Short Communication: HIV-1 Drug Resistance Mutation Analyses of Cameroon-Derived Integrase Sequences.

HIV-1 integrase (IN) is a primary target for combination antiretroviral therapy. Only a limited number of studies report on the emergence of resistance-associated mutations (RAMs) in Cameroon. We observed that 1.

Implementation of the laboratory quality management system (ISO 15189): Experience from Bugando Medical Centre Clinical Laboratory - Mwanza, Tanzania.

Background: Use of laboratory evidence-based patient health care in Tanzania remains a complex problem, as with many other countries in sub-Saharan Africa. As at 2010, 39 African countries, including Tanzania, had no clinical laboratories that met the minimum requirements for international laboratory standards (International Organization for Standardization [ISO] 15189).

Objective: The aim of this article is to share experience from Bugando Medical Centre laboratory's milestones in reaching ISO 15189 accreditation.

A chromosome study of 6-thioguanine-resistant mutants in T lymphocytes of Hiroshima atomic bomb survivors.

Cytogenetic characterizations were made of lymphocyte colonies established from somatic mutation assays for 6-thioguanine (TG) resistance in Hiroshima atomic bomb survivors. G-banded chromosomes were analyzed in both TG-resistant (TGr) and wild-type colonies. Included were 45 TGr and 19 wild-type colonies derived from proximally exposed A-bomb survivors, as well as colonies from distally exposed control individuals who did not receive a significant amount of A-bomb radiation (18 TGr and 9-wild type colonies).

Cloning of phenotypically different human lymphocytes originating from a single stem cell.

By using hypoxanthine guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (hprt) gene alterations and chromosome aberrations as in vivo cellular markers, human T, NK, and B cells originating from a single stem cell have been successfully cloned from the peripheral blood of an atomic bomb survivor from Hiroshima. These mutant lymphocytes were selectively cloned, taking advantage of their resistance to a purine analogue, 6-thioguanine. The cloned lymphocytes possessed the same hprt gene alterations and the same chromosome aberration (20q-), but exhibited different surface or functional phenotypes and different rearrangements of TCR or Ig genes.

Induction of endoreduplication in Chinese hamsters V79 cells by cytosine arabinoside.

Endoreduplication (ER) could be induced very effectively in Chinese hamster V79 cells exposed to cytosine arabinoside (1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine; Ara-C). Cells were cultured for 48 hours in Ara-C containing medium. ER frequency increases rapidly after Ara-C release.