Simian virus 40 large-T-antigen-specific rejection of mKSA tumor cells in BALB/c mice is critically dependent on both strictly tumor-associated, tumor-specific CD8(+) cytotoxic T lymphocytes and CD4(+) T helper cells.

Protective immunity of BALB/c mice immunized with simian virus 40 (SV40) large T antigen (TAg) against SV40-transformed, TAg-expressing mKSA tumor cells is critically dependent on both CD8(+) and CD4(+) T lymphocytes. By depleting mice of T-cell subsets at different times before and after tumor challenge, we found that at all times, CD4(+) and CD8(+) cells both were equally important in establishing and maintaining a protective immune response. CD4(+) cells do not contribute to tumor eradication by directly lysing mKSA cells. However, CD4(+) lymphocytes provide help to CD8(+) cells to proliferate and to mature into fully active cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL). Depletion of CD4(+) cells by a single injection of CD4-specific monoclonal antibody at any time from directly before injection of the vaccinating antigen to up to 7 days after tumor challenge inhibited the generation of cytolytic CD8(+) lymphocytes. T helper cells in this system secrete the typical Th-1 cytokines interleukin 2 (IL-2) and gamma interferon. Because in this system TAg-specific CD8(+) cells secrete only minute amounts of IL-2, it appears that T helper cells provide these cytokines for CD8(+) T cells. Moreover, this helper effect of CD4(+) T cells in mKSA tumor rejection in BALB/c mice does not simply improve the activity of TAg-specific CD8(+) CTL but actually enables them to mature into cytolytic effector cells. Beyond this activity, the presence of T helper cells is necessary even in the late phase of tumor cell rejection in order to maintain protective immunity. However, despite the support of CD4(+) T helper cells, the tumor-specific CTL response is so weak that only at the site of tumor cell inoculation and not in the spleen or in the regional lymph nodes can TAg-specific CTL be detected.

RFLP mapping of resistance to the blackleg disease [causal agent, Leptosphaeria maculans (Desm.) Ces. et de Not.] in canola (Brassica napus L.).

We report the tagging of genes involved in blackleg resistance, present in the French cultivar Crésor of B. napus, with RFLP markers. A total of 218 cDNA probes were tested on the parental cultivars Crésor (resistant) and Westar (susceptible), and 141 polymorphic markers were used in a segregating population composed of 98 doubled-haploid lines (DH). A genetic map from this cross was constructed with 175 RFLP markers and allowed us to scan for specific chromosomal associations between response to blackleg infection and RFLP markers. Canola residues infested with virulent strains of Leptosphaeria maculans were used as inoculum and a suspension of pycnidiospores from cultures of L. maculans, including the highly virulent isolate Leroy, was sprayed to increase disease pressure. QTL mapping suggested that a single chromosomal region was responsible for resistance in each of the four environments tested. This QTL accounted for a high proportion of the variation of blackleg reaction in each of the assays. A second QTL, responsible for a small proportion of the variation of blackleg reaction, was present in one of four year-site assays. A Mendelian approach, using blackleg disease ratings for classifying DH lines as resistant or susceptible, also allowed us to map resistance in the region of the highly significant LOD scores observed in each environment by interval mapping. Results strongly support the presence of a single major gene, named LmFr 1 controlling adult plant resistance to blackleg in spring oil-seed rape cultivar Crésor. Several RFLP markers were found associated with LmFr 1.

Behavioral approaches for managing patients with Alzheimer's disease and related disorders.

In reviewing the literature on the use of behavioral therapy, Smyer, et al concluded that behavioral approaches involving the application of learning principles have been demonstrated to be effective as an intervention technique with the elderly for a variety of problems in a variety of settings. Specifically, studies have been reported in the literature that suggest that a behavioral approach can be applied to mediate certain behaviors of dementia patients. When using behavioral approaches, it is important to remember that the behavior of organisms is maintained by reinforcement. That is to say, if a person exhibits a behavior, it is because the behavior is meeting a need. For the behavior to be changed, either the need has to be satisfied by a different behavior, or the behavior has to have a different consequence. Behavioral approaches are extremely powerful in maintaining and changing behavior and often occur coincidentally. To change behavior purposefully, it is important to keep in mind that the meeting of needs by a different specific behavior or the reinforcement of a new behavior needs to be consistent for the entire daily environment. Despite the fact that research supports the effectiveness of behavioral interventions for specific behavioral problems, these strategies have not seen widespread use in nursing home settings. Another reason for the limited use of behavioral approaches may be that nursing home professionals are not aware of the effectiveness of such interventions. Other reasons for the limited use of behavioral approaches in long-term care settings may be that implementation requires not only caregiver training, but also consistent maintenance of appropriate environmental contingencies.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Progression of early steps of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 replication in the presence of an inhibitor of viral protease.

We have evaluated a possible role for human immunodeficiency virus type 1 protease during early steps of replication. For these studies, a specific inhibitor of human immunodeficiency virus protease, Ro31-8959, was used. Synthesis of viral cDNA, its integration into cellular DNA, and its transcription were determined during a one-step, acute infection of MT-4 cells. No consistent difference in any of these parameters was noted between control-infected cultures and those treated with protease inhibitor. However, no infectious progeny virus was produced in treated cultures, and thus spread of infection was severely restricted. Our results do not support an essential activity of viral protease in early steps of replication but are in line with its established role in gag and gag-pol processing and in maturation to infectious progeny virus.