The induction of strong cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) and humoral responses appear to be essential for the elimination of persistently infecting viruses, such as hepatitis C virus (HCV). Here, we tested several vaccine regimens and demonstrate that a combined vaccine regimen, consisting of HCV E2 DNA priming and boosting with recombinant E2 protein, induces the strongest immune responses to HCV ...

Vibrio harveyi is a severe aquaculture pathogen that can infect a large number of fish species. In previous studies, we have identified two protective immunogens, DegQ and Vhp1, from pathogenic V. harveyi strains. In this study, we examined the potentials of DegQ and Vhp1 as monovalent and bivalent DNA vaccines in a Japanese flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) model. For this purpose, the DNA vac...

OBJECTIVE To determine whether molecular manipulation of the opioid growth factor receptor (OGFr) alters corneal reepithelialization following central corneal abrasion in rats. METHODS The plasmid pcDNA3.1 + OGFr, carrying the rat OGFr complementary DNA in both the sense and antisense orientations, and empty vector (EV), were delivered by gene gun to the rat cornea. After 24 hours, corneas we...

BACKGROUND Increasing evidence points to a negative correlation between K-ras mutations and patient's response to, or survival benefit after, treatment with EGFR-inhibitors. Therefore, rapid and reliable assays for mutational analysis of the K-ras gene are strongly needed. METHODS We designed a high resolution melting (HRM) technology-based approach followed by direct sequencing to determine ...

DNA damage or mutation in cells contributes to tumorigenesis. The transcription factor FOXO1 modulates the expression of genes involved in DNA damage repair, cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. The transcriptional activity of FOXO1 is fundamentally regulated by post-translational modification and subcellular localization. H1299 lung cancer cells were treated with the alkylating agent MNNG, and the...

Self-incompatibility has been studied by using controlled pollination, pollen tube growth and PCR methods in the Iranian almond ‘Mamaei.’. Pollen tube growth and fruit set following self and cross-pollination treatments were evaluated. The percentage of initial and final fruit set was determined for each treatment at 30 and 60 days after controlled pollination. Pollen germination and pollen ...