Association between clinical features and YMDD mutations in patients with chronic hepatitis B following lamivudine therapy.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the correlation between feature and genotype with regard to the tyrosine-methionine-aspartate-aspartate (YMDD) mutation in chronic hepatitis B patients after lamivudine (LAM) therapy. A total of 30 patients with chronic hepatitis B were recruited, who underwent one year of LAM therapy. The patients' alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level and hepatitis B envelope antigen (HBeAg) seroconversion were evaluated, hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA was genotyped using a new genotyping method and YMDD mutations were analyzed prior to treatment and at 6 and 12 months after LAM treatment.

Validation of three splice donor and three splice acceptor sites for regulating four novel low-abundance spliced transcripts of human cytomegalovirus UL21.5 gene locus.

In a previous study, one spliced transcript of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), named UL21.5 was identified. UL21.

Interaction between the human cytomegalovirus‑encoded UL142 and cellular Snapin proteins.

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection can cause severe illness in immunocompromised and immunodeficient individuals. As a novel HCMV‑encoded major histocompatibility complex class I‑related molecule, the UL142‑encoded protein (pUL142) is capable of suppressing natural killer (NK) cell recognition in the course of infection. However, no host factors that directly interact with HCMV pUL142 have been reported so far.

Down-regulation of human cytomegalovirus UL138, a novel latency-associated determinant, by hcmv-miR-UL36.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small RNAs, 19-23 nucleotides in length, which regulate a variety of cellular processes. Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) encodes only one intronic miRNA: human cytomegalovirus microRNA UL36 (hcmv-miR-UL36). In this study, we found that over-expression of hcmv-miR-UL36 resulted in a more than threefold increase in HCMV DNA synthesis at 24 h post infection.

Over-expression of human cytomegalovirus miR-US25-2-3p downregulates eIF4A1 and inhibits HCMV replication.

It has been reported that human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) miR-US25-2 reduces DNA viral replication including HCMV. However, the mechanism remains unknown. In our study, eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4A1 (eIF4A1) was identified to be a direct target of miR-US25-2-3p.

Identification of immediate early gene X-1 as a cellular target gene of hcmv-mir-UL148D.

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a herpesvirus that causes congenital diseases and opportunistic infections in immunocompromised individuals. Its functional proteins and microRNAs (miRNAs) facilitate efficient viral propagation by altering host cell behavior. The identification of functional target genes of miRNAs is an important step in the study of HCMV pathogenesis.

The expression of interleukin-32 is activated by human cytomegalovirus infection and down regulated by hcmv-miR-UL112-1.

Background: Interleukin-32 (IL-32) is an important factor in innate and adaptive immune responses, which activates the p38MAPK, NF-kappa B and AP-1 signaling pathways. Recent reports have highlighted that IL-32 is regulated during viral infection in humans.

Methods: Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) were carried out to detect IL-32 levels in serum samples.

Transcription characteristics of the human cytomegalovirus UL13 gene.

The human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) UL13 gene is located in the unique long (UL) region of its genome. The transcript structure of UL13 gene has not been investigated to date. By using cDNA library screening, northern blot, and rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE), the HCMV UL13 gene was demonstrated to be transcribed from the immediate early (IE) to the late (L) phase of infection, and at least one 1602-nt unspliced transcript was identified in the present study from three clinical isolates.

[Transcription pattern of UL131A-128 mRNA in HCMV clinical strains].

Objective: To study and research the transcription pattern of UL131A-128 mRNA in human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) clinical low passage strains.

Methods: The UL131A-128 mRNAs of from different clinical strains and kinetic periods were amplified using 3' RACE and analyzed by sequencing. Meanwhile, clones containing UL131A-128 transcripts in a HCMV cDNA library of clinical strain were selected and sequenced.

An antisense transcript in the human cytomegalovirus UL87 gene region.

Background: Rapid advances in research on antisense transcripts are gradually changing our comprehension of genomic and gene expression aspects of the Herpesviridae. One such herpesvirus is the human cytomegalovirus (HCMV). Although transcription of the HCMV UL87 gene has not been specifically investigated, cDNA clones of UL87 antisense transcripts were found in HCMV cDNA libraries previously.

Characterization of human cytomegalovirus UL146 transcripts.

Background: The genome of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) has been studied extensively, particularly in the UL/b' region. In this study, transcripts of one of the UL/b' genes, UL146, were identified in 3 HCMV isolates obtained from urine samples of congenitally infected infants.

Methods: Northern blot hybridization, cDNA library screening, and RACE-PCR were used.

Transcriptional features and transcript structure of UL145 in different strains of human cytomegalovirus.

The human cytomegalovirus UL145 gene is located between the highly variable genes UL144 and UL146 in the UL/b' region. However, unlike its neighboring genes, UL145 is relatively conserved among strains isolated from patients. The transcriptional features and transcript structure of UL145 has not yet been examined.

Human cytomegalovirus RL13 gene transcripts in a clinical strain.

