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Sex identification of endangered and protected birds in captivity is very important for conservation programs. Half of the world’s bird species are monomorphic, where male and female are difficult to distinguished morphologically, including cockatoos. Sex identification using molecular bird sexing is more accurate and applicable because it directly targets the sex chromosomes. The purpose of this study was to determine the sex of Sulphur‐crested cockatoo (Cacatua galerita) by detecting differences in the intron size of the chromodomain helicase DNA‐binding 1 (CHD1) gene on the Z and W chromosomes by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method and to compare of plucked feathers and blood samples as DNA sources for molecular bird sexing. DNA was extracted from feather and blood samples from four C. galerita. Extracted DNA was amplified on the CHD1 gene by PCR method with P2, MP, and NP primers, which were visualized using agarose gel 1.5% under UV transilluminator with a wavelength of 280 nm. The resulting PCR product was detected at 392 bp for the CHD1 Z gene segment and 297 bp for CHD1 W gene segments, where males showed a single DNA band (ZZ) and females showed a double DNA band (ZW). Four C. galerita were 100% successfully determined, consisting of one female and three males. Electrophoresis results showed DNA bands from blood samples were thicker and brighter than DNA bands from feather samples.

The aim of this work was the in vitro expression of the recombinant fusion (F) protein of Newcastle disease virus (NDV). The pBT7-N-His-Fusion-NDV expression plasmid which carries the recombinant F protein encoding gene from local Indonesian isolates, was prepared and transformed into E. coli BL21 (DE3). To detect bacterial colonies carrying the recombinant plasmid, a restriction endonuclease analysis was performed using the EcoRI restriction endonuclease. These results showed that the pBT-N-His-Fusion-NDV plasmid was successfully isolated with a size of 4.601 bp, and three recombinant plasmids carrying the gene coding for the recombinant F protein of NDV were obtained. Selected recombinant plasmids were then in vitro by using a cell-free protein expression system followed by visualization of the recombinant F protein on a 12% SDS-PAGE gel both by Coomassie Brilliant Blue staining and Western blotting. Recombinant F protein was successfully in vitro expressed by using a cell-free protein expression system as indicated by a specific single protein band with a molecular mass of 25.6 kDa.

Anaplasma platys is a tick-borne, Gram-negative bacterium that causes anaplasmosis, a companion vector-borne disease impacting dogs. Information on this disease remains limited in Indonesia. Its symptoms are not specific, so molecular analysis is required for a rapid and accurate diagnosis. GroEL is an essential gene commonly used for classification and species identification of many groups of bacteria, including Anaplasma spp. In this study, a molecular diagnosis of anaplasmosis based on the groEL gene sequence was conducted using PCR. In addition, the genetic diversity of Anaplasma platys in infected dogs was determined. Blood samples were collected from 51 dogs suspected of anaplasmosis from Prof. Dr. Soeparwi Animal Hospital, animal clinics, and pet shops in the Yogyakarta area, Indonesia, based on anamnesis, histories of tick infestations, and clinical symptom examinations. DNA extraction and PCR targeting the groEL gene were performed, followed by sequencing. Phylogenetic tree analysis and construction were carried out using the BLAST and MEGA programs. Positive PCR sample results (amplicon length of 624 bp) were found in 6 of 51 dogs. Samples A1 (KHJ/C2), A2 (KHJ/A2), A3 (KSK/L), A4 (KHJ/L), and A5 (KNP/M2) had close ties to Anaplasma platys (AF478129.1) from GenBank. Phylogenetic analysis showed a very high homology value (100%) and bootstrap value of 100%. It can be concluded that there was no genetic diversity in the Anaplasma platys found in infected dogs in the Yogyakarta area.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) can be classified into 8 genotypes, genotype A to H. Genotype of HBV is important for clinical and etiological investigations. Research for HBV genotyping, HBV transmission study using nested PCR and HBV genotyping based on RFLP using restriction enzymes have been reported. However, both of those methods have been not applied for HBV genotyping study among hepatitis B patients in endemic area, like Indonesia yet. Molecular genotyping of HBV will describe epidemiology, pathogenesis and clinical implication of HBV. Combination of nested PCR and RFLP (nested PCR-RFLP) method to determine HBV genotype in Indonesia is still less information. The objectives of study were to develop a system for HBV genotyping by nested PCR combined with RFLP (nested PCR-RFLP) method based on nucleotide sequence of surface protein encodinggene (S gene) in HBV genome and to confirm HBV genotypes which predominantly found among hepatitis B patients in Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta Province and surrounding area. Total of 149 sera from chronic hepatitis B patients from Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta and surrounding areas were collected for in this work. Viral DNA were extracted from sera of hepatitis B patients and used as template for first round nested PCR amplification using outer primers set. Amplicons of first round PCR were used as template for second round amplification using inner primers set. Then, amplicons of second round nested PCR were restriction digested by Sty I and Bsr I enzymes. For HBV genotyping then the restriction products were analyzed by RFLP based on restriction pattern. Results showed that the first round nested PCR amplification generated DNA fragments of whole S gene in length 1.233 bp, and in second round nested PCR amplification using inner primer set generated DNA fragments 585 bp in length. Genotype analysis for all samples using nested PCR-RFLP methods by restriction digested of Sty I and Bsr I enzymes found only 2 HBV genotypes among hepatitis B patients, namely genotype B and C. Quantificationdata showed that most of hepatitis B patients found infected by HBV genotype B (92,8%), genotype C (3,6%) and unidentified genotype (3,6%). Nested PCR-RFLP methods for HBV genotyping is simple and inexpensive for clinical diagnostic in large scale.

