Age-dependent choice of sexual partners and the transmission dynamics of HIV in Sub-Saharan Africa.

A mathematical model of the transmission of HIV-1 within heterosexual populations in Sub-Saharan Africa is described and its properties analysed. The model incorporates epidemiological and demographic processes and extends previous work in this area via the inclusion of age and sex dependency in rates of sexual partner change, and sexual partner choice dependent on age. Parameter assignments are made on the basis of current data on the transmission dynamics of HIV-1 and the demography of human populations in Africa. Both age-dependent rates of sexual activity and the sexual contact of males with females younger than themselves act to enhance the predicted demographic impact. With realistic parameter values, the model suggests AIDS is able to reverse the sign of population growth rates from positive to negative values over a timescale of a few decades. The sensitivity of this prediction is examined in relation to changes in the pattern of sexual contact between different age classes of females and males, different patterns of change in the age-dependent rate of sexual partner change, different assumptions concerning the doubling time of the epidemic in its early stages, and the relative efficiencies of viral transmission between men and women, and vice versa. The impact AIDS is predicted to have on the number of young and elderly persons as a fraction of the number of productive adults (the dependancy ratio) is examined under various assumptions concerning the weighting to be applied to mirror the burden imposed by the care of those with AIDS. The paper includes an assessment of the influence of the timing of changes in sexual behaviour, or the promotion of the use of condoms, on the predicted course of the epidemic. The paper concludes with a discussion of data needs and the model refinements required to more accurately mirror current understanding of the epidemiology of HIV-1.     

Characterization of recombinant human renin: Kinetics,pH-stability, and peptidomimetic inhibitor binding

The kinetic behavior andpH-stability of recombinant human renin was analyzed using a new fluorogenic substrate based on the normal P₆-P₃ renin cleavage sequence in human angiotensinogen. The design of this fluorogenic substrate makes possible, for the first time, direct monitoring of the kinetics of proteolytic conversion of prorenin to renin. ThepH-stability profile for renin, measured with the substrate at 25°C, indicated a broad plateau of stability betweenpH 6.0 and 10.0. Analysis of thepH-activity profile of renin for the substrate indicated a minimumK _m (1.8 µM) atpH 7.4 and a maximumV _m betweenpH 7.4 and 8.0. The thermodynamics of the binding of a novel, soluble, peptidomimetic inhibitor to renin indicated it is possible to retain the tight-binding characteristics and enthalpy contributions to binding of larger peptide-derived inhibitors, while reducing inhibitor size and entropic contributions to binding. A novel derivative of the fluorogenic substrate, containing a 3-methyl histidine substitution at the P₂ site, was used to test the recent hypothesis that renin functions by virtue of substrate-directed catalysis.     

Intranuclear distribution of SV40 large T-antigen and transformation-related protein p53 in abortively infected cells

The intranuclear localization of SV40 T-antigen (T-Ag) and the cellular protein p53 was studied in SV40 abortively infected baby mouse kidney cells using two complementary methods of ultrastructural immunocytochemistry in combination with preferential staining of nuclear RNP components and electron microscope autoradiography. Both proteins were revealed in association with peri- and interchromatin RNP fibrils containing the newly synthesized hnRNA. In addition, T-Ag and p53 remained bound, at least in part, to the residual internal nuclear matrix following nuclease and salt extractions of infected cells. The localization of T-Ag was different in SV40 lytically infected monkey kidney cells since, in addition to hnRNP fibrils, the viral protein was also associated with cellular chromatin. However, when lytic infection was performed in conditions of blocked viral DNA replication, T-Ag was no longer associated with the cellular chromatin but remained bound to the hnRNP fibrils. We conclude that the transforming and lytic functions of T-Ag can be distinguished by different subnuclear distributions. The significance of the association of T-Ag and p53 with hnRNP fibrils and the internal nuclear matrix is discussed in relation to the role of these structures in the control of cellular mRNA biogenesis.     

Optimization of Banana Juice Fermentation for the Production of Microbial Oil

Apiotrichum curvatum ATCC 20509 (formerly Candida curvata D), a lipid-accumulating yeast, was grown in banana juice. The optimum conditions for biomass production in shake flasks were 30°C growth temperature, efficient aeration, a juice concentration of 25%, and preliminary heat treatment at less than sterilization conditions. Under controlled conditions in a fermentor, 20% banana juice was optimum. High concentrations of yeast extract (0.3%) increased biomass production by 40% but decreased oil production by 30%. A lower yeast extract concentration (0.05%) increased biomass production by 2% and oil production by 25%. The best growth and oil production were observed when asparagine (1.4 g/liter) and mineral salts were added to the banana juice. The addition of minerals seemed to improve the utilization of carbon. Growth inhibition was observed when the fermentor was aerated with pure oxygen, even when additional nutrients were present. A fed-batch process permitted the juice concentration to be increased from 15 to 82%; biomass accumulation was three times higher than in batch fermentations. However, the cellular lipid content was only 30% of dry weight, and chemical oxygen demand reduction was slow and inefficient.     

