Role of site-directed mutagenesis and adjuvants in the stability and potency of anthrax protective antigen

Anthrax is a zoonotic infection caused by the gram-positive, aerobic, spore-forming bacterium Bacillus anthracis. Depending on the origin of the infection, serious health problems or mortality is possible. The virulence of B. anthracis is reliant on three pathogenic factors, which are secreted upon infection: protective antigen (PA), lethal factor (LF), and edema factor (EF). Systemic illness results from LF and EF entering cells through the formation of a complex with the heptameric form of PA, bound to the membrane of infected cells through its receptor. The currently available anthrax vaccines have multiple drawbacks, and recombinant PA is considered a promising second-generation vaccine candidate. However, the inherent chemical instability of PA through Asn deamidation at multiple sites prevents its use after long-term storage owing to loss of potency. Moreover, there is a distinct possibility of B. anthracis being used as a bioweapon; thus, the developed vaccine should remain efficacious and stable over the long-term. Second-generation anthrax vaccines with appropriate adjuvant formulations for enhanced immunogenicity and safety are desired. In this article, using protein engineering approaches, we have reviewed the stabilization of anthrax vaccine candidates that are currently licensed or under preclinical and clinical trials. We have also proposed a formulation to enhance recombinant PA vaccine potency via adjuvant formulation.     

胰腺癌免疫治疗的现状及前景CSCD

胰腺癌(胰腺导管腺癌)是一种恶性程度较高,诊断和治疗都较困难的消化系统恶性肿瘤。近年来,肿瘤免疫治疗在多种肿瘤中如黑色素瘤、膀胱癌、乳腺癌、非小细胞肺癌和肾癌等均取得了令人振奋的治疗效果,但是胰腺癌的免疫治疗策略尚在不断探索中。目前针对胰腺癌独特的肿瘤微环境设计了多种免疫治疗策略,包括强化/提高自身免疫反应(免疫调节剂、单克隆抗体、肿瘤疫苗和细胞治疗)以及抑制肿瘤免疫逃逸(免疫检查点抑制剂和肿瘤微环境)等。本文就胰腺癌免疫治疗的研究进展进行综述,着重探讨PD-1/PD-L1抑制剂在胰腺癌中的应用,并分析免疫治疗联合其他方式治疗胰腺癌的前景。     

Consensus summary report for CEPI/BC March 12–13, 2020 meeting: Assessment of risk of disease enhancement with COVID-19 vaccines

A novel coronavirus (CoV), Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), emerged in late 2019 in Wuhan, China and has since spread as a global pandemic. Safe and effective vaccines are thus urgently needed to reduce the significant morbidity and mortality of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) disease and ease the major economic impact. There has been an unprecedented rapid response by vaccine developers with now over one hundred vaccine candidates in development and at least six having reached clinical trials. However, a major challenge during rapid development is to avoid safety issues both by thoughtful vaccine design and by thorough evaluation in a timely manner. A syndrome of “disease enhancement” has been reported in the past for a few viral vaccines where those immunized suffered increased severity or death when they later encountered the virus or were found to have an increased frequency of infection. Animal models allowed scientists to determine the underlying mechanism for the former in the case of Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine and have been utilized to design and screen new RSV vaccine candidates. Because some Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) and SARS-CoV-1 vaccines have shown evidence of disease enhancement in some animal models, this is a particular concern for SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. To address this challenge, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and the Brighton Collaboration (BC) Safety Platform for Emergency vACcines (SPEAC) convened a scientific working meeting on March 12 and 13, 2020 of experts in the field of vaccine immunology and coronaviruses to consider what vaccine designs could reduce safety concerns and how animal models and immunological assessments in early clinical trials can help to assess the risk. This report summarizes the evidence presented and provides considerations for safety assessment of COVID-19 vaccine candidates in accelerated vaccine development.     

依维莫司联合全反式维甲酸逆转急性早幼粒细胞白血病细胞耐药的研究

目的探讨依维莫司联合全反式维甲酸(简称维甲酸)逆转急性早幼粒细胞白血病(APL)细胞株NB4-R1耐药的作用。方法应用CD11b染色流式细胞术及硝基四唑氮蓝(NBT)还原实验检测两药联合应用对细胞分化的影响, 流式细胞术检测细胞周期情况, Annexin V/PI双染色检测细胞凋亡情况, 蛋白质印迹法检测自噬相关蛋白微管结合蛋白轻链3(LC3)、Beclin 1及早幼粒白血病-维甲酸受体融合蛋白(PML-RARα)、磷酸化核糖体S6激酶(P-P70S6K)、磷酸化4E结合蛋白1(P-4E-BP1) 等表达水平。结果与维甲酸组比较, 联用组能诱导耐药细胞株NB4-R1细胞的分化, 并将细胞增殖阻止在G ₁期而对细胞凋亡无明显影响。100 nmol/L依维莫司组、1μmol/L维甲酸组、联用组、对照组NB4-R1细胞培养48 h后分化百分率分别为(2.29±0.57)%、(17.06±2.65)%、(54.47±4.91)%、(2.54±0.53)%; 处于G ₁期的细胞百分率分别为(35.20±11.97)%、(33.54±6.25)%、(53.70±8.73)%、(27.40±6.01)%; 四组细胞凋亡细胞百分率分别为(2.30±0.14)%、(2.25±0.21)%、(2.40±0.28)%、(1.95±0.07)%。与维甲酸组比较, 联用组mTOR信号通路下游的P70S6K、4E-BP1分子磷酸化水平下降, LC3-II和Beclin 1的表达上调, 且能部分降解融合蛋白PML-RARα。 结论依维莫司联合维甲酸能诱导NB4-R1细胞分化, 且能阻滞细胞周期而不致细胞凋亡, 其机制可能与依维莫司联合维甲酸抑制mTOR信号通路激活自噬作用从而降解PML-RARα蛋白有关。     

