[Association between CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells and serum transforming growth factor beta 1 in patients with chronic hepatitis B].

Objective: To investigate whether the CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells are associated with serum TGF beta 1 in patients with hepatitis B.

Methods: Patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB), chronic asymptomatic carriers (AsC), normal subjects (NS) and the resolved from HBV infection (Resolved) were recruited in this study. Flow cytometric analysis was used to detect the frequency and phenotype of peripheral CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ T cells, and Foxp3 gene expression were examined by real time PCR.

[High throughput detection of drug-resistance gene mutations in HBV using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry].

Objective: To develop a high-throughput clinical method on drug-resistance gene mutations of HBV using MALDI-TOF-MS.

Method: Using MassArray Assay Design software designed the iPLEX primers and followed the iPLEX instruction for amplification, SAP reaction, primer extenction, desalination, dispensing, MALDI-TOF-MS screening and data analysis of the gene mutation locus. 138 serum samples of chronic HBV patients with single drug-resistance or multiple drug-resistance on Lamivudin, adefovi, Entecavir were detected.

[Immunosuppression induced by measles virus in adult patients is not related to CD4+ CD25+ regulatory T cell induction].

Objective: To investigate of the relationship of the immunosuppression induced by Measles virus in adult patients and CD4+ CD25+ regulatory T cell.

Methods: Thirty-four patients with measles and 27 healthy control subjects were included in this study. The whole blood was collected and CD4+ CD25+ cell and FoxP3+ cell were analyzed by flow cytometry, and CD4+ CD25- and CD4+ CD25+ T lymphocytes were isolated from PBMCs of patients with measles or healthy donors, CD4+ CD25- T cells were cultured in absence or presence of anti-CD3, or BCG, or live attenuated MV.

[Study on specific cellular immunity of enhance intracellular survival antigen of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis].

Objective: To investigate the level of specific cellular immunity in patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis and its potential relationship with severity of the disease.

Methods: Thirty active pulmonary tuberculosis patients with positive tubercle bacilli in sputum were enrolled for the study. Immune responses including lymphocytes proliferation enhanced by enhance intracellular survival (EIS) antigen and cytokine production including interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and interleukin-10 (IL-10), were assayed.

[Investigation on activities of hammerhead ribozyme embedded in genomic RNA of hepatitis delta virus].

Objective: To develop HDV as a vehicle to deliver hammerhead ribozyme into hepatocytes, the effects of modified HDV was assessed on the activity of embedded hammerhead ribozyme in vitro and in vivo.

Methods: In vitro activity of ribozyme or HDV-driven ribozyme was assessed by incubating with the [alpha-32 P]-ATP labeled HBV RNA substrates at different temperature. Huh-7 cells were cotransfected with ribozyme or HDV-ribozyme chimera and HBV genome, by which inhibition of ribozymes on HBV transcription in vivo were examined.

[Immunological and virological efficacy against HBV chronic infection of the therapeutic vaccine composed of HBV core plus PreS1 in HBV transgenic mice].

Background: To investigate the immunological and virological efficacy of the therapeutic vaccine HBV CS1, a recombinant fusion protein which is composed of HBV core aa 1-155 plus PreS1 aa 3-55,against chronic HBV infection.

Methods: HBV transgenic mice were immunized with HBV CS1(5 ug) emulsified in equal volume of complete Freund adjuvant on day 0, followed by a second vaccination with HBV CS1(5 ug) emulsified with incomplete Freund adjuvant on days 21. Mice of control group were mock-vaccinated with PBS plus complete Freund adjuvant/incomplete Freund adjuvant.

[Identification and molecular cloning and sequence analysis of a novel coronavirus from patients with SARS by RT-PCR].

Objective: To investigate the etiologic agents of the SARS and develop diagnostic method for this disease.

Methods: Thirty-six nasopharyngeal aspirate specimens from 27 patients with SARS in Shenzhen were collected. The samples were aliquotted to three parts and subjected to molecular assays for human metapneumovirus, chlamydia and a novel coronavirus, which was reported recently to be the etiologic agent of SARS.