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Human norovirus is classified into two groups, group 1& group 2. Norwalk virus is the species which belongs to group 1 and was discovered in 1968 at Ohio. Norovirus is a familiar virus which causes human gastroenteritis with the following symptoms vomiting, diarrhea and sickness. CDC report revealed that there are 19-21 million Americans infected by Nororvirus annually with 800 deaths, 1 in 15 people with infection. Around the world, this virus affects about 267 million people and causes over 200,000 deaths each year; these losses are mostly in less developed countries and in the very young, elderly and immuno-suppressed population, though, most cases are self-limited with a full recovery within just a few days. Norovirus is extremely contagious and can spread from human to human through infected food, water or contaminated surfaces. The outbreaks usually occur from November-April, while the peak is in January. Norovirus is a positive sense RNA virus with 7.5 kb nucleotides, encoding a major structural protein VP1 with 50-55kDa. The full length of VP1 capsid comprises the internal N-terminal, Hinge, shell (S) and protruding (P) domains. P domain from 225 to 520 forms P1- P2-P1 structure. Moreover, P domain has a receptor binding region which recognizes human histo-blood group antigens (HBGAs). P domain expressed in bacteria can spontaneously form a P dime as well as a P particle aggregated by 12 P dimmers. P particle displays an increased binding activity to HBGAs higher than virus-like particle (VLP) formed by the full-length capsid. For norovirus vaccine development, we consider P domain as a good candidate.

Chitinase 3-Like 1 (CHI3L1) catalyze the hydrolysis of chitin that is an abundant glycopolymer present in insect exoskeletons and fungal cell walls. The glycoside hydrolase 18 family of chitinases comprises 8 human family members. CHI3L1 belongs to the glycosyl hydrolase 18 family. CHI3L1 lacks chitinase activity and is secreted by activated macrophages, chondrocytes, neutrophils and synovial cells. CHI3L1 takes part in the process of inflammation and tissue remodeling.

IL3 is a potent growth promoting cytokine. This cytokine is capable of supporting the proliferation of a broad range of hematopoietic cell types. It is involved in a variety of cell activities such as cell growth, differentiation and apoptosis. This cytokine has been shown to also possess neurotrophic activity, and it may be associated with neurologic disorders.

Cardiotrophin 1 (CT-1) is a 201 amino acid member of the interleukin-6 superfamily. It was identified by its ability to induce hypertrophic response in cardiac myocytes. CT-1 mRNA levels were found both in cardiac myocytes and in cardiac nonmyocytes. CT 1 was also detected in abundance in normal adult human lung and was expressed in both fetal and adult airway smooth muscle cells. CT 1 activates gp130 dependent signaling and stimulates the Janus kinase/signal transducers and activators of transcription (JAK/STAT) pathway to transduce hypertrophic and cytoprotective signals in cardiac myocytes.
CT 1 has also a neurotrophic function. CTF1 deficiency causes increased motoneuron cell death in spinal cord and brainstem nuclei of mice during a period between embryonic day 14 and the first postnatal week. Moreover, CT-1 is a hepatocyte survival factor that efficiently reduces hepatocellular damage in animal models of acute liver injury. Cardiotrophin 1 expression is augmented after hypoxic stimulation and it can protect cardiac cells when added either prior to simulated ischaemia or at the time of reoxygenation following simulated ischaemia. Cardiotrophin 1 can induce expression of the protective heat shock proteins (hsps) in cardiac cells.
Cardiotrophin-1 increased ventricular expression of ANP, brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and angiotensinogen mRNA.
Cardiophin 1 levels were significantly elevated in patients with heart failure, patients with dilatative cardiomyopathy, moderate/severe mitral regurgitation, stable and unstable angina and after acute myocardial infarction.

Chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 8 (CCL8) is a small cytokine belonging to the CC chemokine family that was once called monocyte chemotactic protein-2 (MCP-2). The CCL8 protein is produced as a precursor containing 109 amino acids, which is cleaved to produce mature CCL8 containing 75 amino acids. The gene for CCL8 is encoded by 3 exons and is located within a large cluster of CC chemokines on chromosome 17q11.2 in humans. MCP-2 is chemotactic for and activates a many different immune cells, including mast cells, eosinophils and basophils, (that are implicated in allergic responses), and monocytes, T cells, and NK cells that are involved in the inflammatory response. CCL8 elicits its effects by binding to several different cell surface receptors called chemokine receptors. These receptors include CCR1, CCR2B and CCR5.

LRG1 belongs to the leucine-rich repeat (LRR) family of proteins, which have been shown to be involved in protein-protein interaction, signal transduction, and cell adhesion and development. The LRG1 is expressed during granulocyte differentiation.

