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<p> This thesis deals with linear combinations of a set of random variables uniformly distributed on a simplex. The exact joint distribution of two general linear combinations with real constant coefficients is considered and the results found in the form of the joint probability density function. Application of the result is also illustrated. </p> / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

Les Virus herpès simplex sont connus pour infecter les gens partout dans le monde et possèdent l'habileté d'établir un état de latence. Les manifestations cliniques les plus sévères d'une infection avec les virus herpès simplex sont observées chez les patients imInunosupprimés qui peuvent être infectés avec des souches virales résistantes aux antiviraux. Les mutations causant la résistance à l'antiviral acyclovir peuvent se retrouver soit au niveau de l'ADN polymérase ou de la thymidine kinase virale, tandis que les mutations entraînant une résistance au foscamet se retrouvent seulement au niveau de l'ADN polymérase. Lors de ce projet, nous avons testé les capacités réplicatives, la neurovirulence, ainsi que l'habileté à établir un état de latence pour quatres souches virales mutantes isolées de patients atteints du VIH ne répondant pas aux traitements antiviraux avec l'acyclovir et/ou le foscamet. Nous avons observé que le mutant au niveau de l'ADN polymérase S724N résistant à l'acyclovir et au foscamet possède des caractéristiques similaires au virus de type sauvage, tandis qu'un autre Inutant au niveau de l'ADN polymérase, L850I, démontrait une capacité replicative et une neurovirulence diminuées. Le virus mutant au niveau de la thymidine kinase, G439.5, ainsi que le virus double mutant au niveau des deux gènes C467del/A912V avaient des capacités réplicatives réduites ainsi qu'une neurovirulence atténuée, mais possédaient la capacité d'établir une latence. Ce projet nous a donc permis de démontrer que des études in vitro de réplication virale de différents virus herpès simplex résistants aux antiviraux peuvent aider à prédire le niveau de virulence de ces virus dans des modèles animaux.

Cells infected with herpes simplex virus show a rapid cessation of protein synthesis and a dramatic decline in the levels of mRNA; a process known as host shutoff. This effect is attributed to a viral tegument protein called the virion host shutoff protein, or vhs. The mechanism by which vhs induces mRNA degradation is not yet understood. It is not known whether vhs possesses RNase activities or if it acts in combination with other cellular factors. To gain a better understanding of the function of vhs, I examined RNA degradation in detail by analyzing the RNA decay products generated in the presence of vhs. 𝘐𝘯 𝘷𝘪𝘷𝘰 experiments, performed by infecting murine erythroid leukemia cells with HSV, revealed that beta-globin mRNA is rapidly degraded, in the presence of vhs, without being converted to detectable decay intermediates. The half-life of this mRNA was 15 and 60 minutes for HSV-2 and HSV-1, respectively. Using vhs translated in a rabbit reticulocyte lysate system, I found that vhs induced rapid decay at the 5' end of a capped RNA molecule. The decay event was endonucleolytic and occurred at preferred sites downstream of the cap, generating capped oligonucleotides. Unlike influenza RNA polymerase, the cleavage event did not occur at a fixed distance from the cap since capped oligos of differing size were generated from different RNA substrates. My data indicate that vhs induced cleavage exhibits a strong, but not absolute preference for RNAs possessing an m⁷G cap, which may account for vhs' specificity for m RNAs 𝘪𝘯 𝘷𝘪𝘷𝘰. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)

A HSV 2 immediate early antigen was prepared and used as an immunogen in an attempt to produce monoclonal antibodies to this set to proteins. The results of three screening assays, ELISA, immunodiffusion and radioimmunoprecipitation with cell extracts and Protein A-Sepharose beads indicated that the hybrid cell lines are nonsecretors of antiHSV 2 antibodies. Other monoclonal cell lines from Dr. Bacchetti's laboratory were characterized by radioimmunoprecipitation with Protein A-Sepharose beads and cell extracts. / Thesis / Master of Science (MS)