Operation of the Molecular Virology and Immunology Laboratory, Hepatitis Testing Laboratory, and Cell Biology (EM (Electron Microscope) Facility)

摘要

Work has continued on the development of the woodchuck model of hepadnavirus infection and disease. Woodchuck hepatitis virus (WHV) infection of neonates and young animals indicate that virus dose, age of infection and virus strain may influence the incidence of chronicity. A western-blot assay for hepatitis delta antigen (HDAg) was developed and used to detect HDAg in sera and liver tissue of experimentally-infected woodchucks and chimpanzees. A test for serum HDV RNA was used to evaluate the efficacy of interferon in treatment of chronic delta hepatitis. The EM facility completed major projects relating to human mast cell ultrastructure and degranulation, and receptor-mediated events during human neutrophil activation. Cell dependent differences in the synthesis of the RS virus G glycoprotein were determined. Clinical samples were analyzed for antibodies of HTLV-III/LAV and the presence of AIDS virus.