Objective To screen and identify proteins that interact with the hepatitis C virus core protein by means of T7-phage display system. Methods The hepatitis C virus core protein was expressed by prokaryotic expression and used as selected molecule to biopan the T7 human liver cDNA library. The selected positive clones were identified by DNA sequence and analyzed with BLAST program in GenBank. Results After BLAST in all positive clones, one protein--Smad interacting protein 1 (SIP1) was found to interact with the hepatitis C virus core protein. Conclusion T7-phage display system is a convenient, rapid and effective method for screening interacting proteins.

OBJECTIVETo generate a mouse model of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) infection by performing in vivo transduction of hepatitis B virus (HBV) covalently closed circular (ccc)DNA.

METHODSNude mice were injected with HBV cccDNA at doses of 1.5, 1.0 or 0.5 mug/ml. A control group was generated by giving equal injection volumes of physiological saline. The serum levels of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) on post-injection days 1 and 3, weeks 1-6, 8 and 10 were assayed by reflection immunoassay. At post-injection week 10, all animals were sacrificed and liver tissues were collected. Copies of HBV DNA in serum and liver tissue were detected by real-time PCR. HBV antigens in liver tissue were detected of by immunohistochemistry. Pathological analysis of liver tissue carried out with hematoxylin-eosin staining. Linear correlation of data was determined by statistical analysis.

RESULTSHBsAg and HBeAg were detected in sera from all three groups of cccDNA-injected mice staring at post-injection day 1 and lasting through week 10. The levels of HBsAg over the 10-week period showed two patterns of increase-decrease;the lowest level was detected at week 4 and the highest level was detected at week 8. In contrast, the levels of HBeAg over the 10-week period showed three patterns of increase-decrease; the lower levels were detected at weeks 2 and 4 and the higher levels at weeks 3 and 6. HBV DNA copies in liver tissues showed a cccDNA dose-dependent descending trend over the 10-week study period (1.5 mug/ml:1.14E+07 ± 6.51E+06 copies/g, 1.0 mug/ml:9.81E+06 ± 9.32E+06 copies/g, and 0.5 mug/ml:3.72E+06 ± 2.35E+06 copies/g; Pearson's r =0.979). HBV DNA copies in sera showed the pattern of 1.0 mug/ml cccDNA more than 1.5 mug/ml cccDNA more than 0.5 mug/ml cccDNA, and in general were higher than those detected in the liver tissues. Liver tissues from all cccDNA-injected mice showed positive immunohistochemistry staining for both HBsAg and HBeAg. HE staining showed that the liver tissues of all cccDNA-injected mice had severe fatty and vacuolar degeneration and less obvious structure of liver lobules (compared to the liver tissues from control mice).

CONCLUSIONThe CHB mouse model successfully established in this study by in vivo transduction of HBV cccDNA may represent a useful tool to study the pathogenic mechanisms and potential antiviral treatments of human CHB.

Animals ; DNA, Circular ; administration & dosage ; DNA, Viral ; administration & dosage ; Disease Models, Animal ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; blood ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; blood ; Hepatitis B virus ; genetics ; physiology ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; virology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Nude ; Transduction, Genetic ; Virus Replication

Objective Knowledge-motivation-psychological model was set up and tested through structural equation model to provide evidence on HIV prevention related strategy in Men who have Sex with Men (MSM).Methods Snowball sampling method was used to recruit a total of 550 MSM volunteers from two MSM Non-Governmental Organizations in Urumqi,Xinjiang province.HIV prevention related information on MSM was collected through a questionnaire survey.A total of 477 volunteers showed with complete information.HIV prevention related Knowledge-motivationpsychological model was built under related experience and literature.Relations between knowledge,motivation and psychological was studied,using a ‘structural equation model’ with data from the fitting questionnaires and modification of the model.Results Structural equation model presented good fitting results.After revising the fitting index:RMSEA was 0.035,NFI was 0.965 and RFI was 0.920.Thereafter the exogenous latent variables would include knowledge,motivation and psychological effects.The endogenous latent variable appeared as prevention related behaviors.The standardized total effects of motivation,knowledge,psychological on prevention behavior were 0.44,0.41 and 0.17 respectively.Correlation coefficient of motivation and psychological effects was 0.16.Correlation coefficient on knowledge and psychological effects was-0.17 (P＜0.05).Correlation coefficient of knowledge and motivation did not show statistical significance.Conclusion Knowledge of HIV and motivation of HIV prevention did not show any accordance in MSM population.It was necessary to increase the awareness and to improve the motivation of HIV prevention in MSM population.

Photon Counting Detector(PCD)is a device used to detect X-ray photons,which can directly convert the energy of photons into electrical signals to achieve photon counting and measurement.PCD-based energy spectrum computed tomography(PCD-CT)technology can provide additional energy spectral imaging information,and improve imaging quality while reducing radiation dose.Compared with energy integrating detectors(EID),PCD has advantages of high energy conversion efficiency,good imaging quality,exquisite structural design,and wide application range.It has broad application prospects in ultra-low-dose CT,specific disease diagnosis,and industrial inspection.The application of PCD-CT in spectral CT imaging was reviewed to provide a useful reference for its application in clinical medical diagnosis and industrial applications.