Leptomycin B (LMB) was originally discovered as a potent anti-fungal antibiotic from Streptomyces species. The cellular target of LMB has been identified as the nuclear export receptor CRM-1 or exportin-1, which is involved in nuclear trafficking of cellular RNAs or proteins containing the nuclear export sequence (NES). CRM-1 is the main mediator of nuclear export in many cell types including hepatocyte cell lines. The ability of LMB to inhibit nuclear export has made it a useful tool in the study of the intracellular localization of manyregulatory proteins. In this study, we evaluated the effect of nuclear export inhibitor LMB treatment on the intracellular localization of HBV core protein into the hepatocyte cell lines, Huh-7 and HepG2 cells. We also reported the quantification of the distribution of EGFP-Core fusion protein with redundant core NLS as well as SV-40 NLS into cell compartments. Results shown that in Huh-7 cells treatment of LMB caused retention of EGFP-Core fusion protein into the nucleus, so increased the nuclear localization of EGFP-Core and all variants.In HepG2 cells, although not significantly, treatment of LMB increased a number of nuclear localization in all EGFP-Core constructions, even the nuclear localization in HepG2 cells is not so high as in Huh-7 cells. Keywords: Leptomycin B, HBV, core protein, intracellular localization, NLS, Huh-7, HepG2 cell

Bayer 41-4109 is heteroarylpyrimidine (HAP) which has been identified as potent of HBV capsid assemblyinhibitor. The present study was to study effect of Bayer 41-4109 treatment on the intracellular localization ofEGFP-Core fusion proteins into HepG2 cells. Three recombinant plasmids of pEGFP-Core with single, double andtriple NLS of HBV core (EGFP-Core 1C, 2C and 3C ) and two recombinant plasmids with single and triple NLS ofSV-40 (EGFP-Core 1 and 3 SV-40) were used in this work. After transient transfected into HepG2 cells and treatedwith Bayer 41-4109, the intracellular localization of expressed fusion proteins from all plasmid constructions weredetermined and quantified under confocal laser microscope. Results shown that Bayer 41-4109 treatment in HepG2cells inhibited the nuclear localization of EGFP-Core with single of triple HBV core NLS. As well as the constructionsof expressed fusion protein with single and triple SV-40 NLS (EGFP-Core 1 and 3 SV-40 NLS) showeddecreasing the nuclear localization after treated with Bayer 41-4109, even not as strong as EGFP-Core 1C and 3CNLS. Bayer 41-4109 has been identified as a potent inhibitors of HBV replication which has multiple effects on HBVcapsid assembly. It may inhibit virus replication by inducing assembly inappropriately and by misdirectingassembly decreasing the stability of normal capsids.Keywords: HBV capsid, Bayer 41-4109, EGFP-Core fusion protein, HepG2 cell

protein is also including in the HBV genome targeting into the nucleus through modulating carboxyl residues byphosphorylation. Nuclear localication Signal (NLS) in HBV core protein is inside the virion structure and it must beunmasked in order to function, perhaps by phosphorylation. Phosphorylation of of HBV core protein in turn couldbegin to alter capsid conformation. Staurosporine is a natural product originally isolated from bacteriumStreptomyces staurosporeus. Staurosporine was discovered to have biological activities ranging from anti-fungal toanti-hypertensive. The interest in these activities resulted in a large investigative effort in chemistry and biology andthe discovery of the potential for anti-cancer treatment. The main biological activity of Staurosporine is the inhibitionof protein kinases through the prevention of ATP binding to the kinase. In the present study, we have studied theintracellular localization of EGFP-Core fusion protein with triple HBV core and SV-40 nuclear localization signal atits carboxyl terminal in presence and absence of Staurosporine. We also to study the effect of Staurosporine treatmenton the intracellular localization of EGFP-Core fusion protein in the hepatocyte cells line of HepG2 cell. Resultsshowed that effect of Staurosporine is prevent the nuclear localization of EGFP-Core fusion protein into nucleusthrough an inhibition of the phosphorylation of core protein. Stauroporine also prevents cell division so that passivetrapping of core protein is inhibited.

