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Helicobacter pylori, a Gram-negative, microaerophilic bacterium that populates in the stomach, predominantly at the antrum. Helicobacter pylori causes a chronic inflammation of the mucoid lining of stomach and is highly related to the growth of duodenal and gastric ulcers and stomach cancer. Over 50% of the world's population harbor H. pylori in their upper gastrointestinal tract, infection is more prevalent in developing countries. Thus far, no ideal target H. pylori antigen has been developed for the diagnostic purpose. 23 kDa H. pylori outer membrane protein was identified with a good sensitivity and coverage in the diagnosis of H. pylori infection.

Uteroglobin (SCGB1A1) which belongs to the Secretoglobin (SCGBs) superfamily, is a multifunctional protein that exerts anti-inflammatory and anti-tumorigenic effects by binding small hydrophobic molecules such as phospholipids and prostaglandins. Uteroglobin is involved in numerous functions including anti-inflammation, inhibition of phospholipase A2 and the sequestering of hydrophobic ligands. SCGB1A1 is expressed by Clara cells, the non-ciliated, non-mucous secretory cells predominant in lung bronchioles, and by other epithelia which communicate with the external environment. On top of sequestering pro-inflammatory mediators and carcinogens, Uteroglobin is implicated in the inhibition of cell migration and invasion, platelet aggregation, and T cell differentiation. SCGB1A1 gene defects are associated with a susceptibility to asthma.

Twisted gastrulation Protein (TSG) is a secreted, cysteine-rich protein which has a role in dorsal/ventral patterning in Drosophila and Xenopus by regulating BMP signaling. TSG functions as an agonist for BMP signaling by controlling the inhibitory actions of the BMP antagonist, Chordin/Sog, and the cleavage properties of the metalloprotease, xolloid/tolloid. TSG N-terminal domain binds BMP protein directly and displays BMP antagonist activity.

Antigen 85A is a member of the antigen 85 complex (Antigen 85A, B, C). The enzymes of the antigen 85 complex have mycolyltransferase activity and catalyze the synthesis of the very rich glycolipid of the mycobacterial cell wall, the cord factor (trehalose 6,6'-dimycolate, TDM). The cord factor is vital for the integrity of the mycobacterial cell wall and pathogenesis of the bacillus. TDM is synthesized from two molecules of trehalose-6'-monomycolate (TMM) by Antigen 85A.

SCGN is a secreted calcium-binding protein which is found in the cytoplasm. It is related to calbindin D-28K and calretinin. Secretagogin is involved in KCL-stimulated calcium flux and cell proliferation.
Secretagogin plays a role in human non-functional pituitary adenomas.

Spermine synthase (SMS) is amember of the spermidine/spermine synthase family. SMS is an enzyme which converts spermidine into spermine. The SMS enzyme is essential for normal viability, growth and fertility involved in polyamine metabolism. Defects in the SMS gene are the cause of Snyder-Robinson syndrome (SRS), also known as X-linked mental retardation Snyder-Robinson type. SRS is categorized by moderate intellectual deficit, hypotonia, an unsteady gait, osteoporosis, kyphoscoliosis and facial asymmetry, its transmission is X-linked recessive.

Oligodendrocyte-myelin glycoprotein (OMG) is a cell membrane protein which contains 8 leucine-rich repeats. The OMG protein is expressed on the surface of oligodendrocytes and on large projection neurons, including Purkinje cells of the cerebellum, pyramidal cells of the hippocampus, motoneurons of the brainstem and anterior horn cells of the spinal cord. The neurite outgrowth inhibitory activities of all three myelin-derived proteins are mediated by binding to a joint receptor complex consisting of the Nogo receptor and the p75 neurotrophin receptor.

BST1 (Bone Marrow Stromal Cell Antigen 1), is a GPI (glycosylphosphatidylinositol) anchored membrane protein which is part of the CD38 family. BST1 was initially recognized as a bone marrow stromal cell molecule. BST1 is an ectoenzyme sharing more than a few features with ADP-ribosyl cyclase CD38. BST1 together with CD38, exhibit both DP-ribosyl cyclase and cyclinc ADP ribose hydrolase activities. BST1 participates in rheumatoid arthritis due to its enhanced expression in RA-derived bone marrow stromal cell lines. Moreover, BST1 is expressed by cells of the myeloid lineage and could perform as a receptor with a signal transduction capability.

FABP7 is a brain fatty acid binding protein. Fatty acid binding proteins (FABPs) are a family of small, highly conserved, cytoplasmic proteins that bind long-chain fatty acids and other hydrophobic ligands. FABPs are are inovlved in fatty acid uptake, transport, and metabolism. FABP7 is expressed in radial glia by the activation of Notch receptors and binds DHA with the highest affinity among all of FABPs. FABP7 plays an important role in transport of hydrophobic ligand with potential morphogenic activity during cns development. FABP7 is required for the establishment of the radial glial fiber system in developing brain, a system that is necessary for the migration of immature neurons to establish cortical layers (by similarity).

