[Detection of the human immunodeficiency virus in a lymphocyte culture from a patient from Central Africa with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and Kaposi's sarcoma]. / Obnaruzhenie virusa immunodefitstita cheloveka v kul'ture limfotsitov ot bol'nogo iz Tsentral'noi Afriki s sindromom priobretennogo immunodefitsita i sarkomoi Kaposhi.

The results of HIV virus isolation from patient A. T., resident of Central Africa, are discussed, in whom Kaposi sarcoma was diagnosed clinically and histologically, and immunological examinations revealed the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Cocultivation of the peripheral blood leukocytes of the patient with normal donor leukocytes yielded a leukocyte culture in which HIV virus expression was demonstrated. The HIV antigen was detected in the ultracentrifugate of the cultures by means of indirect enzyme-immunoassay using sera to the virus from the standard kits of Organon (Netherlands) and Abbot (USA). HIV antigen was also detected on the surface of lymphocytes in the culture by indirect immunofluorescence using the same sera. Besides, reverse transcriptase activity was demonstrated in ultracentrifugates of the culture fluid by exogenous reverse transcription test using poly(zA)-oligo(dT) matrix.

[Detection of the provirus of the bovine leukemia virus in bovine peripheral blood leukocytes by means of DNA hybridization]. / Obnaruzhenie provirusa virusa leikoza krupnogo rogatogo skota v leikotsitakh perifericheskoi krovi krupnogo rogatogo skota metodom DNK-gibridizatsii.

The method allowing the detection of BLV proviral DNA in the peripheral blood leukocytes of cattle is reported. Cell DNA from leukocytes used without preliminary cultivation was dot-hydridized with 32P-labeled plasmid that included a fragment of BLV proviral DNA. In parallel, sera from the cattle under study were tested by immunodiffusion assay (ID). The results indicate that dot-hybridization assay is more sensitive as a diagnostic test than ID because it detects BLV infection in apparently normal cattle which was seronegative by ID.

[Determination of antibodies to the AIDS virus and the viral antigen by an immunoenzyme method using peroxidase and beta-lactamase]. / Opredelenie antitel k virusu SPID i virusnogo antigena immunofermentnym metodom na osnove ispol'zovaniia peroksidazy i beta-laktamazy.

The ELISA test using beta-lactamase for the detection of anti-AIDS virus antibodies and virus antigen in serum is described. The properties of this test system are compared with those of the system based on horseradish peroxidase conjugates.

Leukogenic properties of purified BLV and possible routes of its transmission with blood cells present in milk.

The results of five years studies on the possibility of experimental induction of bovine leukemia with purified BLV and different BLV-containing materials demonstrated that inoculation of calves with purified BLV (structures of 1.14-1.17 g/ml density in 20-60% sucrose gradient) can induce oncornavirus infection and bovine leukemia. From 41 experimentally infected calves 9 showed evidence of bovine leukemia. 5 of these 9 animals were from a group of 22 calves inoculated with purified BLV. Diagnosis of bovine leukemia in these 9 animals was established by hematologic (3 animals) and histologic method (6 animals). BLV was isolated from leukocytes of all of them. It was shown also that before the development of bovine leukemia the development of oncornavirus infection takes place. But only a small part of the animals with oncornavirus infection and presence of antibodies became ill with typical forms of hemoblastosis. The investigation of the role of milk and blood cells in milk in bovine leukemia transmission was also carried out. The presence was demonstrated of oncornavirus structures antigenically identical with BLV in milk and reproduction of these structures in blood cells being present in milk. These results, and also the induction of bovine leukemia, in cattle by rearing with raw milk from cattle with leukemia, allow us to suppose the possible routes of bovine leukemia transmission in nature.

Isolation and characterisation of oncornavirus from primary cultures of tissues from cattle with leukemia.

The purpose of this investigation was to search for oncornavirus in primary cell cultures obtained from leukemic cattle organs and lymphocytes and to study their molecular-biological properties and role in the etiology of cattle leukemia. The investigation was carried out on 25 primary trypsinized cell culutres of lymph nodes, spleens, kidneys and lymphocytes from cattle with acute and chronic leukemia. It was demonstrated that all cell cultures from leukemic cattle (in contrast to cell cultures from healthy cattle) released oncornavirus into the culture medium. The virus possesses the main properties of oncornaviruses: it has a virion of C-type structure with a density of 1.16--1.18g/ml in a 20--60 per cent sucrose gradient, which may be induced by 5-bromodeoxyuridine, inhibited by Actino-mycin D, has reverse transcriptase activity, contains 60S RNA, that is annealed in the reaction of molecular hybridization with DNA of lymph nodes of cattle with leukemia. The propagation of the isolated oncornavirus in continuous cell lines of calf kidney culture was demonstrated. Experimental inoculation of purified oncornavirus was carried out on 60 baby calves and 15 lambs from leukosis free herds or flocks. Several of the calves later showed evidence of virus infection.

Molecular pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus.

The study of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus revealed the close association of the disease with measles--or a related virus. High titres of antibodies to measles virus were found in patients that correlated with the course of the disease. Immunofluorescence tests revealed measles virus or a related antigen in lupus-affected tissues. Inclusion bodies consisting of paramyxovirus-like ribonucleoprotein structures were regularly detected in both affected tissues and leukocytes. Molecular hybridization of measles virus RNA with DNA from the affected tissues showed that DNA transcripts of measles or a closely related virus are integrated in the cellular nuclear DNA. Possible pathogenetic mechanisms of the disease are discussed.