Hepatitis C virus (HCV) variation in specific T-cell epitopes may represent a mechanism of viral persistence in chronic infection. We examined the HCV non-structural protein 3 (NS3), including the immunologically relevant epitopes HCV NS3-2 KLVALGINAV (human leukocyte antigen [HLA]-A2-restricted) and HCV NS3-1391 LIFCHSKKK (HLA-A3-restricted), in 22 HLA-A2+ patients with chronic infection. Sign...

Background: Photo-electro-chemical (PEC) water splitting represents a promising technology towards an artificial photosynthetic device but many fundamental electronic processes, which govern long-term stability and energetics, are not yet fully understood. X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), particularly its high energy resolution fluorescence-d...

Background: pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) is one of the most global dangerous infectious diseases worldwide, particularly in developing countries. Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) agent that caused PTB transferred by air droplets from person to other. In present epidemiological study, we aimed ...

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) nonstructural protein 4B (NS4B), a poorly characterized integral membrane protein, is thought to function as a scaffold for replication complex assembly; however, functional interactions with the other HCV nonstructural proteins within this complex have not been defined. We report that a Con1 chimeric subgenomic replicon containing the NS4B gene from the closely related ...

Background: In the Clean Sky 2 project DIMES, cyclic loading of a section an A320 wing with pre-existing damage was carried out. Methods: We present Digital Image Correlation (DIC) prototype system to monitor crack propagation in aircraft wing. This includes mount for easy installation and adjustment confined space. ...

BACKGROUND To support clinical development of HCV non-structural protein (NS) 3 protease inhibitors (PIs), phenotypic monitoring of patient isolates is a prerequisite for understanding the emergence of resistance. HCV isolates typically fail to replicate in cell culture, necessitating the use of alternative phenotyping methods. METHODS An NS3 protease chimeric replicon system was developed to...

Growth and body size are regulated by the CNS, integrating the genetic developmental program with assessments of an animal's current energy state and environmental conditions. CNS decisions are transmitted to all cells of the animal by insulin/insulin-like signals. The molecular biology of the CNS growth control system has remained, for the most part, elusive. Here we identify NS3, a Drosophila...

We have tested the hypothesis that the flavivirus nonstructural protein NS3 is a viral proteinase that generates the termini of several nonstructural proteins by using an efficient in vitro expression system and monospecific antisera directed against the nonstructural proteins NS2B and NS3. A series of cDNA constructs was transcribed by using T7 RNA polymerase, and the RNA was translated in ret...

Background: Several personality traits have been linked to addictive behaviours, including smoking and excessive drinking. We hypothesised that the combination of low conscientiousness, high extraversion neuroticism would be synergistically associated with smoking, drinking both behaviours combined. Methods: Respondents aged 16+ ye...

Background: There is a scarcity of research concerning what it about arts engagement that may activate causal mechanisms leading to effects on health and wellbeing: their active ingredients. Further, the limited studies do exist have tended be relevant specific contexts types art forms. The aim this study was carry out comprehensive mapping potential ingredients, con...