Induction of strong and specific humoral and T-helper 1 cellular responses by HBsAg entrapped in the Methanobrevibacter smithii archaeosomes

Application of adjuvants with microbial origins is a recently highlighted approach in the vaccinology trials. Archaeosomes are among these microbial compounds with both adjuvant and liposomal activities and features. In the present study, recombinant HBsAg encapsulated into Methanobrevibacter smithii [M. smithii] archaeosomes. Balb/c mice immunized with this compound and humoral and cytokine secretion pattern of immunized models analyzed. Frequency of IFN-gamma secreting cells in the HBsAg-containing archaeosomes group was significantly higher than HBsAg and HBsAg+C/IFA groups [p

Detection of rtN236T mutation associated with adefovir dipivoxil resistance in hepatitis B infected patients with YMDD mutations in Tehran

The risk of adefovir dipivoxil resistance emergence has increased in lamivudine-resistant hepatitis B infected patients. The mutations known as causing adefovir resistance, rtN236T and rtA181V/T, are detected within the D and B functional domain of the HBV polymerase, respectively. In this study, we intended to determine the pre-existing adefovir-resistance mutations in patients infected with LAM resistant mutants prior to starting adefovir therapy. The study included 30 patients with chronic hepatitis B with lamivudine resistance mutations in the YMDD motif that experienced viral breakthrough. After alignment of protein coding sequences, the rtN236T mutation was observed in two [6.6%] patients, while twenty-eight others had neither rtN236T, nor rtA181V/T mutation. All 30 patients were infected with genotype D of hepatitis B virus. The early detection ofLAM-resistance mutations may allow a timely chance of therapy to avoid hepatitis flare- up. This data suggests that monitoring of ADV-resistance mutations in ADV naive patients can be considered in selecting the appropriate anti-viral regimen

Optimization of human immunodeficiency virus type one replication assay using single cycle replicable virions

HIV virions with replication capacity are needed for HIV researches, like investigating for new anti HIV agents. Here HIV-1 replication assay was optimized with HIV-1 single cycle replicable [SCR] virions to improve biological safety condition. pSPAX2, pmzNL4-3 and pMD2G plasmids were co-transfected to the HEK293T by using polyfect reagent to produce the SCR HIV-1 virions. Virions were quantified using capture ELISA P24. Different MOI of SCR virions were used for infecting of Target cells [HEK] and the load of the supernatant P24 was monitored days after infection. Single cycle replication assay [SCRA] was developed using kinetic studies data. The P24 load of the infected cells supernatant has linear relation to the beginning infectious MOI. 24 hours post infection with HIV-1 SCR virions the viral particle production was detectable. The highest load of P24 in infected cells supernatant was detected 48 hours after infection. Using this developed method, the 50 and 95 percent inhibitory concentration of [IC[95] and IC[50]] Indinavir and Nevirapine were calculated as 25nM and 50nM. In this study, using SCR HIV-1 virions the SCRA was developed. SCR HIV-1 virions are replicable only for one cycle and this improves the safety of developed assays. The accuracy of assay was examined by quantifying the anti HIV-1 potential of two commercial anti-AIDS drugs and the calculated activity for test agents was equal to previously known amounts