Six chimeric constructs, bearing the A beta 1-15 or the A beta 4-15 sequence in positions 248,392 or 529 of the CMV coat protein (CP) gene, were created. Viral products proved to be able to replicate in their natural host. However, only chimeric A beta 1-15-CMVs

were detected by A beta 1-42 antiserum in Western blot analysis.

Experimental evidence of Immunoelectron microscopy revealed a complete decoration of A beta 1-15-CMV(248) and A beta 1-15-CMV(392) following incubation with either Selleck Belnacasan anti-A beta 1-15 or anti-A beta 1-42 polyclonal antibodies. These two chimeric CMVs appear to be endowed with features making them possible candidates for vaccination against Alzheimer’s disease. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.”
“The heterogeneity of astrocytes is of growing interest, because this information is now considered to be crucial for understanding the diverse roles of astrocytes, for example, support and nutrition for neurons, and modulation of synaptic plasticity. In this study, we stereologically estimated the regional and laminar differences in antigen profiles and spatial distributions of astrocytes in the young adult (2-month-old) and middle-aged (10-month-old) mouse hippocampus. Here we used two established astrocyte markers, that is,

glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and S100 beta, to identify the astrocyte population. In addition, we examined the patterns of expression of sex determining region Y-box 2 (Sox2) in the hippocampus. The majority of astrocytes expressed Sox2, and few regional and laminar differences were observed SU5402 cell line in the expression ratios

of Sox2 in astrocytes. GFAP-negative astrocytes selleckchem were specifically seen in the strata pyramidale and lucidum of the ventral CA3 region. S100 beta-negative astrocytes were mainly found in the hilus of the dorsal and ventral dentate gyrus. Antigen profiles of astrocytes defined by Sox2, GFAP, and sloop were rather constant until middle age. We then estimated the heterogeneity in spatial distributions of astrocytes. The numbers of astrocytes in the stratum lacunosum-moleculare of the dorsal part of Ammon’s horn were significantly larger in the middle-aged mice than in young adult mice. On the contrary, the astrocyte numbers in the stratum oriens of Ammon’s horn showed significant age-dependent decline. Despite such changes, the total number of astrocytes in the whole area of the hippocampus showed no differences between young adult and middle-aged mice. The present data may work as an essential anatomical reference to understand the heterogeneity of astrocytes in the hippocampus. (C) 2011 IBRO. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“In order to obtain HIV-1 primary isolates in settings with limited access to donor PBMCs, a culture method was developed where patient PBMCs infected with HIV-1 were cultured together with U87.CD4 cells.