phosphorus-radioisotopes and Virus-Diseases

The method of nucleic acid hybridization opens up new possibilities in laboratory diagnosis. This method, which enables us to assay for definite nucleic acid sequences in the specimen, has the advantage of high specificity and a strong binding force between the analyte nucleic acid and the nucleic acid probe. So far this method primarily works with radioactive labels. The development of non-radioactive detection systems suited for routine laboratories with sufficient sensitivity is still at its origin. One broad field of application for nucleic acid hybridization is the detection of the genome of certain viruses or bacteria in the specimen. Another more future oriented potential of these methods lies in the investigation and diagnosis of inborn errors of metabolism.

Topics: Bacterial Infections; Chemical Phenomena; Chemistry, Physical; DNA; Genes, Viral; Humans; Immunoassay; Immunologic Techniques; Nucleic Acid Hybridization; Nucleic Acid Renaturation; Nucleic Acids; Phosphorus Radioisotopes; Radioisotopes; RNA; Virus Diseases

Recent developments in recombinant DNA technology have made possible the production of gene probes consisting of cloned gene segments, cloned segments of DNA linked to genes, and synthetic gene fragments. Several methods have been developed by which these probes may be used for the diagnosis of human disease. This technology has been outstandingly successful for prenatal diagnosis and carrier detection in many genetic diseases. These methods have also been successfully applied to the analysis of human malignancies, by providing for the determination of cell lineage and clonality in lymphoid neoplasms. Finally, these methods have shown potential for rapid and sensitive diagnosis of some infectious diseases.

Topics: B-Lymphocytes; Bacterial Infections; Biotin; Cloning, Molecular; Deoxyribonucleotides; DNA; DNA Restriction Enzymes; DNA, Recombinant; Female; Genetic Carrier Screening; Genetic Diseases, Inborn; Genotype; Hemophilia A; Humans; Immunoglobulins; Infections; Leukemia, Lymphoid; Leukocytes; Male; Muscular Dystrophies; Nucleic Acid Hybridization; Phenylketonurias; Phosphorus Radioisotopes; Polymorphism, Genetic; Pregnancy; Prenatal Diagnosis; Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; RNA; T-Lymphocytes; Virus Diseases

Topics: Ammonium Sulfate; Animals; Bronchitis; Centrifugation, Density Gradient; Chemical Precipitation; Coronaviridae; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; Microscopy, Electron; Molecular Weight; Phosphorus Radioisotopes; Phosphotungstic Acid; Poliovirus; Poultry Diseases; Ribonucleases; RNA, Viral; Staining and Labeling; Tobacco Mosaic Virus; Tritium; Uridine; Virus Diseases

Although viral illnesses are predisposing causes for pulmonary bacterial infections, the interrelationships of viral virulence and host immunity to alterations in susceptibility to bacterial infection are incompletely understood. We used two mutant strains of encephalomyocarditis virus (minimally virulent Mengo-37A and a highly virulent Columbia SK [Col-SK]) to investigate these interrelationships. Mice that had been immunized to Mengo-37A, and nonimmunized controls, were challenged with aerosols containing 10(4) plaque-forming units of Mengo-37A or Col-SK per liter. The effect of each viral infection on pulmonary antibacterial activity was assessed 3 days later by measuring the capacity of the lungs to kill inhaled radiophosphorus ((32)P)-labeled Staphylococcus aureus. The degree of antibacterial dysfunction found was proportional to the virulence of the infecting virus. If the host was immune to the infecting virus, bactericidal function was not impaired by viral challenge. Neither mutant caused significant pulmonary damage; therefore: (i) viral-induced impairment in bactericidal activity reflects, quantitatively, the virulence of the virus and (ii) viral immunity protects pulmonary bacterial defenses by preventing damage to the phagocyte from the virus or its attendant metabolic abnormalities.

Topics: Aerosols; Animals; Antibodies, Viral; Antigens, Bacterial; Antigens, Viral; Bacterial Infections; Cytopathogenic Effect, Viral; Encephalomyocarditis virus; Female; Hemagglutination Inhibition Tests; Immunity; Immunization; Lung; Mice; Neutralization Tests; Phosphorus Radioisotopes; Streptococcus; Virus Diseases

Topics: Coxsackievirus Infections; Humans; Influenza, Human; Iodine; Iodine Radioisotopes; Phosphorus; Phosphorus Radioisotopes; Phosphorus, Dietary; Poliomyelitis; Rabies; Rabies Vaccines; Virus Diseases