High persistence rate of hepatitis B virus in a hydrodynamic injection-based transfection model in C3H/HeN mice.

Aim: To optimize the viral persistence rate in a hydrodynamic injection (HI) based hepatitis B virus (HBV) transfection mouse model.

Methods: (1) 5-6-wk-old male C3H/HeN and C57BL/6 mice were hydrodynamically injected with 10 μg endotoxin-free pAAV/HBV1.2 plasmid DNA via the tail vein.

[The emergence of novel GII.4 norovirus variant, Sydney_2012, in Shanghai, China].

To describe the epidemiological characteristics of norovirus (NOV) associated acute gastroenteritis in Shanghai and characterize the evolution pattern of circulating strains. From March 2012 to February 2013, 502 stool specimens were collected from adult (> or = 16 years) outpatients who visited either of the two sentinel hospitals in Shanghai for acute gastroenteritis. Molecular detection and genotyping of NoV were performed and the phylogenetic relationship of the circulating strains has also been comprehensively analyzed.

TLR4-dependant immune response, but not hepatitis B virus reactivation, is important in radiation-induced liver disease of liver cancer radiotherapy.

Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) is an important trigger of the immune response against hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and liver injuries. The roles of HBV reactivation versus TLR4-dependant immune response may be critical factors in preventing radiation-induced liver diseases (RILDs) after liver cancer radiotherapy. This study consists of three phases.

Rupintrivir is a promising candidate for treating severe cases of Enterovirus-71 infection.

Aim: To evaluate the suitability of rupintrivir against Enterovirus 71 (EV71) induced severe clinical symptoms using computational methods.

Methods: The structure of EV71 3C protease was predicted by homology modeling. The binding free energies between rupintrivir and EV71 3C and human rhinovirus 3C protease were computed by molecular dynamics and molecular mechanics Poisson-Boltzmann/surface area and molecular mechanics generalized-born/surface area methods.

[The effects of CpG-oligodeoxynucleotides on airway remodeling in chronic asthmatic mice].

Objective: To investigate if CpG-oligodeoxynucleotides (CpG-ODN) intervention has inhibitory effects on the development of airway remodeling in an ovalbumin (OVA)-sensitized mouse model of chronic asthma.

Methods: Forty female C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into four groups (n = 10): (1) Group A (chronic asthma model): mice were sensitized by intraperitoneal injection of OVA (10 microg) precipitated with aluminium hydroxide (100 microg) on days 1 and 14. From day 21, the mice were challenged by nebulized 2.

Hyper-activated IRF-1 and STAT1 contribute to enhanced interferon stimulated gene (ISG) expression by interferon alpha and gamma co-treatment in human hepatoma cells.

Previous reports suggest that type I and type II Interferon can co-operatively inhibit some virus replication, e.g. HCV, SARS-CoV, HSV-1.

[Therapeutic effects and mechanisms of CpG oligodeoxynucleotides in mice infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis].

Objective: To investigate the protective effects and mechanisms of CpG oligodeoxynucleotides (CpG ODN) in mice infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Methods: Ninety-six female BALB/c mice were randomized into 4 groups, namely CpG ODN treatment (A group), control ODN treatment (B group), infection control (C group) and healthy control (D group) (n = 24 each). A group and B group were treated once with CpG ODN or control ODN (30 microg/mouse) intraperitoneally 2 weeks before infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Gene expression profiles in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of SARS patients.

Aim: To investigate the role of inflammatory and anti-viral genes in the pathogenesis of SARS.

Methods: cDNA microarrays were used to screen the gene expression profiles of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in two SARS patients (one in the acute severe phase and the other in the convalescent phase) and a healthy donor. In addition, real-time qualitative PCR was also performed to verify the reproducibility of the microarray results.

siRNA-mediated inhibition of HBV replication and expression.

Aim: RNA interference (RNAi) is a newly discovered phenomenon provoked by dsRNA. The dsRNA is initially cleaved by Dicer into 21-23 nt small interfering RNA (siRNA) and can then specifically target homologous mRNA for degradation by cellular ribonucleases. RNAi has been successfully utilized to down-regulate the endogenous gene expression or suppress the replication of various pathogens in mammalian cells.

[Construction of full-length complementary DNA of hepatitis C virus genome from an HCV infected patient].

Background: To construct the full-length complementary DNA of HCV genome from an HCV infected patient.

Methods: Four HCV gene fragments (1.6, 3.

Establishment of a cell-based assay system for hepatitis C virus serine protease and its primary applications.

Aim: To establish an efficient, sensitive, cell-based assay system for NS3 serine protease in an effort to study further the property of hepatitis C virus (HCV) and develop new antiviral agents.

Methods: We constructed pCI-neo-NS3/4A-SEAP chimeric plasmid, in which the secreted alkaline phosphatase (SEAP) was fused in-frame to the downstream of NS4A/4B cleavage site. The protease activity of NS3 was reflected by the activity of SEAP in the culture media of transient or stable expression cells.