Virus Weekly articles from December 2003

Virus Weekly archives from December 2003

Researchers reveal essential component of immunity to liver-destroying virus.
December 2, 2003... 2003 DEC 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Researchers at Columbus Children's Research Institute (CCRI) on the campus of Columbus Children's Hospital have identified a key component of protective immunity against the hepatitis C virus, the major...

Alternative translation schemes control hepatitis C ARFP/F/core +1 coding.
December 2, 2003... 2003 DEC 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Alternative translation schemes control hepatitis C ARFP/F/core +1 protein coding. According to a study from Greece, "hepatitis C virus (HCV)-1 produces a novel protein, known as ARFP, F, or core...

Severe pneumonitis, cerebral hemorrhage is a risk with Epstein-Barr virus.
December 2, 2003... 2003 DEC 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Severe pneumonitis, cerebral hemorrhage is a risk with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), even in apparently healthy individuals. According to a study from Switzerland, "EBV is a ubiquitous human...

HIV Tat interacts with distinct proteasomal alpha and beta subunits.
December 2, 2003... 2003 DEC 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- HIV Tat interacts with distinct cellular proteasome alpha and beta subunits. "The human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) Tat protein was previously reported to compete the association of PA28...

Saikosaponins from Bupleurum exhibit antiviral and anticancer properties.
December 2, 2003... 2003 DEC 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Saikosaponins from Bupleurum exhibit antiviral and anticancer properties. "Saikosaponins, the main active constituents of Bupleurum spp., have been shown to possess immunomodulatory,...

Influenza A virus can cause encephalopathy after respiratory improvement.
December 2, 2003... 2003 DEC 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Influenza A virus can cause encephalopathy after patient improvement, may be due to secondary vasculitis. "We report 3 cases of influenza A virus-related encephalopathy developing after the...

Hepatitis B virus genes promote liver cancer in chronic hepatitis C patients.
December 2, 2003... 2003 DEC 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Hepatitis B virus genes promote liver cancer in chronic hepatitis C patients. According to recent research published in the journal Digestive Diseases and Sciences, "the hepatitis B virus (HBV) gene...

National coverage initiated for DNAwithPap test.
December 2, 2003... 2003 DEC 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Digene Corporation (DIGE) announced that Cigna Healthcare has updated their cervical cancer screening Clinical Resource Tool to include human papillomavirus (HPV) testing in combination with a Pap test...

Pennsylvania partnership announces agreement to build relationship with Roche.
December 2, 2003... 2003 DEC 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Health Network Laboratories (HNL), a regional provider of medical diagnostics in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, announced a 5-year strategic alliance agreement with Roche Diagnostics. Together the...

Research agreement signed for testing of topical anti-herpes formulations.
December 2, 2003... 2003 DEC 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- CytoGenix, Inc., (CYGX) has signed an agreement with the DermPharm division of DermTech International, Inc., a firm specializing in dermatology safety and efficacy testing with experience in the U.S....

Vesicular pemphigoid in children and teens may mimic herpes infection.
December 2, 2003... 2003 DEC 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Vesicular pemphigoid in children and teens may mimic herpes infection. "We describe a case of a 16 yr old African-American boy with bullous pemphigoid (BP), an acquired autoimmune blistering disease...

In organ transplant complications, histology is often needed to assess cause.
December 2, 2003... 2003 DEC 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- In organ transplant complications, histology is often needed to assess cause. According to recent research published in the journal Springer Seminars in Immunopathology, "immunopathology techniques...

Biopharma company announces third quarter 2003 financial results.
December 2, 2003... 2003 DEC 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- GenVec, Inc., (GNVC), a biopharmaceutical company, announced financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2003. GenVec reported higher revenues and a lower net loss through the first...

Company reports record first quarter sales of VScan test kits.
December 2, 2003... 2003 DEC 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Medical Services International, Inc., (MSITF) announced that it has sold VScan test kits worth US$268,000 in the first quarter (period ending September 30, 2003) of its current fiscal year. This...

