HCV NS3 protease variants resistant to the protease inhibitor SCH 503034 were selected. Three mutations, T54A, V170A and A156S mutations conferred low to moderate levels of resistance (<20-fold). Longer exposure (>10 passages) or selection with higher levels of compound led to the selection of a more resistant variant, A156T (>100-fold). [Lin, C., Lin, K., Luong, Y.P., Rao, B.G., Wei, Y.Y., Bre...

Mutations in the PIK3CA gene are common in human cancers, including colon cancer. We compared two pairs of colon cancer cells (HCT116 and DLD1) bearing only the wild-type (WT) or mutant (MUT) PIK3CA allele for their survival capacity under stress conditions in vitro as well as their metastatic properties in an in vivo orthotopic model. When subjected to growth factor deprivation stress (GFDS), ...

Enterococcus faecalis aggregation substance (AS) mediates efficient bacterium-bacterium contact to facilitate plasmid exchange as part of a bacterial sex pheromone system. We have previously determined that AS promotes direct, opsonin-independent binding of E. faecalis to human neutrophils (PMNs) via complement receptor type 3 and other receptors on the PMN surface. We have now examined the fun...

Interferon-alpha + beta (IFN-alpha + beta) plays a central role in the specific resistance to influenza virus infection of those mice carrying the gene Mx (for review, see Haller, O. (1981) Curr. Topics Microbiol. Immun. 92, 25). Particularly, mouse IFN-alpha + beta induces a unique protein in cultivated Mx-bearing cells which is associated with a highly efficient and specific antiviral resista...

Babbitt is a white silvery alloy that composed of Tin, Lead, Copper and Antimony. This alloy is the most current bearing alloy in industrial applications. The characteristics of this alloy, such as high wearing resistance and low coefficient of friction, have converted it into a bearing cover. The target of this study is investigation on the effects of alloy elements on wearing and micro-struct...

It is well established that serum factors play a role in relapse of tumor diseases after removal of the primary tumor. The molecular nature of these factors and their mechanism of action remain unknown. We focused on host-related mechanisms to identify tumor-specific serum factors of mice bearing Ehrlich carcinoma, which have the potential to confer resistance towards tumor development. An expe...

Three clones of E. coli, one of which was harbouring a tetracycline resistance plasmid were inoculated together into the stomach of axenic mice. Without antibiotic selective pressure, the R-Plasmid bearing strain became dominant in the faeces of mice, while the R-plasmid free strain was eliminated. When the R-plasmid bearing strain was given to mice 4 days after the inoculation with the R-plasm...

The columns of frame structures are the key load-bearing components and the exterior columns are susceptible to attack in terrorist blasts. When subjected to blast loads, the columns would suffer a loss of bearing capacity to a certain extent due to the damage imparted which may lead to their collapse and even cause the progressive collapse of the whole structure . The concrete-filled steel col...