Abstract: The present invention provides modified hepatitis C virus genomic RNA, comprising nucleotide sequences of genomic RNA portions of two or more types of hepatitis C viruses, which comprises a 5? untranslated region, a core protein coding sequence, an E1 protein coding sequence, a p7 protein coding sequence, an E2 protein coding sequence, an NS2 protein coding sequence, an NS3 protein coding sequence, an NS4A protein coding sequence, an NS4B protein coding sequence, an NS5A protein coding sequence, an NS5B protein coding sequence, and a 3? untranslated region, and which can be autonomously replicated. In particular, the present invention relates to modified hepatitis C virus genomic RNA, which can be autonomously replicated by substitution of the RNA sequence portion encoding NS3, NS4, NS5A, and NS5B proteins of hepatitis C virus genomic RNA with a partial RNA sequence encoding NS3, NS4, NS5A, and NS5B proteins of a JFH1 strain shown in SEQ ID NO: 1.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for separating and recovering a purified alkali metal salt from an aqueous alkali metal salt solution, the method including a treatment step of removing a purification-inhibiting substance from an aqueous alkali metal salt solution with a separation membrane having a glucose removal ratio and an isopropyl alcohol removal ratio simultaneously satisfying the following expressions (I) and (II) when each of a 1000 ppm aqueous glucose solution having a temperature of 25° C. and pH of 6.5 and a 1000 ppm aqueous isopropyl alcohol solution having a temperature of 25° C. and pH of 6.5 is permeated through the separation membrane at an operating pressure of 0.75 MPa: Glucose removal ratio?90% . . . (I), Glucose removal ratio—Isopropyl alcohol removal ratio?30% . . . (II).

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for replicating efficiently an RNA containing fulllength HCV genomic sequence and a method for producing HCV virus particles containing fulllength HCV replicon RNA or fulllength HCV genomic RNA by using a cell culture system. Further, the present invention relates to a method for producing hepatitis C virus particles which comprises culturing a cell, into which a replicon RNA comprising a nucleotide sequence comprising a fulllength genomic RNA sequence of hepatitis C virus of the genotype 2a, at least one selectable marker gene and/or at least one reporter gene and at least one IRES sequence or the fulllength genomic RNA of hepatitis C virus of the genotype 2a is introduced, and generating virus particles in the culture medium. Still further the present invention relates also to a hepatitis C vaccine and an antibody against hepatitis C virus particles.

Abstract: The present invention provides modified hepatitis C virus genomic RNA, comprising nucleotide sequences of genomic RNA portions of two or more types of hepatitis C viruses, which comprises a 5? untranslated region, a core protein coding sequence, an E1 protein coding sequence, a p7 protein coding sequence, an E2 protein coding sequence, an NS2 protein coding sequence, an NS3 protein coding sequence, an NS4A protein coding sequence, an NS4B protein coding sequence, an NS5A protein coding sequence, an NS5B protein coding sequence, and a 3? untranslated region, and which can be autonomously replicated. In particular, the present invention relates to modified hepatitis C virus genomic RNA, which can be autonomously replicated by substitution of the RNA sequence portion encoding NS3, NS4, NS5A, and NS5B proteins of hepatitis C virus genomic RNA with a partial RNA sequence encoding NS3, NS4, NS5A, and NS5B proteins of a JFH1 strain shown in SEQ ID NO: 1.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing a recombinant hepatitis C virus-like particle comprising the steps of introducing into (i) a cell in which an RNA replicon comprising a nucleotide sequence comprising the 5? untranslated region, the nucleotide sequence coding for the NS3, NS4A, NS4B, NS5A, and NS5B proteins, and the 3? untranslated region of a genome RNA derived from a hepatitis C virus strain autonomously replicates, (ii) a vector expressing the Core, E1, E2, and p7 proteins derived from a hepatitis C virus strain that is the same as or different from that as defined in the above (i), culturing the cell, and recovering the produced virus-like particle, and a recombinant hepatitis C virus particle produced by this method.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing infectious hepatitis C virus (HCV) particles, comprising a step of introducing an expression vector into a cell that allows HCV proliferation, such expression vector comprising: DNA sequences encoding the 5? untranslated region, structural proteins, and, if necessary, non-structural proteins of HCV and DNA sequences encoding non-structural proteins and the 3? untranslated region derived from the HCV JFH1 strain, which are located downstream of a polymerase I promoter; and a DNA fragment containing an RNA polymerase I terminator, which is located further downstream thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for replicating efficiently an RNA containing fulllength HCV genomic sequence and a method for producing HCV virus particles containing fulllength HCV replicon RNA or fulllength HCV genomic RNA by using a cell culture system. Further, the present invention relates to a method for producing hepatitis C virus particles which comprises culturing a cell, into which a replicon RNA comprising a nucleotide sequence comprising a fulllength genomic RNA sequence of hepatitis C virus of the genotype 2a, at least one selectable marker gene and/or at least one reporter gene and at least one IRES sequence or the fulllength genomic RNA of hepatitis C virus of the genotype 2a is introduced, and generating virus particles in the culture medium. Still further the present invention relates also to a hepatitis C vaccine and an antibody against hepatitis C virus particles.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing infectious hepatitis C virus (HCV) particles, comprising a step of introducing an expression vector into a cell that allows HCV proliferation, such expression vector comprising: DNA sequences encoding the 5? untranslated region, structural proteins, and, if necessary, non-structural proteins of HCV and DNA sequences encoding non-structural proteins and the 3? untranslated region derived from the HCV JFH1 strain, which are located downstream of a polymerase I promoter; and a DNA fragment containing an RNA polymerase I terminator, which is located further downstream thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for replicating efficiently an RNA containing fulllength HCV genomic sequence and a method for producing HCV virus particles containing fulllength HCV replicon RNA or fulllength HCV genomic RNA by using a cell culture system. Further, the present invention relates to a method for producing hepatitis C virus particles which comprises culturing a cell, into which a replicon RNA comprising a nucleotide sequence comprising a fulllength genomic RNA sequence of hepatitis C virus of the genotype 2a, at least one selectable marker gene and/or at least one reporter gene and at least one IRES sequence or the fulllength genomic RNA of hepatitis C virus of the genotype 2a is introduced, and generating virus particles in the culture medium. Still further the present invention relates also to a hepatitis C vaccine and an antibody against hepatitis C virus particles.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing a recombinant hepatitis C virus-like particle comprising the steps of introducing into (i) a cell in which an RNA replicon comprising a nucleotide sequence comprising the 5? untranslated region, the nucleotide sequence coding for the NS3, NS4A, NS4B, NS5A, and NS5B proteins, and the 3? untranslated region of a genome RNA derived from a hepatitis C virus strain autonomously replicates, (ii) a vector expressing the Core, E1, E2, and p7 proteins derived from a hepatitis C virus strain that is the same as or different from that as defined in the above (i), culturing the cell, and recovering the produced virus-like particle, and a recombinant hepatitis C virus particle produced by this method.