Lipid-focused company reports improved results in third quarter.
December 2, 2003... 2003 DEC 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Lipid Sciences, Inc., (LIPD) reported results for the third quarter and 9 months ended September 30, 2003. Lipid Sciences is a development-stage biotechnology company that is conducting research...

Neugene maker reports net loss of $0.15 per share.
December 2, 2003... 2003 DEC 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- AVI BioPharma, Inc., (AVII) reported financial results for the 3 and 9 months ended September 30, 2003, and provided an update on its clinical pipeline. For the third quarter of 2003, the company...

Modified RT-PCR assay detects low-level Norovirus food contamination.
December 2, 2003... 2003 DEC 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A modified RT-PCR assay can detect very low levels of gastroenteritis-causing Noroviruses in food. In a recent study from the United States, "Previously reported nucleic acid sequence-based...

Human genes involved in HIV life cycle have high alternate splicing rates.
December 2, 2003... 2003 DEC 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Human genes involved in the HIV life cycle have high alternate splicing rates. "Alternative splicing may generate splice forms with different biologic roles or missing protein domains implicated in...

Gene vector for HIV cleared to begin phase I/II trial.
December 2, 2003... 2003 DEC 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Enzo Biochem, Inc., (ENZ) announced that Enzo Therapeutics, its wholly owned subsidiary, has been cleared to proceed with a phase I/II study of its Stealth Vector HGTV43 gene construct for HIV infection...

Oxidative stress likely involved in early HIV Tat-related neurodegeneration.
December 2, 2003... 2003 DEC 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Oxidative stress appears to play a key role in the development of HIV Tat-induced neurodegeneration. "HIV-1 transactivating protein Tat is neurotoxic and is believed to play a role in the...

Despite high cost, PCR assay for group O HIV suitable for use in endemic areas.
December 2, 2003... 2003 DEC 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Despite its high cost, a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based test for group O HIV may improve viral load measurements in endemic areas. "HIV-1 group O infections remains essentially restricted to...

Heat-denatured signal-amplified HIV p24 assay suitable for use in developing areas.
December 2, 2003... 2003 DEC 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The heat-denatured signal-amplified p24 antigen HIV assay is suitable for use in developing regions. This assay "is a low-cost test allowing the determination of plasma levels of HIV-1 p24 antigen...

Novel molecular HIV test has single-copy sensitivity for viral RNA.
December 2, 2003... 2003 DEC 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A novel molecular HIV test has single-copy sensitivity for viral RNA. According to published research from the United States, "More sensitive assays for human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)...

IL-7 safely stimulates T-cell renewal in SIV-infected macaques.
December 2, 2003... 2003 DEC 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Interleukin (IL)-7 safely stimulates T-cell renewal in macaques infected with the simian version of HIV (SIV). "The main failure of antiretroviral therapy is the lack of restoration of HIV-specific...

Elevated cytokine levels in adipose tissue suppress adiponectin output in HALS patients.
December 2, 2003... 2003 DEC 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Elevated cytokine levels in adipose tissue suppress adiponectin activity in HIV lipodystrophy patients. According to published research from Denmark, "Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-associated...

HIV Nef signaling - but not trafficking - underlies impaired T-cell development.
December 2, 2003... 2003 DEC 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- HIV Nef signaling - but not trafficking - underlies Nef-induced inhibition of T-cell development "The HIV-1 gene nef is important for progression toward AIDS and cellular depletion of the infected...

HIV Nef's ability to downregulate MHC-I molecules key to viral immune escape.
December 2, 2003... 2003 DEC 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- HIV Nef's ability to downregulate MHC-I molecules plays a key role in viral immune escape. "Nef is an HIV-1 protein that is absent in most retroviruses, yet its reading frame is highly maintained...

Alpha1-antitrypsin gene mutations may raise HIV infection risk.
December 2, 2003... 2003 DEC 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Polymorphisms in the AAT gene may heighten carriers' susceptibility to HIV infection. In a recent study, scientists in Australia "sought to determine whether variants of the human alpha1-antitrypsin...

