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“The influenza virus surface glycoprotein hemagglutinin (HA) is responsible for viral attachment to sialic acid-containing host cell receptors and it facilitates the initial stage of viral

AG-014699 in vitro infection. In the present study, we isolated an RNA aptamer specific to the glycosylated receptor-binding domain of the HA protein (gHA1) after 12 cycles of the systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment procedure (SELEX), and we then investigated if the selected aptamer suppresses viral infection in host cells. Nitrocellulose filter binding and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) experiments revealed that 1 RNA aptamer, HA12-16, bound specifically to the gHA1 protein. Cell viability assay showed that the HA12-16 RNA aptamer suppressed viral infection in host cells by enhancing cell viability. Immunofluorescence microscopic analysis further demonstrated that the HA12-16 RNA aptamer suppresses viral attachment to host cells by neutralizing the receptor-binding site of influenza virus HA. These results indicate that the isolated RNA aptamer can be developed as an antiviral reagent against influenza through appropriate therapeutic formulation.”
“BackgroundWe evaluated the feasibility of asking pregnant women to self-collect and ship respiratory specimens. MethodsIn a preliminary laboratory study, we compared the RT-PCR cycle threshold (CT) values of influenza A and B viruses incubated at 4 storage temperatures

SYN-117 click here (from 4 to 35 degrees C) for 6 time periods (8, 24, 48, 72, and 168hours and 30days), resulting in 24 conditions that were compared to an aliquot tested after standard freezing (-20 degrees C) (baseline condition). In a subsequent pilot study, during January-February, 2014, we delivered respiratory specimen collection kits to 53 pregnant women with a medically attended acute respiratory illness using three delivery methods. ResultsCT values were stableafter storage at temperatures smaller than 27 degrees C for up to 72hours for influenza A viruses and 48hours for influenza B viruses. Of 53 women who received kits during the pilot, 89% collected and shipped nasal swabs

as requested. However, 30% (14/47) of the women took over 2days to collect and ship their specimen. The human control gene, ribonuclease P (RNase P), was detected in 100% of nasal swab specimens. However, the mean CT values for RNase P (265, 95% confidence interval [CI]=260-271) and for the 8 influenza A virus positives in our pilot (322, 95% CI=289-355) were significantly higher than the CTs observed in our 2010-2012 study using staff-collected nasal pharyngeal swabs (P-values smaller than 001). DiscussionSelf-collection of respiratory specimens is a promising research method, but further research is needed to quantify the sensitivity and specificity of the approach.”
“Objectives. T helper 17 (Th17), T cytotoxic 17 (Tc17) and regulatory T (Treg) cells are important factors in the pathogenesis of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.