Preclinical evaluation of a plant-derived SARS-CoV-2 subunit vaccine: Protective efficacy,immunogenicity, safety,and toxicity

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an acute respiratory illness caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The prevention of SARS-CoV-2 transmission has become a global priority. Previously, we showed that a protein subunit vaccine that was developed based on the fusion of the SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain (RBD) to the Fc portion of human IgG1 (RBD-Fc), produced in Nicotiana benthamiana, and adjuvanted with alum, namely, Baiya SARS-CoV-2 Vax 1, induced potent immunological responses in both mice and cynomolgus monkeys. Hence, this study evaluated the protective efficacy, safety, and toxicity of Baiya SARS-CoV-2 Vax 1 in K18-hACE2 mice, monkeys and Wistar rats. Two doses of vaccine were administered three weeks apart on Days 0 and 21. The administration of the vaccine to K18-hACE2 mice reduced viral loads in the lungs and brains of the vaccinated animals and protected the mice against challenge with SARS-CoV-2. In monkeys, the results of safety pharmacology tests, general clinical observations, and a core battery of studies of three vital systems, namely, the central nervous, cardiovascular, and respiratory systems, did not reveal any safety concerns. The toxicology study of the vaccine in rats showed no vaccine-related pathological changes, and all the animals remained healthy under the conditions of this study. Furthermore, the vaccine did not cause any abnormal toxicity in rats and was clinically tolerated even at the highest tested concentration. In addition, general health status, body temperature, local toxicity at the administration site, hematology, and blood chemistry parameters were also monitored. Overall, this work presents the results of the first systematic study of the safety profile of a plant-derived vaccine, Baiya SARS-CoV-2 Vax 1; this approach can be considered a viable strategy for the development of vaccines against COVID-19.     

靶向测序诊断黑棘皮病1家系

【摘要】 报道临床症状不典型的家族性黑棘皮病1家系。先证者女，4岁，自1周岁时，颈部、腹部出现黑色斑片，近年来逐渐扩大至唇周、躯干前部。腹部皮肤全反式共聚焦显微镜检查可见乳头环下延扭曲及沟壑结构，乳头环内可见中高折光颗粒结构。先证者父亲及祖母既往有类似病史，但随着年龄增长色素沉着自发性消退，仅有局部皮纹增粗。采集先证者及父母、祖母外周血，对先证者外周血DNA行Panel靶向测序，结果显示，先证者存在FGFR3基因14号外显子c.1949A>C（p.Lys650Thr）错义突变，Sanger测序验证证实先证者及其父亲和祖母均存在此突变。诊断：家族性黑棘皮病。     

Cannabinoid receptor down-regulation without alteration of the inhibitory effect of CP 55,940 on adenylyl cyclase in the cerebellum of CP 55,940-tolerant mice

The objective of this study was to determine whether the development of tolerance to CP 55,940, a potent cannabinoid agonist, was due to changes in the receptor or second messenger system. ICR mice treated with CP 55,940 (2 mg/kg) twice a day for 6 and one-half days developed a high degree of tolerance to the pharmacological effects of CP 55,940. The ability of CP 55,940 to produce motor hypoactivity, hypothermia and immobility was reduced 163-, 97- and 19-fold, respectively. Evaluation of 3H-CP 55,940 binding to rat brain membranes indicated no difference in receptor affinity between the vehicle- and CP 55,940-treated animals. However, these binding studies revealed a 50% decrease in receptor number in the cerebellum of the CP 55,940-tolerant mice. Although cAMP is generally considered to be the second messenger for cannabinoid receptors, little difference was observed in the inhibitory effects of CP 55,940 on adenylyl cyclase activity in cerebellum between vehicle and drug-treated mice. However, there was an increase in receptor mRNA which suggests a compensation for receptor loss. There are several possible explanations for these results. There may be sufficient spare receptors such that CP 55,940-tolerant mice are capable of producing a maximal effect on the second messenger system. On the other hand, one could conclude that cannabinoid receptor down-regulation does not account for the development of tolerance to all of the effects of CP 55,940 in mice.     

