Innate immune response of human plasmacytoid dendritic cells to poxvirus infection is subverted by vaccinia E3 via its Z-DNA/RNA binding domain.

Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) play important roles in antiviral innate immunity by producing type I interferon (IFN). In this study, we assess the immune responses of primary human pDCs to two poxviruses, vaccinia and myxoma virus. Vaccinia, an orthopoxvirus, was used for immunization against smallpox, a contagious human disease with high mortality.

IL-1 polymorphisms in children with peptic symptoms in South China.

Background: Polymorphisms of IL-1 gene cluster are reported to be associated with histological changes and IL-1β expression in the gastric mucosa in adults, especially in Helicobacter pylori-infected subjects. As H. pylori infecting adults and children own different virulence genotypes, the aim of this study was to investigate whether IL-1 polymorphisms are risk factors in young children in South China.

Distinctiveness of the cagA genotype in children and adults with peptic symptoms in South China.

Background: Helicobacter pylori infection is different between children and adults, not only in infection rate but also in virulence genotypes. However, the 3' region of CagA, important in stomach carcinogenesis, still remains unclear in children. The present study aims to compare the frequency of cagA and the distribution of its subtypes between children and adults in South China.

Detection of hMSH2 and hMLH1 mutations in Chinese hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer kindreds.

Aim: To establish and validate the mutation testing for identification and characterization of hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) in suspected Chinese patients.

Methods: Five independent Chinese kindreds with HNPCC fulfilling the classical Amsterdam criteria were collected. Genomic DNA was extracted after informed consent was obtained.

[Construction and selection of siRNA expression cassettes targeting human telomerase reverse transcriptase gene in vitro].

Objective: To determine whether the human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) gene silencing could be effectively induced by PCR-derived siRNA expression cassettes (SEC) transfected by the fifth generation polyamidoamine dendrimer (G5 PAMAM-D) in Tca8113 cells.

Methods: Four SEC were rationally designed and constructed based on a two-step PCR reaction. The SEC were then transferred into Tca8113 cells using G5 PAMAM-D, and hTERT expression was investigated by real-time fluorescence-quantitative reverse transcriptase-PCR and western blot analysis.

[Faster detection of Vibrio parahaemolyticus in foods by FQ-PCR technique].

Objective: To establish a rapid and accurate qualitative and quantitative method to detect Vibrio parahaemolyticus in food.

Methods: Primers and Taqman probe were designed according to the sequence of gyrase gene of Vibrio parahaemolyticus. The PCR fragment was cloned into PTM vector and was used as positive template for establishing the criterion curve.