HLA-B*35: 05 is a protective allele with a unique structure among HIV-1 CRF01_AE-infected Thais, in whom the B*57 frequency is low.

Objective: To identify protective human leukocyte antigen (HLA) alleles in an HIV-infected south-east Asian population, in whom HLA-B*57 prevalence is lower than other ethnic groups, and HIV-1 CRF01_AE is the dominant circulating subtype.

Design: Cross-sectional study of Thai patients with chronic HIV infection.

Methods: Five hundred and fifty-seven HIV-1 CRF01_AE-infected Thais were recruited.

Development of a novel in silico docking simulation model for the fine HIV-1 cytotoxic T lymphocyte epitope mapping.

Introduction: Class I HLA's polymorphism has hampered CTL epitope mapping with laborious experiments. Objectives are 1) to evaluate the novel in silico model in predicting previously reported epitopes in comparison with existing program, and 2) to apply the model to predict optimal epitopes with HLA using experimental results.

Materials And Methods: We have developed a novel in silico epitope prediction method, based on HLA crystal structure and a peptide docking simulation model, calculating the peptide-HLA binding affinity at four amino acid residues in each terminal.

Positive selection of Toll-like receptor 2 polymorphisms in two closely related old world monkey species, rhesus and Japanese macaques.

Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) plays an important role in the recognition of a variety of pathogenic microbes. In the present study, we compared polymorphisms of TLR2 locus in two closely related old world monkey species, rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta) and Japanese monkey (Macaca fuscata). By nucleotide sequencing of the third exon of TLR2 gene from 21 to 35 respective individuals, we could assign 17 haplotype combinations of 17 coding SNPs of ten non-synonymous and seven synonymous substitutions.

Receptor for advanced glycation end products binds to phosphatidylserine and assists in the clearance of apoptotic cells.

Clearance of apoptotic cells is necessary for tissue development, homeostasis and resolution of inflammation. The uptake of apoptotic cells is initiated by an 'eat-me' signal, such as phosphatidylserine, on the cell surface and phagocytes recognize the signal by using specific receptors. In this study, we show that the soluble form of the receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) binds to phosphatidylserine as well as to the apoptotic thymocytes.

Two types of matter economy for the wintering of evergreen shrubs in regions of heavy snowfall.

Plant adaptation to an environment subject to heavy snowfalls was investigated in four species of evergreen shrubs growing in a Fagus crenata forest in an area of Honshu on the Sea of Japan. These shrubs stored carbohydrates in some organs before the snowy season and were covered with snow for 4-5 months. Aucuba japonica var.