Rift Valley fever phlebovirus (RVFV) is a clinically and economically important pathogen increasingly likely to cause widespread epidemics. RVFV virulence depends on the interferon antagonist non-structural protein (NSs), which remains poorly characterized. We identified a stable core domain of RVFV NSs (residues 83-248), and solved its crystal structure, a novel all-helical fold organized into...

background it is important to differentiate whether isolated anti-hbc is due to false positive results or the prior exposure to hepatitis b virus, because individuals with false-positive anti-hbc can benefit from vaccination and their blood can be safely transfused. to distinguish between these two conditions, we evaluated the serologic response to hepatitis b vaccine. methods ninety subjects w...

Background: A licensed vaccine against hepatitis C virus (HCV) has not become available to date. The stability and antigenicity of a targeted synthesized recombinant fusion protein consisting of a truncated core and NS3 (rC/N) of HCV had been predicted. Although safe antigens, recombinant proteins are not efficacious vaccines without adjuvants. The present study evaluated the immunogenicity of ...

A specialized nucleosome is a component of all eukaryotic kinetochores. The core of this nucleosome contains a centromere-specific histone, CENP-A (the Cse4 gene product in budding yeast), instead of the usual H3. Assembly of a centromeric nucleosome depends on a specific chaperone, called Scm3 in yeast and HJURP in higher eukaryotes. We describe here the structure of a complex formed by an N-t...

BACKGROUND To evaluate whether tumor localization and method of preoperative biopsy affect sentinel lymph node (SLN) detection after periareolar nuclide injection in breast cancer patients. METHODS AND FINDINGS 767 breast cancer patients were retrospectively included. For lymphscintigraphy periareolar nuclide injection was performed and the SLN was located by gamma camera. Patient and tumor c...

BACKGROUND Obeche wood dust is a known cause of occupational asthma where an IgE-mediated mechanism has been demonstrated. OBJECTIVE To characterize the allergenic profile of obeche wood dust and evaluate the reactivity of the proteins by in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo assays in carpenters with confirmed rhinitis and/or asthma MATERIALS AND METHODS An in-house obeche extract was obtained, an...

visceral leishmaniasis (vl) is a zoonotic disease caused by leishmania species. dogs are considered to be the main reservoir of vl. a number of methods and antigen-based assays are used for the diagnosis of leishmaniasis. however, currently available methods are mainly based on direct examination of tissues for the presence of parasites, which is highly invasive. a variety of serological tests ...

background: interleukin-27 is a heterodimeric cytokine belonging to il-12 and il-23 families, secreted  by antigen presenting cells( apcs ) .the il-27 is composed of 2 subunits: epstein-barr virus induced gene 3 (ebi3) and p28. il-27 is an anti-inflammatory cytokine which has an inhibitory effect on th17 population and suppress the il-17 expression. it is suggested that il-27 could be a potent ...

white spot syndrome virus (wssv) is a highly pathogenic and prevalent virus affecting shrimp culture worldwide including iran. in the present study, a pair of primers was designed according to the sequence of vp 28 gene of wssv in the genbank. vp28 gene from an iranian wssv isolate (irvp28) was cloned, sequenced and expressed in escherichia coli bl21(de3) strain in order to produce vp28 protein...

Serological markers for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection were measured in serial samples from 14 posttransfusion chronic non-A, non-B hepatitis patients by a semiquantitative dot blot immunoassay. The assay detected antibodies to HCV by use of recombinant proteins that represent putative HCV capsid (core), nonstructural protein 3 (NS3) (33c), and NS4 (c100) epitopes. Seroconversion to anti-HCV...