Signal sequences modulate the immunogenic performance of human hepatitis C virus E2 gene

Abstract Envelope protein E2 of human hepatitis C virus (HCV) is an attractive component of a prototype HCV vaccine. Delivered by DNA immunogens, E2 evokes specific immune response of Th1-type, failing to induce either considerable antibody production, or T-helper cell proliferation. We aimed at modulating the immunogenic performance of E2 gene by changing the mode of protein expression in eukaryotic cells. Plasmids were constructed encoding full-length E2 and nonstructural protein 1 (p7) fused to either 13 or 38 C-terminal amino acids (aa) of HCV E1 that contain second hydrophobic segment of E1 stop-transfer signal, or a complete E1 stop-transfer signal with duplicated second hydrophobic s…

Proceedings Of The 23Rd Paediatric Rheumatology European Society Congress: Part Two

American College of Rheumatology Provisional Criteria for Clinically Relevant Improvement in Children and Adolescents With Childhood-Onset Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

OBJECTIVE: To develop a Childhood Lupus Improvement Index (CHILI) as a tool to measure response to therapy in childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (cSLE), with a focus on clinically relevant improvement (CRIc SLE ). METHODS: Pediatric nephrology and rheumatology subspecialists (n = 213) experienced in cSLE management were invited to define CRIc SLE and rate a total of 433 unique patient profiles for the presence/absence of CRIc SLE . Patient profiles included the following cSLE core response variables (CRVs): global assessment of patient well-being (patient-global), physician assessment of cSLE activity (MD-global), disease activity index score (here, we used the Systemic Lupus Eryt…