David Nickle et al present here an efficient algorithm to develop vaccines that cope with the diversity of HIV or other variable pathogens.
This computational method clarifies and analyzes the variation found in the strains of the virus by describing the molecules which stimulate the immune response to HIV (immunogens) that have multiple forms of variable elements of the virus. These antigens compress the variation found in many viral strains into lengths suitable for vaccine immunogens. "We can capture 62% of the variation found in the Nef protein and 81% of the variation in the Gag protein into immunogens of three gene lengths", says Nickle.
These short-length immunogens are potentially useable in a vaccine, as they reflect the diversity of features in HIV-1 strains. These immunogens should elicit immune responses against high frequency viral strains as well as against most mutant forms of the virus.
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Current data shows that 1,400 lung transplants were performed in 2006. And in recent years, approximately 83.3 percent of lung transplant patients survived one year following the transplant, while 62.8 percent survived three years and 47.3 survived five years. Transplant rejection is a primary concern for long-term survival, both immediately after surgery and through the patient's lifetime. To prevent rejection and subsequent damage to the new lungs, patients must take a lifelong regimen of immunosuppressive drugs.
About the LARGO Study
The LARGO study was initiated in April 2004 to examine the utility of molecular testing in post-transplant lung patient management. Fourteen centers from five countries and two continents are participating in this study to investigate the utility of gene expression testing for management of lung transplant recipients.
Several thousand samples have been collected in the LARGO database. The LARGO study and database provide an unparalleled resource for genomic and molecular diagnostic studies and development in lung transplantation.
The studies presented at ISHLT were sponsored by XDx, whose laboratory provides the gene expression testing service used in the
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