Granulomatous vasculitis occurring after cutaneous herpes zoster despite absence of viral genome.

Granuloma annulare, sarcoidal and other granulomatous dermatitides, pseudolymphoma, lymphoplasmacytoid lymphoma, and Kaposi's sarcoma have been described as sequelae of herpes zoster. We report a new postzoster reaction, granulomatous vasculitis, that caused flat-topped papules restricted to the affected dermatome. Polymerase chain reaction failed to detect varicella-zoster virus in a biopsy specimen. These results suggest that granulomatous vasculitis occurs without persistence of the viral genome and, perhaps, is a reaction to minute amounts of viral proteins.

Subclinical human papilloma virus infection in condylomata acuminata patients attending a VD clinic.

In 37 (77%) of 48 patients with external genital warts, application of 5% acetic acid revealed areas of acetowhite epithelium. The lesions were not clinically apparent before acetic acid was applied but were easily detected without the use of a colposcope. In a control group of 20 patients with chlamydial urethritis and no history of genital warts, none had acetowhite genital lesions. Histological examination of biopsy specimens from the flat acetowhite lesions showed HPV infection with koilocytosis in 29 (78%) and in 3 (8%) intra-epithelial neoplasia grade II-III. Using in situ hybridization with commercially available biotinylated DNA probes, HPV types 16/18 could be detected in 7 (24%) patients with koilocytosis and in 3 (100%) patients with dysplasia. Simultaneous infection with HPV types 6/11, 16/18, and 31/33/35 was found in 8 of the 13 HPV DNA-positive patients. It is concluded that subclinical HPV-induced acetowhite lesions are common among patients with genital warts and that these flat lesions may be associated with a high grade of dysplasia. Consequently, routine use of the acetic acid test on the genital epithelium is recommended in patients with condylomata acuminata in order to diagnose and treat all HPV-infected areas.

Ultrastructural, protein composition, and antigenic comparison of psittacine beak and feather disease virus purified from four genera of psittacine birds.

Psittacine beak and feather disease (PBFD) virus, was purified from diseased tissues of a lesser sulphur-crested cockatoo (Cacatua sulphurea), a black palm cockatoo (Probosiger aterrimus), a red-lored Amazon parrot (Amazona autumnalis), and a peach-faced lovebird (Agapornis roseicollis). The histopathology of diseased feathers and follicular epithelium from the different species was compared; basophilic intranuclear inclusion bodies were identified in the follicular epithelium and intracytoplasmic globular inclusions were observed within macrophages located in the feather pulp from the four species. Psittacine beak and feather disease virus antigen was specifically detected by colloidal gold immunoelectron microscopy. The different preparations of purified virions displayed an icosahedral symmetry, were non-enveloped, and had a mean diameter that varied from 12 to 15 nm when negatively stained. Two major viral-associated proteins with approximate molecular weights of 26 and 23 kilodaltons (kd) were consistently demonstrated from the four viral preparations. Purified virions from the four genera were antigenically related. These findings suggest that the PBFD virus purified from numerous genera of diseased birds is similar based on ultrastructural characteristics, protein composition and antigenic reactivity.

Mutual exclusion occurs in a Chlorella-like green alga inoculated with two viruses.

Progeny viruses resulting from dual inoculations with different and near-isogenic viruses of a Chlorella-like green alga were distinguished by immunoblotting. Plaques arising from single cells inoculated with two viruses usually contained only one of the viruses. Thus the viruses mutually exclude one another. In some combinations the ratio of viruses (as infective centres) recovered differed significantly from the input ratio.

Hepatitis B-DNA replication and histological patterns in liver biopsy specimens of chronic HBsAg positive patients with and without hepatitis delta virus superinfection.

The role of active hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in chronic HBsAg positive hepatitis with and without hepatitis delta virus (HDV) superinfection was analysed in percutaneous liver biopsy specimens from 50 patients. Each specimen was divided into two--one part for histological evaluation and for the detection of HBcAg and delta antigen; the other part was tested for HBV-DNA using Southern blotting. Ten cases were of chronic lobular hepatitis, 10 of chronic persistent hepatitis, and 30 of chronic active hepatitis. Ten cases were delta antigen positive and showed high grade lobular activity but no evidence of HBV-DNA episomal forms or HBcAg reactivity. Twenty one cases showed HBV-DNA replicative intermediate forms; 19 had high grade lobular activity, which occurred in five cases without evidence of free viral DNA. Of the 21 biopsy specimens with HBV-DNA episomal forms, 14 were positive for HBcAg; only one of the 19 cases without detectable viral DNA was positive for such antigen. These data indicate that the presence of HBV or HDV active infection correlates with the histological finding of prominent lobular necrosis. Moreover, intrahepatic HBV-DNA seems to be a more sensitive marker than the presence of viral antigens for indicating HBV replication.

Detection of a human papilloma virus type 5 DNA in a renal allograft patient from Scotland.

