Bacterial peptidoglycan-derived muramyl dipeptide (MDP) and derivatives have long-recognized antiviral properties but their mechanism of action remains unclear. In recent years, the pattern-recognition receptor NOD2 has been shown to mediate innate responses to MDP. Here, we show that MDP treatment of mice infected with Influenza A virus (IAV) significantly reduces mortality, viral load and pul...

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of an experimental primer containing a microperoxidase (MP-11) with 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate on adhesive bonding of three different luting systems and dentin. The luting systems prepared were three etch-and-rinse systems (10-3/Super-Bond, 10-0/Super-Bond, 65PA/Super-Bond), a self-etching system (PanaviaF2.0), and a self-adhesive ...

Background: Silane-containing universal adhesives (UAs) are marketed as adhesion promotors for glass-ceramics. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the priming capacity of γ-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (γMPTS)-containing and γ-methacryloxypropyltriethoxysilane (γMPTES)/3-(aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES)-containing lithium disilicate ceramic (LDC). Materials Methods: Etched LDC di...

Background: Species identification in commercially processed food and feed products is one of the important issues. This study was conducted to develop a genetic method for the detection of pig and cattle species in processed food and feed products using newly designed species-specific primers targeting mitochondrial 12S rRNA gene fragments. Methods: Two sets of specific primers were designed ...

BACKGROUND Robust designs of PCR-based molecular diagnostic assays rely on the discrimination potential of sequence variants affecting primer-to-template annealing. However, for accurate quantitative PCR (qPCR) assessment of gene expression in populations with gene polymorphisms, the effects of sequence variants within primer binding sites must be minimized. This dichotomy in PCR applications p...

A nine-month old male child presented with low-grade fever, loose stools and facial puffiness. Clinically patient was otherwise normal except for a firm liver on palpation. The laboratory tests revealed hypoproteinemia (both albumin and globulin) and iron deficiency anemia. Differential diagnosis considered were: 1. Nephrotic syndrome, 2. Cystic fibrosis (in view of recurrent diarrhea and respi...

Background: Nucleotide binding oligomerisation domain 2 (NOD2; also known as CARD15) mutations are associated with Crohn’s disease but how mutations cause disease is poorly understood. Innate immune responses are reportedly enhanced by combined NOD2 ligand (muramyl dipeptide, MDP) and Toll-like receptor 4 ligand (TLR4, lipopolysaccharide) stimulation. Intestinal TLR signalling has a dual role— ...

The adjuvant and tumor-suppressive activities of the quinonyl [2,3-dimethoxy-5-methyl-6-(9'-carboxynonyl)-1,4-benzoquinone (QS-10)] derivatives of N-acetyl muramyl dipeptides were examined. N-Acetyl muramyl-L-valyl-D-isoglutamine (MurNac-L-Val-D-isoGln), QS-10-MurNAc-L-Val-D-isoGln, and their methyl esters were shown to have potent adjuvant activity on the induction of delayed-type hypersensiti...

Gram-negative vaccines can elicit the production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) in mice primed by muramyl dipeptide (MDP) or by its lipophilic derivative MDP-dipalmitoyl glycerol (MDP-GDP). In mice pretreated with MDP and particularly with MDP-GDP, Bordetella pertussis vaccine was shown to be more effective than typhoid vaccine. The time course of TNF production in the blood did not indicate an...