Verbesserung der Diagnostik humaner Coronavirusinfektionen Schlussbericht

Human coronaviruses (HCV) are recognized as a major cause of respiratory disease in the adult population. They have also been implicated as a possible precipitant of asthmatic exacerbations in children. However, the diagnostic procedures currently available for the identification of coronavirus associated disease are inadequate. The goal of the work conducted during this project was to use the recent developments in recombinant DNA technology to improve the diagnosis of HCV infections. The results that have been achieved are: 1. to establish a permanent cell line for the isolation and propagation of HCV. 2. to develop rapid tests for the detection of HCV RNA using the RT-PCR procedure. 3. to develop diagnostic tests for the detection of HCV antigens (ELISA tests with monoclonal antibodies). 4. to produce HCV antigens by recombinant procedures. 5. to develop diagnostic tests for the detection of HCV antibodies (ELISA tests with recombinant antigens). 6. a complete nucleotide sequence analysis of the HCV genome. 7. analysis of HCV gene expression in the infected cell. The reagents and test procedures that have been developed now provide a means to determine the epidemiology of HCV infections and to identify the full spectrum of diseases associated with these viruses. (orig.)Available from TIB Hannover: DtF QN1(27,15) / FIZ - Fachinformationszzentrum Karlsruhe / TIB - Technische InformationsbibliothekSIGLEBundesministerium fuer Forschung und Technologie (BMFT), Bonn (Germany)DEGerman

Ein transgenes Maussystem zur Untersuchung der Bedeutung der T-Zellrezeptor-abhaengigen und -unabhaengigen CD28 vermittelten Signaltransduktion fuer T Zellaktivierung, Homoeostase und Autoimmunitaet Schlussbericht

SIGLEAvailable from TIB Hannover: DtF QN1(93,33) / FIZ - Fachinformationszzentrum Karlsruhe / TIB - Technische InformationsbibliothekBundesministerium fuer Bildung, Wissenschaft, Forschung und Technologie, Bonn (Germany)DEGerman

Molekularbiologische Analysen T-Zell-spezifischer Epitope des Masernvirus im Rahmen pathogenetischer Untersuchungen der akuten Masern und der subakuten sklerosierenden Panenzephalitis Schlussbericht

The observation that the attenuated measles virus (MV) vaccine does not provide a life-long immunity and acute measles is still causing two million deaths every year world-wide has revived interest in this pathogen. In the context of immune protection and recovery from MV infection, a better understanding of MV induced immune reactions is required. Therefore, virological and immunological studies were carried out to characterize in an animal model of MV induced encephalitis in rats and in man the immune responses to individual MV proteins. The data obtained revealed that MV nucleocapsid protein expressed in recombinant vaccinia virus protect rats by the induction of CD4+ MV specific T lymphocytes in the absence of CD8 T cells. In man, CD8+ MV specific T cells could be detected in cases of acute measles as well as after recovery by not in patients with SSPE using the approach of Rammensee. CTL specific motifs were detected in all major MV structural proteins in conserved regions. However, the number and the location of the CTL motifs on the individual MV proteins was HLA dependent. Our study documents that beside the H and F proteins of MV the nucleocapsid protein induces a potent immune response which should be considered in the development of subunit MV vaccines. Moreover, CD8+ MV specific T cells play an important role in man in recovering from MV infection. (orig.)SIGLEAvailable from TIB Hannover: D.Dt.F.QN1(19,22) / FIZ - Fachinformationszzentrum Karlsruhe / TIB - Technische InformationsbibliothekBundesministerium fuer Forschung und Technologie (BMFT), Bonn (Germany)DEGerman

Immunological control of bacterial and viral infections Final report

In the period of 1993-1996 research in the joint project has focussed on four main areas: 1) the identification and characterization of immunodominant antigenic structures; 2) the role of the humoral and cell mediated immune responses in the generation of protective immunity; 3) the genetic and biochemical characterization of virulence and attenuation elements in microbial pathogens; 4) the improvement of diagnostic techniques for the clinical identification and epidemiological survey of microbial infections. Of particular importance are the following findings: isolation and characterization of a salmonella SlyA mutant that is attenuated in its virulence, but able to deliver heterologous anitgens to the immune system. Characterization of a series of B and T cell immunodominant measles virus antigens which has led to the development of measles virus vaccines based upon attenuated salmonella and recombinant BCG vectors. In the yersinia studies, the infection of M cells in the gut has been detected as well as the role of cellular immune responses for the disease process be determined. For legionella pneumophilia genes involved in the regulation of virulence factors have been identified and for the human coronavirus specific gene functions such as polymerases and proteinases were characterized. In addition, new diagnostic tests based essentially on nucleic acid amplification methods have been developed for human herpes virus 6 and 7, salmonella, legionella and human coronavirus. (orig.)SIGLEAvailable from TIB Hannover: F98B200+a / FIZ - Fachinformationszzentrum Karlsruhe / TIB - Technische InformationsbibliothekBundesministerium fuer Bildung, Wissenschaft, Forschung und Technologie, Bonn (Germany)DEGerman

AIDS-Verbund Wuerzburg: Pathogenese der erworbenen Immundefizienz SIV-Modell in Rhesusaffen. SIV Modell in Rhesusmakaken: Pathogenetische Studien Abschlussbericht

So far, many aspects of the pathogenesis of HIV infection in man are still unknown and can only be studied in an appropriate animal model. SIV infection in rhesus macaques has been proven to be suitable, since many virological, immunological and histopathological changes resemble those of human HIV infection. In a collaborative study, the following projects were carried out: investigation of the pathogenetic role of neuropharmalogical drugs in the development of neuro-AIDS; analysis of SV40 associated CNS disease; the influence of SIV infection on T cell maturation and virus localization, virus replication and cytokine expression in correlation to the pathology of the thymus, lymphatic parenchyma and CNS in early and late course of SIV infection. The results obtaines have been published in international, reviewed journal and are described in this report. (orig.)Available from TIB Hannover: F99B990+a / FIZ - Fachinformationszzentrum Karlsruhe / TIB - Technische InformationsbibliothekSIGLEBundesministerium fuer Bildung und Forschung (BMBF), Bonn (Germany)DEGerman

Analyse melanozytaerer Laesionen mit Hilfe der Farbbildauswertung

In the central and northern parts of Europe 10 to 15 of 100000 people fall ill per year with a malignant melanoma. The tendency is still increasing. In Germany this results in an incidence of around 4000 to 8000 people. Well trained and experienced dermatologists are able to reach a diagnostic accuracy of 70% to 80% in visual classification of malignant melanoma. Therefore we attempted to improve the early detection and diagnosis with computer aided methods. According to the visual dermatologic classification criteria (ABCD-rule) image processing methods were developed to determine features describing color, texture, asymmetry and border. A correct classification of 90% to 92% was reached. The data show that the results of the computer aided analysis are nearly 20% better than the visual human classification. More than 1200 pigmented skin lesions (benign and malignant) were scanned and analyzed with an image processing system. The system consisting of a RGB-TV camera and a reproducible feature extraction may lead to a higher quality in treatment and early detection of melanoma. The clinical evaluation and the inclusion of other pigmented lesions like navoid lentigo, acuminate nevus, seborrheic verruca senilis and basal cell epithelioma are not yet done. (orig.)SIGLEAvailable from TIB Hannover: F94B1219+a / FIZ - Fachinformationszzentrum Karlsruhe / TIB - Technische InformationsbibliothekBundesministerium fuer Forschung und Technologie (BMFT), Bonn (Germany)DEGerman