The JNK pathway, one of the three major classes of mitogenactivated protein kinase pathways, is induced by pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as Tumor Necrosis Factor and Interleukin-1, and several forms of environmental stress. In mammals, JNK is reported to be activated by two MAPK kinases Mkk4 and Mkk7, with Mkk7 as the major MAPKK in TNF or IL-1-induced JNK activation while both, Mkk4 and Mkk7, are required for stress induced activation of JNK. In mammals, Mkk7 is a specific activator of JNKs while Mkk4 can also phosphorylate p38 MAPKs. In mice, analysis of the relative contribution of Mkk4 and Mkk7 to JNK activation has been complicated by the fact that Mkk4 and Mkk7 single mutants are embryonic lethal. Drosophila orthologs of Mkk4 and Mkk7 have been identified. So far, only mutations in hemipterous/Mkk7, have been isolated. Hep phosphorylates and activates the Drosophila JNK, Basket and null mutations in hep lead to a defect in dorsal closure, a well characterized process in the Drosophila (-)-Blebbistatin embryo that entirely depends on JNK signaling. In contrast to mammals, Drosophila Mkk4 only activates JNK but not p38 in vitro, however this remains controversial. Virus isolation was not undertaken. Nipah virus is categorized as a BSL4 agent, and GSK583 Indonesia does not currently have a laboratory with BSL4 facilities. Realtime PCR and RT- PCR represent a practical and robust alternative to detect Nipah virus from field samples in this situation. The assays target the N and M genes respectively, both of which are highly conserved among henipaviruses, allowing confident identification of Nipah virus from field samples rapidly and specifically. Our analyses showed that the Indonesian and Malaysian nucleotide sequences were more closely aligned that sequences with each other than they were with the Bangladesh or Indian sequences. This is not unexpected given the demonstrated movement of flying-foxes between peninsular Malaysia and Sumatera across a sea distance of less than 50 km. While it might be argued that the weaker alignment with the Bangladesh and Indian sequences reflects the non-flying-fox origin of the latter, analysis of sequence derived from multiple species in Malaysia suggests distinct geographic clades. Sequence comparison across a larger portion of the genome, and from a broader geographic footprint across Indonesia is needed to determine the extent of genetic diversity in Indonesian flyingfoxes, especially East Indonesia. The serology fi