Educational program fails to improve adherence to HIV treatment in minority patients.
December 2, 2003... 2003 DEC 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A novel educational intervention does not improve adherence to HIV treatment in minority patients. According to published research from Texas, "A 24-week open-label clinical trial was conducted in...

Expanded HIV care needed for aborigines and women in Canada.
December 2, 2003... 2003 DEC 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Greater efforts are needed to provide HIV care to aborigines and women in Canada. In a recent study, scientists there "evaluated all human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-related deaths over the period...

HAART effective for pediatric HIV patients.
December 2, 2003... 2003 DEC 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) is effective for pediatric HIV patients. According to published research from Spain, "An observational study was performed involving 95 children with...

LC/MS/MS assay suitable for measuring atazanavir levels in peripheral blood.
December 2, 2003... 2003 DEC 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A novel liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric assay provides accurate and highly sensitive measurements of atazanavir levels in peripheral blood. According to published research from the...

Long-term HAART does not lead to full T-cell recovery.
December 2, 2003... 2003 DEC 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Long-term HAART regimens do not induce full T-cell recovery in HIV patients. "In most HIV-1-infected patients, highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) reduces plasma viral load to To...

Negative effects of saquinavir hard gel treatment subside over time.
December 2, 2003... 2003 DEC 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The negative effects of saquinavir hard gel treatment on the overall outcome of HIV therapy subside over time. "Saquinavir hard gel capsule (hgc), the first human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)...

Whole milk component of breast milk carries highest HIV load.
December 2, 2003... 2003 DEC 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The whole milk component of breast milk carries the highest HIV load. Scientists in the United States conducted a study "to determine which of the four components of breast milk (whole milk, skim...

Attenuated FIV vaccine protects against systemic or mucosal challenge.
December 2, 2003... 2003 DEC 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- An attenuated FIV vaccine provided protection from an intraclade challenge administered systemically or mucosally. "Feline immunodeficiency virus (FM) infection of domestic cats represents a...

Hantavirus in Brazilians may be asymptomatic or cause cardiopulmonary syndrome.
December 2, 2003... 2003 DEC 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Equal amounts of rural and urban population in a Brazilian county are seropositive for hantavirus; prevalence is not associated with disease in most. "Hantaviruses are the causative agents of severe...

New study finds universal vaccination would prevent disease and save lives.
December 2, 2003... 2003 DEC 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A U.S. hepatitis A immunization policy would prevent a significant number of debilitating cases of the disease and deaths associated with it, according to a new study. Researchers examined the...

Pharmaceutical company to initiate phase III clinical trials for Viramidine.
December 2, 2003... 2003 DEC 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- ICN Pharmaceuticals, Inc., (ICN) announced that it has decided, following a meeting with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), to initiate phase III studies of its antiviral compound, Viramidine....

Glycoproteins B, H of human herpesvirus 7 appear to have few polymorphisms.
December 2, 2003... 2003 DEC 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Glycoproteins B, H of human herpesvirus 7 appear to be highly conserved; there are only small variations between individuals in Hong Kong. According to published research from Peoples R China,...

Report: Influenza drug market sales to reach $2.5 billion in 2012.
December 2, 2003... 2003 DEC 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Decision Resources, Inc., forecasts that influenza drug market sales will reach $2.5 billion in 2012. According to a new Pharmacor study entitled "Influenza," MedImmune's FluMist and one other...

Team developing "Flu Chip" for fast, accurate diagnosis.
December 2, 2003... 2003 DEC 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A team of researchers at the University of Colorado at Boulder is developing a "Flu Chip" that will aid physicians in swiftly diagnosing respiratory illness for future flu seasons. The Flu Chip...

