HIV-1 superinfection despite broad CD8+ T-cell responses containing replication of the primary virus

Early treatment of acute HIV-1 infection followed by treatment interruptions has shown promise for enhancing immune control of infection. A subsequent loss of control, however, allows the correlates of protective immunity to be assessed. Here we show that sudden breakthrough of plasma viraemia occurred after prolonged immune containment in an individual infected with HIV-1 at a time when 25 distinct CD8+ T-cell epitopes in the viral proteins Gag, RT, Integrase, Env, Nef, Vpr, Vif and Rev were being targeted. Sequencing of the virus in plasma and cells showed that superinfection with a second clade-B virus was coincident with the loss of immune control. This sudden increase in viraemia was associated with a decline in half of the CD8+ T-cell responses. The declining CD8+ T-cell responses were coupled with sequence changes relative to the initial virus that resulted in impaired recognition. Our data show that HIV-1 superinfection can occur in the setting of a strong and broadly directed virus-specific CD8+ T-cell response. The lack of cross-protective immunity for closely related HIV-1 strains, despite persistent recognition of multiple CD8 epitopes, has important implications for public health and vaccine development.     

Multiple ionization of atom clusters by intense soft X-rays from a free-electron laser

Intense radiation from lasers has opened up many new areas of research in physics and chemistry, and has revolutionized optical technology. So far, most work in the field of nonlinear processes has been restricted to infrared, visible and ultraviolet light, although progress in the development of X-ray lasers has been made recently. With the advent of a free-electron laser in the soft-X-ray regime below 100 nm wavelength, a new light source is now available for experiments with intense, short-wavelength radiation that could be used to obtain deeper insights into the structure of matter. Other free-electron sources with even shorter wavelengths are planned for the future. Here we present initial results from a study of the interaction of soft X-ray radiation, generated by a free-electron laser, with Xe atoms and clusters. We find that, whereas Xe atoms become only singly ionized by the absorption of single photons, absorption in clusters is strongly enhanced. On average, each atom in large clusters absorbs up to 400 eV, corresponding to 30 photons. We suggest that the clusters are heated up and electrons are emitted after acquiring sufficient energy. The clusters finally disintegrate completely by Coulomb explosion.     

Numerous potentially functional but non-genic conserved sequences on human chromosome 21

The use of comparative genomics to infer genome function relies on the understanding of how different components of the genome change over evolutionary time. The aim of such comparative analysis is to identify conserved, functionally transcribed sequences such as protein-coding genes and non-coding RNA genes, and other functional sequences such as regulatory regions, as well as other genomic features. Here, we have compared the entire human chromosome 21 with syntenic regions of the mouse genome, and have identified a large number of conserved blocks of unknown function. Although previous studies have made similar observations, it is unknown whether these conserved sequences are genes or not. Here we present an extensive experimental and computational analysis of human chromosome 21 in an effort to assign function to sequences conserved between human chromosome 21 (ref. 8) and the syntenic mouse regions. Our data support the presence of a large number of potentially functional non-genic sequences, probably regulatory and structural. The integration of the properties of the conserved components of human chromosome 21 to the rapidly accumulating functional data for this chromosome will improve considerably our understanding of the role of sequence conservation in mammalian genomes.     

Application of microfluidic chip to realize controllable pH gradient

A kind of PH gradient microfluidic chips through soft-lithography microfabrication for isoelectric focusing (IEF) and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is introduced here. These pH gradient chips have the advantages such as easy fabrication, controllable pH range and precision, isoelectric focusing and separation at the same time, low voltage for isoelectric focusing, and time stable pH gradient. This method has potential application to sample preparation, separation and analysis of microfluidic chips.     

半导体热电材料Bi1-xSbx薄膜的电化学制备

B I1-XSBX半导体合金是性能优异的热电和磁电功能材料,为制备固态电制冷器件、温差发电器件和磁电器件的重要材料。电化学沉积薄膜技术工艺设备简单成本低,在半导体薄膜制备方面有很好的应用前景。系统研究了高浓度盐酸(2.4 MOL/L)的B I和SB盐酸溶液,成份从纯铋逐步变化到纯锑的B I1-XSBX合金半导体薄膜电化学沉积特性。测试了沉积过程I-V循环曲线和和沉积电荷效率等电化学参数。结果表明在所有成份范围内都可以得到典型的B I1-XSBX固溶体结构的高质量薄膜。薄膜生长为典型的溶液扩散控制过程,具有高的沉积电荷效率。薄膜沉积和溶解之间的电位差随溶液中SB(Ⅲ)离子浓度增加而增大,生长的薄膜越来越稳定。在30%SB浓度附近,电化学过程、薄膜结构和性能发生明显的突变。应用X射线衍射和电子显微镜研究薄膜结构,发现薄膜具有明显的(012)择优取向,薄膜晶粒尺寸也随SB浓度的增加而变化。