Extract Protects Mouse Skin from UVB Radiation via Attenuating Collagen Disruption and Inflammation.

In recent years, the use of botanical agents to prevent skin damage from solar ultraviolet (UV) irradiation has received considerable attention. is known to exert anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. This study investigated photoprotective properties of an extract (OJE) against UVB-induced skin damage in ICR mice.

Global Outbreaks and Origins of a Chikungunya Virus Variant Carrying Mutations Which May Increase Fitness for : Revelations from the 2016 Mandera, Kenya Outbreak.

In 2016, a chikungunya virus (CHIKV) outbreak was reported in Mandera, Kenya. This was the first major CHIKV outbreak in the country since the global reemergence of this virus in Kenya in 2004. We collected samples and sequenced viral genomes from this outbreak.

Genomic characterization of uncommon human G3P[6] rotavirus strains that have emerged in Kenya after rotavirus vaccine introduction, and pre-vaccine human G8P[4] rotavirus strains.

A monovalent rotavirus vaccine (RV1) was introduced to the national immunization program in Kenya in July 2014. There was increased detection of uncommon G3P[6] strains that coincided temporally with the timing of this vaccine introduction. Here, we sequenced and characterized the full genomes of two post-vaccine G3P[6] strains, RVA/Human-wt/KEN/KDH1951/2014/G3P[6] and RVA/Human-wt/KEN/KDH1968/2014/G3P[6], as representatives of these uncommon strains.

The Ambiguous Roles of Extracellular Vesicles in HIV Replication and Pathogenesis.

Cells from all kingdoms of life can release membrane-enclosed vesicles to the extracellular milieu. These extracellular vesicles (EVs) may function as mediators of intercellular communication, allowing the transfer of biologically active molecules between cells and organisms. It has become clear that HIV particles and certain types of EVs, such as exosomes, share many similarities regarding morphology, composition, and biogenesis.

Prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection and uptake of hepatitis B vaccine among healthcare workers, Makueni County, Kenya 2017.

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a vaccine-preventable infection that can spread in healthcare setting. Data on HBV infections and vaccine in African healthcare workers (HCWs) are limited. We estimated HBV infection prevalence, hepatitis B vaccination status and identified factors associated with vaccination in one Kenyan county.

Vector competence of Aedes bromeliae and Aedes vitattus mosquito populations from Kenya for chikungunya virus.

Background: Kenya has experienced outbreaks of chikungunya in the past years with the most recent outbreak occurring in Mandera in the northern region in May 2016 and in Mombasa in the coastal region from November 2017 to February 2018. Despite the outbreaks in Kenya, studies on vector competence have only been conducted on Aedes aegypti. However, the role played by other mosquito species in transmission and maintenance of the virus in endemic areas remains unclear.

Evaluation of the HIV Infant Tracking System (HITSystem) to optimise quality and efficiency of early infant diagnosis: a cluster-randomised trial in Kenya.

Background: The HIV Infant Tracking System (HITSystem) is a web-based intervention linking providers of early infant diagnosis, laboratory technicians, and mothers and infants to improve outcomes for HIV-exposed infants. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of the HITSystem on key outcomes of early infant diagnosis.

Methods: We did a cluster-randomised trial at six hospitals in Kenya, which were matched on geographic region, resource level, and volume of patients (high, medium, and low).

Serum-derived IgG from coxsackievirus A6-infected patients can enhance the infection of peripheral blood mononuclear cells with coxsackievirus A6.

Coxsackievirus A6 (CV-A6) has recently emerged as an enterovirus causing Hand Foot and Mouth Disease with severe complications. The pathogenic mechanisms of CV-A6- associated Hand foot and Mouth disease are largely unknown. In this study, it was investigated whether serum and IgG from patients with CV-A6 infection can enhance the infection of PBMC with the virus.

Exploitation of nuclear functions by human rhinovirus, a cytoplasmic RNA virus.

Protein production, genomic RNA replication, and virion assembly during infection by picornaviruses like human rhinovirus and poliovirus take place in the cytoplasm of infected human cells, making them the quintessential cytoplasmic pathogens. However, a growing body of evidence suggests that picornavirus replication is promoted by a number of host proteins localized normally within the host cell nucleus. To systematically identify such nuclear proteins, we focused on those that appear to re-equilibrate from the nucleus to the cytoplasm during infection of HeLa cells with human rhinovirus via quantitative protein mass spectrometry.

ESCRT machinery components are required for Orthobunyavirus particle production in Golgi compartments.

Peribunyaviridae is a large family of RNA viruses with several members that cause mild to severe diseases in humans and livestock. Despite their importance in public heath very little is known about the host cell factors hijacked by these viruses to support assembly and cell egress. Here we show that assembly of Oropouche virus, a member of the genus Orthobunyavirus that causes a frequent arboviral infection in South America countries, involves budding of virus particles toward the lumen of Golgi cisternae.

Does the size matter? Evaluation of effect of incorporation of silver nanoparticles of varying particle size on the antimicrobial activity and properties of irreversible hydrocolloid impression material.

Objectives: The main objective of the present in vitro study is to evaluate the antimicrobial activity and properties of irreversible hydrocolloid impression material incorporated with silver nanoparticles of varying size at different concentrations.

