Natural variations in AAVHSC16 significantly reduce liver tropism and maintain broad distribution to periphery and CNS.

Adeno-associated viruses derived from human hematopoietic stem cells (AAVHSCs) are naturally occurring AAVs. Fifteen AAVHSCs have demonstrated broad biodistribution while displaying differences in transduction. We examine the structure-function relationships of these natural amino acid variations on cellular binding.

Expression and purification methods for the production of recombinant human complement component C2.

Human complement component C2 is a critical factor of the classical complement pathway. Here we provide a method for the production of recombinant human C2 (rhC2) protein for research purposes. The human complement component C2 (hC2) is cloned from a human cDNA library by polymerase chain reaction and inserted in a mammalian expression vector (Martini et al.

Recombinant human complement component C2 produced in a human cell line restores the classical complement pathway activity in-vitro: an alternative treatment for C2 deficiency diseases.

Background: Complement C2 deficiency is the most common genetically determined complete complement deficiency and is associated with a number of diseases. Most prominent are the associations with recurrent serious infections in young children and the development of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in adults. The links with these diseases reflect the important role complement C2 plays in both innate immunity and immune tolerance.

Characterization of regulatory T cells in urban newborns.

Background: In the United States, asthma prevalence is particularly high among urban children. Although the underlying immune mechanism contributing to asthma has not been identified, having impaired T regulatory (Treg) cells at birth may be a determining factor in urban children. The objective of this study was to compare Treg phenotype and function in cord blood (CB) of newborns to those in peripheral blood (PB) of a subset of participating mothers.

IFN-gamma regulated chemokine production determines the outcome of Staphylococcus aureus infection.

Immunomodulatory therapy represents an attractive approach in treating multidrug-resistant infections. Developing this therapy necessitates a lucid understanding of host defense mechanisms. Neutrophils represent the first line of systemic defense during Staphylococcus aureus infections.