BCL2 Like 10 (BCL2L10) is a member of the BCL-2 protein family. BCL2 family members form hetero or homodimers and serve as anti or pro-apoptotic regulators which are involved in a wide variety of cellular activities. BCL2L10 includes the conserved BH4, BH1 and BH2 domains. BCL2L10 interacts with other members of BCL2 protein family including BCL2, BCL2L1/BCL-X(L), and BAX. BCL2L10 overexpression suppresses cell apoptosis possibly through the prevention of cytochrome C release from the mitochondria, and consequently activating caspase-3 activation.

HCV is a small 50nm, enveloped, single-stranded, positive sense RNAvirus in the family Flaviviridae.
HCV has a high rate of replication with approximately one trillion particles produced each day in an infected individual. Due to lack of proofreading by the HCV RNA polymerase, the HCV has an exceptionally high mutation rate, a factor that may help it elude the host's immune response. Hepatitis C virus is classified into six genotypes(1-6) with several subtypes within each genotype. The preponderance and distribution of HCV genotypes varies globally. Genotype is clinically important in determining potential response to interferon-based therapy and the required duration of such therapy. Genotypes 1 and 4 are less responsive to interferon-based treatment than are the other genotypes (2, 3, 5 and 6).

Cystatins are a superfamily of cysteine proteinase inhibitors found in both plants and animals. They comprise a group of proteinase inhibitors, widely distributed in tissues and body fluids, and form tight complexes with cysteine proteases such as cathepsin B, H, L and S. Cystatin C, a secreted molecule of this family, is of interest from biochemical, medicine and evolutionary points of view. Cystatin C, with molecular weight of 13260 Da, is composed of 120 amino acids, lacks carbohydrate and has two disulfide bridges located near the carboxyl terminus. Cystatin C is increased in patients with malignant diseases, and is related to the insufficiency of renal function and appears to be a better marker than creatinine. On the other hand, low levels of cystatin C involve cause the breakdown of the elastic laminae and, subsequently, the atherosclerosis and abdominal aortic aneurysm.

ANGPTL3 and ANGPTL4 are angiopoietin-like proteins secreted and expressed mainly by the liver, their role being the regulation of triglyceride metabolism by inhibiting the lipolysis of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins. During different nutritional states (feeding/fasting) the levels of the circulating triglycerides are regulated by Angptl3 and Angptl4 through differential inhibition of Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) as shown by the experimental data. The molecular structure of ANGPTL3 is similar to that of the angiopoietins (vascular endothelial growth factors). Deletion mutants of human Angiopoietin 5 were used in order to demonstrate that the N-terminal domain (fragment 17-207) and not the C-terminal fibrinogen-like domain (fragment 207-460) increased the plasma triglyceride levels in mice.

Zinc-alpha-2-glycoprotein (AZGP1) protein stimulates lipid degradation in adipocytes and causes the massive fat losses linked with various advanced cancers. AZGP1 may bind polyunsaturated fatty acids.

Interleukin-3 is a pleiotropic cytokine produced primarily by activated T cells. IL-3 is thought to function via specific cell surface receptors to stimulate the proliferation, differentiation and survival of haematopoietic cell lines. IL-3 has also been shown to affect the functional activity of a variety of other cell types including mast cells, eosinophils, megakaryocytes and basophils.

BCL2 gene encodes an integral outer mitochondrial membrane protein that blocks the apoptotic death of some cells such as lymphocytes. Constitutive expression of BCL2, such as in the case of translocation of BCL2 to Ig heavy chain locus, is thought to be the cause of follicular lymphoma. Two transcript variants, produced by alternate splicing, differ in their C-terminal ends.

BCL2 gene encodes an integral outer mitochondrial membrane protein that blocks the apoptotic death of some cells such as lymphocytes. Constitutive expression of BCL2, such as in the case of translocation of BCL2 to Ig heavy chain locus, is thought to be the cause of follicular lymphoma. Two transcript variants, produced by alternate splicing, differ in their C-terminal ends.

BCL2 gene encodes an integral outer mitochondrial membrane protein that blocks the apoptotic death of some cells such as lymphocytes. Constitutive expression of BCL2, such as in the case of translocation of BCL2 to Ig heavy chain locus, is thought to be the cause of follicular lymphoma. Two transcript variants, produced by alternate splicing, differ in their C-terminal ends.

Chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 14 (CCL14) is a small cytokine belonging to the CC chemokine family. It is also commonly known as HCC-1. It is produced as a protein precursor that is procesed to generate a mature active protein containing 74 amino acids that and is 46% identical in amino acid composition to CCL3 and CCL4. This chemokine is expressed in various tissues including spleen, bone marrow, liver, muscle, and gut. CCL13 activates monocytes, but does not induce their chemotaxis. Human CCL13 is located on chromosome 17 within a cluster of other chemokines belonging to the CC family.

BAG3 Inhibits the chaperone activity of HSP70/HSC70 by promoting substrate release. BAG3 has anti-apoptotic activity. BAG proteins participate with Hip for their binding to Hsc70/Hsp70 ATPase domain and encourage substrate release. BAG proteins have about 45 amino acid BAG domain close to the C terminus however they differ noticeably in their N-terminal regions. BAG3 includes a WW domain in the N-terminal region and a BAG domain in the C-terminal region. The BAG domains of BAG1, BAG2, and BAG3 interact particularly with the Hsc70 ATPase domain in vitro and in mammalian cells. They bind with high affinity to the ATPase domain of Hsc70 and inhibit its chaperone activity in a Hip-repressible manner. BAG3 plays a role as a protein-refolding cochaperone of the bcl2 binding protein BAG family and as upregulated in response to persistent stress of cellular calcium balance dysregulation. BAG3 has been shown to diminish stress-induced apoptosis.

Microtubule-associated proteins 1A/1B light chain 3 beta 2 (MAP1LC3B2) is a member of the MAP1LC3 family. MAP1LC3B2 is a subunit of neuronal microtubule-associated MAP1A and MAP1B proteins, which are involved in microtubule assembly and essential for neurogenesis. The MAP1LC3B2 protein is possibly involved in formation of autophagosomal vacuoles (autophagosomes). MAP1LC3B2 is expressed primarily in the heart, testis, brain and skeletal muscle.

ROBLD3 is a member of the GAMAD family. ROBLD3 is an adapter protein which enhances the efficiency of the MAP kinase cascade and facilitates the activation of MAPK2. ROBLD3 compels the recruitment of MP1 to late endosomes where they form a very stable heterodimeric complex required for ERK activation on endosomes. In humans, a mutation in the ROBLD3 gene has been associated with a primary immunodeficiency syndrome, and suggests a role for the ROBLD3 protein in endosomal biogenesis.

DnaK, originally identified for its DNA replication by bacteriophage l in E. coli is the bacterial hsp70 chaperone. This protein is involved in the folding and assembly of newly synthesized polypeptide chains and in preventing the aggregation of stress-denatured proteins.The protein coding region of the substrate binding domain of DnaK (amino acids 385-638) was amplified by PCR and cloned into an E. coli expression vector. The substrate binding domain of DNAK was purified to apparent homogeneity by using conventional column chromatography techniques. Additional amino acid (Met) is attached at N- terminus.

Calcipressin-3 (RCAN3) takes part in central nervous system development. RCAN3 inhibits calcineurin-dependent transcriptional responses by binding to the catalytic domain of calcineurin A. Overexpression of calcipressin-3 results in inhibition of calcineurin activity towards the nuclear factor of activated T-cells (NFAT) transcription factors and also downregulates NFAT-dependent cytokine gene expression in activated Jurkat T-cells. Highest expression takes place s in heart, skeletal muscle kidney, liver and peripheral blood leukocytes.

GSTM3 belongs to the glutathione s-transferase (GST) family of proteins. There are eight GST proteins families, named alpha, kappa, mu, omega, pi, sigma, theta and zeta. Each one of the GST families has several proteins with different functions throughout the cell. The mu type of enzymes takes part in the detoxification of electrophilic compounds, including therapeutic drugs, carcinogens, environmental toxins and products of oxidative stress, by conjugation with glutathione.

BCL2 gene encodes an integral outer mitochondrial membrane protein that blocks the apoptotic death of some cells such as lymphocytes. Constitutive expression of BCL2, such as in the case of translocation of BCL2 to Ig heavy chain locus, is thought to be the cause of follicular lymphoma. Two transcript variants, produced by alternate splicing, differ in their C-terminal ends.

C-type Lectin Domain Family 2, Member B (CLEC2B) belongs to the C-type lectin/C-type lectin-like domain (CTL/CTLD) superfamily. Members of the CTL/CTLD family share a common protein fold and have various functions, such as cell adhesion, cell-cell signaling, glycoprotein turnover, and roles in inflammation and immune response. The CLEC2B gene is closely connected to other CTL/CTLD superfamily members on chromosome 12p13 in the natural killer gene complex region. CLEC2B is expressed preferentially in lymphoid tissues, and in most hematopoietic cell types.