Hepatitis C virus core, NS3, NS4B and NS5A are the major immunogenic proteins in humoral immunity in chronic HCV infection

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The viral genome of hepatitis C virus constitutes a 9.6-kb single-stranded positive-sense RNA which encodes altogether 11 viral proteins. In order to study the humoral immune responses against different HCV proteins in patients suffering from chronic HCV infection, we produced three structural (core, E1 and E2) and six nonstructural proteins (NS2, NS3, NS4A, NS4B, NS5A and NS5B) in <it>Sf</it>9 insect cells by using the baculovirus expression system.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The recombinant HCV core, E1, E2, NS2, NS3, NS4A, NS4B, NS5A and NS5B proteins were purified and used in Western blot analysis to determine antibody responses against individual HCV protein in 68 HCV RNA and antibody positive human sera that were obtained from patients suffering from genotype 1, 2, 3 or 4 infection. These sera were also analysed with INNO-LIA Score test for HCV antibodies against core, NS3, NS4AB and NS5A, and the results were similar to the ones obtained by Western blot method. Based on our Western blot analyses we found that the major immunogenic HCV antigens were the core, NS4B, NS3 and NS5A proteins which were recognized in 97%, 86%, 68% and 53% of patient sera, respectively. There were no major genotype specific differences in antibody responses to individual HCV proteins. A common feature within the studied sera was that all except two sera recognized the core protein in high titers, whereas none of the sera recognized NS2 protein and only three sera (from genotype 3) recognised NS5B.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The data shows significant variation in the specificity in humoral immunity in chronic HCV patients.</p

Iloa, leikkiä ja yhdessä tekemistä – Varhaisvuosien fyysisen aktiivisuuden suositukset

AbstractThe first recommendations concerning physical activity of under eight-year-olds, Recommendations for physical activity in early childhood education 2005 (Guides of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health 2005:17) have now been updated based on the initiative of the national Joy in Motion programme. The recommendations were hoped to respond to the changes in the children’s living conditions and the amount and types of physical activities over the past ten years. Another aim was to update the scientific base of the recommendations. The new Recommendations for physical activity in early childhood (2016) were prepared as part of the work of the Steering group for health-enhancing physical activity (TEHYLI). The steering group commented on and approved the recommendations compiled by the multidisciplinary national group of experts specifically invited to carry out the task. The recommendations are founded on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. The recommendations are based on scientific information on how the adults interacting with under eight-year-olds can facilitate the realisation of the rights of children by comprehensive support for their growth, development, health and wellbeing through physical activities. Studies have shown that physical activity promotes the child’s physical, cognitive, psychological, emotional and social development. The scientific knowledge base of the recommendations has also been published (Scientific justification for the recommendations for physical activity in early childhood 2016. Ministry of Education and Culture 2016:22) The Recommendations for physical activity in early childhood inform about the amount and type of physical activity for the under eight-year-old, roles of the physical, psychological and social environments, and planning and implementation of guided physical exercise and education on exercise as part of early childhood education. The recommendations are intended for parents, early childhood education teachers, physical exercise and healthcare professionals, and other organisations and individuals involved in promoting physical activity, health or wellbeing among under eight-year-olds. TiivistelmäEnsimmäiset suomalaiset alle kahdeksanvuotiaiden lasten liikuntaan tarkoitetut suositukset, Varhaiskasvatuksen liikunnan suositukset 2005 (Sosiaali- ja terveysministeriön oppaita 2005:17), esitettiin päivitettäviksi valtakunnallisessa Ilo kasvaa liikkuen – ohjelman kehittämistyössä. Suositusten toivottiin vastaavan viimeisen kymmenen vuoden aikana tapahtuneita muutoksia lasten elinolosuhteissa sekä liikkumisen määrässä ja laadussa. Tavoitteeksi asetettiin myös suositusten tutkimusperustan päivittäminen. Uudet Varhaisvuosien fyysisen aktiivisuuden suositukset (2016) valmisteltiin osana opetus- ja kulttuuriministeriön sekä sosiaali- ja terveysministeriön yhdessä asettaman ja koordinoiman Terveyttä ja hyvinvointia edistävän liikunnan (TEHYLI) –ohjausryhmän työtä. TEHYLI –ohjausryhmä kommentoi ja hyväksyi tehtävään erikseen kutsutun monitieteisen kansallisen asiantuntijaryhmän kokoamat suositukset. Suositusten taustalla on YK:n lapsen oikeuksien yleissopimus. Suositukset perustuvat tutkimustietoon siitä, miten alle kahdeksanvuotiaiden lasten kanssa toimivat aikuiset voivat mahdollistaa lasten oikeuksien toteutumisen tukemalla lasten kokonaisvaltaista kasvua, kehitystä, terveyttä ja hyvinvointia liikunnan avulla. Tutkimukset ovat osoittaneet, että liikunnalla voidaan tukea lapsen fyysistä, kognitiivista, psyykkistä, emotionaalista ja sosiaalista kehittymistä. Suositusten tieteelliset perusteet on julkaistu erillisenä julkaisuna (Tieteelliset perusteet varhaisvuosien fyysisen aktiivisuuden suosituksille 2016. Opetus- ja kulttuuriministeriö 2016:22) Varhaisvuosien fyysisen aktiivisuuden suositukset antavat ohjeita alle kahdeksanvuotiaiden lasten fyysisen aktiivisuuden määrästä ja laadusta, fyysisen, psyykkisen ja sosiaalisen ympäristön rooleista sekä ohjatun liikunnan ja liikuntakasvatuksen suunnittelusta ja toteuttamisesta osana varhaiskasvatusta. Varhaisvuosien fyysisen aktiivisuuden suositukset on tarkoitettu lasten vanhempien, varhaiskasvatus-, liikunta- ja terveydenhuollon ammattilaisten sekä muiden alle kahdeksanvuotiaiden lasten liikunnan, terveyden tai hyvinvoinnin edistämiseen osallistuvien yhteisöjen ja yksilöiden käyttöön. Julkaisuun viitattaessa käytetään seuraavaa lähdemerkintää: Varhaisvuosien fyysisen aktiivisuuden suositukset 2016. Iloa, leikkiä ja yhdessä tekemistä. Opetus- ja kulttuuriministeriö 2016:21

