A new antiviral screening method that simultaneously detects viral replication, cell viability, and cell toxicity.

Viruses cause a variety of illnesses in humans, yet only a few antiviral drugs have been developed; thus, new antiviral drugs are urgently needed. Plants could be a good source of antiviral drugs, they do not have mobility and can only defend themselves by producing compounds against pathogens such as viruses in their own fix environment. These compounds may have the potential to inhibit animal and human viruses as well.

Food-compatible method for the efficient extraction and stabilization of cranberry pomace polyphenols.

Cranberry pomace is a byproduct of cranberry processing and is comprised of seeds, skins and stems of the cranberry fruit. While cranberry pomace contains beneficial polyphenols, including proanthocyanidins and anthocyanins, it is not a palatable source of these compounds and is typically discarded. In this study, we have developed and optimized a method to extract polyphenols from cranberry pomace using aqueous ethanol, a food grade solvent.

Efficient sorption of polyphenols to soybean flour enables natural fortification of foods.

The present study demonstrated that defatted soybean flour (DSF) can sorb polyphenols from blueberry and cranberry juices while separating them from sugars. Depending on DSF concentration and juice dilution, the concentration of blueberry anthocyanins and total polyphenols sorbed to DSF ranged from 2 - 22 mg/g and 10 - 95 mg/g, respectively while the concentration of anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins in cranberry polyphenol-enriched DSF ranged from 2.5 - 17 mg/g and 21 - 101 mg/g, respectively.

Biochemical analysis and in vivo hypoglycemic activity of a grape polyphenol-soybean flour complex.

Defatted soybean flour (DSF) can efficiently sorb, concentrate, and stabilize polyphenols, but not sugars, from Concord grape juice, to yield grape polyphenol-enriched DSF. Sorption of grape polyphenols to DSF particles was dependent on the ratio of DSF and grape juice concentrate used, but not time of mixing or pH. Depending on ratios of starting materials, 1 g of grape polyphenol-enriched DSF contained 1.

Plants and human health in the twenty-first century.

The concept of growing crops for health rather than for food or fiber is slowly changing plant biotechnology and medicine. Rediscovery of the connection between plants and health is responsible for launching a new generation of botanical therapeutics that include plant-derived pharmaceuticals, multicomponent botanical drugs, dietary supplements, functional foods and plant-produced recombinant proteins. Many of these products will soon complement conventional pharmaceuticals in the treatment, prevention and diagnosis of diseases, while at the same time adding value to agriculture.

Affinity targeting of Sendai virions to desialized human erythrocytes using hybrid antibody molecules.

F(ab') fragments obtained from anti-Sendai virus antibodies were chemically coupled to F(ab') fragments obtained from anti-human red blood cell antibodies (anti-hRBC-Ab). This led to the formation of hybrid antibody molecules (anti-SV-anti-hRBC(F(ab')2) each of whose F(ab') fragment possessed different binding specificity. The anti-SV(F(ab'] part of the hybrid molecule interacted specifically with Sendai virus particles, while the anti-hRBC(F(ab'] part interacted with the surface of hRBC.

RNAase-sensitive DNA-dependent DNA polymerase from rat cells transformed by avian sarcoma virus.

An RNAase-sensitive DNA polymerase from rat cells transformed by avian sarcoma virus has been characterized. The enzyme requires RNA for its activity, as shown by its sensitivity to RNAase with endogenous as well as exogenous DNA templates. This sensitivity is maintained after its purification by sucrose gradients and ion exchange columns.

Multiple use of one-piece microtitration plates in ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) tests for the detection of cytomegalovirus and rubella virus antibodies.

Ninety-six-well, one-piece microtitration plates coated with rubella virus or cytomegalovirus (CMV) antigen can be used for multiple ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) testings. Only the number of test wells required per test need be used and the remaining unused test wells can be retained for subsequent assay. Consequently, as the one-piece microtitration plate is not a single-use, "all or none" element of the ELISA system, it is therefore as suitable for multiple ELISA testings as for one-time use.

Homogeneous substrate-labeled fluorescent immunoassay for human serum albumin.

