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Characterization of retroviruses from patients with multiple sclerosis
Author(s) -
Christensen T.,
Jensen A. W.,
Munch M.,
Haahr S.,
Sørensen P. Dissing,
Riemann H.,
Hansen H. J.,
MøllerLaisen A.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
acta neurologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.967
H-Index - 95
eISSN - 1600-0404
pISSN - 0001-6314
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0404.1997.tb08150.x
Subject(s) - retrovirus , reverse transcriptase , virology , peripheral blood mononuclear cell , cell culture , epstein–barr virus , virus , biology , cloning (programming) , group specific antigen , microbiology and biotechnology , chemistry , polymerase chain reaction , in vitro , gene , genetics , computer science , programming language
These studies were performed to characterize retroviruses found in cell lines spontaneously developed from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNC) from 6 multiple sclerosis patients, a patient with progressive myelopathy and a healthy control. The cell lines are B‐lymphoblastoid and produce Epstein‐Barr virus (EBV) particles or express EBV proteins. The B‐lymphoblastoid cell lines are also characterized by production of low, fluctuating amounts of retrovirus. The low productivity complicates purification and characterization, but implementation of product‐enhanced reverse transcriptase (PERT) assays has provided a highly useful tool for monitoring retrovirus production. By electron microscopy, the retroviral particles appear type‐C‐like. Functional assays indicate the presence of Pol, Gag and Env. Indirect ELISA demonstrates a significant relation between disease activity and reactivity towards retroviral peptides. Molecular characterization is primarily based on RT‐PCR, cloning, sequencing and Northern‐ or Southern analyses. Molecular characterization is continuing.