Chiba Institute of Technology

About: Chiba Institute of Technology is a education organization based out in Narashino, Japan. It is known for research contribution in the topics: RNA & Magnet. The organization has 2663 authors who have published 4999 publications receiving 56870 citations. The organization is also known as: Chiba kōgyō daigaku & Kōa Institute of Technology.

Identification of cellular and viral factors related to anti-hepatitis C virus activity of cyclophilin inhibitor.

Abstract: We have so far reported that an immunosuppressant cyclosporin A (CsA), a well-known cyclophilin (CyP) inhibitor (CPI), strongly suppressed hepatitis C virus (HCV) replication in cell culture, and that CyPB was a cellular cofactor for viral replication. To further investigate antiviral mechanisms of CPI, we here developed cells carrying CsA-resistant HCV replicons, by culturing the HCV subgenomic replicon cells for 4 weeks in the presence of CsA with G418. Transfection of total RNA from the isolated CsA-resistant cells to naive Huh7 cells conferred CsA resistance, suggesting that the replicon RNA itself was responsible for the resistant phenotype. Of the identified amino acid mutations, D320E in NS5A conferred the CsA resistance. The replicon carrying the D320E mutation was sensitive to interferon-α, but was resistant to CsA and other CPIs including NIM811 and sanglifehrin A. Knockdown of individual CyP subtypes revealed CyP40, in addition to CyPA and CyPB, contributed to viral replication, and CsA-resistant replicons acquired independence from CyPA for efficient replication. These data provide important evidence on the mechanisms underlying the regulation of HCV replication by CyP and for designing novel and specific anti-HCV strategies with CPIs. (Cancer Sci 2009; 100: 1943–1950)

Grain-refining mechanisms of superheat-treatment of and carbon addition to Mg–Al–Zn alloys

Abstract: Experiments were performed to clarify the grain-refining mechanisms of Mg–Al–Zn alloys by superheat treatment and addition of a new grain refiner. Numerous Al 4 C 3 nucleants were formed in the commercial AZ91E alloy by superheat treatment. Carbon is an important element for grain refining of commercial AZ91E alloy instead of harmful C 2 Cl 6 . Numerous Al 4 C 3 nucleants were also formed in the molten alloy.

Thermal and mechanical properties of plasticized poly(L‐lactide) nanocomposites with organo‐modified montmorillonites

Abstract: Nanocomposites of poly(lactide) (PLA) and the PLA plasticized with diglycerine tetraacetate (PL-710) and ethylene glycol oligomer containing organo-modified montmorillonites (ODA-M and PGS-M) by the protonated ammonium cations of octadecylamine and poly(ethylene glycol) stearylamine were prepared by melt intercalation method. In the X-ray diffraction analysis, the PLA/ODA-M and plasticized PLA/ODA-M composites showed a clear enlargement of the difference of interlayer spacing between the composite and clay itself, indicating the formation of intercalated nanocomposite. However, a little enlargement of the interlayer spacing was observed for the PLA/PGS-M and plasticized PLA/PGS-M composites. From morphological studies using transmission electron microscopy, a finer dispersion of clay was observed for PLA/ODA-M composite than PLA/PGS-M composite and all the composites using the plasticized PLA. The PLA and PLA/PL-710 composites containing ODA-M showed a higher tensile strength and modulus than the corresponding composites with PGS-M. The PLA/PL-710 (10 wt %) composite containing ODA-M showed considerably higher elongation at break than the pristine plasticized PLA, and had a comparable tensile modulus to pure PLA. The glass transition temperature (Tg) of the composites decreased with increasing plasticizer. The addition of the clays did not cause a significant increase of Tg. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2006