Publications by authors named "Spies U"

A ligase chain reaction (LCR)-based approach to detect hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) is described. Using this new amplification technique, we determined semi-quantitatively the amount of a short HBV S-gene fragment in PBMC lysates of 25 patients with different forms of chronic hepatitis (group A (n = 8), hepatitis B s antigen (HBsAg)+/hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)+; group B (n = 9), HBsAg+/HBeAg-; group C (n = 8), HBsAg-/HBeAg-). The LCR results were compared with the findings obtained with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of three distinct HBV gene regions (preS1/2, S and C) and related to the serological profiles of the patients.

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The chloramphenicol acetyltransferase gene (cat) of a 3.9 kb chloramphenicol resistance (CmR) plasmid from Staphylococcus intermedius, designated pSCS1, was cloned into an Escherichia coli plasmid vector. Sequence analysis revealed a high degree of base similarity with the cat gene of the S.

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The nucleotide sequences of the large open reading frame (ORF) from segment A of three European strains of infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) have been determined using cDNA clones. This ORF of 3036 nucleotides encodes the virion proteins as a polyprotein in the following order: VP2, VP4, VP3. The nucleotide sequences determined have been compared to each other and to the published sequence of an Australian strain.

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The putative viral transcriptase p90 in infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) was shown to form an enzyme-guanylate intermediate which is indicative of guanylyl-transferase activity. The p90-nucleotide bond is most likely to be a phosphodiester linkage, as it resisted treatment with HCl and NH2OH but was sensitive to NaOH. This is in contrast to phosphoamide bonds formed by reovirus cores.

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Pasteurella haemolytica-cultures, isolated from cattle with respiratory diseases, were investigated for their biotype, serotype, antimicrobial resistance and plasmid content. A plasmid encoding a beta-lactamase could be demonstrated in 9 of 19 Pasteurella haemolytica-cultures. These 9 cultures, all belonging to biotype A and serotype 1, were resistant to ampicillin, carbenicillin, penicillin G and ticarcillin.

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A plasmid encoding streptomycin-resistance could be detected in 13 of 32 Pasteurella multocida-cultures isolated from cattle and swine. The plasmid of these cultures proved to be similar upon Southern blot hybridization. It could be transformed into Escherichia coli 490A, where it also expressed streptomycin resistance.

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An RNA-dependent RNA polymerase activity of infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) could be demonstrated without any special treatment of the virus particles. Ca2+ ions had to be removed from the reaction mixture. Mg2+ (4 mM) was essential for the polymerase activity which was optimal at pH 8.

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The postoperative incisional hernia can be found after any incision, any suture, and also when the technique was as subtle as possible. The frequency ranges from 1--5%. The causes, the frequency, the suture-techniques, and the methods for reparation of an incisional hernia are described.

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