Mechanism of CD150 (SLAM) down regulation from the host cell surface by measles virus hemagglutinin protein.

Measles virus has been reported to enter host cells via either of two cellular receptors, CD46 and CD150 (SLAM). CD46 is found on most cells of higher primates, while SLAM is expressed on activated B, T, and dendritic cells and is an important regulatory molecule of the immune system. Previous reports have shown that measles virus can down regulate expression of its two cellular receptors on the host cell surface during infection.

Modified apoptotic molecule (BID) reduces hepatitis C virus infection in mice with chimeric human livers.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) encodes a polyprotein consisting of core, envelope (E1, E2, p7), and nonstructural polypeptides (NS2, NS3, NS4A, NS4B, NS5A, NS5B). The serine protease (NS3/NS4A), helicase (NS3), and polymerase (NS5B) constitute valid targets for antiviral therapy. We engineered BH3 interacting domain death agonist (BID), an apoptosis-inducing molecule, to contain a specific cleavage site recognized by the NS3/NS4A protease.