Methods: Silver nanoparticles of 80-100, 50-80, 30-50 and 10-20nm size were added to irreversible hydrocolloid impression material at 0.5, 1.

Performance evaluation of Active Melioidosis Detect-Lateral Flow Assay (AMD-LFA) for diagnosis of melioidosis in endemic settings with limited resources.

Melioidosis is a fatal infection caused by the soil saprophyte Burkholderia pseudomallei. Early diagnosis and befitting medical management can significantly influence the clinical outcomes among patients with melioidosis. Witnessing an annual increment in the number of melioidosis cases, over the past few years, mainly from the developing tropical nations, the present study was undertaken to evaluate the diagnostic utility of Active Melioidosis DetectTMLateralFlow Assay (AMD-LFA), in comparison with enrichment culture and PCR.

Systematic editing of synthetic RIG-I ligands to produce effective antiviral and anti-tumor RNA immunotherapies.

Retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I) recognizes double-stranded viral RNAs (dsRNAs) containing two or three 5' phosphates. A few reports of 5'-PPP-independent RIG-I agonists have emerged, but little is known about the molecular principles underlying their recognition. We recently found that the bent duplex RNA from the influenza A panhandle promoter activates RIG-I even in the absence of a 5'-triphosphate moiety.

Comparison of anti-influenza virus activity and pharmacokinetics of oseltamivir free base and oseltamivir phosphate.

Influenza viruses are major human respiratory pathogens that cause high morbidity and mortality worldwide. Currently, prophylactic vaccines and therapeutic antiviral agents are used to prevent and control influenza virus infection. Oseltamivir free base (OSV-FB), a modified generic antiviral drug of Tamiflu (oseltamivir phosphate, OSV-P), was launched in the Republic of Korea last year.

Corrigendum to "RANTES Gene Polymorphisms Associated with HIV-1 Infections in Kenyan Population".

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1155/2016/4703854.].

NP-40 Fractionation and Nucleic Acid Extraction in Mammalian Cells.

This technique allows for efficient, highly purified cytoplasmic and nuclear-associated compartment fractionation utilizing NP-40 detergent in mammalian cells. The nuclear membrane is not disturbed during the fractionation thus leaving all nuclear and perinuclear associated components in the nuclear fraction. This protocol has been modified from Sambrook and Russell (2001) in order to downscale the amount of cells needed.

Conformational Changes in the 5' End of the HIV-1 Genome Dependent on the Debranching Enzyme DBR1 during Early Stages of Infection.

Previous studies in our laboratory showed that the RNA debranching enzyme (DBR1) is not required for early steps in HIV cDNA formation but is necessary for synthesis of intermediate and late cDNA products. To further characterize this effect, we evaluated the topology of the 5' end of the HIV-1 RNA genome during early infection with and without inhibition of DBR1 synthesis. Cells were transfected with DBR1 short hairpin RNA (shRNA) followed 48 h later by infection with an HIV-1-derived vector containing an RNase H-deficient reverse transcriptase (RT).

Vector competence of populations of Aedes aegypti from three distinct cities in Kenya for chikungunya virus.

Background: In April, 2004, chikungunya virus (CHIKV) re-emerged in Kenya and eventually spread to the islands in the Indian Ocean basin, South-East Asia, and the Americas. The virus, which is often associated with high levels of viremia in humans, is mostly transmitted by the urban vector, Aedes aegypti. The expansion of CHIKV presents a public health challenge both locally and internationally.

Evaluation and Clinical Validation of Two Field-Deployable Reverse Transcription-Insulated Isothermal PCR Assays for the Detection of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus.

Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) is an emerging zoonotic viral respiratory disease that was first identified in Saudi Arabia in 2012. In 2015, the largest MERS outbreak outside of the Middle East region occurred in the Republic of Korea. The rapid nosocomial transmission of MERS-coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in Korean health care settings highlighted the importance and urgent need for a rapid and reliable on-site diagnostic assay to implement effective control and preventive measures.

Vaccine immune pressure influences viral population complexity of avian influenza virus during infection.

Vaccines are useful tools to control influenza A virus infection in poultry, but they need to be periodically reformulated to guarantee appropriate protection from infection and to limit viral replication and circulation, which could favour the emergence of new variants. In this study, a deep sequencing approach was used to characterize and follow the evolution of the hemagglutinin of the H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza viral population in infected animals vaccinated with two vaccines conferring different protection levels. Results from this preliminary investigation suggested that the evolution of the viral population, as well as the abundance and heterogeneity of minority variants could be influenced by the immune pressure conferred by vaccination.

Functional Consequences of RNA 5'-Terminal Deletions on Coxsackievirus B3 RNA Replication and Ribonucleoprotein Complex Formation.

Group B coxsackieviruses are responsible for chronic cardiac infections. However, the molecular mechanisms by which the virus can persist in the human heart long after the signs of acute myocarditis have abated are still not completely understood. Recently, coxsackievirus B3 strains with 5'-terminal deletions in genomic RNAs were isolated from a patient suffering from idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy, suggesting that such mutant viruses may be the forms responsible for persistent infection.