Cross -packing among retroviruses and characterization of the feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) packaging signal: Implications for the development of FIV-based gene transfer systems

Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV)-based gene transfer systems are being seriously considered for human gene therapy as an alternative to vectors based on primate lentiviruses, a genetically complex group of retroviruses capable of infecting non-dividing cells. The greater phylogenetic distance between the feline and primate lentiviruses is thought to reduce chances of the generation of recombinant viruses. However, safety of FIV-based vector systems has not been tested experimentally. Since primate lentiviruses such as human and simian immunodeficiency viruses (HIV/SIV) can cross-package each other's genomes, we tested this trait with respect to FIV. Unexpectedly, both feline and primate lentiviruses were reciprocally able to both cross-package and propagate each other's RNA genomes. This was largely due to the recognition of viral packaging signals by the heterologous proteins. However, a simple retrovirus such as Mason-Pfizer monkey virus (MPMV) was unable to package FIV RNA. Interestingly, FIV could package MPMV RNA, but not propagate it for further steps of replication. These findings suggest that upon co-infection of the same host, cross-packaging may allow distinct retroviruses to generate chimeric variants with unknown pathogenic potential. ^ In order to understand the packaging determinants in FIV, we conducted a detailed mutational analysis of the region thought to contain FIV packaging signal. We show that the first 90–120 nt of the 5′ untranslated region (UTR) and the first 90 nt of gag were simultaneously required for efficient FIV RNA packaging. These results suggest that the primary FIV packaging signal is multipartite and discontinuous, composed of two core elements separated by 150 nt of the 5 ′UTR. ^ The above studies are being used towards the development of safer FIV-based self-inactivating (SIN) vectors. These vectors are being designed to eliminate the ability of FIV transfer vector RNAs to be mobilized by primate lentiviral proteins that may be present in the target cells. Preliminary test of the first generation of these vectors has revealed that they are incapable of being propagated by feline proteins. The inability of FIV transfer vectors to express packageable vector RNA after integration should greatly increase the safety of FIV vectors for human gene therapy. ^

Sistema de identidad, packaging y promoción para la Bodega Orgánica Pulmary

El siguiente trabajo busca construir un sistema integrado de comunicación visual, aplicado al packaging y promoción de las diferentes líneas de vino de la Bodega Orgánica Pulmary.

Sistema de identidad corporativa, packaging y promoción para productos de la empresa Sabores

El proyecto busca a través del diseño de comunicación gráfica, lograr un identidad visual novedosa dentro del rubro de productos naturales envasados de la empresa Sabores. De esta manera lograr incrementar las ventas y aumentar la presencia en el mercado mendocino, apostando a una expansión de la misma y a posicionarse como empresa líder dentro del rubro, transmitiendo siempre la calidad y naturalidad de sus productos.

Diseño de sistemas de identidad corporativa, packaging y promoción para productos alimenticios Ballesta.

El proyecto busca crear un sistema de comunicación visual, del que carece la empresa. El mismo le permitirá diferenciarse de la competencia e insertarse en el mercado nacional y posicionarse dentro del mismo. Se plantea un sistema gráfico de etiquetas para sus nuevas líneas de productos. La aplicación desarrollada abarca piezas editoriales como multimedial.

Rediseño y promoción de sistema de identidad y packaging de cervecería y restaurant Jerome

El siguiente proyecto plantea el rediseño de la identidad corporativa de "Jerome" empresa familiar productora de cerveza artesanal, ubicada en Potrerillos, Mendoza, Argentina. S busca construir una personalidad que le permita promocionar y posicionar el producto en el mercado interno y externo. La aplicación del sistema abarca el packaging y el desarrollo de piezas editoriales como multimediales.

Rediseño de identidad y packaging de la línea de vinos Fuzion de Bodega Familia Zuccardi

El proyecto se basa en el desarrollo del rediseño de la identidad visual y la construcción de un sistema para el packaging de la línea de vinos "Fuzion" de Bodega Familia Zuccardi, ya que el diseño que presenta actualmente dicho producto no tuvo la llegada esperada al consumidor.

Identidad y packaging Bodega Doña Elvira

El proyecto surge como respuesta a la identidad actual de la Bodega boutique "Doña Elvira" ubicada en Vista Flores, Tunuyán, Mendoza, la cual no coincide con lo que la bodega pretende comunicar. Con el diseño de su identidad y con la implementación de un sistema gráfico que unifique gráficamente sus vinos, pretende alcanzar un mayor posicionamiento con respecto a la competencia y de esta manera promocionar la bodega y sus productos para incrementar las ventas.

Sistema de identidad y packaging de la bodega Benvenuto de la Serna

El presente proyecto, por medio del Diseño Gráfico busca lograr una mejor identificación de la bodega y un posicionamiento de la misma en el mercado nacional e internacional. El objetivo es lograr un sistema en el que todas sus piezas mantengan coherencia y variedad formal, generando de este modo, piezas gráficas que respondan y refuercen la imagen que la bodega pretende mostrar.

