Search

The NucliSens Extractor is an automated nucleic acid isolation system based on guanidinium thiocyanate (GuSCN)-silica extraction technology. The system has been validated for the isolation of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNAs from human samples in combination with nucleic acid sequence-based amplification- and reverse transcription-PCR-based methods. We evaluated the extractor for hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA extraction from human samples using a noncommercial HBV DNA PCR. Several sample pretreatment procedures in combination with the extractor were compared with the Qiagen extraction method, and the impact of the sample volume used in the extraction on the sensitivity was investigated. Heating of the lysed sample prior to extractor isolation and the use of a large sample volume resulted in highly sensitive detection of HBV DNA. Incubation of a 1-ml sample in GuSCN at 80 degrees C (10 min) and at 37 degrees C (30 min) allowed detection of 4 and 40 HBV genome equivalents/ml, respectively, in standard dilution panels. Sample lysis in GuSCN at room temperature and proteinase K treatment prior to use of the extractor were less efficient procedures. All clinical samples that were PCR positive after Qiagen extraction and/or that were HBsAg positive were also PCR positive after extractor isolation. HBV DNA, HCV RNA, and HIV type 1 RNA were efficiently coextracted from a single sample, allowing reliable detection of viral genomes.

Two monoclonal anti-idiotypic antibodies (ab2 MAbs), designated 1.13A112 (immunoglobulin G type 2a [IgG2a]) and 1.13A321 (IgG1), were prepared against Semliki Forest virus (SFV)-neutralizing ab1 MAb UM 1.13. They were identified in hybridoma supernatant fluid by their capacity to block UM 1.13-mediated neutralization of SFV. Although the neutralization-blocking capacities of the ab2 MAbs did not differ, only 1.13A321 evoked SFV-neutralizing ab3 antibodies upon intracutaneous and subcutaneous immunization of BALB/c mice with 1.13A321 chemically cross-linked to keyhole limpet hemocyanin and combined with the adjuvant Quil A. SFV-neutralizing ab3 antibodies appeared in serum within 10 days after primary immunization, and neutralizing antibody titers could be as high as 1/1,000 at day 35. All mice who had developed SFV-neutralizing antibodies upon anti-idiotypic immunization survived an otherwise lethal challenge with virulent SFV. However, induction of SFV-neutralizing ab3 antibodies by ab2 MAb 1.13A321 proved to be genetically restricted to BALB/c mice; even haplotype-identical (H-2d) DBA/2 mice did not respond, and consequently those animals died after infection with virulent SFV.