Enteroviruses in acute myocardial infarction

Human eiiteroviruses [EVs] may have a role as a possible risk factor in the pathogenesis of MI. The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of enterovirus genomic RNA in peripheral blood samples of patients with acute myocardial infarction [MI]. We investigated the presence of enterovirus genomic RNA in the peripheral blood of 115 patients with acute MI hospitalised in the Coronary Care Unit of Imam Reza and Ghaem University Hospitals [Mashhad, Iran] by RT-PCR using the virus specific primers. The subjects' mean [ +/- SD] age was 63.5 [ +/- 9.4] years [range: 38-82] and 38.3% of the subjects were female. Of 115 patient specimens, 3 [2.6%] were positive in RT-PCR. The prevalence of enterovirus in MI patients is considerable. More investigations are needed to determine the causal role of enteroviruses in MI

Production of human papilloma virus type 16 E6 oncoprotein as a recombinant protein in eukaryotic cells

Cervical cancer is one of the most important and widespread cancer which affects women. There are several causes of cervical cancer; among them HPV types 16 and 18 are the most prominent ones which are recurrent and persistent infections. These genotypes are currently about 70% of cervical cancer causes in developing countries. Due to the importance of these viruses in cervical cancer, we pioneered the production of Human Papilloma Virus type16 E6 oncoprotein as a recombinant protein in order to develop a vaccine. Two HPV oncoproteins, E6 and E7, are consistently expressed in HPV-associated cancer cells and are responsible for malignant transformation. These oncogenic proteins represent ideal target antigens for developing vaccine and immunotherapeutic strategies against HPV-associated neoplasm. In the present study, the cloned E6-oncoprotein of HPV16 in pTZ57R/TE6 vector was used to produce professional expression vector. The target gene was subcloned in a eukaryotic expression vector. The pcDNA3-E6 vector was propagated in E.coli strain DH5 alpha and transfected into CHO cells 72 hours posttransfection. The transfected cells were harvested; mRNA detection and the interest protein production were confirmed by western blot analysis using specific anti E6 monoclonal antibody. HPV16-E6 target protein recognized by specific antibody could be an appropriate form of protein, which can be used for further studies. Due to potential effect of this protein, its DNA construction can be used for DNA vaccine in future studies