Gunnar Haukenes

The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 Rev protein shuttles between the cytoplasm and nuclear compartments.

A retroviral regulatory protein, Rev (regulator of virion protein expression), is made in cells infected by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Rev is essential for the completion of the retroviral life cycle and interacts with the host cell at some posttranscriptional step in order to express the incompletely spliced HIV mRNAs from which HIV structural proteins are translated. Neither the host cell components nor the mechanisms responsible for this important regulation have been defined. We now report that Rev is a nucleocytoplasmic shuttle protein which is continuously transported between the cytoplasm, the nucleoli, and nucleoplasmic speckles enriched in RNA splicing and processing factors. The results show that Rev has the potential to interfere specifically with the splicing of the HIV pre-mRNA in the nucleoplasm and, next, guide such mRNAs to the cytoplasm for translation.

False positive rubella virus haemagglutination inhibition reactions: Occurrence and disclosure

A floatation centrifugation procedure is described by which antibodies and non-specific rubella virus haemagglutination inhibitors can be completely separated. Using this method it was shown that false positive reactions occur with the conventional pretreatments of sera for removing inhibitors, especially with the heparin-MnCl2 procedure. Other methods for removal of inhibitors were examined in view of recent knowledge about the chemical nature of the inhibitors. Treatment with phospholipase C proved useful for disclosure of false positive reactions, while floatation centrifugation was the most sensitive method for demonstration of low antibody concentrations.

Detection of antibodies to HIV in homologous sets of plasma, urine and oral mucosal transudate samples using rapid assays in Tanzania

The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of commercially available anti-HIV assays when testing plasma, urine and oral mucosal transudate (OMT) samples for the presence of antibodies to HIV. Homologous sets of plasma, urine and oral mucosal transudate specimens were collected from 288 hospitalized patients in northern Tanzania and tested for antibodies to HIV using a routine enzyme immunoassay (Recombinant 3rd Generation EIA, Abbott) and two rapid assays (Testpack HIV-1/HIV-2; Abbott and SUDS HIV-1, Murex). Incubation times and/or sample volumes when testing OMT or urine were increased as compared to those recommended for plasma. The corresponding plasma specimens from all repeatedly reactive samples and samples presenting discordant results were subjected to confirmational testing by an HIV-1/2 Western blot. A total of 15.3% (44/288) of the plasma samples were anti-HIV-1 positive by Western blot. The sensitivity using plasma was 100% by all assays, 69.7-97.7% using urine, and 92.7-100% using oral transudate specimens. The sensitivity of both rapid assays was excellent and higher than the EIA when testing OMT. Specificities ranged from 98.8-100% for plasma, 99-100% for urine and were 100% by all assays using oral samples. The results obtained using oral mucosal transudate specimens and rapid assays were at least comparable to those obtained with plasma, while the use of urine specimens produced suboptimal sensitivities with two of the three assays. The testing of alternative body fluids for antibodies to HIV is yet another strategy that may be applicable, particularly in developing countries.

Identification of non-specific serum inhibitors of rubella virus haemagglutination

Different classes of serum lipoproteins were tested for inhibition of the rubella haemagglutinin. In contrast to earlier reports inhibitory activity was demonstrated in all classes, LDL being predominant.Several data indicate that the inhibitory activity is associated with the polar groups of the phospholipids, exposed at the surface of the lipoprotein.

Chlamydia pneumoniae infections in Norway 1981-87 earlier diagnosed as ornithosis

Ornithosis has been a notifiable disease in Norway since 1957. During an outbreak of respiratory disease in 1981-82, described as ornithosis, contact with birds was stated in only 50% of the cases, suggesting that the infection was spread by interhuman transmission. A similar outbreak occurred in the western part of Norway in 1987. Serum specimens from altogether 260 patients, collected during the outbreaks in 1981-82 and in 1987, were investigated for antibodies against Chlamydia pneumoniae (strain TWAR). Evidence of recent infection with C. pneumoniae was found in 67.7% of the cases. The results indicate that the increased incidence of ornithosis in 1981-82 and in 1987 was due mainly to C. pneumoniae infections.

Clinical cowpox cases in Norway.

In 1994, a human and a feline case of cowpox virus infection appeared in the western part of Norway. Cowpox has not been diagnosed with certainty in Norway since the beginning of this century, when it was associated with the use of cowpox virus as a vaccine against smallpox. The human infection manifested as a spontaneously emerged, severe ulceration at the medial angle of the right eye in a 37-y-old woman, and developed into a relatively severe dermatitis. The ulcer healed slowly, leaving a scar. The feline infection was represented by a febrile, dehydrated and anorectic 6-months-old non-pedigree short-hair, with crater-like ulcers all over the body. After antibiotic and fluid therapy, revision of the skin lesions and amputation of a gangrenous toe, the cat recovered. Electron microscopy of the isolates and cultivation of virus on chorioallantoic membrane of chicken embryos confirmed the suspicion of cowpox virus infection.