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) RL13 gene is a member of the RL11 gene family. To study the expression kinetics and transcript structures of the gene, screening of cDNA library, Northern blot, 3' and 5' RACE analyses were performed with a low-passaged clinical strain. The results showed that the RL13 gene was mainly transcribed in the late expression phase with at least seven forms of transcripts of 3628, 3114, 2515-2443, 1737, 1240, 1029 and 846 nt, respectively.

Sequence analysis of human cytomegalovirus US28 gene in low-passage clinical isolates from children and AIDS patients.

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is often a dangerous opportunistic pathogen that causes significant morbidity and mortality in newborn children and immunocompromised patients. The different symptoms and tissue tropisms of HCMV infection may result from genetic polymorphism. This study investigated the sequence variability of the HCMV US28 ORF, which shows sequence homology to the G protein-coupled receptor.

Characterization of the transcripts of human cytomegalovirus UL144.

Background: The genome of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) has been studied extensively, particularly in the UL/b' region. In this study, transcripts of one of the UL/b' genes, UL144, were identified in 3 HCMV isolates obtained from urine samples of congenitally infected infants.

Methods: Northern blot hybridization, cDNA library screening, and RACE-PCR were used.

A rapid method to screen putative mRNA targets of any known microRNA.

Background: microRNAs (miRNAs) are a group of regulatory RNAs that regulate gene expression by binding to specific sequences on target mRNAs. However, functional identification of mRNA targets is usually difficult and time consuming. Here we report hybrid-PCR as a new and rapid approach to screen putative mRNA targets in vitro.

Characterization of 3' termini of human cytomegalovirus UL138-UL145 transcripts in a clinical strain.

The functions of some proteins encoded by human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) UL/b' genes have been studied; however, systematic analysis of the transcripts for this region is still insufficient. The results of both rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) and cDNA library screening in this study proved that 3' termini of all transcripts in the UL138-UL145 region were located approximately 20 bp downstream from each potential poly (A) signal, which were at the positions of nucleotides 7184, 9954 and 12848 in the UL/b' sequence of the H strain, respectively. Thus, there were at least two large families of polycistronic transcripts in this gene region.

Transcription pattern of UL131A-128 mRNA in clinical strains of human cytomegalovirus.

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) mRNA was obtained from human embryonic lung fibroblast cells infected by HCMV clinical strains from urine samples of infants at different kinetic periods. The cDNA of UL131A-128 mRNAs was amplified using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and analysed by sequencing. Meanwhile, clones containing UL131A-128 transcripts in an HCMV cDNA library of a clinical strain were selected and sequenced.

Characteristics of HPV prevalence among women in Liaoning province, China.

Objectives: To investigate the prevalence rates of specific human papillomavirus (HPV) types infecting women in Liaoning Province, China.

Methods: Specimens from 4780 patients with cervical disease and 165 age-matched controls were tested for HPV genotypes using a chip hybridization assay.

Results: The infection rates were 35.

Prevalence and type distribution of human papillomavirus in women with cervical lesions in Liaoning Province, China.

Instruction: Type-specific persistence of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection can cause invasive cervical cancer. The distribution and prevalence of HPV genotypes depend on the geographic region and on demographic factors.

Methods: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and distribution of HPV genotypes in uterine cervical lesions in Liaoning Province, China.

Diagnostic value of HCMV pp65 antigen detection by FCA for symptomatic and asymptomatic infection: compared to quantification of HCMV DNA and detection of IgM antibody in infants.

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) can cause symptomatic or asymptomatic infection in infants. One hundred and twenty-six infants were assessed clinically for disease in infantile period. Eighty of them were classified as symptomatic infection on the basis of physical, instrumental, and laboratory findings, 5 were demonstrated by following up to have later developed HCMV disease, and the other 41 infants were classified as asymptomatic infection.

[The investigation of the relationship between the phenotypes of 46, XX males and the SRY gene].

Objective: To investigate the relationship between the phenotypes in XX male patients and the sex determining region(SRY) gene.

Methods: Multiple polymerase chain reactions were carried out in 6 male patients with karyotype of 46, XX, and then the PCR products were sequenced directly.

Results: Three cases of male infertility were positive for the SRY gene without evident malformation in their extra genitalia, while 3 cases with testes were negative for the SRY gene, with evident malformation in their extra genitalia.

[Polymorphism analysis of human cytomegalovirus UL150 gene in low passage clinical isolates].

Objective: To investigate the polymorphism of human cytomegalovirus UL150 gene in low passage clinical isolates and try to study the relationship between the polymorphism and different pathogenesis of congenital HCMV infection.

Methods: PCR was performed to amplify the entire HCMV UL150 gene region of 29 clinical isolates, which had been proven containing detectable HCMV-DNA by using FQ-PCR. PCR amplification products were sequenced directly and the data were analysed.

Sequence conservation of human cytomegalovirus UL140 open reading frame in clinical strains.

Objective: To investigate the variability of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) UL140 open reading frame (ORF) in clinical strains, and to explore the relationship between the variability of UL140 ORF and different symptoms of HC-MV infection.

Methods: HCMV UL140 ORF was amplified by polymerase chain reaction and sequenced selectedly in 30 clinical strains.

Results: UL140 ORF of all clinical strains was amplified successfully.