Expression of the coronaviral gene 1 polyproteins, pp 1a and pp 1ab, involves a series of proteolytic events that are mediated by virus-encoded proteinases similar to cellular papain-like cysteine-proteinases and the 3C-like proteinases of picornaviruses. In this study, we have characterized, in vitro, the human coronavirus HCV 229E papain-like cysteine-proteinase PCP 1. We show that PCP 1 is a...

To analyze the degradation system in epidermal cells during their generation, differentiation, and cell death, immunocytochemical localization of lysosomal cysteine and aspartic proteinases, an endogenous cysteine proteinase inhibitor, cystatin beta, and ubiquitin were examined using rat sole skin. By confocal laser microscopy, granular immunodeposits for lysosomal proteinases were well demonst...

The process of normal bone remodeling requires the continual resorption and replacement of bone mineral and bone matrix proteins. Excessive bone resorption is a feature of a number of pathological conditions. These include osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis and Paget's disease [l]. Bone resorption is accomplished by the osteoclast. Osteoclasts attached to bone are highly polarised cells [2]. Th...

Leishmania infantum causes visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in the New World. The diagnosis of VL is confirmed by parasitological and serological tests, which are not always sensitive or specific. Our aim was to design new primers to perform a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) for detecting L. infantum. Sequences of the minicircle kinetoplast DNA (kDNA) were obtained from GenBank, and the FLC2/RLC2 pr...

BACKGROUND Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a protozoan diseases caused in Europe by Leishmania (L.) infantum. Asymptomatic Leishmania infection is more frequent than clinically apparent disease. Among HIV infected patients the risk of clinical VL is increased due to immunosuppression, which can reactivate a latent infection. The aims of our study were to assess the prevalence of asymptomatic L. ...

Cysteine proteases are involved in many physiological processes and their hyperactivity may lead to severe diseases. Nature has developed various strategies to protect cells and whole organisms against undesired proteolysis. One of them is the control of proteolytic activity by inhibition. This paper presents the mechanisms underlying the action of proteinaceous inhibitors of cysteine proteinas...

Seeds constitute a rich source of proteins that can inhibit specific enzyme groups. Thus far, the best characterised are inhibitors of enzymes which play an integral part in the germination process. These include the proteinase inhibitors, and as such they may play a role in the prevention of precocious germination. However, these proteins are members of multi-gene families which also encode is...

Leishmania infantum is known to be associated with visceral leishmaniasis in Iran and canids are natural reservoirs. Control of disease in dogs appears to be one of the most effective approaches for interrupting the domestic cycle of the disease. In search for successful vaccine strategies, we evaluated the cysteine proteinases (CPs) type I and II using a heterologous prime-boost regime for vac...

background: mediterranean visceral leishmaniasis (mvl) is an infectious disease that affects both human and ani­mals. domestic dogs ( canis familiaris ) are principal reservoir hosts of mvl caused by leishmania infantum . dogs are definitive hosts for neospora caninum and a risk factor for infecting intermediate hosts. the immunosuppression caused by visceral leishmaniasis (vl) can promote the ...