The Design and Synthesis of a Heterologous RT-PCR Competitor for Quantitation of Immune System Messengers in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells: Applications for the Study of Hepatitis C
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Authors
Proctor, Kelly
Issue Date
1998
Type
Thesis
Language
en_US
Keywords
Alternative Title
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a bloodborne pathogen that infects 4 million people in
the United States. Most cases of HCV result in a chronic infection and liver damage. A
small group of people exist who were exposed to HCV, but cleared the virus from their
bodies without receiving treatment. Factors involving the innate component of the
immune system in this "self cure" group may differ from those of chronic HCV patients.
The Interferon system is a part of the nonspecific immune system which produces an
anitviral response in healthy cells, enabling them to better resist infection. This projects
aim is to facilitate the study of this aspect of the immune system in chronic HCV patients
and the self cure group.
Our approach is to compare the levels of interferon α 1 (IFNα 1), interferon α2
(IFNα2) and interferon 𝛽 (lFN𝛽), as well as 2'5' oligoadenylate sythetase (2'5' OAS)
mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) when exposed to virus from both
groups of patients. In order to make a qualitative comparison, a reverse transcription
polymerase chain reaction heterologous competitor was designed and synthesized by
overlapping extension PCR (OE-PCR).
This DNA competitor molecule will allow for precise quantitation of mRNA
levels of the IFN's and 2'5' OAS and thus the comparison of the Interferon system and
immune system of chronic hepatitis C patients and self-cure patients. Understanding this
difference can lead to better, more effective Interferon therapies for patients infected with
Hepatitis C.
Description
v, 23 p.
Citation
Publisher
Kalamazoo College
License
U.S. copyright laws protect this material. Commercial use or distribution of this material is not permitted without prior written permission of the copyright holder.