Role of Th17 and Treg during the Chronic Infection of Hepatitis C Virus

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is one of the main causes of liver disease. 1~2% of the Korean people has been reported to be infected by HCV. Although HCV is less infectious than hepatitis B virus (HBV), it is more prone to develop chronic infection (~ 80%) which may link to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinogenesis. In addition, prevalence of hepatitis caused by HCV infection is gradually increased every year in Korea. Recently, a large number of clinical trials using direct-acting antiviral (DAA) drugs have been shown efficient therapeutic results for chronic HCV infections and some of them are on the market. However, there is still a concern on viral evasion to the DAAs and the effective mechanisms of immunological clearance of HCV remains to be elucidated. Here, we introduce the recent findings on the role of Th17-Treg axis which may play a critical role of the viral pathogenesis and/or immunological defense against HCV infection. The underlying regulatory mechanisms of Th17-Treg axis might be a potential candidate for the better control of HCV chronic infections.

Prevalência de anticorpos contra agentes virais e bacterianos em eqüídeos do município de Monte Negro, Rondônia, Amazônia ocidental brasileira / Seroprevalence of viral and bacterial agents in equids from Monte Negro municipality, State of Rondônia. brazilian western Amazon

Foram examinados 176 eqüídeos (15 muares e 161 eqüinos) do município de Monte Negro, Rondônia, Amazônia Ocidental Brasileira, frente a agentes virais e bacterianos. A amostra correspondeu ao total de eqüídeos no município, considerando um nível de confiança de 99%, prevalência esperada de 50% e erro padrão de 10%. As infecções virais foram investigadas pelas provas de Imunodifusão em gel de Agar (Anemia Infecciosa Eqüina - AIE), Inibição da hemaglutinação (Influenza eqüina tipos 1 e 2 - IE-1 e 2) e Soroneutralização em cultura celular (Arterite Viral Eqüina - AVE, Herpesvírus Eqüino tipo 1 - HVE1, Estomatite Vesicular - EV e Encefalomielite Eqüina do Leste - EEE, do Oeste - WEE e Venezuela - VEE). Para o diagnóstico da leptospirose, foi utilizada a prova de Soroaglutinação Microscópica (SAM); para o diagnóstico da brucelose, o teste do Antígeno Acidificado Tamponado (AAT) foi utilizado como teste de triagem e as provas de Soroaglutinação Lenta em Tubos (SLT) e 2- mercaptoetanol como testes diagnósticos. Foram constatados 9,6% dos eqüídeos reativos para AIE, 22,7% para HVE1, 19,9% para IE- 1, 42,0% para IE-2, 21,0% para EEE, 11,3% para VEE, 3,4% para Brucella spp. e 91,4% para Leptospira spp. Os sorovares de leptospira mais freqüentes foram Bratislava (10,5%), Icterohaemorrhagiae (8,7%) e Autumnalis (8,7%) nos eqüinos e Patoc (26,6%) nos muares. Não foram encontrados animais com anticorpos contra AVE, EV e WEE.

Sera from 174 equidaes (15 mules and 161 equines) of Monte Negro municipality, Rondônia State were analyzed against viral and bacterial agents. The serum sample corresponded the total equid population in the municipality considering a confidence interval of 99%, expected prevalence of 50% and absolute desired of 10%. For the viral agents, sera were tested by the Agar Gel Immunodiffusion Test (Equine Infection Anemia - EIA), Inhibition Haemagglutination Test (Equine Influenza 1 and 2 - EI - 1 and 2), and Virusneutralizating Tests (Equine Viral Arteritis - EVA, Equine Herpesvirus 1 - EHV1, Vesicular Stomatitis - VS, Equine Encephalitis Eastern - EEE, Western - WEE and Venezuelan VEE). The diagnosis for brucellosis was made by Agglutination Tests and the Microscopic Agglutination Test was used for leptospirosis. The results showed positivity of 9.6% for EIA, 22.7% for HVE1, 19.9% for IE-1, 42.0% for IE-2, 21.0% for EEE, 11.3% for VEE, 3.4% for brucellosis, and 91.4% for leptospirosis. The most frequent serovars detected were Bratislava (10.5%), Icterohaemorrhagiae (8.7%), Autumnalis (8.7%) for equines and Patoc (26.6%) for mules. No one of the examined samples reacted to EVA, VS, or WEE.

The Effect of Chinese Herbal Capsule on Experimental Genital Herpes / 中华皮肤科杂志

Objective To study the mechanism of Chinese herbal capsule in the treatment of genital herpes.Methods Guinea pig model for genital herpes infection was established.HSV DNA from the cerebrum,spinal cord,cervical canal and vagina of guinea pigs was detected by fluorescent-quantitative PCR.Results The HSV DNA could be detected from all four kinds of tissues,with different copies of the virus in the different tissues,the highest in spinal cord,then in vagina,the least in cerebrum and cervical canal.There was statistical difference of HSV-DNA copies between herbal capsule group and control group(normal saline),whereas no statistical difference between herbal capsule group and aciclovir group.Conclusion The mechanism of the anti-virus herbal capsule in the treatment of experimental genital herpes might be related to blocking the latent infection and suppressing the replication of HSV.

Progress on the targets of anti-noroviruses gastroenteritis agents / 中国药理学通报

Noroviruses are members of Caliciviridae family and are now the most commonly reported cause of outbreaks of nonbacterial gastroenteritis worldwide.Noroviruses gastroenteritis is difficult to control owing to the lack of a suitable antiviral agent or a vaccine to prevent infection.The tremendous disease burden of norovirus-associated gastroenteritis calls for an efficient preventive and therapeutic drugs.This review summarized the anti-noroviruses strategies targeting the nons-structural proteins,structural protein and so on.