world. We have evaluated the combination of one-step RT-PCR and multiplex nested PCR assays for detectingdengue viruses from clinical samples. Twelve patients were screened for the dengue virus, using a pair of primersthat conserve for several Flavivirus. The results showed that in 12 suspect patients, 100% were positive for Flavivirusand there are some genotypic variation among them, that indicated by several RT-PCR products higher than 511 bp,the expected product for RT-PCR. Further assay was performed to clarify the presence and serotypes of dengue virususing multiplex nested PCR. Serotyping results indicated that 83,3% of samples can be confirmed for dengue virus.Among the dengue virus positive 16,7 % are dengue-2, 16.7 % are dengue-3, and the most common 50% are dengue-4,whereas dengue-1 were not found among the patients. The combination of RT-PCR and multiplex nested PCR assaycan be used for rapid analysis dengue samples in early phase which is potentially useful for clinical, epidemiologyand also evolutionary studies.Key words: Flavivirus, dengue virus, serotype, RT-PCR, multiplex nested PCR

The application of fluorescent proteins as expression markers and protein fusion partners has provedimmensely valuable for resolving the organization of biological events in living cells. EGFP and DsRed2 arecommonly fluorescent marker protein which is used for biotechnology and cell biology research. The presentstudy was designed to identify the expression vector that suitable to ligate with DNA encoding HBV coreprotein for intracellular localization study in hepatocyte cell, which were expressed as fusion proteins. We alsocompared and quantified the expressed fluorescent protein which predominantly localized in the cellcompartment. The results indicated that DsRed2 shown as less than ideal for intracellular localization study ofthan EGFP, because of its tetrameric structure of the fluorescent protein and when fused to a protein of interest,the fusion protein often forms aggregates in the living cells. In contrast, EGFP fluorescent protein shown a muchhigher proportion of cytoplasmic localization, thus being more suitable for analysis of intracellular localizationthan DsRed2 fluorescent protein. EGFP fluorescent protein is also capable to produce a strong green fluorescencewhen excited by blue light, without any exogenously added substrate or cofactor, events inside living cell canthus be visualized in a non-invasive way. Based on our present quantitative data and some reasons above shownthat EGFP is more suitable than DsRed2 as a fluorescent marker protein for intracellular localization study intoHuH-7 cell.Keywords: EGFP, DsRed2 fluorescent protein , HuH-7 cell, HBV, intracellular localization

Isoform importin α molecules play a central role in the classical nuclear import pathway, that occurs throughthe nuclear pore complex (NPC) and typically requires a specific nuclear localization signal (NLS). In this study,it was investigated the role of isoforms importin α in the nuclear import of wild type recombinant hepatitis B viruscore protein (WT rHBc), phosphorylated recombinant HBV core (rHBc) and recombinant HBV core without NLSby co-immunoprecipitation. Four recombinant full-length isoforms importin α as 6x histidin-tagged fusion proteinwere expressed and analysed from expression plasmid vectors Rch1, pHM 1969, pHM 1967 and pHM 1965. Theresults indicated that importin α-1, importin α-3, importin α-4 and importin α-5 can be expressed and isolatedfrom E. coli transformed recombinant DNA plasmid as protein in size around 58-60 kDa. By the nuclear transportstudy shown that isoforms importin α are involved in the nuclear import of WT rHBc, phosphorylated rHBc andrHBc without NLS. It also indicated that they have an important role for nuclear transport of from cytoplasm intothe nucleus.Keywords: NPC, NLS, importin α, importin β, isoforms importin α as 6x histidin-tagged fusion protein, WTrHBc, SV40 Tag, co-immunoprecipitation, westernblotting.

