(C) 2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“A rapid, sensitive loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay was established for diagnosis of bovine leukemia virus (BLV) infection. The LAMP assay for targeting the BLV-LTR region can detect at least 2 copies of proviral DNA in a 2 mu l sample and its sensitivity is equivalent to or greater than the conventional single PCR. In addition, amplification

is obtained in less than 1 h by incubating a single tube in a water bath. The data obtained LEE011 in vivo by the LAMP assay applied to field samples were compared with PCR and serological tests for BLV. The results showed a high level of agreement with these serological methods, but there was one animal positive only by the LAMP assay. When the blood was collected from the cow after 6 months, the BLV antibody was detected. This Suggested that the LAMP assay Could help the detection of the cattle in the early stage of BLV infection. The LAMP assay is a rapid, sensitive and simple method for the diagnosis of BLV infection

as reported for other pathogens, and is available for use in local laboratories without any special equipment. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.”
“Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease of the central nervous system and its prevalence increases with age. Microtubule-associated protein tau (MAPT), a neuronal protein is involved in the pathogenesis of several neurodegenerative selleck chemicals llc diseases including PD. To determine the ABT-737 cell line broader significance of this association with PD, replicative studies in distinct ethnic populations are required. In this study, we investigated MAPT for its potential association with PD using five haplotype-tagging SNPs and the del-In9 polymorphism of MAPT in 301 PD patients and 243 healthy controls from eastern India. Our case-control analysis did not show a significant association

with any of the markers and PD. However, a risk haplotype [GAC + G] for PD was identified (OR 1.563; 95% CI = 1.045-2.337; p = 0.03). In addition, haplotype AAC + A (OR = 2.787; 95% Cl = 1.372-5.655; p = 0.004) was strongly associated with early onset PD (age at onset <= 40 years) and AAC + G haplotype showed a weak association (OR = 2.233; 95% Cl = 1.018-4.895; p = 0.045) with late onset PD (age at onset >40 years). This observation highlights the significance of rs7521 in modifying the age at onset of PD under a common haplotype background. We also identified AGC+A as a risk haplotype for sporadic cases (OR = 2.773,95% Cl = 1.198-6.407, p = 0.016). This is the first association study from India conducted on MAPT among PD patients and provides valuable information for comparison with other ethnic groups. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is an opportunistic human pathogen that causes serious clinical illness in immunocompromised individuals.