A renal allograft recipient with small raised red scaly lesions on a forearm is described. The clinical and histological picture was that of similar lesions reported in some epidermodysplasia verruciformis patients. Virological investigations revealed the presence of human papilloma virus type 5; this is the second report of the occurrence of this type in allograft patients. As human papilloma virus type 5 is known to have malignant potential, clinicians should be on the lookout for these banal-looking and distinctly non-warty lesions in renal transplant recipients. Close follow-up is indicated.

Sequence homology between the coat proteins of DNA and RNA plant viruses.

The coat proteins of the leafhopper transmitted gemini viruses, viz., maize streak virus and wheat dwarf virus that contain a single circle of DNA in their genomes are shown to bear good amino acid sequence homology with the coat protein of an RNA plant virus, the satellite tobacco necrosis virus. It is suggested that for icosahedral assemblage, the coat protein architecture transcends genomic preferences.

Characterization of the enveloped plasmavirus MVL2 after propagation on three Acholeplasma laidlawii hosts.

Plasmavirus MVL2 was propagated on three Acholeplasma laidlawii strains, JA1, S2, or BC1-13. Previously reported host-controlled modification (HCM) of MVL2, as reflected by changes in plating efficiency, was observed. Adsorption rates and one-step growth curves varied according to host used. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the three MVL2 populations revealed differences in polypeptide profiles.

Hepatitis viruses: characterization and diagnostic techniques.

Two human hypatitis viruses have been identified and characterized, but one or more additional agents exist. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a complex 42-nm predominantly double-stranded DNA virus with distinct surface and core antigens and an endogenous DNA polymerase. Hepatitis A virus (HAV) is a 27-nm RNA virus with enterovirus-like properties. Progressively more sensitive and specific immunologic assays have been applied to the study of viral hepatitis and are available for routine diagnostic purposes. As a result we recognize distinct serologic response patterns to infection, new antigenic markers, biochemical-biophysical characteristics of the viruses, and their epidemiologic features. Recombinant DNA technology has permitted the cloning of HBV genetic material and gene products in E. coli, but the virus has not been cultivated in vitro. In contrast, successful in vitro cultivation of HAV has finally been accomplished. Application of sensitive serologic tests for HAV and HBV has revealed that "non-A, non-B" agents account for a substantial proportion of transfusion-associated hepatitis as well as hepatitis occurring in the absence of percutaneous exposure. These agents have been transmitted to chimpanzees, and several putative virus antigen-antibody systems have been described; however, a specific association between these virus antigens and non-A, non-B hepatitis has not been established.

[Nature of the easily melted portions of DNA with a quasi-random base sequence]. / O prirode legkoplavkikh uchastkov DNK s kvazisluchainoi posledovatel'nost'iu osnovanii.

The influence of denaturation conditions upon the character of partial denaturation of DNA with random base distribution were thoroughly studied. Maps of partial DNA denaturation were obtained at T less than TAT for phage phiB DNA at pH 10.7 and 5.5; Tg9 DNA at pH 8.8; at T less than TAT for phiB DNA at pH 10.9 and Tg9 DNA at pH 8.8. The map quality was better when obtained at higher pH values; the peaks became sharper and higher against the background. We failed to obtain maps of partial denaturation at pH 5.5, T less than TAT. The improvement of the map quality and existence of the partial denaturation maps at T less than TAT at pH 10.9 were explained by the increase of primary melting probability of AT-rich DNA regions. At high pH the denaturation map quality was temperature independent. This was explained by a very weak temperature dependence of primary melting probability for all maps of equal quality. The map quality became worse, when the quantity of loops was increased.

[Iclusion proteins and viral proteins of the baculovirus of the dipteran Tipula paludosa (Meigen)]. / La protéine d'inclusion et les protéines du virion du baculovirus du diptére Tipula paludosa (Meigen)

Examination of the polyhedron protein by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis shows only one polypeptide with a molecular weight of 25,500 +/- 500 daltons, while that of virion proteins reveals 13 polypeptides. No antigenic community could be demonstrated between the polyhedron protein of the Baculovirus of T. paludosa and the polyhedron protein of several other Baculoviruses.

Isolation and properties of the DNA of African swine fever (ASF) virus.

African swine fever (ASF) virus was grown either in swine macrophages or in VERO cells and purified free of cell DNA. Virus DNA was isolated from virions as a molecule with a sedimentation coefficient of 60S and a contour of 58 +/- 3 mum. .these two values give a mol. wt. of 102 +/- 5 X 10(6) and 107 +/- 5 X 10(6), respectively, for the genome of ASF virus. Denatured DNA fragments from ASF virus reassociate with a C0t1/2 value of 0-60 +/- 0-05 MS, which compared with the corresponding value for T4 DNA gives for the molecular mass of ASF virus DNA a value of 102 +/- 8 X 10(6) daltons. Only virus DNA is synthesized ASF virus-infected swine macrophages.