Leptomycin B (LMB) was originally discovered as a potent anti-fungal antibiotic from Streptomyces species. The cellular target of LMB has been identified as the nuclear export receptor CRM-1 or exportin-1, which is involved in nuclear trafficking of cellular RNAs or proteins containing the nuclear export sequence (NES). CRM-1 is the main mediator of nuclear export in many cell types including hepatocyte cell lines. The ability of LMB to inhibit nuclear export has made it a useful tool in the study of the intracellular localization of many regulatory proteins. In this study, we evaluated the effect of nuclear export inhibitor LMB treatment on the intracellular localization of HBV core protein into the hepatocyte cell lines, Huh-7 and HepG2 cells. We also reported the quantification of the distribution of EGFP-Core fusion protein with redundant core NLS as well as SV-40 NLS into cell compartments. Results shown that in Huh-7 cells treatment of LMB caused retention of EGFP-Core fusion protein into the nucleus, so increased the nuclear localization of EGFP-Core and all variants. In HepG2 cells, although not significantly, treatment of LMB increased a number of nuclear localization in all EGFP-Core constructions, even the nuclear localization in HepG2 cells is not so high as in Huh-7 cells. Keywords: Leptomycin B, HBV, core protein, intracellular localization, NLS, Huh-7, HepG2 cell

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) can be classified into 8 genotypes, genotype A to H. Genotype of HBV is important for clinical and etiological investigations. Research for HBV genotyping, HBV transmission study using nested PCR and HBV genotyping based on RFLP using restriction enzymes have been reported. However, both of those methods have been not applied for HBV genotyping study among hepatitis B patients in endemic area, like Indonesia yet. Molecular genotyping of HBV will describe epidemiology, pathogenesis and clinical implication of HBV. Combination of nested PCR and RFLP (nested PCR-RFLP) method to determine HBV genotype in Indonesia is still less information. The objectives of study were to develop a system for HBV genotyping by nested PCR combined with RFLP (nested PCR-RFLP) method based on nucleotide sequence of surface protein encodinggene (S gene) in HBV genome and to confirm HBV genotypes which predominantly found among hepatitis B patients in Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta Province and surrounding area. Total of 149 sera from chronic hepatitis B patients from Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta and surrounding areas were collected for in this work. Viral DNA were extracted from sera of hepatitis B patients and used as template for first round nested PCR amplification using outer primers set. Amplicons of first round PCR were used as template for second round amplification using inner primers set. Then, amplicons of second round nested PCR were restriction digested by Sty I and Bsr I enzymes. For HBV genotyping then the restriction products were analyzed by RFLP based on restriction pattern. Results showed that the first round nested PCR amplification generated DNA fragments of whole S gene in length 1.233 bp, and in second round nested PCR amplification using inner primer set generated DNA fragments 585 bp in length. Genotype analysis for all samples using nested PCR-RFLP methods by restriction digested of Sty I and Bsr I enzymes found only 2 HBV genotypes among hepatitis B patients, namely genotype B and C. Quantificationdata showed that most of hepatitis B patients found infected by HBV genotype B (92,8%), genotype C (3,6%) and unidentified genotype (3,6%). Nested PCR-RFLP methods for HBV genotyping is simple and inexpensive for clinical diagnostic in large scale.

Bayer 41-4109 is heteroarylpyrimidine (HAP) which has been identified as potent of HBV capsid assembly inhibitor. The present study was to study effect of Bayer 41-4109 treatment on the intracellular localization of EGFP-Core fusion proteins into HepG2 cells. Three recombinant plasmids of pEGFP-Core with single, double and triple NLS of HBV core (EGFP-Core 1C, 2C and 3C ) and two recombinant plasmids with single and triple NLS of SV-40 (EGFP-Core 1 and 3 SV-40) were used in this work. After transient transfected into HepG2 cells and treated with Bayer 41-4109, the intracellular localization of expressed fusion proteins from all plasmid constructions were determined and quantified under confocal laser microscope. Results shown that Bayer 41-4109 treatment in HepG2 cells inhibited the nuclear localization of EGFP-Core with single of triple HBV core NLS. As well as the constructions of expressed fusion protein with single and triple SV-40 NLS (EGFP-Core 1 and 3 SV-40 NLS) showed decreasing the nuclear localization after treated with Bayer 41-4109, even not as strong as EGFP-Core 1C and 3C NLS. Bayer 41-4109 has been identified as a potent inhibitors of HBV replication which has multiple effects on HBV capsid assembly. It may inhibit virus replication by inducing assembly inappropriately and by misdirecting assembly decreasing the stability of normal capsids. Keywords: HBV capsid, Bayer 41-4109, EGFP-Core fusion protein, HepG2 cell