Cryoablation: physical and molecular basis with putative immunological consequences

Abstract

Cryoablation (CA) is unique as the singular energy deprivation therapy that impacts all cellular processes. CA is independent of cell cycle stage and degree of cellular stemness. Importantly, CA is typically applied as a non-repetitive (single session) treatment that does not support adaptative mutagenesis as do many repetitive therapies. CA is characterized by the launch of multiple forms of cell death including (a) ice-related physical damage, (b) initiation of cellular stress responses (kill switch activation) and launch of necrosis and apoptosis, (c) vascular stasis, and (d) likely activation of ablative immune responses. CA is not without limitation related to the thermal gradient formed between cryoprobe surface (～?185°C) and the distal surface of the freeze zone (～0°C) requiring freeze margin extension beyond the tumor boundary (up to ～1?cm). This limitation is mitigated in part by commonly applied dual freeze thaw cycles and the use of freeze sensitizing adjuvants. This review will (1) identify the cascade of damaging effects of the freeze–thaw process, its physical and molecular-based relationships, (2) a likely immunological involvement (abscopic effect), and (3) explore the use of freeze-sensitizing adjuvants necessary to limit freezing beyond the tumor margin.     

Effects of Fuzhuan Brick-Tea Water Extract on Mice Infected with E. coli O157:H7

Fuzhuan brick-tea extract (FBTE) affects the physiology of mice infected with Escherichia coli O157:H7. For 10 consecutive days, 0.05, 0.5, and 1.0 g/mL FBTE was administered intragastrically to three groups of infected Kunming mice, and changes in immunological function, hematology, and histopathology were examined. The results revealed upregulation of platelets, total protein, and albumin along with downregulation of serum triglycerides, aspartate aminotransferase, creatinine, and urea nitrogen in FBTE-treated mice. Histological sections of stomach, kidney, duodenum, ileum, and colon suggested that infected mucous membranes could be rehabilitated by low- and high-dose FBTE and that inflammation was alleviated. Similarly, increased thymic function in mice treated with middle- and high-dose FBTE led to elevated serum hemolysin antibody titer and increased CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells, as indicated by CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ expression on intestinal mucosa. Monocyte and macrophage function was improved by three FBTE dosages tested. Colonic microbiota analysis by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) revealed characteristic bands in infected mice treated with middle- and high-dose FBTE and increased species diversity in Lactobacillus, Bacteroides, and Clostridium cluster IV. These results suggest that FBTE may protect kidney and liver of mice infected with E. coli O157:H7, improve immune function, and regulate the colonic microbiota.     

桂枝汤治疗风湿郁热型急性痛风性关节炎35例

目的:观察桂枝汤联合秋水仙碱治疗风湿郁热型急性痛风性关节炎的临床疗效及对细胞炎症因子和免疫功能的影响。方法:将70例患者随机分为2组。对照组35例,予口服秋水仙碱片;观察组35例,在对照组治疗基础上加服桂枝汤。2组均连续治疗7天,比较2组治疗前后平均症状积分、血尿酸、临床疗效、细胞炎性因子(IL-1β、IL-6、IL-8、TNF-α)水平、免疫功能(白细胞计数、红细胞沉降率及C反应蛋白)水平的变化情况及临床疗效和不良反应发生率。结果:总有效率观察组为94.29%,对照组为74.29%,2组比较差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。平均症状积分,血尿酸水平,血清IL-1β、IL-6、IL-8、TNF-α水平,白细胞计数,红细胞沉降率(ESR)及C反应蛋白(CRP)水平,治疗前2组组间比较,差异无统计学意义(P0.05);治疗前后2组组内比较,差异均有统计学意义(P0.05);治疗后2组组间比较,差异也有统计学意义(P0.05)。不良反应发生率观察组为42.86%,对照组为31.43%,2组比较差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:桂枝汤联合秋水仙碱治疗急性痛风性关节炎疗效显著,可明显抑制炎症因子的释放和免疫反应水平,改善急性痛风性关节炎患者的临床症状,且安全性较高。