Search results

Zika virus (ZIKV) belongs to the family Flaviviridae and the genus Flavivirus, it is transmitted by daytime-active Aedes mosquitoes, such as A. aegypti and A. albopictus. The Zika virus is related to the dengue, yellow fever, Japanese encephalitis, and West Nile viruses. Much like the other flaviviruses, Zika virus is enveloped and icosahedral and has a nonsegmented, single-stranded, positive-sense RNA genome. Zika fever is an infection, which often causes no symptoms or only mild ones, like a mild form of dengue fever, and it is treated by rest. As of February 2016, there has been mounting evidence that Zika fever in pregnant women can cause abnormal brain development in their fetuses by mother-to-child transmission, which may result in miscarriage or microcephaly, however it is not yet known whether Zika virus causes microcephaly. Furthermore, a connection has been established with neurologic conditions in infected adults, including Guillain–Barre syndrome.

E-cadherin (uvomorulin, cell-CAM120/80) is a calcium dependent cell adhesion molecule expressed predominately in epithelial tissues. It plays an important role in the growth and development of cells via the mechanisms of control of tissue architecture and the maintenance of tissue integrity. Numerous studies have demonstrated that reduction and/or loss of Ecadherin expression in carcinomas correlates positively with the potential of these tumors for invasion and metastasis.

Interleukin-8 (IL-8) is a chemokine produced by macrophages and other cell types such as epithelial cells. It is also synthesized by endothelial cells, which store IL-8 in their storage vesicles, the Weibel-Palade bodies. When first encountering an antigen, the primary cells to encounter it are the macrophages who phagocytose the particle. Upon processing, they release chemokines to signal other immune cells to come in to the site of inflammation. IL-8 is one such chemokine. It serves as a chemical signal that attracts neutrophils at the site of inflammation, and therefore is also known as Neutrophil Chemotactic Factor.

Anthrax PA (Protective Antigen) and Anthrax LF (Lethal Factor), along with Anthrax EF (Edema Factor), are toxins produced by Bacillus anthracis. All three of the proteins must be present for toxicity to occur. It begins with the binding of PA to its cell-surface receptor, ATR (Anthrax Toxin Receptor), at which point PA is cleaved and the resulting 63 kD carboxyl-terminal fragment binds to LF and EF. LF is a protease that is known to cleave members of the mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MAPKK) family(2).

Chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 19 (CCL19) is a small cytokine belonging to the CC chemokine family that is also known as EBI1 ligand chemokine (ELC) and macrophage inflammatory protein-3-beta (MIP-3-beta). CCL19 is expressed abundantly in thymus and lymph nodes, with moderate levels in trachea and colonand low levels in stomach, small intestine, lung, kidney and spleen. The gene for CCL19 is located on human chromosome 9. This chemokine elicits its effects on its target cells by binding to the chemokine receptor chemokine receptor CCR7. It attracts certain cells of the immune system, including dendritic cellsand antigen-engaged B cells.

Placental Lactogen is a polypeptide hormone that is produced by the Syncytiotrophoblasts of the Placenta, also known as chorionic somatomammotropin. It has both GH and Prolactin activities on growth, lactation, and luteal steroid production. In women, placental lactogen secretion begins soon after implantation and increases to 1 g or more a day in late pregnancy. Placental lactogen is also an ins. antagonist.
Placental Lactogen Bovine is also capable of activating human and other heterologous GH receptors but not ruminat GH receptors.

HEXA is the alpha subunit of the lysosomal enzyme beta-hexosaminidase which, combined with the cofactor GM2 activator protein, catalyzes the degradation of the ganglioside GM2, and other molecules having N-acetyl hexosamines terminus. The two subunits composing Beta-hexosaminidase, alpha and beta, belong to the glycosyl hydrolases family and are encoded by distinct genes. Alpha subunit gene mutations can cause Tay-Sachs disease (GM2-gangliosidosis type I).

PDIA3 is an enzyme that belongs to the endoplasmic reticulum and interacts with lectin chaperones calreticulin and calnexin to modulate folding of newly synthesized glycoproteins. PDIA3 has protein disulfide isomerase activity. Complexes of lectins and PDIA3 mediate protein folding by promoting formation of disulfide bonds in their glycoprotein substrates. PDIA3 is expressed in the lumbar spinal cord from rats submitted to peripheral lesion during neonatal period. PDIA3 interacts with thiazide-sensitive sodium-chloride cotransporter in the kidney and is induced by glucose deprivation. PDIA3 is part of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I peptide-loading complex (TAP1), which is important for formation of the final antigen conformation and export from the endoplasmic reticulum to the cell surface.

LSM2 is a member of the snRNP Sm proteins family. Sm-like proteins are branded in several organisms based on sequence homology with the Sm protein family. Sm-like proteins hold the Sm sequence motif that is made up of 2 regions separated by a linker of variable length which folds as a loop. The Sm-like proteins are believed to create a steady heteromer present in tri-snRNP particles, which are vital for pre-mRNA splicing. LSM2 binds specifically to the 3'-terminal U-tract of U6 snRNA nad takes part in pre-mRNA splicing.

SARS Associated Coronavirus Spike is a causative agent of SARS virus. Diseases caused by Coronaviruses are usually controlled by CD8 T cells. The spike antigen is one of the main surface proteins on Coronavirus, therefore one of the main proteins that are candidates for vaccines.

