Dynamic time warping assessment of high-resolution melt curves provides a robust metric for fungal identification.

Fungal infections are a global problem imposing considerable disease burden. One of the unmet needs in addressing these infections is rapid, sensitive diagnostics. A promising molecular diagnostic approach is high-resolution melt analysis (HRM).

Persistent human herpesvirus-6 infection in patients with an inherited form of the virus.

Human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6)A and 6B are ubiquitous betaherpesviruses viruses with lymphotropic and neurotropic potential. As reported earlier, these viruses establish latency by integration into the telomeres of host chromosomes. Chromosomally integrated HHV-6 (CIHHV-6) can be transmitted vertically from parent to child.

The use of specific monoclonal antibodies to target immunogenic tumor membrane proteins in patients with recurrent pancreatic and colon cancer.

Tumor associated antigens from pooled allogeneic membrane proteins were isolated, partially purified and tested as a possible vaccine in patients with stage II and III colon cancer. The vaccine, when given in combination with an adjuvant following surgical resection, resulted in marked improvement in survival compared to control patients having only undergone surgical resection of their tumor. While it was possible to demonstrate that patients receiving vaccine turned on both humoral and cell mediated responses, it appears that survivors remaining free of disease at 5-7 yrs post op were able to mount a strong IgG1 response as the primary mechanism for tumor destruction.

Development of a serum biomarker assay that differentiates tumor-associated MUC5AC (NPC-1C ANTIGEN) from normal MUC5AC.

A serum ELISA using a monoclonal antibody that detects a MUC5AC-related antigen (NPC-1C antigen) expressed by pancreatic and colorectal cancer was developed. The NPC-1C antibody reacts with specific epitopes expressed by tumor-associated MUC5AC that does not appear on MUC5AC from normal tissues. Based on observations of a highly specific antibody, we tested the ELISA to differentiate serum from healthy blood donors compared to serum from patients with colorectal or pancreatic cancer.

The latent human herpesvirus-6A genome specifically integrates in telomeres of human chromosomes in vivo and in vitro.

Previous research has suggested that human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) may integrate into host cell chromosomes and be vertically transmitted in the germ line, but the evidence--primarily fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH)--is indirect. We sought, first, to definitively test these two hypotheses. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated from families in which several members, including at least one parent and child, had unusually high copy numbers of HHV-6 DNA per milliliter of blood.

HHV-6A infection induces expression of HERV-K18-encoded superantigen.

Background: The human endogenous retrovirus K-18 (HERV-K18) encodes a superantigen that causes deregulation of the immune system. This provirus is transcriptionally silent, but can be induced by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection and IFN-alpha treatment.

Objectives: Since the herpesvirus EBV induces HERV-K18 expression in human B cells, it was of interest to determine if other herpesviruses would have similar HERV-K18 transactivation properties.

Early effect of gene therapy on a direct muscle neurotization model.

Direct nerve-to-muscle neurotization has been the subject of both clinical and experimental studies. In this study, the authors report a new animal model to test the regenerative properties of a nerve (musculocutaneous) implanted in a muscle (biceps). They also report the early effects of the application at the implantation site of exogenously administered Brain Derived Nerve Factor (BDNF) and of endogenously produced BDNF, via the administration of an adenoviral construct with a tissue-specific promotor for muscle cells (AdRSV), and containing the BDNF gene.