Test compound 100% effective in influenza A animal prophylaxis experiment.
December 2, 2003... 2003 DEC 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The Quigley Corporation (QGLY) announced that an independent study by Retroscreen Virology, Ltd, found that intranasal application by spray of Quigley Pharma's QR-435 was 100% effective in preventing...

Net Force signs letter of intent to acquire Chinese biotech company.
December 2, 2003... 2003 DEC 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Net Force Systems, Inc., announced that Net Force has entered into a letter of intent to acquire 100% of the issued and outstanding shares of Tangshan Yian Biological Engineering Co., Ltd., through the...

Mycobacterium xenopi treatment is unnecessary for HIV patients on HAART.
December 2, 2003... 2003 DEC 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Mycobacterium xenopi treatment is unnecessary for HIV patients on HAART. Scientists in England described "treatment decisions and outcomes for 20 patients" with confirmed, symptomatic M. xenopi...

Pharmaceutical company names Charles W. Cramb to board of directors.
December 2, 2003... 2003 DEC 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Idenix Pharmaceuticals, Inc., announced that Charles W. Cramb will join its board of directors. Cramb is senior vice president, finance and CFO of The Gillette Co., where he has served in financial...

Treating dental patients with prion diseases discussed.
December 2, 2003... 2003 DEC 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Researchers discuss the safe treatment of dental patients with prion diseases in a recent issue of the British Dental Journal. According to recent research from Scotland, "The emergence of variant...

Data presented from phase II trial on recurrent respiratory papillomatosis.
December 2, 2003... 2003 DEC 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Stressgen Biotechnologies Corporation (SSB) presented interim data from its phase II trial with HspE7 in recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP), a seriously debilitating and sometimes...

HCV recurrence reflects low sequence diversity after liver transplantation.
December 2, 2003... 2003 DEC 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- HCV recurrence reflects low sequence diversity after liver transplantation. "Hepatitis C virus (HCV) shows remarkable genetic variation in both populations and individuals, in whom it circulates as...

Substantia nigra involved in West Nile virus-induced encephalitis.
December 2, 2003... 2003 DEC 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The substantia nigra is involved in West Nile virus-induced encephalitis. According to published research from Michigan, "West Nile virus has become a medically important arbovirus in the...

First human trial of West Nile vaccine to begin.
December 2, 2003... 2003 DEC 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Acambis (ACAM) announced the start of a phase I trial of its investigational vaccine against West Nile virus, ChimeriVax-West Nile. Since it was first identified in New York in 1999, the West Nile...

Changes in mumps virus gene sequence linked to phenotype variability.
December 9, 2003... 2003 DEC 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Changes in mumps virus gene sequence is associated with variability in neurovirulent phenotype. "Mumps virus is highly neurotropic and, prior to widespread vaccination programs, was the major cause...

Molecular cocktails rescue adeno-associated virus genomes from plasmids.
December 9, 2003... 2003 DEC 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Molecular cocktails rescue adeno-associated virus genomes from plasmids. "In cultured cells, adeno-associated virus (AAV) replication requires coinfection with a helper virus, either adenovirus or...

Human cytomegalovirus pp65 protein acts as an inhibitor of interferon response.
December 9, 2003... 2003 DEC 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Human cytomegalovirus pp65 protein acts as an inhibitor of interferon response, can block antiviral activity. "The initial interaction of human cytomegalovirus with fibroblasts triggers, and then...

Number infected in Midwest outbreak may be higher than first reported.
December 9, 2003... 2003 DEC 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Researchers at Oregon Health & Science University are trying to gain a better understanding of last summer's monkeypox outbreak. The researchers traveled to the Midwest twice during the past few months...

Dengue virus causes unique changes to occur in the genes of endothelial cells.
December 9, 2003... 2003 DEC 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Dengue virus causes unique changes to occur in the genes of endothelial cells. According to recent research published in the Journal of Virology, "endothelial cells are permissive to dengue virus...

Infectivity of dengue virus in solution characterized.
December 9, 2003... 2003 DEC 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The infectivity of dengue virus in solution has been characterized. "The dengue virus consists of four antigenically related but distinct viruses, termed dengue virus 1-4 (DEN 1-4)," virologists in...

