ABSTRACT
Recombinant baculoviruses (recBV) were constructed with dual cassettes for constitutive expression of human IgG Fc following infection of insect cells and the structural proteins of hepatitis C virus (core, E1 and E2) following transduction of mammalian cells. The IgG Fc was expressed in insect cells as a fusion protein with the signal sequence and transmembrane region of either the native baculovirus envelope protein gp64 or the human transferrin receptor as a type I or type II integral membrane protein, respectively. The IgG Fc fusion proteins formed functional homodimers on the surface of recBV-infected insect cells and were incorporated into the envelope of recBV particles during egress from the infected cell. Both pseudotyped recBV bound specifically to recombinant soluble FcgammaRIIalpha receptor and to cell lines and antigen-presenting cells expressing Fc receptors (FcRs). These novel baculoviral vectors, which target cells of the immune system that express FcRs, have potential applications for vaccination or gene therapy.
Subject(s)
Antigen-Presenting Cells/immunology , Baculoviridae/genetics , Baculoviridae/immunology , Immunoglobulin Fc Fragments/genetics , Immunoglobulin G/genetics , Receptors, Fc/immunology , Receptors, Transferrin/genetics , Animals , Cell Line , DNA Primers , Flow Cytometry , Hepacivirus/genetics , Humans , Immunoglobulin Fc Fragments/immunology , Insecta/virology , Plasmids/genetics , Recombinant Fusion Proteins/immunology , Spodoptera/immunology , Viral Structural Proteins/geneticsABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To identify factors that influenced medical students at Monash University to undertake their first year of clinical training (third year of the medical course) at a rural clinical school (RCS). DESIGN: Third-year Monash University medical students undertaking clinical placements at a RCS were surveyed in 2005. A semistructured questionnaire was used to ask students to rate the influence of a list of factors on their decision to undertake their year-long placement at a RCS. RESULTS: Under half (48%) of students studying at an RCS reported that they were of rural background. All surveyed items were identified as having had a positive influence. Greater clinical experience, learning opportunities and patient access were identified as having the greatest positive influence followed closely by free accommodation and other financial and supportive incentives. Future rural career intention was eight times more likely to be a positive influence in rural compared with urban background students. CONCLUSION: The most important positive influence on Monash third-year medical students' decision to study at an RCS is the perception of high-quality clinical experiences and education. This perception arises from rural exposure during pre-clinical years.
