Hepatitis E: An update on One Health and clinical medicine.

The hepatitis E virus (HEV) is one of the main causes of acute hepatitis and the de facto global burden is underestimated. HEV-related clinical complications are often undetected and are not considered in the differential diagnosis. Convincing findings from studies suggest that HEV is clinically relevant not only in developing countries but also in industrialized countries.

Hepatitis E Virus Infection: Circulation, Molecular Epidemiology, and Impact on Global Health.

Infection with hepatitis E virus (HEV) represents the most common source of viral hepatitis globally. Although infecting over 20 million people annually in endemic regions, with major outbreaks described since the 1950s, hepatitis E remains an underestimated disease. This review gives a current view of the global circulation and epidemiology of this emerging virus.

An HBV-tolerant immunocompetent model that effectively simulates chronic hepatitis B virus infection in mice.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is the leading cause of liver disease and hepatic carcinoma (HCC). Approximately 350 million people worldwide are infected with HBV and at risk of chronicity. An efficient HBV-tolerant murine model that mimics HBV infection in humans is desirable for HBV-related research.

Detection and analysis of tupaia hepatocytes via mAbs against tupaia serum albumin.

On the basis of its close phylogenetic relationship with primates, the development of Tupaia belangeri as an infection animal model and drug metabolism model could provide a new option for preclinical studies, especially in hepatitis virus research. As a replacement for primary human hepatocytes (PHHs), primary tupaia hepatocytes (PTHs) have been widely used. Similar to human serum albumin, tupaia serum albumin (TSA) is the most common liver synthesis protein and is an important biomarker for PTHs and liver function.

Total Hepatitis B Core Antigen Antibody, a Quantitative Non-Invasive Marker of Hepatitis B Virus Induced Liver Disease.

Non invasive immunologic markers of virus-induced liver disease are unmet needs. We tested the clinical significance of quantitative total and IgM-anti-HBc in well characterized chronic-HBsAg-carriers. Sera (212) were obtained from 111 HBsAg-carriers followed-up for 52 months (28-216) during different phases of chronic-HBV-genotype-D-infection: 10 HBeAg-positive, 25 inactive-carriers (HBV-DNA≤2000IU/ml, ALT<30U/L), 66 HBeAg-negative-CHB-patients and 10 with HDV-super-infection.

Construction and characterization of an infectious cDNA clone of Echovirus 25.

Echovirus 25 (E-25) is a member of the enterovirus family and a common pathogen that induces hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD), meningitis, skin rash, and respiratory illnesses. In this study, we constructed and characterized an infectious full-length E-25 cDNA clone derived from the XM0297 strain, which was the first subgenotype D6 strain isolated in Xiamen, China. The 5'-Untranslated Regions (5'-UTR), P3 (3A-3B, 3D) and P3 (3C) regions of this E-25 (XM0297) strain were highly similar to EV-B77, E-16 and E-13, respectively.

Hepatitis e vaccine to prevent morbidity and mortality during epidemics.

Recurrent, large, waterborne epidemics of hepatitis E virus (HEV) occur regularly after monsoon rains contaminate water supplies in Asia or during humanitarian crises in Africa. These epidemics commonly affect thousands of persons, and it has a high mortality in pregnant women who become infected. Although a subunit HEV vaccine has been developed by Chinese investigators and was found to be highly effective and safe in a large clinical trial, this vaccine is only available in China.

In vivo time-related evaluation of a therapeutic neutralization monoclonal antibody against lethal enterovirus 71 infection in a mouse model.

Enterovirus 71 (EV71) is a neurotropic virus capable of inducing severe neurological symptoms and death. No direct targeting antivirals are useful in the treatment of severe EV71 infection. Because of low toxicity and good specificity, monoclonal antibodies (MAb) are a potential candidate for the treatment of viral infections.

Protection against lethal enterovirus 71 challenge in mice by a recombinant vaccine candidate containing a broadly cross-neutralizing epitope within the VP2 EF loop.

Human enterovirus 71 (EV71) is the main causative agent of hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) and is associated with several severe neurological complications in the Asia-Pacific region. Here, we evaluated that while passive transfer of neutralizing monoclonal antibody (nMAb) against the VP2 protein protect against lethal EV71 infection in BALB/c mice. Protective nMAb were mapped to residues 141-155 of VP2 by peptide ELISA.

The modulation of hepatitis C virus 1a replication by PKR is dependent on NF-kB mediated interferon beta response in Huh7.5.1 cells.

Protein kinase R (PKR), a sensor of double-stranded RNA, plays an important role in the host response to viral infection. Hepatitis C genotype 2a virus (HCV2a) has been shown to induce PKR activation to suppress the translation of antiviral interferon stimulated genes (ISGs), suggesting that PKR inhibitor can be beneficial for treating chronically HCV-infected patients in conjunction with interferon alpha and ribavirin. However, in this study, we found that PKR inhibition using siRNA PKR, shRNA PKR or PKR inhibitor enhanced HCV 1a replication and rendered Huh7.

Development of a novel baculovirus titration method using the Enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot (ELISPOT) assay.

The baculovirus expression vector system (BEVS) is one of the most powerful methods for production of recombinant proteins for research or commercial purposes. Titration of viable virus in insect cell culture is often required when BEVS is used for basic research or bioprocessing. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot (ELISPOT) assay using monoclonal antibodies against the major capsid protein VP39 of both Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AcMNPV) and Bombyx mori nuclear polyhedrosis virus (BmNPV) was developed for baculovirus quantitation at 48h post-infection.

The enhancement of RNAi against HIV in vitro and in vivo using H-2K(k) protein as a sorting method.

Gene therapy offers a potentially an effective treatment for many human diseases, including HIV/AIDS. One of the most studied gene delivery systems is the use of lentivirus based vectors, which can deliver genes into both dividing and nondividing cells. However, low infection efficiency represents an obstacle for proper evaluation of their biological function.

Molecular characteristics of occult hepatitis B virus from blood donors in southeast China.

The characteristics of 30 carriers with occult hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection (OBI) were compared with those of 30 individuals diagnosed as being HBV carriers at the time of blood donation, 60 asymptomatic carriers, and 60 chronic hepatitis patients. The prevalence of genotype C was significantly higher in carriers with OBIs than in any other HBsAg-positive (HBsAg(+)) group (P < 0.001).

Mycoplasma fermentans infection promotes immortalization of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells in culture.

Chronic infection or colonization by mycoplasma(s) could gradually and significantly alter many biologic properties of mammalian host cells in culture, including induction of malignant transformation. We examined effects of Mycoplasma fermentans infection on the continuing survival and immortality of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from healthy blood donors. Without specific supplemental growth factors, human PBMCs normally die rapidly, with few cells other than macrophages/monocytes surviving after 2 weeks in cultures.

Mycoplasma hominis lipid-associated membrane protein antigens for effective detection of M. hominis-specific antibodies in humans.

Lipid-associated membrane proteins (LAMPs) from 14 Mycoplasma hominis isolates or strains share similar protein and antigenicity profiles. Of 31 human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients from whose samples M. hominis was cultured, 28 tested strongly positive for serum antibodies to M.