AIDS vaccine trials begin in South Africa, Switzerland.
December 9, 2003... 2003 DEC 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) has begun human trials in South Africa and Switzerland to test HIVA.MVA, a candidate vaccine to prevent people uninfected with HIV/AIDS from contracting...

Bacteriophages may serve in transplantation as antibacterial, immune suppressant.
December 9, 2003... 2003 DEC 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Bacteriophages may serve in transplantation as antibacterial; may even reduce graft rejection risk. According to published research from Poland, "due to the increasing prevalence of drug-resistant...

High theoretical risk of HIV, HCV transmission for forensic pathologists.
December 9, 2003... 2003 DEC 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Forensic pathologists have a high theoretical risk of work-related HIV and/or hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. "Using a cumulative probability analysis and published data," researchers in the...

Positive preliminary results reported on AVR118.
December 9, 2003... 2003 DEC 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Advanced Viral Research Corp. (ADVR) reported that preliminary results from the first 15 cachectic (wasting) AIDS patients treated with the company's novel immunomodulator AVR118 showed improvement in...

Link between myocarditis and dilated cardiomyopathy reviewed.
December 9, 2003... 2003 DEC 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The link between myocarditis and dilated cardiomyopathy has been reviewed. "Myocarditis is a complex disease because multiple pathogenetic mechanisms play a role," cardiologists in the United...

MWG Biotech announces agreement to automate HIV and HCV viral load assays.
December 9, 2003... 2003 DEC 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- MWG Biotech (NWU) announced the signing of a contractual framework with the diagnostics division of Bayer HealthCare, LLC, through its Canadian affiliate Bayer, Inc., and its Irish affiliate Bayer...

Nonexclusive HCV license granted to Vertex.
December 9, 2003... 2003 DEC 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Chiron Corporation (CHIR) announced that it has granted a nonexclusive license to Vertex Pharmaceuticals for the research, development, and commercialization of therapeutics against certain hepatitis C...

Granzyme B has roles in apoptosis, antiviral, and antitumor CTL activities.
December 9, 2003... 2003 DEC 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Granzyme B has roles in apoptosis, antiviral, and antitumor cytotoxic lymphocyte activities. According to a study from Australia, "granzyme B is a caspase-like serine protease that is released by...

Benzothiazolesulfonamides with potent activity against HIV protease synthesized.
December 9, 2003... 2003 DEC 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Benzothiazolesulfonamides with potent activity against a key HIV enyzme have been synthesized. According to published research from Missouri, "The HIV virus encodes for a unique aspartyl protease...

Improved stavudine derivatives developed.
December 9, 2003... 2003 DEC 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Enhanced derivatives of the HIV reverse transcriptase inhibitor stavudine have been developed. In a recent study from Japan, "Compounds having methyl, vinyl, and ethynyl groups at the 4'-position...

Ritonavir derivatives have potent anti-HIV activity, despite poor pharmacokinetics.
December 9, 2003... 2003 DEC 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A series of ritonavir derivatives possess potent anti-HIV activity, despite their poor pharmacokinetics. "Isopropyl substituted 4-thioazolyl valine side chains are highly optimized P-2-P-3 ligands...

Host range of feline leukemia virus A could include human, as seen in vitro.
December 9, 2003... 2003 DEC 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Host range of feline leukemia virus A (not B or C) can include human, in vitro: embryonic kidney cells are susceptible to infection if entry barrier is broken. According to published research from...

AIDS vaccine developer reports increased cash due to financing.
December 9, 2003... 2003 DEC 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Epimmune, Inc., (EPMN) announced its financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2003. During the quarter, cash and cash equivalents increased by $2.2 million to an ending balance...

Foot-and-mouth disease virus recovered after direct inoculation with RNA.
December 9, 2003... 2003 DEC 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Researchers recovered infectious foot-and-mouth disease virus from suckling mice after direct inoculation with in vitro-transcribed RNA. "We assayed the infectivity of naked foot-and-mouth disease...

