Development and application of ELISA for the detection of IgG antibodies to lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus.

Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) is a neglected human pathogen, which can cause severe illnesses in humans. The most vulnerable are the human foetus and immunosuppressed individuals. Since there is no commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the diagnosis of anti-LCMV antibodies in human sera, we developed a sandwich ELISA method detecting anti-nucleoprotein IgG antibodies, using a specific monoclonal anti-nucleoprotein antibody and cells persistently infected with LCMV strain MX as antigen. In the present study we show standardization of this ELISA protocol, determination of its clinical specificity and sensitivity and its application on 30 clinical samples from multiorgan donors. Comparison of these results to the indirect immunofluorescence antibody test (IFA) demonstrates that ELISA is more sensitive. The developed ELISA assay provides a fast, simple and efficient tool for the clinical detection of anti-nucleoprotein antibodies in human sera.

miR-155 as a diagnostic and prognostic marker in hematological and solid malignancies.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small RNAs that have emerged as potent regulators of the target genes messenger RNAs expression in the response of cell to both physiological and pathophysiological conditions. Reflecting pathological processes today, miRNAs are widely validated for their potential role in diagnostic, prognostic and novel therapeutic targeting for cancerous and other diseases. miR-155 is considered as a typical multifunctional miRNA including its role as oncomiR (cancer-associated miRNA). Expression of miR-155 is upregulated in cells with high proliferative activity and decreased apoptotic capability. It belongs to cluster of well-characterized tumor associated miRNAs detectable also in the peripheral blood. In this review we summarize the principles of miR-155 host gene expressional regulation, as well as its role in regulation of the target genes mRNAs. Altered expression of miR-155 has been described in multiple cancerous and other diseases, reflecting staging, progress and treatment outcomes. Therefore, miR-155 became a potential biomarker and candidate for clinical utilization as predictor of the presence of cancer, its staging and prognosis.

Ovine herpesvirus 1 (OVHV-1) thymidine kinase locus sequence analysis: evidence that OVHV-1 belongs to the Macavirus genus of the Gammaherpesvirinae subfamily.

The HindIII-HincII fragment of the 5.5 kbp H11 HindIII clone of ovine herpesvirus 1 (OvHV-1) was cloned and its primary structure was determined by preparation of nested deletion subclones and their sequencing. Sequence analysis of the overlapping clones revealed that 3239 bp OvHV-1 fragment contains complete thymidine kinase (TK) gene, a partial open reading frame of ORF20 and that encoding glycoprotein H (gH). The conserved OvHV-1 TK displayed the highest similarity to homologous TK proteins encoded by members of the Macavirus genus of the Gammaherpesvirinae subfamily. These data including our previous analysis of the partial sequence of VP23 homologue might serve as further evidence that OvHV-1 should be categorized within the genus Macavirus of the Herpesviridae family.