Characteristics of four cowpox virus isolates from Norway and Sweden

We report the first isolation of cowpox virus from a domestic cat in Norway, and the first confirmed isolation of cowpox virus from a human case in Norway. These two Norwegian cowpox virus isolates, as well as two Swedish human isolates, were partially characterized and compared with each other and with cowpox virus Brighton and vaccinia virus strain Western Reserve. Restriction enzyme analysis of the genomes revealed differences between all six viruses examined, but suggested that the two Norwegian isolates are closely related, as are the two Swedish isolates. Restriction endonuclease digestion of genomic DNA demonstrated that one of the Swedish isolates and the two Norwegian isolates have larger genomes than vaccinia virus strain Western Reserve, but smaller than cowpox Brighton. All four Scandinavian isolates lacked a 72 base‐pair region within the A‐type inclusion body protein gene which is present in the prototype cowpox virus Brighton.

Serum antibodies to viral pathogens and Toxoplasma gondii in HIV-infected individuals

Sera from 38 HIV‐infected individuals were examined longitudinally for antibodies to viruses that may increase morbidity in HIV infection, as well as commensal viruses and Toxoplasma gondii. HTLV infection was seen in Norway for the first time as four patients had antibodies to HTLV‐II and one had antibodies to HTLV‐I. Antibodies to hepatitis B virus (HBV) were found in 47.2%, while 21.6% of the patients had antibodies to hepatitis C virus (HCV). There was no evidence of acquisition of HBV or HVC during the mean observation period of 2 years. A titre increase in CMV antibody with time was observed for 7 out of 21 patients and a decrease for 2 patients. For Epstein‐Barr virus, herpes simplex, varicella‐zoster, rubella and measles viruses, human polyomavirus BK as well as for Toxoplasma gondii, antibody prevalences and titres were within the range seen in normal populations. Also, no longitudinal changes were observed in titres of these antibodies, indicating that humoral immunity remained intact during the study period. The high prevalences of HTLV‐I/II, HBV and HCV antibodies in HIV‐infecled patients reflect common modes of virus transmission, and the fluctuations in CMV antibody titre are indicative of reactivations. Such coinfections may influence disease progression.

Prevalence of cytomegalovirus antibody in pregnant women, Aids patients and Std patients in Dar es Salaam

Earlier studies have detected rates of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in over 90% of individuals with sexually transmitted diseases. To assess the prevalence and pattern of CMV infection in Tanzania sera were collected for 141 women attending the prenatal clinic at Muhimbili Medical Center and 223 patients attending the sexually transmitted diseases clinic at the same facility. CMV antibodies were assayed by a passive latex agglutination test. 89 (63%) of the pregnant subjects and 154 (69%) of the sexually transmitted disease clinic subjects had antibodies to CMV. Also analyzed were sera from 43 patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS); 39 (91%) of these specimens showed antibodies to CMV. 14 (10%) of the pregnant women were positive for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV); of these 86% had antibodies to CMV. HIV seropositivity was found in 65 (29%) of the sexually transmitted diseases patients; of these 72% were also positive for CMV. 2 (4%) of the CMV antibody-negative pregnant women had antibodies to HIV while 12 (14%) of the CMV antibody-positive women had HIV antibodies. The corresponding figures for patients with sexually transmitted diseases were 17 (25%) and 48 (31%). The high prevalence of CMV infection identified in this survey calls for measures to limit the spread of the virus.

Characterization of measles virus-specific antibodies in sera from patients with chronic active hepatitis.

Measles virus-specific antibodies in sera from patients with HBsAg-negative chronic active hepatitis and raised antibody titres against measles virus, have been examined by crossed immunoelectrophoresis. The immunoprecipitates were further analysed by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Five measles virus-specific precipitation lines were demonstrated using measles virus-infected cells solubilized with Triton X-100. The three major precipitation lines were analysed by SDS-PAGE and contained the virus polypeptides: nucleoprotein, NP (MW approximately 60 000); haemoagglutinin, H (MW approximately 80 000) and fusion protein F1 (MW approximately 40 000). Considerably higher amounts of antibodies against these three virus polypeptides were demonstrated in the patient sera than in sera from healthy controls. By SDS-PAGE analysis of radiolabelled immune complexes adsorbed to Sepharose-protein A, antibodies against five measles virus polypeptides: NP, H, F1, P protein (MW approximately 70 000) and matrix protein, M (MW approximately 37 000) were demonstrated in the patient sera.