Norwalk virus mRNA 3' end regulates VP1 expression via VP2.
December 9, 2003... 2003 DEC 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The 3' end of Norwalk virus (NV) mRNA regulates expression of the viral VP1 protein, with help from NV VP2. NV "is the prototype strain of a group of noncultivable human caliciviruses responsible...

Liver cells express hepatitis B virus at different levels.
December 9, 2003... 2003 DEC 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Liver cells express hepatitis B virus at different levels. "Hepatitis B virus (hepadnavirus) infections are maintained by the presence of a small and regulated number of episomal viral genomes...

Immune and nonimmune cells may use orphan granzymes other than A and B.
December 9, 2003... 2003 DEC 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Immune and nonimmune cells may use granzymes other than A and B, since they are present in these cells. "The granzyme/perforin pathway is a central pathway for lymphocyte-mediated killing in both...

Elements of green tea prevent HIV from binding to human T cells.
December 9, 2003... 2003 DEC 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The major component of green tea prevents the binding of HIV to human T cells, the first step in HIV infection, according to a study and an accompanying editorial published in the November 2003 Journal...

Hypermethalation of MGMT, DAP-K underlie immunodeficiency-related lymphomas.
December 9, 2003... 2003 DEC 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Amedeo Avogadro University of Eastern Piedmont Hypermethalation of MGMT and/or DAP-K frequently underlie immunodeficiency-related lymphomas. "Aberrant promoter hypermethylation is a mechanism...

Simplified ViroSeq HIV genotype test retains accuracy.
December 9, 2003... 2003 DEC 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A modified version of the ViroSeq HIV genotype assay simplifies the test process without compromising accuracy. "Genotypic testing for HIV-1 resistance to anti-retroviral drugs has become accepted...

Nelfinavir downregulates LDL receptors involved in lipoprotein catabolism.
December 9, 2003... 2003 DEC 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The HIV protease inhibitor nelfinavir downregulates LDL receptors involved in lipoprotein catabolism. "Inhibitors of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 protease have proven to be effective...

Novel recombinant subtype C HIV-1 strain found in Thailand.
December 9, 2003... 2003 DEC 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A novel recombinant subtype C HIV strain has been isolated in Thailand. Researchers there described "the first HIV-1 recombinant between CRF0I_A.E and subtype C," dubbed NP1809, found in that area....

Small interfering RNAs can silence env in HIV-infected cells.
December 9, 2003... 2003 DEC 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- RNA interference (RNAi) can be used to silence expression of the HIV env gene by infected cells. According to scientists in Japan, RNAi "is triggered by the presence of a double-stranded RNA...

Oligodendrocyte Nef expression may underlie HIV-induced vacuolar myelopathy.
December 9, 2003... 2003 DEC 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Expression of the HIV Nef protein by oligodendrocytes may underlie virus-induced vacuolar myelopathy (VM). According to virologists in Canada, VM "is a frequent central nervous system complication...

Anti-Hsp70 antibody levels rise after HIV infection.
December 9, 2003... 2003 DEC 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- HIV infection triggers a significant rise in levels of anti-Hsp70 antibodies. "Heat shock proteins (Hsp), especially 70 kDa heat shock protein (Hsp70) play an important role in the life cycle of...

Cyclophilin A needed for functional expression of HIV Vpr.
December 9, 2003... 2003 DEC 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Cyclophilin A is needed for the functional expression of HIV viral protein R (Vpr) by infected cells. According to recent research from Germany, HIV Vpr "is the major virion-associated accessory...

Intrinsic and extrinsic apoptosis pathways both involved in SIV-induced T-cell loss.
December 9, 2003... 2003 DEC 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Caspase-dependent and -independent apoptosis pathways are both involved in SIV-induced T-cell loss. "Studies of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and nonhuman primate models of pathogenic and...