Measles Virus Epitope Presentation by HLA: Novel Insights into Epitope Selection, Dominance, and Microvariation.

Immunity to infections with measles virus (MV) can involve vigorous human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I-restricted CD8(+) cytotoxic T cell (CTL) responses. MV, albeit regarded monotypic, is known to undergo molecular evolution across its RNA genome. To address which regions of the MV proteome are eligible for recognition by CD8(+) CTLs and how different HLA class I loci contribute to the epitope display, we interrogated the naturally processed and presented MV peptidome extracted from cell lines expressing in total a broad panel of 16 different common HLA-A, -B, and -C molecules.

Comprehensive Analysis of the Naturally Processed Peptide Repertoire: Differences between HLA-A and B in the Immunopeptidome.

The cytotoxic T cell (CTL) response is determined by the peptide repertoire presented by the HLA class I molecules of an individual. We performed an in-depth analysis of the peptide repertoire presented by a broad panel of common HLA class I molecules on four B lymphoblastoid cell-lines (BLCL). Peptide elution and mass spectrometry analysis were utilised to investigate the number and abundance of self-peptides.

Elevated granzyme M-expressing lymphocytes during cytomegalovirus latency and reactivation after allogeneic stem cell transplantation.

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) reactivation can cause serious complications in allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT) patients. HCMV is controlled by cytotoxic lymphocytes that release antiviral granzymes. Recently, we have demonstrated that granzyme M (GrM) inhibits HCMV replication in vitro, however the physiological role of GrM and its cellular distribution during HCMV infection remains unknown.

Pegylated interferon-α monotherapy leads to low response rates in HIV-infected patients with acute hepatitis C.

Background: Despite a rising incidence of acute HCV in patients infected with HIV, the optimal therapeutic strategy (pegylated interferon-α [PEG-IFN-α] monotherapy or in combination with ribavirin) is still under debate.

Methods: A total of 23 HIV-infected patients were prospectively diagnosed with acute HCV and treated with PEG-IFN-α2a monotherapy (180 μg/week) for 24 or 48 weeks. Add-on ribavirin was allowed from week 4 of therapy onwards.

Identification of orthopaedic infections using broad-range polymerase chain reaction and reverse line blot hybridization.

Background: Culture remains the gold standard in the diagnosis of bacterial infection, but molecular biological techniques have yielded promising results. In this study, we validated a combined polymerase chain reaction and reverse line blot hybridization protocol for identifying musculoskeletal infections.

Methods: Samples were obtained from seventy-six patients undergoing orthopaedic surgery for various aseptic and septic indications.