前列腺带性结构及其雄激素、雌激素、表皮生长因子受体分布特征的研究

为了探讨雄激素受体（ＡＲ）、雌激素受体（ＥＲ）、孕激素受体（ＰＲ）和表皮生长因子受体（ＥＧＦＲ）在前列腺带性结构中的分布，应用单饱和剂量测定法，分别测定了前列腺移行带、外周带组织中ＡＲ、ＥＲ、ＰＲ和ＥＧＦＲ的含量。结果表明，在１１例前列腺增生症（ＢＰＨ）患者２２份标本中，移行带和周围带ＡＲ全部阳性；尽管ＡＲ浓度个体差异很大，但是两带之间仍有密切相关性（Ｐ＜０００１）；周围带ＡＲ浓度高于移行带，两带ＡＲ浓度均高于ＰＲ、ＥＲ；ＰＲ和ＥＲ在前列腺带性结构上没有明显差异。ＥＧＦＲ在移行带明显高于周围带。研究证实了ＡＲ、ＥＲ、ＰＲ，ＥＧＦＲ在前列腺移行带和周围带上的分布特征。     

Benzodiazepine concentrations in brain directly reflect receptor occupancy: studies of diazepam,lorazepam, and oxazepam

Groups of male CF-1 mice received 3 and 10 µmol/kg diazepam, lorazepam, and oxazepam intravenously. Between 1 min and 24 h after injection, benzodiazepine concentrations were determined by gas chromatography (GLC) in plasma and in one brain hemisphere; in the other hemisphere, ex vivo benzodiazepine receptor occupancy was measured using³H-flunitrazepam displacement. Based on GLC data, diazepam entered brain rapidly, and was also cleared rapidly, yielding desmethyldiazepam and oxazepam as metabolites in plasma and brain. However, lorazepam and oxazepam entered brain slowly, with brain:plasma equilibrium achieved at 30–60 min; thereafter, the drugs were eliminated from plasma and brain in parallel. The time course and extent of ex vivo occupancy were highly consistent with GLC data (for diazepam, GLC levels were expressed as the sum of diazepam, desmethyldiazepam, and oxazepam, with metabolite concentrations, normalized for molecular weight and for in vitro benzodiazepine receptor affinity.) Between-method correlations were 0.95 or higher. Thus benzodiazepine receptor occupancy is highly dependent on benzodiazepine concentrations in brain. Differences in the time-course of onset and duration of pharmacologic activity between the highly lipophilic benzodiazepine diazepam and the less lipophilic hydroxylated derivatives lorazepam and oxazepam are largely explained by differences in systemic kinetics and in the rate of uptake into brain.Supported in part by grants MH-34223, DA-05258, and AG-00106 from the United States Public Health Service     

压力性尿失禁的病因学研究

目的　绝经后压力性尿失禁 (SUI)患者补充雌激素的临床疗效尚有争议。本研究通过对血雌二醇 (E2 )浓度及子宫韧带的雌激素受体 (ER)的观察 ,分析雌激素与SUI和盆底组织膨出 (POP)发生的关系。方法　绝经前、后对照组、POP组和绝经后SUI组共 5组 73例子宫全切患者 ,免疫组化方法测定主韧带、宫骶韧带ER含量。结果　 ( 1)绝经前POP组血E2 浓度 ( 4 7.2 9pg ml± 38.30pg ml)、韧带ER值明显低于绝经前对照组 (E2 73.83pg ml± 5 2 .72pg ml;ER主韧带9.5 8%± 2 .39% ,ER宫骶韧带11.6 4 %±2 .6 8% ) ,差异非常显著 (P <0 .0 1)。 ( 2 )绝经后韧带ER值 :对照组 (ER主韧带10 .89%± 2 .5 4 % ,ER宫骶韧带13.0 9%± 3.0 3% )、POP组 (ER主韧带11.85 %± 2 .89% ,ER宫骶韧带13.2 1%± 3.4 6 % )及SUI组 (ER主韧带9.6 4 %± 5 .0 1% ,ER宫骶韧带11.12 %± 6 .13% )之间无显著差异 ( P >0 .0 5 )。 ( 3)绝经前、后对照组韧带ER值无显著差异 (P >0 .0 5 )。绝经前对照组月经增生期、分泌期韧带ER值无显著差异 (P >0 .0 5 )。血E2 浓度与韧带ER值无相关性。 ( 4 )绝经后对照组绝经时间与主韧带ER值成正相关 ,与宫骶韧带ER值无相关性。绝经后POP组和SUI组主韧带、宫骶韧带ER值与绝经时间成正相关。 ( 5 )各组研究对?     

