Ultracentrifugation Purification of Cache Valley Virus Using Iodixanol.

Ultracentrifugation is an invaluable technique frequently used for either crude or highly purified viral preparations. Virus produced by cells is first cleared of cellular debris through benchtop centrifugation, then purified by ultracentrifugation in a stepwise iodixanol gradient solution. Here we describe the purification of Cache Valley virus using iodixanol, a nonionic, nontoxic, iso-osmotic solution.

Development and characterization of monoclonal antibodies for rapid detection of Acinetobacter baumannii.

Recently Acinetobacter baumannii has emerged as a dominant form of nosocomial infections worldwide. As such, diagnostic tools are urgently needed. Reported here is the development/characterization of two mouse monoclonal antibodies (MAbs), F241G3sc2 and F241G6sc2, against A.

Development of neutralizing monoclonal antibodies against the pandemic H1N1 virus (2009) using plasmid DNA immunogen.

Reported here is the development and characterization of eighteen mouse monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against the 2009 pandemic H1N1 influenza virus (A/Mexico/InDRE4487/2009). To our knowledge, this is the first report on pandemic (pH1) H1N1 MAbs developed using plasmid DNA encoding the viral surface glycoprotein, hemagglutinin (HA). All eighteen MAbs were specific for A/Mexico/InDRE4487/2009 HA.

The platelet protein kinase C substrate pleckstrin binds directly to SDPR protein.

Pleckstrin is a modular platelet protein consisting of N- and C-terminal pleckstrin homology (PH) domains, a central dishevelled egl10 and pleckstrin (DEP) domain and a phosphorylation region. Following agonist-induced platelet stimulation, dimeric pleckstrin translocates to the plasma membrane, is phosphorylated and then monomerizes. A recent study found that pleckstrin null platelets from a knockout mouse have a defect in granule secretion, actin polymerization and aggregation.

Proteomic identification of pleckstrin-associated proteins in platelets: possible interactions with actin.

Pleckstrin (plek)-null platelets from a knockout mouse have been shown to be defective in granule secretion, aggregation and actin polymerization. However, the mechanism of plek signaling is currently unknown. Therefore, we sought to identify plek-binding proteins in platelets by using GST pulldown assays and immunoprecipitation to isolate proteins from extracts of protein kinase C-activated or inhibited human platelets.

A novel mutation in the IHH gene causes brachydactyly type A1: a 95-year-old mystery resolved.

Brachydactyly type A1 (BDA1) was the first disorder described in terms of autosomal dominant Mendelian inheritance. Early in the 1900s Farabee and Drinkwater described a number of families with BDA1. Examination of two of Drinkwater's families has revealed that, although they are not known to be related, both share a common mutation within the Indian hedgehog gene ( IHH).

The p120(ctn)-binding partner Kaiso is a bi-modal DNA-binding protein that recognizes both a sequence-specific consensus and methylated CpG dinucleotides.

The p120(ctn)-binding partner Kaiso is a new member of the POZ-zinc finger family of transcription factors implicated in development and cancer. To understand the role of Kaiso in gene regulation and p120(ctn)-mediated signaling and adhesion, we sought to identify Kaiso-specific DNA binding sequences and potential target genes. Here we demonstrate that Kaiso is a dual specificity DNA-binding protein that recognizes the specific consensus sequence TCCTGCNA as well as methyl-CpG dinucleotides.