protein is also including in the HBV genome targeting into the nucleus through modulating carboxyl residues by phosphorylation. Nuclear localication Signal (NLS) in HBV core protein is inside the virion structure and it must be unmasked in order to function, perhaps by phosphorylation. Phosphorylation of of HBV core protein in turn could begin to alter capsid conformation. Staurosporine is a natural product originally isolated from bacterium Streptomyces staurosporeus. Staurosporine was discovered to have biological activities ranging from anti-fungal to anti-hypertensive. The interest in these activities resulted in a large investigative effort in chemistry and biology and the discovery of the potential for anti-cancer treatment. The main biological activity of Staurosporine is the inhibition of protein kinases through the prevention of ATP binding to the kinase. In the present study, we have studied the intracellular localization of EGFP-Core fusion protein with triple HBV core and SV-40 nuclear localization signal at its carboxyl terminal in presence and absence of Staurosporine. We also to study the effect of Staurosporine treatment on the intracellular localization of EGFP-Core fusion protein in the hepatocyte cells line of HepG2 cell. Results showed that effect of Staurosporine is prevent the nuclear localization of EGFP-Core fusion protein into nucleus through an inhibition of the phosphorylation of core protein. Stauroporine also prevents cell division so that passive trapping of core protein is inhibited.

world. We have evaluated the combination of one-step RT-PCR and multiplex nested PCR assays for detecting dengue viruses from clinical samples. Twelve patients were screened for the dengue virus, using a pair of primers that conserve for several Flavivirus. The results showed that in 12 suspect patients, 100% were positive for Flavivirus and there are some genotypic variation among them, that indicated by several RT-PCR products higher than 511 bp, the expected product for RT-PCR. Further assay was performed to clarify the presence and serotypes of dengue virus using multiplex nested PCR. Serotyping results indicated that 83,3% of samples can be confirmed for dengue virus. Among the dengue virus positive 16,7 % are dengue-2, 16.7 % are dengue-3, and the most common 50% are dengue-4, whereas dengue-1 were not found among the patients. The combination of RT-PCR and multiplex nested PCR assay can be used for rapid analysis dengue samples in early phase which is potentially useful for clinical, epidemiology and also evolutionary studies. Key words: Flavivirus, dengue virus, serotype, RT-PCR, multiplex nested PCR

The application of fluorescent proteins as expression markers and protein fusion partners has proved immensely valuable for resolving the organization of biological events in living cells. EGFP and DsRed2 are commonly fluorescent marker protein which is used for biotechnology and cell biology research. The present study was designed to identify the expression vector that suitable to ligate with DNA encoding HBV core protein for intracellular localization study in hepatocyte cell, which were expressed as fusion proteins. We also compared and quantified the expressed fluorescent protein which predominantly localized in the cell compartment. The results indicated that DsRed2 shown as less than ideal for intracellular localization study of than EGFP, because of its tetrameric structure of the fluorescent protein and when fused to a protein of interest, the fusion protein often forms aggregates in the living cells. In contrast, EGFP fluorescent protein shown a much higher proportion of cytoplasmic localization, thus being more suitable for analysis of intracellular localization than DsRed2 fluorescent protein. EGFP fluorescent protein is also capable to produce a strong green fluorescence when excited by blue light, without any exogenously added substrate or cofactor, events inside living cell can thus be visualized in a non-invasive way. Based on our present quantitative data and some reasons above shown that EGFP is more suitable than DsRed2 as a fluorescent marker protein for intracellular localization study into HuH-7 cell. Keywords: EGFP, DsRed2 fluorescent protein , HuH-7 cell, HBV, intracellular localization

Isoform importin α molecules play a central role in the classical nuclear import pathway, that occurs through the nuclear pore complex (NPC) and typically requires a specific nuclear localization signal (NLS). In this study, it was investigated the role of isoforms importin α in the nuclear import of wild type recombinant hepatitis B virus core protein (WT rHBc), phosphorylated recombinant HBV core (rHBc) and recombinant HBV core without NLS by co-immunoprecipitation. Four recombinant full-length isoforms importin α as 6x histidin-tagged fusion protein were expressed and analysed from expression plasmid vectors Rch1, pHM 1969, pHM 1967 and pHM 1965. The results indicated that importin α-1, importin α-3, importin α-4 and importin α-5 can be expressed and isolated from E. coli transformed recombinant DNA plasmid as protein in size around 58-60 kDa. By the nuclear transport study shown that isoforms importin α are involved in the nuclear import of WT rHBc, phosphorylated rHBc and rHBc without NLS. It also indicated that they have an important role for nuclear transport of from cytoplasm into the nucleus. Keywords: NPC, NLS, importin α, importin β, isoforms importin α as 6x histidin-tagged fusion protein, WT rHBc, SV40 Tag, co-immunoprecipitation, westernblotting.