Strain Improvement in Filamentious Fungi-An Overview

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Family physician experiences with and needs for clinical supervision : Associations between work experiences, professional issues and social support at work

Objective: To explore how work experiences, professional issues and social support at work are associated with a need for clinical supervision (CS) among family physicians (FP). Methods: Web-based survey to FPs in Finland 2011 (response rate 68%; n = 165). Results: Among FPs, 36% needed CS, 35% had experience with CS, and 29% did not need CS. Feeling emotionally drained from work was associated with both needing and experience with CS. FPs needing CS felt callous and had committed a medical error in the recent past more often than those with CS experience. FPs expressing a need for CS felt greater uncertainty regarding their professional knowledge and more alone at work than FPs not needing CS. Rewarding work experiences were common. Conclusions: A large proportion of FPs expressed a need for CS. Need for CS is associated with feeling alone at work, experiences of callousness and uncertainty regarding medical knowledge. Experience of emotional drainage was associated with experience of and need for CS. Practice implications: Emotional drainage may signal a need for CS among FPs. CS might enhance FPs' emotional well-being at work. It should be more widely available to FPs and could be integrated into continuing professional development. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.Peer reviewe

Enzyme production in industrial fungi- molecular genetic strategies for integrated strain improvement

Filamentous fungi have an established and central role in the industrial production of enzymes for various applications ranging from animal feed manufacture to pulp bleaching. Filamentous fungi are also of high interest as efficient expression hosts for a wide range of valuable gene products originating from other organisms. Progress aiming at reaching the full potential of filamentous fungi as production hosts depends on better understanding of gene regulation, protein modification, function of the secretory pathway, genetic and physiological aspects related to product fermentation and studies into functional genomics.19 page(s

Metabolic activity in filamentous fungi can be analysed by flow cytometry

The use of flow cytometry in combination with fluorescent dyes as a technique to rapidly differentiate and enumerate bacterial and yeast cells is well established. We have shown that through the judicial choice of stains, the nondestructive screening and sorting of fungal material is possible. The early stages of growth, from germination through hyphal development of three filamentous fungal species, Penicillium, Phoma and Trichoderma, have been followed using forward- and side-angle scatter on a Becton Dickinson FACSCalibur flow cytometer. By staining isolates with the permeant fluorogenic substrates, dihydroethidium and hexidium iodide metabolic activity in the developing hyphae has been measured. We have been able to demonstrate that there is a 12-13 h window of opportunity during which germination and the early stages of hyphal development of filamentous fungi can be analysed by flow cytometry.9 page(s

Effects of Paecilomyces lilacinus protease and chitinase on the eggshell structures and hatching of Meloidogyne javanica juveniles

A serine protease and an enzyme preparation consisting of six chitinases, previously semi-purified from a liquid culture of Paecilomyces lilacinus strain 251, were applied to Meloidogyne javanica eggs to study the effect of the enzymes on eggshell structures. Transmission electron microscopic studies revealed that the protease and chitinases drastically altered the eggshell structures when applied individually or in combination. In the protease-treated eggs, the lipid layer disappeared and the chitin layer was thinner than in the control. The eggs treated with chitinases displayed large vacuoles in the chitin layer, and the vitelline layer was split and had lost its integrity. The major changes in the eggshell structures occurred by the combined effect of P. lilacinus protease and chitinases. The lipid layer was destroyed; the chitin layer hydrolyzed and the vitelline layer had lost integrity. The effect of P. lilacinus protease and chitinase enzymes on the hatching of M. javanica juveniles was also compared with a commercially available bacterial chitinase. The P. lilacinus protease and chitinase enzymes, either individually or in combination, reduced hatching of M. javanica juveniles whereas a commercial bacterial chitinase had an enhancing effect. Some juveniles hatched when the eggs were exposed to a fungal protease and chitinase mixture. We also established that P. lilacinus chitinases retained their activity in the presence of endogenous protease activity.7 page(s

Paecilomyces lilacinus strain Bioact251 is not a plant endophyte

Although Paecilomyces lilacinus is generally considered to be both a soil fungus and a nematode-egg parasitic fungus, it has been reported that jt can also colonise roots and protect the root surface from root-knot nematode attack. When eight crop plant species were challenged with P. lilacinus strain Bioact251, fungal hyphae were never detected within roots, though occasionally colonies arose from the root surface. Examination of the behaviour of P. lilacinus hyphae on root and nematode egg surfaces were compared and found to be very different, with P. lilacinus behaving like a parasitic fungus when growing on a nematode egg but not when on a root surface.6 page(s

Integration of protein Interaction and Metabolic Data for Subcellular Localization Prediction

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