Phylogenetic Analysis of the Non-structural (NS) Gene of Influenza A Viruses Isolated in Kazakhstan in 2002-2009

Although the important role of the non-structural (NS1 and NEP) gene of influenza A in virulence of the virus is well established, our knowledge about the extent of variation in the NS gene pool of influenza A viruses in their natural reservoirs in Kazakhstan is incomplete. 17 influenza A viruses of different subtypes were studied in this paper. Seven types of haemagglutinin and five different neuraminidase subtypes in eight combinations were found among the isolated viruses. A comparison of nucleotide sequences of isolated viruses revealed a substantial number of silent mutations, which results in high degree of homology in amino acid sequences. By phylogenetic analysis it was shown that two distinct gene pools, corresponding to both NS allele A with 5 Clades and B, were present at the same time in Kazakhstan. The degree of variation within the alleles was very low. In our study allele A viruses had a maximum of 5% amino acid divergence in Clade while allele B viruses had only 4% amino acid divergence.

Hepatitis C virus nonstructural protein NS3 and telomerase activity

To study the effect of hepatitis C virus nonstructural protein NS 3 (HCV NS3) on telomerase activity and carcinogenesis Methods Streptavidin peroxidase (SP) conjugated method was used to detect the expressio n of HCV NS 3 protein in NIH3T3 cells transfected with plasmid pRcHCNS 3 5’ and pRcHCNS 3 3’ Telomerase activity was detected by an in situ telomerase a ctivity labeling method, telomeric repeat amplification protocol polymerase chai n reaction (TRAP PCR) and telomerase PCR enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELI SA) technology in the transfected and non transfected NIH3T3 cells Results HCV NS 3 protein was expressed in the NIH3T3 cells transfected with plasmid pR cHCNS 3 5’ expressing HCV NS 3 C terminal deleted protein or with plasmid pR cHCNS 3 3’ expressing HCV NS 3 N terminal deleted protein The positive sig nal of HCV NS 3 protein was localized in the cytoplasm of NIH3T3 cells, and th e signal intensity of the former was stronger Telomerase activity in NIH3T3 c ells transfected with plasmid pRcHCNS 3 5’ was stronger than that in NIH3T3 c ells transfected with plasmid pRcHCNS 3 3’ ( P 【0 01), whereas telomerase a ctivity in NIH3T3 cells transfected with plasmid pRcCMV or untreated NIH3T3 ce lls was weaker than that in NIH3T3 cells transfected with plasmid pRcHCNS 3 3 ’ ( P 【0 05) The expression level of HCV NS 3 protein was significantly co rrelated with the strength of telomerase activity ( P 【0 05) The results ob tained by in situ telomerase activity labeling corresponded to the results by te lomerase PCR ELISA technology Conclusions HCV NS 3 protein may activate telomerase through endogenous mechanism to induce host cell transformation The effect of HCV NS 3 C terminal deleted protein on telomerase activity in the host cell may be stronger than that of HCV NS 3 N terminal deleted protein In situ telomerase activity labeling was a reliabl e technology for studying pathological morphology and telomerase activity in tis sues and cells