Abstract: The present invention provides modified hepatitis C virus genomic RNA, comprising nucleotide sequences of genomic RNA portions of two or more types of hepatitis C viruses, which comprises a 5? untranslated region, a core protein coding sequence, an E1 protein coding sequence, a p7 protein coding sequence, an E2 protein coding sequence, an NS2 protein coding sequence, an NS3 protein coding sequence, an NS4A protein coding sequence, an NS4B protein coding sequence, an NS5A protein coding sequence, an NS5B protein coding sequence, and a 3? untranslated region, and which can be autonomously replicated. In particular, the present invention relates to modified hepatitis C virus genomic RNA, which can be autonomously replicated by substitution of the RNA sequence portion encoding NS3, NS4, NS5A, and NS5B proteins of hepatitis C virus genomic RNA with a partial RNA sequence encoding NS3, NS4, NS5A, and NS5B proteins of a JFH1 strain shown in SEQ ID NO: 1.

Abstract: The present invention provides a non-human bone metastasis model animal in which tumor cells capable of inducing bone metastasis by peripheral administration have been introduced, and a method for producing the animal.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for replicating efficiently an RNA containing fulllength HCV genomic sequence and a method for producing HCV virus particles containing fulllength HCV replicon RNA or fulllength HCV genomic RNA by using a cell culture system. Further, the present invention relates to a method for producing hepatitis C virus particles which comprises culturing a cell, into which a replicon RNA comprising a nucleotide sequence comprising a fulllength genomic RNA sequence of hepatitis C virus of the genotype 2a, at least one selectable marker gene and/or at least one reporter gene and at least one IRES sequence or the fulllength genomic RNA of hepatitis C virus of the genotype 2a is introduced, and generating virus particles in the culture medium. Still further the present invention relates also to a hepatitis C vaccine and an antibody against hepatitis C virus particles.

Abstract: The present invention provides a non-human bone metastasis model animal in which tumor cells capable of inducing bone metastasis by peripheral administration have been introduced, and a method for producing the animal. The bone metastasis model animal in the present invention may be useful for understanding the biology of bone metastasis and developing novel therapeutic strategies for lung cancer patient with multi-organ metastases, including bone metastasis.

Abstract: The present invention provides a non-human bone metastasis model animal in which tumor cells capable of inducing bone metastasis by peripheral administration have been introduced, and a method for producing the animal. The bone metastasis model animal in the present invention may be useful for understanding the biology of bone metastasis and developing novel therapeutic strategies for lung cancer patient with multi-organ metastases, including bone metastasis. The present invention also provides a method of screening an agent for inhibition and/or prevention of bone metastasis of tumor cells using the non-human bone metastasis model animal.

Abstract: The invention relates to a set of isolated marker genes comprising at least one gene identified as having differential expression as between patients who are responders and non responders to an erbB receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor; said gene set comprising one or more genes selected from at least the group consisting of the 51 genes listed herein including gene-specific oligonucleotides derived from said genes; and uses of such sets in diagnostic applications.

Abstract: The present invention provides a non-human bone metastasis model animal in which tumor cells capable of inducing bone metastasis by peripheral administration have been introduced, and a method for producing the animal. The bone metastasis model animal in the present invention may be useful for understanding the biology of bone metastasis and developing novel therapeutic strategies for lung cancer patient with multi-organ metastases, including bone metastasis.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide modified IFN so that duration of IFN in blood is prolonged and IFN acts specifically on tissues having neovasculature, particularly tumors or ophthalmic tissues having neovasculature. The present invention provides an interferon-dextran complex obtained by mixing interferon with dextran having chelate ligands in the presence of a metal ion.

Abstract: Disclosed is an array immobilizing selective binding substances thereon, with which each sample can be distinguished without relying on the positions, an arbitrary array may be made, the density may be freely changed depending on the method of using, and with which the reaction between the bound sample and another sample can be detected easily. The present invention provides a fiber on which a selective-binding substance is immobilized, or a fiber array comprising a bundle of the fibers. A method for binding reaction between a selective binding substance and a corresponding selective binding substance, in which a test sample and/or the corresponding selective binding substance is(are) moved relative to the surface on which the selective binding substance is immobilized by, for example, applying an AC voltage in a direction crossing the perpendicular axis of the surface on which the selective binding substance is immobilized was also provided.

Abstract: A method for inhibiting cell growth is provided. The method includes the step of systemically administering a pharmaceutical preparation containing an interferon as an active ingredient two or more times a day, and is specifically useful for cancer treatment.