Failure of a cytomegalovirus (CMV) real-time PCR assay targeting glycoprotein B (gB) was investigated. A multiplex assay targeting gB and immediate-early 2 (IE2) genes showed discordant results (gB negative and IE positive or a >10-fold-higher viral load with IE primers) in saliva from 14.6% of CMV-infected newborns. Sequencing revealed 3 patterns of gB variations.

The extracellular matrix produced by stromal cells plays a critical role in lympho-hematopoiesis. It was recently discovered that matrix glycoprotein SC1/ECM2 is a component of that matrix and preliminary evidence suggested that it could contribute to the nurturing environment for B-lymphocyte precursors. A fusion protein prepared from the amino terminal portion of SC1/ECM2 and the constant reg...

We read with interest the paper by Wu et al. (1) purporting to show that blockade of P-glycoprotein with verapamil or itraconazole increased brain concentrations of amphotericin B (AMB). Because virtually all P-glycoprotein blockers also block other transporters, we chose to compare P-glycoprotein knockout (KO) mice (Mdr1a/1b) with isogenic FVB wild-type mice. After administration of intravenou...

Gradient-polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis of human milk serum separated three high-Mr glycoprotein bands. The properties of the components corresponding to the three bands (tentatively termed 'Components C, B and A' in their order of migration) were compared by staining with four monoclonal antibodies and lectins. Components B and C both reacted with the four antibodies, but Component A did n...

We thank David A. Stevens et al. (1) for the letter suggesting different results regarding the effect of P-glycoprotein on the brain concentration of amphotericin B (AMB) by P-glycoprotein knockout mice. In contrast to our finding that blockage of P-glycoprotein with inhibitors enhances the brain uptake of AMB (2), they found that brain AMB concentrations were significantly lower in Mdr1a/1b / ...

Introduction Von Willebrand factor (vWF), a large multimeric blood plasma protein, is integral to in vivo platelet aggregation and clot formation (Figure1) [1]. Of particular interest are the shear dependent interactions between the A 1 -domain of vWF and platelet glycoprotein (GP) Ib [2]. Weak, transient bonding between these two partners anchors platelets and vWF long enough for other glycopr...

Fig. 1. Typical patterns of glycosylation of a1-acid glycoprotein demonstrated by immunoaffinity electrophoresis in sera from (A) a patient with nontuberculous pneumonia (S. pneumoniae), (B) a healthy control, and (C) a patient with tuberculosis of the lung. Each peak represents a single subpopulation: fraction 1, nonreactive; fractions 2 and 3, weakly reactive; fraction 4, strongly reactive wi...