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Oncostatin M is a member of a cytokine family that includes leukemia-inhibitory factor, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, and interleukin 6. This gene encodes a growth regulator which inhibits the proliferation of a number of tumor cell lines. It regulates cytokine production, including IL-6, G-CSF and GM-CSF from endothelial cells.

Factor that is thought to be a regulator of hematopoiesis. It has been shown to enhance the growth of human mast cells and megakaryoblastic leukemic cells as well as murine helper t-cell clones. IL-9 is a glycoprotein with a molecular weight of 32-39 that is derived from T-cells, and maps to human chromosome 5.

The protein encoded by this gene is a cytokine that acts as a growth and differentiation factor for both B cells and eosinophils. IL5is a main regulator of eosinopoiesis, eosinophil maturation and activation. The elevated production of IL5is reported to be related to asthma or hypereosinophilic syndromes. The receptor of IL5is a heterodimer, whose beta subunit is shared with the receptors for interleukine 3 (IL3) and colony stimulating factor 2 (CSF2/GM-CSF). IL5, together with those for interleukin 4 (IL4), interleukin 13 (IL13), and CSF2, form a cytokine gene cluster on chromosome 5. IL5, IL4, and IL13 are found to be regulated coordinately by long-range regulatory elements spread over 120 kilobases on chromosome 5q31.

Killer Cell Lectin-like Receptor Subfamily G, Member 1 (KLRG1) is a member of the killer cell lectin-like receptor (KLR) family, which is a group of transmembrane proteins preferentially expressed in NK cells. Natural killer (NK) cells are lymphocytes which mediate lysis of certain tumor cells and virus-infected cells without previous activation. NK cells can also regulate specific humoral and cell-mediated immunity. The cell surface expression of KLRG1 is up-regulated by MHC class I molecules expression.

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).

The cytokine Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) has been identified to be secreted by the pituitary gland and the monocyte/macrophage and to play an important role in endotoxic shock. MIF has the unique property of being released from macrophages and T cells in response to physiological concentrations of glucocorticoids. The secretion of MIF is tightly regulated and decreases at high, anti-inflammatory steroid concentration.

EBI3 has an induced expression in B lymphocytes in reaction to Epstein-Barr virus infection. EBI3 encodes a secreted glycoprotein belonging to the hematopoietin receptor family, and heterodimerizes with a 28 kDa protein to form iIL-27. EBI3 drives rapid clonal expansion of naive cd4(+) t-cells. EBI3 strongly synergizes with IL-12 to activate IFN-gamma production of naive cd4(+) t-cells. EBI3 mediates its biologic effects through the cytokine receptor wsx-1/tccr.

Interleukin-1b is produced by activated macrophages, IL-1B stimulates thymocyte proliferation by inducing il-2 release, b-cell maturation and proliferation, and fibroblast growth factor activity. IL1B proteins are involved in the inflammatory response, being identified as endogenous pyrogens, and are reported to stimulate the release of prostaglandin from synovial cells.

Tumor necrosis factor is a cytokine involved in systemic inflammation and is a member of a group of cytokines that all stimulate the acute phase reaction. TNF is mainly secreted by macrophages.
TNF causes apoptotic cell death, cellular proliferation, differentiation, inflammation, tumorigenesis and viral replication, TNF is also involved in lipid metabolism, and coagulation. TNF's primary role is in the regulation of immune cells.
Dysregulation and, in particular, overproduction of TNF have been implicated in a variety of human diseases- autoimmune diseases, and cancer.

