Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia (CML) is a clonal haemopoietic stem cell (HSC) disorder characterised by the presence of a disease-specific gene, BCR-ABL, which leads to the production of a bcr-abl mRNA transcript. CML is an ideal candidate for gene therapy using ribozymes (Rz), catalytic RNA molecules that cleave and inactivate target RNA in a sequence specific manner. Limited data is available on the activity of ribozymes in human CML cells. In this study, hammerhead ribozyme sequences directed against the b3a2 bcr-abl mRNA sequence (Rz6-Rz10) were cloned into several retroviral vectors. Initial experiments using MSCVHSA based retroviral constructs failed to express the sequences in cell lines. Rz cDNA fragments were then cloned into an LNL6 based retroviral vector (LGL1) encoding a GFP reporter gene and stable LGLRz constructs produced. Using cell sorting, high-titre PA317 producer cell line clones were isolated. Transcriptional silencing of the LGLRz6 producer cell line occurred with prolonged culture, with partial reversal on treatment with the demethylating agent 5' azacytidine. To assess the activity of these constructs in human cells, CD34+ HSC were isolated from newly diagnosed b3a2 Ph+ CML patients. Cells were transduced with either control LGL vector or the LGLRz6 construct. Transduced human cells were sorted based on GFP expression and placed into long-term HSC culture (LTC-IC assays). Using a common cDNA, RT-PCR was performed to detect the expression of both the transgene and bcr-abl in individual colonies derived from the LTCIC assay at various time points, allowing assessment of the effect of transgene expression on bcr-abl expression. LGLRz transgene expression was detectable for up to 6 weeks in culture. Colony RT-PCR results from 3 patients showed that expression of the LGLRz6 construct was associated with decreased bcr-abl expression. It also appeared that the reduced bcr-abl expression decreased the proliferation of Ph+ cells leading to their loss from culture. In summary, these results appear to show an effect of a retroviral vector containing a bcr-abl Rz sequence on human CML HSC. Targeting of bcr-abl remains a valid therapeutic goal in the Imatinib era, particularly if problems related to effective ribozyme delivery and targeting can be overcome.

Treatments for the hepatitis C virus (HCV) are currently only partially effective. Research into antivirals directed at HCV viral proteins are commonly based and tested on a single genotype, namely genotype 1. This is despite the high level of variability of the RNA virus and the frequency of infection with genotypes other than 1. The systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX) is a novel in vitro approach for the isolation of antiviral agents. SELEX allows rapid screening of vast nucleic acid libraries to isolate sequences (termed aptamers) that bind to target proteins with high affinity. The SELEX approach was used in the present study to isolate DNA aptamers to the RNAdependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) [non-structural protein B (NS5B)] protein of HCV subtype 3a, with the aim of inhibiting polymerase activity. Ten rounds of selection were performed using a Biacore 2000 and resultant aptamers cloned from rounds 2, 4, 8 and 10. Sequences of aptamers were aligned to elucidate common motifs and a proportion of the aptamers from rounds 8 and 10 (29/48) were screened for binding ability using the Biacore. The five ???best binding??? aptamers were investigated for inhibition of 3a polymerase activity in an in vitro polymerase assay. Two aptamers, r10/43 and r10/47, were chosen for further studies based on their ability to inhibit polymerase activity. The inhibition constants (Ki) of r10/43 and r10/47 were estimated to be 1.4 + 2.4 nM and 6.0 + 2.3 nM respectively. The affinity (Kd) of these aptamers for the 3a polymerase was estimated to be 1.3 + 0.3 nM (r10/43) and 23.5 + 6.7 nM (r10/47). The estimated inhibition and dissociation constants of these two aptamers are among the best for inhibitory aptamers of the HCV enzymes (polymerase and protease). Inhibition of HCV 3a polymerase appeared to be specific for r10/47, whilst r10/43 also had some inhibitory effect on norovirus and ??6 polymerase activity. This study is the first description of an inhibitor to the HCV subtype 3a polymerase that investigates genotypic specificity of targeted antivirals.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Adelaide, 1985. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 133-141).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Adelaide, 1988. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Tufts University, 2004. / Adviser: Victoria H. Meller. Submitted to the Dept. of Biology. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 120-126). Access restricted to members of the Tufts University community. Also available via the World Wide Web;

Diss. (sammanfattning) Uppsala : Uppsala universitet, 2007. / Härtill 3 uppsatser.

Proefschrift Universiteit van Amsterdam. / Auteursnaam op omslag: Michel P. de Baar. Met lit. opg. - Met samenvatting in het Nederlands.

Proefschrift Universiteit van Amsterdam. / Met lit. opg. - Met samenvatting in het Nederlands.

Proefschrift Universiteit van Amsterdam. / Met lit. opg. - Met samenvatting in het Nederlands.

Proefschrift Universiteit van Amsterdam. / Met lit. opg. - Met samenvatting in het Nederlands.