Detection and differentiation of yellow head complex viruses using monoclonal antibodies

Three monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) raised against pathogenic yellow head virus (YHV) from Thailand were tested against tissues of shrimp from Thailand, Australia, Ecuador and India that were purported to be infected with yellow head complex viruses. MAbs V-3-2B and Y-18 were specific to gp116 and gp64 envelope proteins, respectively, while Y-19 was specific to a 20 kDa putative nucleoprotein p20. As a preliminary step, the site of reactivity of the 3 MAbs in YHV was determined by immuno-electron microscopy using ultra-thin sections of YHV-infected shrimp tissue and negatively stained, semi-purified YHV particles. As expected, MAb Y-19 reacted with viral nucleocapsids in ultra-thin sections but not with negatively stained, whole virions; MAb V-3-2B did react with negatively stained, whole virions, but not with virions or nucleocapsids in ultra-thin sections. Unexpectedly, MAb Y-18 did not react with whole or sectioned virions. By immunohistochemistry, MAbs Y-19 and Y-18 reacted with Penaeus monodon tissues infected with either YHV or with gill-associated virus (GAV) from Australia, while MAb V-3-2B reacted with YHV only. In addition, all the YHV and GAV tissue samples gave positive in situ hybridization reactions with a cDNA probe specific to the ORF1b gene of YHV. They also gave expected differential RT-PCR results for YHV and GAV. By contrast, 2 natural Thai shrimp specimens with no gross signs of disease gave similar immunohistochemical reactions and RT-PCR reactions to GAV. However, sequencing of their RT-PCR products showed that they shared 92.7% identity with GAV, but only 79.0% identity with YHV. Although specimens from Ecuador and India displayed histopathology suggestive of YHV infection, they gave negative immunohistochemical reactions with all 3 Mabs, and negative in situ hybridization results. Additional work is required to determine whether a virus from the yellow head complex was responsible for their observed histopathology. These data show that the 3 YHV MAbs could be used in diagnostic situations to differentiate some viruses in the yellow head virus complex.     

Mg-Gluconate provides superior protection against postischemic dysfunction and oxidative injury compared to Mg-sulfate

Cardioprotection by Mg Sulfate (MgSO4) during ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) is attributed largely to the Mg2+ cation. However, Mg-gluconate (MgGl2) may provide added benefit, possibly through its anion's antioxidant properties. Protective effects of both Mg-salts and their anions during 30 min global I and 50 min R were assessed in Langendorff-perfused (Krebs-Henseleit buffer) rat hearts. Recovery of function was compared between untreated hearts and those receiving supplement (2.4 mM MgGl2, MgSO4, or Na2SO4, or 4.8 mM NaGI) for 5 min prior to I and during the initial 30 min R. The final 20 min R was conducted without supplement. End diastolic pressure (EDP, mmHg) of the 50 min reperfused MgGl2 group (2.6) was lower than MgSO4 (16.2) and untreated (35.6) groups, and the NaGI group (25.2) was considerably lower than Na2SO4 (38.8). Recovery of developed pressure (% preischemic DP) at the onset of R for MgGl2 (74.9) was greater than MgSO4 (37.9) and untreated (33.2). After 50 min, MgGl2 (77.9) and MgSO4 (66.9) provided protection compared to untreated (51.8). In separate studies, ESR spin trapping with alpha-phenyl-N-tert-butylnitrone (3 mM PBN) showed that I/R alkoxyl radical production was reduced with MgGl2 (0.0 vs. 2.4 vs. 3.6 mM: 184 vs. 97 vs. 54.8 nM/g tissue x min) to a greater extent than seen with MgSO4 (3.6 mM: 108). Additional studies suggest that Gl(1-), unlike SO4(2-), may scavenge hydroxyl radicals, accounting for the added protection. MgGl2 treated hearts exhibited less postischemic dysfunction and oxidative injury compared to MgSO4, suggesting the contribution of Gl(1-) to cardioprotection.     

The gamma-tubulin gene family in humans

Despite the central role of gamma-tubulin in the organization of the microtubule cytoskeleton, the gamma-tubulin gene family in humans has not been characterized. We now report the identification of a second expressed human gamma-tubulin gene (TUBG2) and a gamma-tubulin pseudogene (TUBG1P) in addition to the previously identified gamma-tubulin gene (TUBG1). Evidence from Southern hybridizations suggests that there are probably no additional gamma-tubulin sequences in the human genome. TUBG1 and TUBG2 are within 20 kb of each other in region q21 of chromosome 17, and TUBG1P is on chromosome 7. The proteins encoded by TUBG1 and TUBG2 share 97.3% amino acid identity, and the two genes are coexpressed in a variety of tissues. Previous studies of gamma-tubulin in human tissues and cell lines have been based on the tacit assumption that a single gamma-tubulin (the gamma-tubulin encoded by TUBG1) was present. While this assumption is not correct, the similarity of the products of TUBG1 and TUBG2 suggests that results of previous immunolocalization and immunoprecipitation studies in human cells and tissues are likely to be valid. In addition, any pharmacological agents that target one human gamma-tubulin are likely to target both.     

The oxidative DNA lesion 8,5'-(S)-cyclo-2'-deoxyadenosine is repaired by the nucleotide excision repair pathway and blocks gene expression in mammalian cells

Xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) patients with inherited defects in nucleotide excision repair (NER) are unable to excise from their DNA bulky photoproducts induced by UV radiation and therefore develop accelerated actinic damage, including cancer, on sun-exposed tissue. Some XP patients also develop a characteristic neurodegeneration believed to result from their inability to repair neuronal DNA damaged by endogenous metabolites since the harmful UV radiation in sunlight does not reach neurons. Free radicals, which are abundant in neurons, induce DNA lesions that, if unrepaired, might cause the XP neurodegeneration. Searching for such a lesion, we developed a synthesis for 8,5'-(S)-cyclo-2'-deoxyadenosine (cyclo-dA), a free radical-induced bulky lesion, and incorporated it into DNA to test its repair in mammalian cell extracts and living cells. Using extracts of normal and mutant Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells to test for NER and adult rat brain extracts to test for base excision repair, we found that cyclo-dA is repaired by NER and not by base excision repair. We measured host cell reactivation, which reflects a cell's capacity for NER, by transfecting CHO and XP cells with DNA constructs containing a single cyclo-dA or a cyclobutane thymine dimer at a specific site on the transcribed strand of a luciferase reporter gene. We found that, like the cyclobutane thymine dimer, cyclo-dA is a strong block to gene expression in CHO and human cells. Cyclo-dA was repaired extremely poorly in NER-deficient CHO cells and in cells from patients in XP complementation group A with neurodegeneration. Based on these findings, we propose that cyclo-dA is a candidate for an endogenous DNA lesion that might contribute to neurodegeneration in XP.