Fibroblast Growth Factor 14 (FGF14) belongs to the fibroblast growth factor (FGF) family. FGF family members have broad mitogenic and cell survival activities, and are involved in a various biological processes, including embryonic development, cell growth, morphogenesis, tissue repair, tumor growth and invasion. FGF14 gene mutation is linked with autosomal dominant cerebral ataxia.

Proteins of the TFF family are characterized by obtaining a minimum of 1 copy of the trefoil motif, a 40-amino acid domain that contains 3 conserved disulfides. Trefoil Factors are stable secretory proteins expressed in gastrointestinal mucosa which protect the mucosa from insults, stabilize the mucus layer and affect healing of the epithelium.TFF2 inhibits gastric acid motility & secretion. TFF2 stabilizes glycoproteins in the mucus gel through interactions with carbohydrate side chains. TFF3 induces ciliogenesis and promotes airway epithelial ciliated cell differentiation, relatively through an epidermal growth factor receptor-dependent pathway. TFF3 overexpression is crucial for progression in mouse and human hepatocellular carcinogenesis. TFF-3 is normally expressed in hepatocellular carcinoma and its expression associates with tumor grade.

Kell blood group glycoprotein homolog or KEL, is an enzyme, part of the zinc endopeptidase of the neprilysin (NEP) group of proteins. KEL has a crucial part in the production of the potent bioactive ET-3, which also includes enzymes that are endothelin convertingenzymes (PEX, XCE, DINE &various NEP-like proteins). KEL uses a single disulfide bond to XK, a gated membranal transporter. The Kell antigen system that includes two proteins, is very crucial among blood group systems.

Procalcitonin is a peptide hormone mainly produced by the C cells of the thyroid and certain endocrine cells of the lung. Under normal expression conditions, procalcitonin is immediately cleaved into three specific fragments, an N terminal residue, calcitonin and katacalcin. Levels of unprocessed procalcitonin rise significantly after bacterial infection, trauma or shock.

Caltractin (CETN2) is a member of a family of calcium-binding proteins and is a structural component of the centrosome. CETN2 has a role in nucleotide excision repair via association with xeroderma pigmentosum group C protein, suggesting possible coupling of cell division and nucleotide excision repair.

Leukocyte Immunoglobulin Like Receptor B1 (LILRB1) is a member of the leukocyteimmunoglobulinlike receptor (LIR) family. LILRB1is expressed on immune cells, binds to MHC classI molecules on antigen-presenting cells and transduces a negative signal that inhibits stimulation of an immuneresponse. LILRB1 controls inflammatory responses and cytotoxicity to help focus the immune responseand limit autoreactivity. LILRB1 is also expressed on the surface of B cells and monocytes, subsets of NKcells, gamma δ T cells,memory/effector CD8+ T cells and monocyte-derived dendritic cells.

UPRT is a uracil phosphoribosyltransferase, that catalyzes the alteration of uracil and 5-phosphoribosyl-1-R-diphosphate to uridine monophosphate (UMP). This reaction is a significant part of nucleotide metabolism, specifically the pyrimidine salvage pathway. UPRT is restricted to the nucleus and cytoplasm and is a possible target for rational design of drugs to cure cancer and parasitic infections.

Histone H2A.Z (H2AFZ) belongs to the histone H2A family. Histones are basic nuclear proteins which are responsible for the nucleosome structure of the chromosomal fiber in eukaryotes. Nucleosomes consist of approximately 146 bp of DNA wrapped around a histone octamer composed of pairs of each of the four core histones (H2A, H2B, H3, and H4). H2AFZ is implicated in the formation of constitutive heterochromatin and vital for chromosome segregation during cell division. Moreover, variant Histone H2A, which takes the place of conventional H2A in a subset of nucleosomes. Studies in mice have demonstrated that this particular histone is essential for embryonic development and show that lack of functional histone H2A leads to embryonic lethality.

Myostatin (GDF-8), a member of the TGFbeta superfamily, is a potent and specific negative regulator of skeletal muscle mass. In serum, myostatin circulates as part of a latent complex containing myostatin propeptide and/or follistatin-related gene. The myostatin propeptide is known to bind and inhibit myostatin in vitro. This interaction is relevant in vivo, with a majority (>70%) of myostatin in serum bound to its propeptide. The myostatin propeptide is negative regulator of myostatin in vivo.

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.

The hematopoietic growth factor GM-CSF or granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor, stimulates the development of neutrophils & macrophages, enhance proliferation and development of early erythroid megakaryocytic & eosinophilic progenitor cells. GM-CSF is secreted from the fibroblasts, monocytes, T-lymphocytes & endothelial cells. This protein blocks the migration of neutrophils & induces the biological activity of mature end-cells.

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).