Retrovirology
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What are the purposes of prizes and recognitions? Are they lagging indicators of past achievements or leading indicators of things to come?
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Recently, human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) basic leucine zipper factor (HBZ), encoded from a minus strand mRNA was discovered and was suggested to play an important role in adult T cell leukemia (ATL) development. However, there have been no reports on the role of HBZ in patients with HTLV-1 associated inflammatory diseases. ⋯ These findings suggest that in vivo expression of HBZ plays a role in HAM/TSP pathogenesis.
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Retrovirology provides the opportunity for readers to post comments online for all published articles. These comments are moderated by the journal editors and are often peer reviewed prior to posting. Retrovirology welcomes comments, but asks that they be written civilly.
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The recently released results of the Merck's Phase IIb "test-of concept" vaccine trials have shown no protection from HIV-1 infection in the vaccinated group compared with a control group vaccinated with placebo. The study was designed to test the Merck's MRKAd5 trivalent candidate vaccine. ⋯ Upon the first evaluation of the interim data, the independent Data and Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) underscored no protection from HIV-1 infection in the vaccine-inoculated volunteers compared with the control group; accordingly, the vaccine trial was stopped. This disappointing outcome warrants a critical analysis of the current vaccine studies and calls for a renewed effort toward a rational design of novel immunogens to be tested in large primate trials.
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The 2007 M. Jeang Retrovirology Prize has been awarded to Dr. Karen L. Beemon.