A homogeneous substrate-labeled fluorescent immunoassay for human serum albumin (HSA) has been developed, similar to previously described immunoassays for Immunoglobulin G and Immunoglobulin M. HSA was covalently linked to 6-(7-beta-galactosylcoumarin-3-carboxamide) hexylamine. The resulting conjugate had minimal fluorescence at 450 nm (with excitation at 400 nm).

Stimulation of DNA polymerase alpha by a nuclear DNA/protein complex.

A nuclear DNA complex containing DNA polymerase and SV40 T-antigen was isolated from nuclei of SV40-transformed mouse fibroblasts. DNA polymerase could be separated from the complex. The remaining DNA/T-antigen-containing complex stimulated DNA polymerase alpha activity about 10-fold.

Use of chelating agents as terminators of alkaline phosphatase activity in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) tests.

For a long time chelating agents have been known to be inhibitors of alkaline phosphatase activity. However, the use of chelating agents in stopping alkaline phosphatase activity in ELISA reactions is a novel application with several advantages over conventionally used acids or bases.

Herpes simplex virus DNA polymerase, thymidine kinase and deoxyribonuclease activities in cells infected with wild type, ultraviolet-irradiated and defective virus.

The DNA polymerase, thymidine kinase and deoxyribonuclease activities were studied in cells infected with wild type (wt), ultraviolet (UV)-irradiated and defective herpes simplex virus type 1. All three enzymatic activities were expressed in cells infected with wt virus. In cells infected with UV-irradiated virus, the thymidine kinase and deoxyribonuclease activities were inhibited and the DNA polymerase activity was markedly suppressed.

Interaction of ultraviolet-irradiated herpes simplex virus type 1 with BSC-1 cells.

Ultraviolet irradiation of herpes simplex virus (HSV) did not affect the transfer of uncoated virus DNA to the nuclei of infected cells but the synthesis of virus DNA was suppressed. The virus-specific DNA polymerase was synthesized in cells infected with the u.v.

Deoxyribonucleic acid polymerase of wild-type and phosphonoacetic acid-resistant mutant of herpes simplex virus.

The phosphonacetic acid (PAA)-susceptible deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) polymerase of herpes simplex virus type 1 was partially purified and isolated in sucrose gradients and on double-strand DNA cellulose columns. The DNA polymerase isolated from cells infected with the PAA-resistant mutant had the same molecular weight as the wild-type enzyme (140,000 to 149,000) but was consistently more resistant to PAA.

Synthesis of a compound soluble in organic solvents from deoxycytidine triphosphate in permeabilized normal human lymphocytes.

Normal human lymphocytes may be rendered permeable to deoxynucleoside triphosphates. When [3H]dCTP is furnished to permeabilized lymphocytes tow compounds are formed: DNA and a compound soluble in organic solvents. [3H]dCTP incorporation is higher in stimulated lymphocytes than in unstimulated cells.

Multiplication of Coxsackie B1 virus in synchronized HeLa cells.

A higher yield of Coxsackie B(1) virus was obtained when HeLa cells were infected late during S phase as compared to the amount produced by random cultures.

A new synthetic RNA-dependent DNA polymerase from human tissue culture cells (HeLa-fibroblast-synthetic oligonucleotides-template-purified enzymes).

Two DNA polymerases that can copy synthetic RNA polymers are present in human tissue culture cells. These enzymes which have each been purified about 500-fold, are present in both HeLa cells, which are derived from a cervical carcinoma, and in WI-38 cells, a normal diploid strain originating from human embryonic lung tissue. These synthetic RNA-dependent DNA polymerases are identified by their ability to copy efficiently the ribo strand of synthetic oligonucleotide-homopolymer complexes, and differ in this respect from the known DNA-dependent DNA polymerases found in HeLa cells.

DNA polymerases of tumor virus: specific effect of ethidium bromide on the use of different synthetic templates.

The DNA polymerase enzymes from avian, murine, and feline RNA tumor viruses can be distinguished by their ability to read specific, synthetic primertemplates. The copying of templates containing adenylic and thymidylic acids by all these DNA polymerases is inhibited by ethidium bromide, though this compound affects the polymerases from mammalian tumor viruses much more than the enzyme from avian tumor viruses. Conversely, ethidium bromide stimulates the ability of the enzymes from avian tumor viruses to use primertemplates containing only guanylic and cytidylic acids, whereas the mammalian tumor virus enzymes are moderately inhibited.