人胎盘微绒毛膜的制备及其转铁蛋白受体研究

作者分别用差速离心法及蔗糖梯度离心法制备胎盘微绒毛膜(PMM),用受体放射分析法研究了PMM的转铁蛋白受体(TfB),结果表明:两种方法制备的PMM均可用于受体分析,但差速离心法更为简便。测定60例产妇PMM的TfR,其数目为3.53±1.98×10~(12)个位点/mg膜蛋白,最大结合容量为6.33±4.21×10~(-12)mol/mg膜蛋白,Kd值为4.95±3.39×10~(-9)mol/L。受体结合反应体系最适实验条件为,膜蛋白浓度每管50μg,标记物浓度每管50 000cpm,孵育30分钟,B/F分离的聚乙二醇浓度为12％(W/V)。对TfR的特性研究表明:TfR与转铁蛋白的结合具有高度亲和力、高度特异性及可饱和性。     

Ethanol Feeding Causes Inactivation of Both State 1 and State 2 Rat Hepatic Asialoglycoprotein Receptors

Previous studies have shown that ethanol feeding in rats causes inactivation and redistribution of ˜50% of the total asialoglycoprotein receptors (ASGPRs) in hepatocytes (Tworek et al., J. Biol. Chem. 271:2531, 1996), and that two equal populations of hepatic ASGPRs mediate ligand uptake and processing via two functionally different pathways (Weigel in Glycoconjugates: Composition, Structure and Function , Marcel Dekker, 1992, p. 421). The purpose of this study was to determine if ethanol feeding causes preferential inactivation of only one of these two ASGPR populations, which have been designated state 1 and state 2 ASGPRs. The state 2, but not state 1, ASGPRs are inactivated in isolated hepatocytes by a variety of drugs and inhibitors. State 2 ASGPRs can also be inactivated in permeable cells by ATP treatment and then reactivated by treatment with fatty acyl coenzyme As. In the present study, permeable cell assays for state 2 ASGPR inactivation and reactivation were used to assess whether hepatocytes from ethanol-fed rats contain inactive state 2 ASGPRs. The results show that preferential inactivation of one ASGPR population does not occur after ethanol feeding. That inactive ASGPRs could not be reactivated by treatment with palmitoyl-coenzyme A to a greater extent in ethanol-fed versus control cells indicates there is not a larger pool of inactivated state 2 ASGPRs in treated cells. We conclude that ethanol feeding causes equal inactivation of both state 1 and state 2 ASGPRs. Ethanol feeding may represent the first treatment found to inactivate state 1 ASGPRs.     

Cholecystokinin and neuropeptide Y receptors on single rabbit vagal afferent ganglion neurons: site of prejunctional modulation of visceral sensory neurons

A [¹²⁵I]cholecystokinin (CCK) analog and [¹²⁵I]peptide YY (PYY) were used to localize and characterize CCK and neuropeptide Y (NPY) receptor binding sites in the rabbit vagal afferent (nodose) ganglion. High concentrations of CCK and NPY binding sites were observed in 10.6% and 9.2% of the nodose ganglion neurons, respectively. Pharmacological experiments using CCK or NPY analogs suggest that both subtypes of CCK (CCK-A and CCK-B) and NPY (Y1 and Y2) receptor binding sites are expressed by discrete populations of neurons in the nodose ganglion. These results suggest sites at which CCK or NPY, released in either the nucleus of the solitary tract or a peripheral tissue, may modulate the release of neurotransmitters from a select population of visceral primary afferent neurons. Possible functions mediated by these receptors include modulation of satiety, opiate analgesia, and the development of morphine tolerance.     

胃癌组织中雌激素受体的表达及其临床意义

采用石蜡切片免疫组化法，测定了４８例胃癌组织中雌激素受体的分布。结果阳性者１７例，阳性率３５．４％；同时测定１２例非肿瘤性胃粘膜（慢性炎症及胃溃疡）作为对照，结果仅１例阳性（８．３％），两者之间有明显差异（Ｐ＜０．０１）。各年龄组及性别间差异均无统计学意义。将胃癌分成分化型及未分化型（包括印戒细胞癌）两组，结果显示未分化型癌的阳性率（６１．５％）比分化型者（１８．２％）明显增高（Ｐ＜０．０ｌ）。表示雌激素在癌的发生、发展中有明显的刺激作用，癌细胞的生长及恶性度对雌激素有一定依赖性。临床上应用内分泌疗法对雌激素受体阳性肿瘤进行辅助治疗是行之有效的。