Immunogenicity of enterovirus 70 capsid protein VP1 and its non-overlapping N- and C-terminal fragments.

Currently no practical treatment method or effective virus vaccine is available for acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis (AHC) caused by enterovirus 70 (EV70). Antibodies to UV-inactivated EV70 (J670/71 epidemic isolate) and to the inclusion bodies of recombinant proteins of full-length EV70 VP1 (GST-VP1m), its non-overlapping terminal fragments N138 (1-138 aa) and C170 (141-310 aa) (or GST-N138m and GST-C170) were developed in rabbits. The anti-EV70 neutralizing activities of the rabbit sera were determined by standard neutralization assays.

Surface calreticulin mediates muramyl dipeptide-induced apoptosis in RK13 cells.

Calreticulin (CRT) is a binding protein for apoptotic N-acetylmuramyl-L-alanyl-D-isoglutamine (L,D-MDP) or peptidoglycan in RK(13) cells. CRT on RK(13) cell surface (srCRT) forms complex(es) with tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 (TNFR1) and TNFR-associated death domain (TRADD) protein of the cell membrane. CRT polyclonal or monoclonal antibody binding to RK(13) srCRT dose-dependently inhibited L,D-MDP-induced apoptosis.

Calreticulin is a binding protein for muramyl dipeptide and peptidoglycan in RK13 cells.

Calreticulin (CRT) was isolated and identified as a protein in rabbit kidney RK(13) cells that binds the apoptogenic bacterial cell wall (BCW) components, muramyl dipeptide (MDP) and peptidoglycan (PG). Mannan-agarose purified RK(13) cell CRT (rCRT) selectively bound sepharose-immobilized L,D-MDP and PG, but not L,L-MDP or D,D-MDP. Purified rCRT and bovine CRT (bCRT) also bound free PG and L,D-MDP demonstrated in bioassays of RK(13) cell apoptosis.

Expression of enterovirus 70 capsid protein VP1 in Escherichia coli.

The VP1 gene of enterovirus 70 (EV70) possesses a large number of Escherichia coli low-usage codons (11.0%) and a bacterial ribosome binding site complementary sequence (RBSCS) 5'-UGUCUCCUUUUC-3' flanking the codon 139. Plasmids containing EV70 cDNA encoding the full-length VP1 failed to express in E.

Posterior segment complications in patients with hepatitis C treated with interferon and ribavirin.

Purpose: To determine the incidence and type of posterior segment complications associated with the use of interferon alpha 2b and ribavirin in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Design: A prospective noncomparative case series.

Participants: Forty-two patients (84 eyes).