Rediseño, promoción de sistema de identidad y packaging de MQA Productos Gourmet

El siguiente proyecto desarrolla la identidad de MQA, empresa de conservas gourmet, del departamento de Las Heras. Se buscó construir un sistema integral de comunicación entre sus productos y las piezas gráficas para la promoción, comercialización y difusión de los mismos.

Consumer preferences towards beef cattle in Chile : Importance of country of origin, cut, packaging, brand and price

A study was carried out to evaluate preferences for two cuts, four countries of origin, two forms of presentation, brand and different prices of beef cattle among supermarket buyers in southern Chile, and to distinguish the existence of different market segments, through a survey of 800 people. Using a fractional factorial design for conjoint analysis, it was determined overall that the origin was more important (44.5%) than price (20.8%), form of presentation (12.2%), cut (12.0%) and brand (10.5%), with preference for Chilean and Argentinean striploin, packaged on trays, with no brand at medium price. Using a cluster analysis, three market segments were distinguished. The largest (52.3%) placed great importance on origin and preferred the highest price. The second (27.5%) also valued origin with the greatest preference for Argentinean beef, and it was the only group that preferred the ribeye as the cut. The third (20.5%) placed the greatest importance on price, and was the only group that preferred Paraguayan meat. The segments differed in the importance of eating meat for their personal well-being. The low importance of packaging and brand indicates poorly developed marketing of this product. In order to properly insert brand beef in the Chilean market, communication strategies must be implemented that identify the product with superior quality and that position the brand in the consumer's mind.

Genome-Wide Analysis of the Response of Dickeya dadantii 3937 to Plant Antimicrobial Peptides

Antimicrobial peptides constitute an important factor in the defense of plants against pathogens, and bacterial resistance to these peptides have previously been shown to be an important virulence factor in Dickeya dadantii, the causal agent of soft-rot disease of vegetables. In order to understand the bacterial response to antimicrobial pep- tides, a transcriptional microarray analysis was performed upon treatment with sub-lethal concentration of thionins, a widespread plant peptide. In all, 36 genes were found to be overexpressed, and were classified according to their deduced function as i) transcriptional regulators, ii) transport, and iii) modification of the bacterial membrane. One gene encoding a uricase was found to be repressed. The majority of these genes are known to be under the control of the PhoP/PhoQ system. Five genes representing the different functions induced were selected for further analysis. The results obtained indicate that the presence of antimicrobial peptides induces a complex response which includes peptide-specific elements and general stress-response elements contributing differentially to the virulence in different hosts.

Packaging and testing of fiber Bragg gratings for use as strain sensor for rock specimens

This paper reports a packaging and calibration procedure for surface mounting of fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensors to measure strain in rocks. The packaging of FBG sensors is performed with glass fiber and polyester resin, and then subjected to tensile loads in order to obtain strength and deformability parameters, necessaries to assess the mechanical performance of the sensor packaging. For a specific package, an optimal curing condition has been found, showing good repeatability and adaptability for non-planar surfaces, such as occurs in rock engineering. The successfully packaged sensors and electrical strain gages were attached to standard rock specimens of gabbro. Longitudinal and transversal strains under compression loads were measured with both techniques, showing that response of FBG sensors is linear and reliable. An analytical model is used to characterize the influences of rock substrate and FBG packaging in strain transmission. As a result, we obtained a sensor packaging for non-planar and complex natural material under acceptable sensitivity suitable for very small strains as occurs in hard rocks.

BAC-VAC, a novel generation of (DNA) vaccines: A bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) containing a replication-competent, packaging-defective virus genome induces protective immunity against herpes simplex virus 1

This study aimed to exploit bacterial artificial chromosomes (BAC) as large antigen-capacity DNA vaccines (BAC-VAC) against complex pathogens, such as herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1). The 152-kbp HSV-1 genome recently has been cloned as an F-plasmid-based BAC in Escherichia coli (fHSV), which can efficiently produce infectious virus progeny upon transfection into mammalian cells. A safe modification of fHSV, fHSVΔpac, does not give rise to progeny virus because the signals necessary to package DNA into virions have been excluded. However, in mammalian cells fHSVΔpac DNA can still replicate, express the HSV-1 genes, cause cytotoxic effects, and produce virus-like particles. Because these functions mimic the lytic cycle of the HSV-1 infection, fHSVΔpac was expected to stimulate the immune system as efficiently as a modified live virus vaccine. To test this hypothesis, mice were immunized with fHSVΔpac DNA applied intradermally by gold-particle bombardment, and the immune responses were compared with those induced by infection with disabled infectious single cycle HSV-1. Immunization with either fHSVΔpac or disabled infectious single cycle HSV-1 induced the priming of HSV-1-specific cytotoxic T cells and the production of virus-specific antibodies and conferred protection against intracerebral injection of wild-type HSV-1 at a dose of 200 LD50. Protection probably was cell-mediated, as transfer of serum from immunized mice did not protect naive animals. We conclude that BAC-VACs per se, or in combination with genetic elements that support replicative amplification of the DNA in the cell nucleus, represent a useful new generation of DNA-based vaccination strategies for many viral and nonviral antigens.