultures is probably an intracellular event.