Publications by authors named "E H Morita"
Human parvovirus B19 (B19V) causes fetal hydrops in pregnant women. Despite the significant impact of this virus, effective vaccines remain unclear. In this study, we successfully engineered B19V protein nanoparticles by fusing the N-terminal receptor-binding domain corresponding to 5-80 amino acids of VP1 with two distinct types of self-assembling protein nanoparticles.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn our previous study, we established a method for purifying bacterially expressed HCV core 1-164 under non-denaturing conditions. In the present study, we elucidated the characteristics of the purified core. The purified HCV core exhibited a notable affinity for HCV RNA, with a Kd of 3 nM, as determined by a filter binding assay.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHuman parvovirus B19 virus-like particle formation in Nicotiana benthamiana.
Protein Expr Purif
February 2025
Article Synopsis
- There is growing interest in using plants to produce vaccine components, and this study shows successful production of the human parvovirus B19 (B19V) capsid protein (VP2) in Nicotiana benthamiana cells.
- By cloning the VP1 and VP2 genes and using estrogen-inducible promoters, the researchers were able to significantly enhance VP2 expression, especially with the help of codon optimization that improved production over 30-fold.
- The expressed VP2 proteins formed spherical particles (virus-like particles) and were primarily found in the cytoplasm, indicating a viable plant-based method for producing B19V VLPs.
Article Synopsis
- Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic skin disease characterized by intense itching, and new treatments like dupilumab have been developed but predicting the right treatment for each patient is challenging.
- A study involving 110 AD patients aimed to identify factors and biomarkers that could indicate how well patients might respond to dupilumab, using various scales for assessment.
- Findings showed that higher baseline serum LDH levels and certain comorbidities, like food allergies, were linked to poorer treatment outcomes, suggesting these could help guide treatment decisions for AD patients.
Viral infections in tubular epithelial cells lead to the production of inflammatory cytokines by innate immunity, causing tubulointerstitial nephritis. TLR3 recognizes viral infections and acts via the activation of interferon (IFN)/IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs). This study investigates the role of ISG56, a representative ISG, in TLR3 signaling in cultured human renal proximal tubular epithelial cells (hRPTECs).
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