Prime–boost vaccination with a fowlpox vector and an inactivated avian influenza vaccine is highly immunogenic in Pekin ducks challenged with Asian H5N1 HPAI

The efficacy of different vaccination schedules was evaluated in 17-day-old Pekin ducks using an experimental inactivated whole virus vaccine based on the H5N9 A/chicken/Italy/22A/98 isolate (H5N9-It) and/or a fowlpox recombinant (vFP-H5) expressing a synthetic HA gene from an Asian H5N1 isolate (A/chicken/Indonesia/7/2003). Full protection against clinical signs and shedding was induced by the different vaccination schemes. However, the broadest antibody response and the lowest antibody increase after challenge were observed in the group of ducks whose immune system was primed with the fowlpox vectored vaccine and boosted with the inactivated vaccine, suggesting that this prime-boost strategy induced optimal immunity against H5N1 and minimal viral replication after challenge in ducks. In addition, this prime-boost vaccination scheme was shown to be immunogenic in 1-day-old ducklings.     

MicroRNAs in HPV associated cancers: small players with big consequences

Introduction: MicroRNAs (miRs) are short (~20 nucleotides) non-coding ribonuecleic acids (ncRNAs) known to be involved in cellular processes such as proliferation, differentiation, immune response, pathogenicity and tumourigenesis, among many others. The regulatory mechanisms exerted by miRs have been implicated in many cancers, including Human Papillomavirus (HPV)-associated cancers.

Areas covered: In this review, the authors discuss the involvement of miRs (?143, ?375, ?21, ?200, ?296 etc.) that have been shown to be dysregulated in HPV-associated cancers. This review also encompasses both intracellular and exosomal miRs, and their potential as diagnostic biomarkers in saliva and blood. The authors have also attempted to dissect the functional impact of miRs on cellular processes such as changes in cellular polarity, loss of apoptosis and tumour suppression, and unchecked and uncontrolled cell cycle regulation, all of which ultimately lead to aberrant cellular proliferation.

Expert commentary: Identification of dysregulated miRs in HPV-associated cancers opens up new opportunities to develop diagnostic, therapeutic and prognostic biomarkers. Studies on global expression patterns of miRs dysregulated in HPV-associated cancers can be instrumental in developing broader therapeutic strategies. Therapies like anti-miR, miR-replacement and those based on alternative natural products targeting miRs, need to be improved and better synchronized to be cost-effective and have better treatment outcomes.     

胃癌组织miR155的表达及其与临床预后的关系

目的:探讨胃癌组织miR-155的表达水平及其临床意义。方法:收集手术切除的胃癌标本116例,采用实时荧光定量反转录聚合酶链反应(qRT-PCR)检测癌及癌旁组织miR-155的表达水平,分析其与临床病理的关系及对临床预后的影响。采用免疫组织化学法检测癌组织中PTEN的表达,分析其表达与miR-155的相关性。结果:胃癌组织miR-155表达高于配对癌旁组织,差异有统计学意义(P0.001);miR-155高表达与肿瘤TNM分期、侵犯层次、淋巴结转移有关(P0.05)。K-M曲线分析表明,miR-155高表达预示着较低的3年无病进展率(P0.001)及总生存率(P0.001)。PTEN表达与miR-155负相关,miR-155高表达患者PTEN表达低(P0.001)。结论:miR-155与胃癌发生发展密切相关,可能是胃癌潜在的临床诊断及预后指标。     

Alcoholic hepatitis and HCV interactions in the modulation of liver disease

Most HCV‐infected patients regularly consume alcohol. Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) and chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection together are the most common causes of liver disease worldwide. Although both factors independently cause liver disease, they synergistically promote rapid liver disease progression with devastating outcomes for patients. This review focuses on the prevalence, clinical characteristics and molecular pathophysiologic mechanisms of HCV infection associated with alcohol abuse. Recent findings have centred on the synergistic effect of alcohol and HCV on viral replication, hepatocyte apoptosis, oxidative stress, alcohol‐induced ‘leaky gut’, miR‐122 and immune dysregulation. Clinical and basic research findings presented here summarize key scientific findings with the aim of highlighting potential areas for new therapies and identifying ways of optimizing current treatments for alcoholics with HCV infection.