Development of high-affinity single chain Fv against foot-and-mouth disease virus.

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is caused by the FMD virus (FMDV) and results in severe economic losses in livestock farming. For rapid FMD diagnostic and therapeutic purposes, an effective antibody against FMDV is needed. Here, we developed a high-affinity antibody against FMDV by FACS-based high throughput screening of a random library.

The Soluble Form of the Cellular Prion Protein Enhances Phagocytic Activity and Cytokine Production by Human Monocytes Via Activation of ERK and NF-κB.

The PrP(C) is expressed in many types of immune cells including monocytes and macrophages, however, its function in immune regulation remains to be elucidated. In the present study, we examined a role for PrP(C) in regulation of monocyte function. Specifically, the effect of a soluble form of PrP(C) was studied in human monocytes.

High-yield production of the VP1 structural protein epitope from serotype O foot-and-mouth disease virus in Escherichia coli.

For effective control of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), the development of rapid diagnostic systems and vaccines are required against its etiological agent, FMD virus (FMDV). To accomplish this, efficient large-scale expression of the FMDV VP1 protein, with high solubility, needs to be optimized. We attempted to produce high levels of a serotype O FMDV VP1 epitope in Escherichia coli.

Soluble CD93 induces differentiation of monocytes and enhances TLR responses.

The cell surface protein CD93 is known to be involved in the regulation of phagocytosis and cell adhesion. Although typically membrane-bound, a soluble form of CD93 (sCD93) has recently been identified. Currently, however, the role of sCD93 in monocyte function is unknown.

Morphological changes in dendritic spines of Purkinje cells associated with motor learning.

Experience-dependent changes of spine structure and number may contribute to long-term memory storage. Although several studies demonstrated structural spine plasticity following associative learning, there is limited evidence associating motor learning with alteration of spine morphology. Here, we investigated this issue in the cerebellar Purkinje cells using high voltage electron microscopy (HVEM).