Orf virus IL-10 reduces monocyte, dendritic cell and mast cell recruitment to inflamed skin.

Orf virus (ORFV) is a zoonotic parapoxvirus that causes pustular dermatitis of sheep, and occasionally humans. Despite causing sustained infections, ORFV induces only a transient increase in pro-inflammatory signalling and the trafficking of innate immune cells within the skin seems to be impaired. An explanation for this tempered response to ORFV infection may lie in its expression of a homolog of the anti-inflammatory cytokine, interleukin (IL)-10.

Broad spectrum antimicrobial activity of functionalized polyanilines.

The antimicrobial properties of conductive functionalized polyanilines (fPANI) were investigated by exploring their interaction with bacterial cells. In sharp contrast to polyaniline (PANI), lower concentrations of fPANI were needed to strongly inhibit the growth of wild-type Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus, as well as several antibiotic-resistant clinical pathogens. To gain an insight into how fPANI have an impact on cellular physiology we used a whole genome expression study in the model E.

Electrospun functionalized polyaniline copolymer-based nanofibers with potential application in tissue engineering.

Nanofibrous blends of HCl-doped poly(aniline-co-3-aminobenzoic acid) (3ABAPANI) copolymer and poly(lactic acid) (PLA) were fabricated by electrospinning solutions of the polymers, in varying relative proportions, in dimethyl sulfoxide/tetrahydrofuran mixture. The morphology, mechanical and electrical properties of the nanofibers were characterized and an assessment of their bioactivity performed. To assess cell morphology and biocompatibility, pure PLA and 3ABAPANI-PLA nanofibrous mats were deposited in the form of three-dimensional networks with a high degree of connectivity, on glass substrates, and their ability to promote proliferation of COS-1 fibroblast cells was determined.