Cells exposed to low shear stress show increased entry of HCMV compared to cells exposed PKA activator to high shear stress

or static conditions. Viral structural gene expression, viral titers, and viral spread are also enhanced in endothelial cells exposed to low shear stress. These results suggest that hemodynamic factors modulate HCMV infection of endothelial cells, thus providing new insights into the induction/acceleration of atherosclerosis by HCMV.”
“Interferon (IFN) alpha proteins are proinflammatory cytokines having immunomodulating and antiviral properties. States during which cytokine systems are activated (e.g., during viral infection or during treatment of chronic hepatitis C and various malignancies with IFN alpha, etc.) can be associated with depression-like syndromes or even full-blown depressive episodes. Therefore, the role of IFN alpha and other cytokines in the pathogenesis of depressive disorder (“”cytokine hypothesis of depression”") has been assessed for many years with contradictory results. We have investigated whether intraperitoneal administration of high doses (up to 600 mu g/kg body weight) of pegylated, recombinant human IFN alpha 2a in mice induces changes known to be

associated with depression using three different readouts: behavior in a model of despair (Porsolt swim test), presence of anhedonia (sucrose

preference test), and sensitivity Selleck Bafilomycin A1 of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal system (dexamethasone suppression test). We also assessed potential IFN-induced changes in selleckchem gene expression in the liver. In none of the performed experiments, depression-associated effects could be found despite very high serum levels of IFN-induced antiviral activity compared to levels measured in hepatitis C virus (HCV) patients treated routinely with pegylated recombinant human IFN alpha 2a. The lack of such expected effects is probably due to the fact that pegylated human recombinant IFN alpha 2a does not activate the murine class I IFN receptor. Our results do not support the hypothesis that administration of recombinant pegylated human IFN alpha to mice produces a robust model of depression. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Hantaviruses are important contributors to disease burden in the New World, yet many aspects of their distribution and dynamics remain uncharacterized. To examine the patterns and processes that influence the diversity and geographic distribution of hantaviruses in South America, we performed genetic and phylogeographic analyses of all available South American hantavirus sequences.