A human infecting coronavirus (viral pneumonia) called 2019 novel coronavirus, 2019-nCoV was found in the fish market at the city of Wuhan, Hubei province of China on December 2019.

The 2019-nCoV shares an 87% identity to the 2 bat-derived severe acute respiratory syndrome 2018 SARS-CoV-2 located in Zhoushan of eastern China. 2019-nCoV has an analogous receptor-BD-structure to that of 2018 SARS-CoV, even though there is a.a. diversity so thus the 2019-nCoV might bind to ACE2 receptor protein (angiotensin-converting enzyme 2) in humans.

While bats are possibly the host of 2019-nCoV, researchers suspect that animal from the ocean sold at the seafood market was an intermediate host. RSCU analysis proposes that the 2019-nCoV is a recombinant within the viral spike glycoprotein between the bat coronavirus and an unknown coronavirus.

Interleukin-6 Signal Transducer or IL6ST is a receptor, part of the family of class 1 cytokine receptor. IL6ST binds to IL-6 through membrane-anchored or soluble IL-6R starts a connection between another complex of IL6ST and IL-6 , thus forming a homo-dimer and a signal transduction occurs.

STC2 is a homodimeric glycoprotein that is expressed in a wide variety of tissues and may have autocrine or paracrine functions. The encoded protein has 10 of its 15 cysteine residues conserved among stanniocalcin family members and is phosphorylated by casein kinase 2 exclusively on its serine residues. Its C-terminus contains a cluster of histidine residues which may interact with metal ions. The protein may play a role in the regulation of renal and intestinal calcium and phosphate transport, cell metabolism, or cellular calcium/phosphate homeostasis. Constitutive over expression of human stanniocalcin 2 in mice resulted in pre- and postnatal growth restriction, reduced bone and skeletal muscle growth, and organomegaly. Expression of this gene is induced by estrogen and altered in some breast cancers.

Ara h 2 comprises of 2 isoforms: Ara h 2.0101 and Ara h 2.0201. Ara h 2.0201 is the most important peanut allergen which binds IgE. Ara h 2.0201 is a Weak inhibitor of trypsin and is a conglutin storage protein which accounts together with Ara h 6.0101 for the majority of the IgE immune response.

Babesiosis is a disease caused by apicomplexan parasites of the Babesia genus. The Babesia microti life cycle involves 2 hosts, which include a rodent, mainly the white-footed mouse (Peromyscus leucopus) and a tick in the Ixodes genus. During a blood meal, a Babesia-infected tick introduces sporozoites into the mouse host. Sporozoites pass into the erythrocytes and undergo asexual reproduction (budding). In the blood, some parasites differentiate into male and female gametes, though these cannot be distinguished by light microscopy. The definitive host is the tick. Once ingested by an proper tick, gametes unite and undergo a sporogonic cycle resulting in sporozoites. Transovarial transmission (aka vertical or hereditary transmission) has been detected for "large" Babesia species but not for the "small" Babesia, such as B. microti. Humans enter the cycle when bitten by the infected ticks. Thus during a blood meal, a Babesia-infected tick introduces sporozoites into the human host. Sporozoites then enter erythrocytes and undergo asexual replication (budding). Multiplication of the blood-stage parasites is responsible for the clinical manifestations of the disease. Humans typically are dead-end hosts. However, human-to-human transmission is well acknowledged to occur via contaminated blood transfusions.

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

Receptors across the cell membrane interact with some viral glycoproteins therefor enabling HSV to enter the host cell. The HSV enter through pores created by the binding of particular receptors across the cell membrane with the virus's coating envelope, following by a fusion of the HSV and the host cell. HSV enters the host cell through the same mechanism and stages as other viruses do. Initially, matching receptors across the virus's envelope and host cell's membrane interacts and bring the two together. During the transitional stage, begins fusion between the host cell and virus (hemifusion state). The closing stage happens when a steady pore was made; through these pores the virus's particles enter the cell.

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.

Troponin I (TnI), troponin T (TnT) and troponin C (TnC) form the troponin complex of the thin filaments of striated muscle. TnI is acts as the inhibitory subunit by blocking actin-myosin interactions and thereby mediating striated muscle relaxation. The TnI subfamily contains 3 genes: TnI-skeletal-fast-twitch, TnI-skeletal-slow-twitch, and TnI-cardiac. The TNNI3 gene encodes the TnI-cardiac protein and is exclusively expressed in cardiac muscle tissues. Mutations in the TNNI3 gene cause familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy type 7 (CMH7) and familial restrictive cardiomyopathy (RCM).

Ornithine aminotransferase is a key enzyme in the pathway that converts arginine and ornithine into the major excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters glutamate and GABA. Ornithine aminotransferase (OAT) is a 49kDa nucleus-encoded protein imported into mitochondria to give the mature 48kDa OAT polypeptide. It is found in humans, animals, insects, plants and microorganisms. The OAT has a sex-differential expression in the mouse kidney. OAT plays central physiological roles in amino acid metabolism. OAT shows a large structural and mechanistic similarity to other enzymes from the subgroup III of aminotransferases that transfer an amino group from a carbon atom which doesn’t carry a carboxyl function. OAT is vital for nitrogen recycling from arginine but not for the stress-induced proline accumulation. OAT enzyme deficiency causes the autosomal recessive eye disease Gyrate Atrophy.