Development of multiplex nucleic acid sequence-based amplification for detection of human respiratory tract viruses.

A group of common lower respiratory tract infections, influenza A, influenza B, human parainfluenza virus 1-4 (HPIV1-4), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), rubella virus (RV) and Coxsackie virus (CSV), were selected for the development of a multiplex nucleic acid sequence-based amplification (NASBA) assay. Quantifiable measurement utilizing an enzyme-linked oligonucleotide capture (EOC) optical detection method, which was described previously, alleviated the requirement of specialized instrumentation that is commonly used in other molecular techniques. Multiplex NASBA-EOC provided rapid and specific detection of a single virus from a multiplexed group, reducing laboratory testing time and enabling high throughput screening.

Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor protects astrocytes from staurosporine- and ischemia- induced apoptosis.

Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) promotes the survival and functions of neurons. It has been shown to be a promising candidate in the treatment of ischemia and other neurodegenerative diseases. We transfected mouse astrocytes in primary cultures with a human GDNF gene and found that their conditioned medium could not only support the growth and survival of cultured dopaminergic neurons but also protect astrocytes from staurosporine- and ischemia-induced apoptosis.