SARS Coronavirus is an enveloped virus containing three outer structural proteins, namely the membrane (M), envelope (E), and spike (S) proteins. Spike (S)-glycoprotein of the virus interacts with a cellular receptor and mediates membrane fusion to allow viral entry into susceptible target cells. Accordingly, S-protein plays an important role in virus infection cycle and is the primary target of neutralizing antibodies.
It has recently been shown that SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) is caused by a human coronavirus. Human coronaviruses are the major cause of upper respiratory tract illness, such as the common cold, in humans. Coronaviruses are positive-stranded RNA viruses, featuring the largest viral RNA genomes known to date (27-31 kb). The first step in coronavirus infection is binding of the viral spike protein, a 139-kDa protein, to certain receptors on host cells. The spike protein is the main surface antigen of the coronavirus. The glycosilated spike protein (as well as the nucleocapsid protein) can be detected in infected cell culture supernatants with antisera from SARS patients.

HIV-1 and HIV-2 appear to package their RNA differently. HIV-1 binds to any appropriate RNA whereas HIV-2 preferentially binds to mRNA which creates the Gag protein itself. This means that HIV-1 is better able to mutate. HIV-2 is transmitted in the same ways as HIV-1: Through exposure to bodily fluids such as blood, semen, tears and vaginal fluids. Immunodeficiency develops more slowly with HIV-2.
HIV-2 is less infectious in the early stages of the virus than with HIV-1.
The infectiousness of HIV-2 increases as the virus progresses.
Major differences include reduced pathogenicity of HIV-2 relative to HIV-1, enhanced immune control of HIV-2 infection and often some degree of CD4-independence. Despite considerable sequence and phenotypic differences between HIV-1 and 2 envelopes, structurally they are quite similar. Both membrane-anchored proteins eventually form the 6-helix bundles from the N-terminal and C-terminal regions of the ectodomain, which is common to many viral and cellular fusion proteins and which seems to drive fusion.
HIV-1 gp41 helical regions can form more stable 6-helix bundles than HIV-2 gp41 helical regions however HIV-2 fusion occurs at a lower threshold temperature (25°C), does not require Ca2+ in the medium, is insensitive to treatment of target cells with cytochalasin B, and is not affected by target membrane glycosphingolipid composition.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis, a member of the Mycobacteriaceae family, is an important infectious pathogenic bacteria and the cause for most cases of tuberculosis. It is the second common cause of death from an infectious disease in the world. Diagnosis using patient’s specimen culture of M. tuberculosis are still considered gold standard, but it is expensive and time-consuming. RV-1681 is a protein released from M. tuberculosis on infected organ, which filtrates through into the urine after circulating in the blood flow, to the kidney.RV-1681 is considered to be a reliable marker for M. tuberculosis diagnosis allowing easy low cost and time saving urine testing to screen large population for M. tuberculosis infection.

Astroviruses are the main cause of gastroenteritis in children and elderly adults. Astroviruses are associated with 5–9% of cases of gastroenteritis in young children. The virus is found in faecal matter and in epithelial intestinal cells. Astrovirus’s main transmission is by contaminated food or water.

EBNA1BP2 is a part of the EBP2 family which is required for the processing of the 27S pre-rRNA. EBNA1BP2 interacts with EBV EBNA1. EBNA1-EBP2 interaction is essential for the stable segregation of EBV episomes throughout cell division.

The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), also called Human herpes virus 4 (HHV-4), is a virusof the herpes family(which includes Herpes simplex virusand Cytomegalovirus. On infecting the B-lymphocyte, the linear virus genome circularizes and the virus subsequently persists within the cell as an episome. The virus can execute several distinct programs of gene expressionwhich can be broadly categorized as being lytic cycle or latent cycle. The lytic cycleor productive infection results in staged expression of a host of viral proteinswith the ultimate objective of producing infectious virions. Formally, this phase of infection does not inevitably lead to lysis of the host cellas EBV virions are produced by budding from the infected cell. The latent cycle(lysogenic) programs are those that do not result in production of virions. A very limited, distinct set of viral proteins are produced during latent cycle infection. These include Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen(EBNA)-1, EBNA-2, EBNA-3A, EBNA-3B, EBNA-3C, EBNA-leader protein (EBNA-LP) and latent membrane proteins(LMP)-1, LMP-2A and LMP-2B and the Epstein-Barr encoded RNAs(EBERs).

