This proposal focuses on the development of non-radioisotopic in situ hybridization assay to detect LAV/HTLV-III infected cells, and to develop a method for recovery of AIDS virus from infected sources using a T4+ cell line that expresses the transactivating translational gene (tat) of LAV/HTLV-III as the basis of a virus detection/culture system. The offeror emphasize that in situ hybridization offers advantages over immunologic methods of detecting virus infected cells since it is able to detect infected cells which are not expressing viral proteins. Their method for in situ hybridization uses non-isotopic detection which allows easy visualization of infected cells by standard microscopy within one working day. The objectives of the current proposal are to simplify the method so that it can be adapted for clinical use, and to improve the detection to the point where a single copy of virus DNA or RNA can be detected.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
Division of Blood Diseases And Resources (NHLBI)
Type
Research and Development Contracts (N01)
Project #
N01HB067022-010
Application #
2312845
Study Section
Project Start
1986-09-30
Project End
1994-06-30
Budget Start
1993-02-08
Budget End
1993-11-22
Support Year
Fiscal Year
1993
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Massachusetts Medical School Worcester
Department
Anatomy/Cell Biology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
660735098
City
Worcester
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
01655
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Somasundaran, M; Robinson, H L (1987) A major mechanism of human immunodeficiency virus-induced cell killing does not involve cell fusion. J Virol 61:3114-9