Genetic variability of hepatitis C virus before and after combined therapy of interferon plus ribavirin

We present an analysis of the selective forces acting on two hepatitis C virus genome regions previously postulated to be involved in the viral response to combined antiviral therapy. One includes the three hypervariable regions in the envelope E2 glycoprotein, and the other encompasses the PKR binding domain and the V3 domain in the NS5A region. We used a cohort of 22 non-responder patients to combined therapy (interferon alpha-2a plus ribavirin) for which samples were obtained before initiation of therapy and after 6 or/and 12 months of treatment. A range of 25-100 clones per patient, genome region and time sample were sequenced. These were used to detect general patterns of adaptation, to identify particular adaptation mechanisms and to analyze the patterns of evolutionary change in both genome regions. These analyses failed to detect a common adaptive mechanism for the lack of response to antiviral treatment in these patients. On the contrary, a wide range of situations were observed, from patients showing no positively selected sites to others with many, and with completely different topologies in the reconstructed phylogenetic trees. Altogether, these results suggest that viral strategies to evade selection pressure from the immune system and antiviral therapies do not result from a single mechanism and they are likely based on a range of different alternatives, in which several different changes, or their combination, along the HCV genome confer viruses the ability to overcome strong selective [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]

The Role of Historical Narrative in Biblical Thought:the Tendencies Underlying Old Testament Historiography

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/68403/2/10.1177_030908928100602102.pd

Towards reconciling structure and function in the nuclear pore complex

The spatial separation between the cytoplasm and the cell nucleus necessitates the continuous exchange of macromolecular cargo across the double-membraned nuclear envelope. Being the only passageway in and out of the nucleus, the nuclear pore complex (NPC) has the principal function of regulating the high throughput of nucleocytoplasmic transport in a highly selective manner so as to maintain cellular order and function. Here, we present a retrospective review of the evidence that has led to the current understanding of both NPC structure and function. Looking towards the future, we contemplate on how various outstanding effects and nanoscopic characteristics ought to be addressed, with the goal of reconciling structure and function into a single unified picture of the NPC

American Literary Scholarship: An Annual 1987

Contains Title Page, Copyright Page, and Table of Contentshttps://mavmatrix.uta.edu/english_ctt/1220/thumbnail.jp

Cationic polyelectrolytes: A new look at their possible roles as opsonins, as stimulators of respiratory burst in leukocytes, in bacteriolysis, and as modulators of immune-complex diseases (A review hypothesis)

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/44497/1/10753_2004_Article_BF00915991.pd

Monoclonal antibodies against plasma protease inhibitors: production and characterization of 15 monoclonal antibodies against human antithrombin III. Relation between antigenic determinants and functional sites of antithrombin III

Fifteen hybridomas secreting monoclonal antibodies against human antithrombin III, originating from two mouse strains, have been produced by the cell fusion technique. Eight monoclonal antibodies belong to the class IgG1, five to the class IgG2a, and two to the class IgG2b. All light chains belong to the kappa group. No cross-reaction of the monoclonal antibodies have been observed with a crude preparation of albumin nor with alpha 1-antitrypsin and alpha 2-antiplasmin. Five of these monoclonal antibodies exhibit a relatively high avidity for antithrombin III. Inhibition experiments showed that the 15 monoclonal antibodies define seven more or less independent antigenic regions on the antithrombin III molecule. Examination of the effects of these antibodies on the inhibitory capacity of antithrombin III toward thrombin activity, either in the presence or in the absence of heparin, showed that several monoclonal antibodies inhibit the antithrombin III activity and allowed to relate some of the antigenic determinants to functional sites on the antithrombin III molecule.</jats:p