DNA sequences homologous to hepatitis C virus (HCV) in the extrachromosomal circular DNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of HCV-negative subjects.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate DNA sequences that are substantially homologous to the corresponding RNA sequence sections of the hepatitis C virus (HCV). These DNA sequences are present in the whole DNA extracted from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of HCV-negative subjects. We presumed that these experimentally proven 5'-noncoding region (5'-NCR) homologous DNA sequences could be contained in the extrachromosomal circular DNA (eccDNA) fraction as part of the whole cellular DNA.

Expression of H5N1 influenza virus hemagglutinin protein fused with protein transduction domain in an alphavirus replicon system.

Alphavirus replicons, in which structural protein genes are replaced by heterologous genes, express high levels of the heterologous proteins. On the basis of the potencies of replicons to self-replicate and express foreign proteins and the remarkable intercellular transport property of VP22, a novel alphavirus Semliki Forest virus (SFV) replicon system of VP22 fused with a model antigen, hemagglutinin (HA), of the human-avian H5N1 influenza virus, was explored in this study. Further, replicon particles expressing HA, VP22, and enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) individually were used as controls.

Construction and cellular immune response induction of HA-based alphavirus replicon vaccines against human-avian influenza (H5N1).

Several approaches are being taken worldwide to develop vaccines against H5N1 viruses; most of them, however, pose both practical and immunological challenges. One potential strategy for improving the immunogenicity of vaccines involves the use of alphavirus replicons and VP22, a herpes simplex type 1 (HSV-1) protein. In this study, we analysed the antigenic peptides and homogeneity of the HA sequences (human isolates of the H5N1 subtype, from 1997 to 2003) and explored a novel alphavirus replicon system of VP22 fused with HA, to assess whether the immunogenicity of an HA-based replicon vaccine could be induced and augmented via fusion with VP22.

Influence of HBV gene heterogeneity on the failure of immunization with HBV vaccines in eastern China.

The influence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) gene heterogeneity on the failure of HBV vaccination in eastern China remains unknown. Here, we assigned 78 hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-carrier mothers to two groups: 41 mothers from whom transmission of HBV to their children was successfully prevented and 37 mothers whose children were HBsAg positive 1 year after HBV vaccination. The DNA loads in mothers of the failure group (4.

[Cleavage of in vitro transcripts of hepatitis B virus C gene by 10-23 DNA enzyme].

Objective: To investigate the cleavage activities of 10-23 DNA enzymes targeting at HBV C gene mRNA in vitro.

Methods: 10-23 DNA enzymes named DrzBC-7, DrzBC-8 and DrzBC-9 specific to HBV C gene ORF A1816UG were designed and synthesized. HBV C gene mRNA was obtained by in vitro transcription method.

[Inhibition of hepatitis B virus S gene and C gene expression by different 10-23 DNAzymes substrate-recognition domains].

Objective: To explore the inhibition effects of 10-23 DNAzymes with different substrate-recognition domains targeting hepatitis B virus (HBV) S gene and C gene expression in 2.2.15 cells.

In vitro cleavage of hepatitis B virus C mRNA by 10-23 DNA enzyme.

Background: 10-23 DNA enzyme is one kind of deoxyribozymes for RNA cleavage. The inhibition effects of 10-23 DNA enzyme on the expression of the HBV C gene in HepG2.2.

Effect of IFNalpha-2a on Fas expression and apoptosis rate of peripheral blood cytotoxic T cells in patients with hepatitis B.

Background: Interferon(IFN) with antiviral and immunomodulatory activities is one of the most important therapeutic agents for the treatment of chronic hepatitis. The apoptotic effect of IFN is influenced by cell type and the types of IFN, which suppresses proliferation and induces apoptosis in some cell types while inhibiting apoptosis in others. The aim of this study was to explore the effect of IFNalpha-2a on Fas expression and the apoptosis rate of peripheral blood cytotoxic T cells(CTLs) in patients with hepatitis B.

Character of HBV (hepatitis B virus) polymerase gene rtM204V/I and rtL180M mutation in patients with lamivudine resistance.

Objectives: To investigate the relationship between HBV (hepatitis B virus) polymerase gene 180 and 204 sites mutation and lamivudine resistance.

Methods: One hundred forty-one patients with lamivudine resistance after lamivudine treatment and 60 chronic hepatitis B patients without lamivudine treatment were enrolled in this study. The serum HBV DNA mutation was analyzed by sequence detection via polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Effective inhibition of expression of hepatitis B virus genes by DNAzymes.

Aim: To evaluate the inhibitory effects of DNAzymes on the expressions of hepatitis B virus (HBV) s (HBsAg) and e (HBeAg) in 2.2.15 cells, and to explore the potential therapeutic effects of DNAzymes on replication of HBV genome.

Mutations in precore and core promoter region of HBV in patients with hepatic failure.

Objective: To clarify the association of hepatitis B virus mutants in precore and core promoter regions in patients with hepatic failure and HBeAg state.

Methods: Precore and core promoter regions of 25 HBV isolates from the patients with hepatic failure were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) direct sequencing approach.

Results: Precore G-to-A(1896) mutants were identified in 16 (64%) of the 25 isolates.

[Detection and analysis of the new kind of G743C and G743A point mutation of HBV P gene in hepatitis B virus infected patients resistant to lamivudine].

Objective: To explore the point mutation in hepatitis B virus polymerase (HBV P) gene in HBV-infected patients resistant to lamivudine.

Methods: HBV P gene was amplified by PCR and the products was sequenced to analyze the YMDD mutation. Then the variants were detected by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) with the following restriction enzymes: Fok I, Ssp I, Alw441 and were separated by 8.

[DNAzymes in vitro inhibit the expression of hepatitis B virus genes].

Objective: To evaluate the inhibition effects of DNAzymes specific to Hepatitis B Virus(HBV) s gene and e gene on the expressions of Hepatitis B surface antigen(HBsAg) and Hepatitis B e antigen(HBeAg).

Methods: DNAzymes DrzBS and DrzBC specific to HBV s gene ORF A157UG and e gene ORF A1816UG, respectively, were designed and synthesized. The inhibition effects of DrzBS or DrzBC on the expressions of HBV s and e genes were observed in 2.

[Influence of HGV super-infected with HIV or HCV on the virus replication].

Objective: To realize human immunodeficiency virus(HIV) and hepatitis C virus(HCV) super-infected with hepatitis G virus(HGV or GBV/C) and to probe into the mechanism of these virus infection in the body.

Methods: HIV and HCV load were tested by the quantitated RT-PCR in the HIV or HCV infected plasma samples respectively and the HGV RNA was detected in all of the samples. Then some of the HGV positive were sequenced.