Alexander W. Tarr, Ania M. Owsianka, Judith M. Timms, C. Patrick McClure, Richard J. P. Brown, Timothy P. Hickling, Thomas Pietschmann, Ralf Bartenschlager, Arvind H. Patel, Jonathan K. Ball – 22 February 2006 – The mouse monoclonal antibody (MAb) AP33, recognizing a 12 amino acid linear epitope in the hepatitis C virus (HCV) E2 glycoprotein, potently neutralizes retroviral pseudoparticles (HCVpp) carrying genetically diverse HCV envelope glycoproteins. Consequently, this antibody and its epitope are highly relevant to vaccine design and immunotherapeutic development.

Alejandro Blasco, Xavier Forns, José A. Carrión, Juan Carlos García‐Pagán, Rosa Gilabert, Antoni Rimola, Rosa Miquel, Miquel Bruguera, Juan‐Carlos García‐Valdecasas, Jaime Bosch, Miquel Navasa – 22 February 2006 – Liver biopsy is essential in the follow‐up of HCV‐infected liver transplant recipients. The aim of this study was to prospectively compare percutaneous (PLB) versus transjugular liver biopsy (TLB) in the assessment of liver damage.

Thomas D. Boyer – 22 February 2006

Xiaoling Jin, Teresa A. Zimmers, Eduardo A. Perez, Robert H. Pierce, Zongxiu Zhang, Leonidas G. Koniaris – 22 February 2006 – Interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) is an important mediator of liver regeneration and repair that is also elevated in chronic liver diseases, including fatty liver of obesity and cirrhosis. IL‐6 has been reported both to delay and accelerate liver regeneration.

Paul B. Watkins, Leonard B. Seeff – 22 February 2006 – Idiosyncratic drug induced liver injury (DILI) remains poorly understood. It is assumed that the affected individuals possess a rare combination of genetic and non genetic factors that, if identified, would greatly improve understanding of the underlying mechanisms. This single topic conference brought together basic scientists, translational investigators, and clinicians with an interest in DILI.

Jared D. Evans, Christoph Seeger – 22 February 2006 – Antiviral immunity against a pathogen is mounted upon recognition by the host of virally associated structures.

Margaret James Koziel – 22 February 2006

Andreas Untergasser, Uta Zedler, Anja Langenkamp, Marianna Hösel, Maria Quasdorff, Knud Esser, Hans‐Peter Dienes, Barbara Tappertzhofen, Waldemar Kolanus, Ulrike Protzer – 22 February 2006 – Dendritic cells (DC) of hepatitis B virus (HBV) carriers have been reported to exhibit functional impairment. Possible explanations for this phenomenon are infection of HBV by DC or alteration of DC function by HBV.

Zun Chang Liu, Thomas Ming Swi Chang – 22 February 2006 – Under specific conditions, bone marrow cells can transdifferentiate into a variety of cell types including hepatocytes. In this study, bioencapsulated bone marrow cells were transplanted intraperitoneally into 90% hepatectomized rats. We then followed the transdifferentiation of the bone marrow cells and the effect of this on liver regeneration in this liver failure model. Bone marrow cells isolated from Wistar rats were bioencapsulated using alginate‐polylysine‐alginate method.

Ivo W. Graziadei, Hubert Schwaighofer, Robert Koch, Karin Nachbaur, Alfred Koenigsrainer, Raimund Margreiter, Wolfgang Vogel – 15 February 2006 – Biliary strictures are one of the most common complications following liver transplantation (LT), with an incidence of 5.8‐34%. Endoscopic techniques have been successfully used to treat biliary complications; however, the long‐term efficacy and safety of this treatment option has not yet been fully elucidated.