The role of a low pH intracellular compartment in the processing, storage, and secretion of ACTH and endorphin

To determine whether a low pH intracellular "sorting" step is required to route peptides into secretory granules, the effects of pH altering drugs on the biosynthesis and secretion of peptides by AtT-20 mouse corticotrope tumor cells and rat intermediate pituitary cells were examined. Doses of each drug maintaining normal protein synthesis and cell morphology, while obliterating the intracellular pH gradients detected by acridine orange fluorescence, were experimentally determined. Regions of the cell rich in secretory granules were localized by immunocytochemistry and were found to coincide with organelles with a low internal pH. Biosynthetic labeling experiments were coupled with immunoprecipitation and sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel analyses to examine the biosynthesis and secretion of corticotropin (ACTH(1-39], alpha-melanotropin, ACTH(18-39), beta-endorphin, gamma-melanotropin, alpha-amidated joining peptide, and the NH2-terminal region of pro-ACTH/endorphin. Chloroquine (20-40 microM) and a mixture of NH4Cl and methylamine (2-5 mM each) dissipated pH gradients but had no effect on the synthetic rate of pro-ACTH/endorphin, the extent and rate of precursor processing to smaller peptides, the rate of basal secretion of the various peptides, or the extent to which secretion of each of the peptides could be stimulated by secretagogues. Monensin (0.1-1 microM) had no discernible effect on intracellular pH gradients yet totally blocked proteolytic processing of pro-ACTH/endorphin. Thus, a monensin-blockable step occurs in peptide processing, presumably in the trans Golgi region; however, a low pH chloroquine-sensitive sorting step is not required for processing or for routing peptides to a stable storage form which can be released in response to secretagogues.     

Tumor dormancy. I. Regression of BCL1 tumor and induction of a dormant tumor state in mice chimeric at the major histocompatibility complex

The growth of the BCL1 tumor in murine H-2 chimeras was studied. Lethally x-irradiated BALB/c mice were reconstituted with C57BL/6 bone marrow that had been depleted of T cells. When chimerism was established 90 to 120 days later, large doses of BCL1 cells were injected. The tumor grew progressively, reaching a peak level of as many as 10(9) tumor cells per animal by 40 days after inoculation. After that time, the tumor regressed in all the chimeric animals, and by 100 days after inoculation, virtually all the animals appeared disease free as judged by an absence of BCL1-idiotype-positive cells in the spleen and peripheral blood, a normal spleen size, and absence of an elevated white blood cell count. Such animals were followed for as long as 8 mo after tumor inoculation and remained disease free. However, transfer of graded numbers of splenocytes from these animals into normal BALB/c recipients resulted in development of tumor in recipients receiving 100 or more spleen cells. These results indicate a large tumor burden in the spleen of each donor, namely, 10(6) to 10(7) BCL1 cells. The present model should facilitate characterization of the mechanisms underlying tumor dormancy.     

Comparison of trout hepatocyte culture on different substrates

Summary Comparisons were made of attachment and viability of rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri) hepatocytes in short-term (2 days), primary culture on plastic, collagen-coated or extracellular matrix (ECM) coated dishes. Hepatocyte isolation routinely yielded cells with good viability (96%). Cells plated on ECM attached with high efficiency (93%) in contrast to cells cultured on plastic or collagen (∼20%). The cells plated on ECM flattened out and formed monolayers, while the cells on plastic and collagen rounded up and formed multi-cell aggregates in suspension. Viability of cells in all substrates remained high over the 2 day culture period. ECM is the first substrate to support trout-hepatocyte attachment in primary culture. Differentiated liver function was maintained in cells cultured on ECM as evidence by the induction of tyrosine aminotransferase by hydrocortisone (200%). This work was supported in part by research grant R809599010 from the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency. Editor's Statement This paper reports improved methods for culture of trout liver-derived cells that make in vitro investigations of fish metabolism, carcinogenesis and chemical toxicity more feasible than previously applied techniques. Recent interest in fish as models for study and indicators of effects of envionmental and food-related toxins make this work timely, poarticularly since many of the compounds of interest are primarily metabolized by hepatocytes or act on liver as a major target. David W. Barnes