All three VEGF receptors belong to the class III subfamily of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) characterised by the seven immunoglobulin-like loops in the extracellular domain. The expression of VEGFR-1 to -3 is almost exclusively restricted to hematopoietic precursor cells, vascular and lymphatic endothelial cells and to the monocyte/macrophage lineage. They play key roles in vasculogenesis, hematopoiesis, angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis. The FLT-4 cDNA encodes a 1298 amino acid (aa) residue precursor protein with a 23 aa residue signal peptide. Mature VEGFR-3/FLT-4 is composed of a 751 aa residue extracellular domain, a 22 aa transmembrane domain and a 482 aa residue cytoplasmic domain. Both VEGF family members VEGF-C and VEGF-D have been shown to bind and activate VEGFR-3/FLT-4. The Flt-4 gene is widely expressed in the early embryo but becomes restricted to the lymphatic endothelial a latter stages of development. It is important for lymphangiogenesis.

Il-6 is a cytokine with a wide variety of biological functions: it plays an essential role in the final differentiation of b-cells into ig-secreting cells, it induces myeloma and plasmacytoma growth, it induces nerve cells differentiation, in hepatocytes it induces acute phase reactants.

Poliovirus receptor, also known as PVR, is a Type I transmembrane glycoprotein which belongs to the immunoglobulin superfamily. PVR catalyzes a big structural modification in the virus which exposes membrane-binding protein chains. PVR regulates helper T cell differentiation as well as allergic diseases. PVR is expressed in many kinds of human cells and has various functions. PVR is potentially functional as a biomarker for cancer development as well as progression. PVR takes a vital part through both immunological & non-immunological mechanisms in pancreatic cancer.

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).

IL-12 is a heterodimeric cytokine that stimulates the production of interferon gamma from T-cells and natural killer cells, and also induces differentiation of Th1 helper cells. It is an initiator of cell-mediated immunity.

Human papillomavirus family consist of over 200 types. Over than 30 to 40 types of HPV are transferred via sexual contact and infect the anogenital region initiating genital warts. Persistent infection with "high-risk" HPV types results in skin warts and leads to precancerous lesions and invasive cancer. HPV infection is considered as a source for all incidents of cervical cancer.

Treponema pallidum is a gram-negative spirochaete bacterium and is considered to be metabolically crippled. There are at least four known subspecies: T. pallidum pallidum, T. pallidum pertenue, T. pallidum carateum and T. pallidum endemicum. The helical structure of T. pallidum pallidum allows it to move in a corkscrew motion through viscous mediums such as mucus. Treponema pallidum sub sp. pallidum has one of the smallest bacterial genomes at 1.14 million base pairs (Mb) and has limited metabolic capabilities, reflecting its adaptation through genome reduction to the rich environment of mammalian tissue.

IFN-tau is also known as TP-1 (trophoblast protein-1) is a new class of type I IFN that is secreted by the trophoblast and is the signal for maternal recognition of pregnancy in sheep. IFN- tau has potent immunosuppressive and antiviral activities similar to other type I IFN but is less cytotoxic than IFN-alpha and IFN-beta. The current investigation concerns the effect of recombinant ovine IFN- tau (rOIFN- tau) on the modulation of MHC class I and II expression on cloned mouse cerebrovascular endothelial (CVE) cells.
IFN-tau induced tyrosine phosphorylation of Stat1 and upregulated the expression of MHC class I on CVE. One proposed action by which type I IFN reduces the relapse rate in MS is via interference with IFN-?-induced MHC class II expression. IFN- tau was shown to downregulate IFN-?-induced MHC class II expression on CVE and, hence, may be of potential therapeutic value in downregulating inflammation in the central nervous system (CNS). IFN- tau did not upregulate the expression of MHC class II on CVE. IFN- tau also inhibited the replication of Theiler's virus in CVE.