Summary
The ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic has spurred rapid development of vaccines as part of the public health response. However, the general strategy used to construct ...recombinant trimeric severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) spike (S) proteins in mammalian cells is not completely adaptive to molecular farming. Therefore, we generated several constructs of recombinant S proteins for high expression in Nicotiana benthamiana. Intramuscular injection of N. benthamiana‐expressed Sct vaccine (NSctVac) into Balb/c mice elicited both humoral and cellular immune responses, and booster doses increased neutralizing antibody titres. In human angiotensin‐converting enzyme knock‐in mice, two doses of NSctVac induced anti‐S and neutralizing antibodies, which cross‐neutralized Alpha, Beta, Delta and Omicron variants. Survival rates after lethal challenge with SARS‐CoV‐2 were up to 80%, without significant body weight loss, and viral titres in lung tissue fell rapidly, with no infectious virus detectable at 7‐day post‐infection. Thus, plant‐derived NSctVac could be a candidate COVID‐19 vaccine.
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BFBNIB, DOBA, FZAB, GIS, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Abstract Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is an important human pathogen. Expression of virus structural proteins produces self-assembled virus-like nanoparticles (VLP). We investigated immune ...phenotypes after RSV challenge of immunized mice with VLP containing RSV F and G glycoproteins mixed with F-DNA (FdFG VLP). In contrast to formalin-inactivated RSV (FI-RSV) causing vaccination-associated eosinophilia, FdFG VLP immunization induced low bronchoalveolar cellularity, higher ratios of CD11c+ versus CD11b+ phenotypic cells and CD8+ T versus CD4+ T cells secreting interferon (IFN)-γ, T helper type-1 immune responses, and no sign of eosinophilia upon RSV challenge. Furthermore, RSV neutralizing activity, lung viral clearance, and histology results suggest that FdFG VLP can be comparable to live RSV in conferring protection against RSV and in preventing RSV disease. This study provides evidence that a combination of recombinant RSV VLP and plasmid DNA may have a potential anti-RSV prophylactic vaccine inducing balanced innate and adaptive immune responses. From the Clinical Editor This study demonstrates that a combination of recombinant RSV virus-like nanoparticles and plasmid DNA may be utilized as a prophylactic vaccine against RSV, inducing balanced innate and adaptive immune responses.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
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•Pediococcus acidilactici FS2 was isolated from Korean traditional food.•The probiotic properties of Pediococcus acidilactici FS2 were investigated.•Dietary supplementation of FS2 ...downregulated the blood cholesterol levels.•Supplementation with FS2 increased the intestinal lactobacilli in BALB/c mice.
In the present study, the probiotic properties of Pediococcus acidilactici FS2 isolated from Korean traditional food, gajami-sikhae (fermented flounder), and the effect of its oral administration on the reduction in blood cholesterol in mice were investigated. Analysis of probiotics properties, such as acid and bile resistance, antibiotic resistance, cell adhesion, antioxidant activity, antibacterial activity, and enzyme activity, demonstrated that FS2 is a potential probiotic candidate. FS2 showed a high growth rate when isomalto-oligosaccharides (IMO) were used as a prebiotic. Moreover, an oral administration of the combination of FS2 and IMO to the mice for 5 weeks increased the number of intestinal lactic acid bacteria and decreased the levels of serum total triglyceride, cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Therefore, the findings of the present study suggest that FS2 is functional and safe as a probiotic and can reduce blood cholesterol levels when taken along with IMO.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Background Among the procedure-related factors associated with post-ERCP pancreatitis, selective cannulation of the common bile duct by insertion of a guidewire may be associated with fewer ...complications than conventional methods of cannulation with contrast injection to access the bile duct. However, the results of studies regarding the usefulness of wire-guided cannulation (WGC) are conflicting. Objective This prospective randomized trial was designed to determine whether WGC reduces the rate of post-ERCP pancreatitis. Design A prospective randomized controlled trial. Setting Tertiary-care academic medical center. Patients A total of 300 consecutive patients with native papilla and pancreaticobiliary disease who were candidates for therapeutic ERCP were randomized from June 2006 to May 2007. Interventions WGC without contrast injection or conventional cannulation with contrast injection. Main Outcome Measurements Post-ERCP pancreatitis, risk factors, and procedure-related complications were evaluated prospectively. Results A total of 3 patients (2%) in the WGC group and 17 patients (11.3%) in the conventional group had post-ERCP pancreatitis ( P = .001). Among the cases of acute pancreatitis in the WGC group, 2 patients with suspected sphincter of Oddi dysfunction (SOD) and unintentional main pancreatic duct (PD) guidewire cannulation showed post-ERCP pancreatitis despite the use of WGC. In multivariate analysis, WGC was a protective factor (odds ratio 0.1; 95% CI, 0.024-0.490, P = .004), whereas female sex and SOD were risk factors for post-ERCP pancreatitis. Limitation Our study population was a low-risk cohort. Conclusions WGC is associated with a lower rate of post-ERCP pancreatitis. However, WGC may not prevent post-ERCP pancreatitis in patients with suspected SOD and unintentional PD guidewire cannulation.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
This study investigated the effects of supplementation of low-temperature probiotics isolated from the intestines of olive flounder on the growth performance, digestibility, and regulation of ...intestinal microbiota and the expression of genes related to growth, immunity, and apoptosis in olive flounder. Bacteria showing high growth at approximately 15-20 °C, which is the temperature of olive flounder culture, were isolated and confirmed to be Pseudomonas species through 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. Whole-genome sequencing revealed that the strain has a 6,195,122 bp single circular chromosome and a guanine-cytosine content of 59.9%. In the feeding trial, supplementation with 1 × 10
CFU/g of the isolate strain positively modulated growth performances, digestive enzyme activity, and gut microbiota composition of olive flounder. RT-qPCR for the comparison of growth, immunity, and apoptosis-related gene expression levels showed no significant differences between the groups. Therefore, the isolated host-associated low-temperature probiotics improved the growth performance of olive flounder by causing positive changes in digestive activity and intestinal microbial composition without affecting host gene expression.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
A total of 19 bacteriophages were isolated from seawater, wet sand, sea rocks, and suspended solids collected from 10 different sites in Busan, Republic of Korea. Among them, the best-performed novel ...phage was designated as BPVP-3325 that demonstrated the highest lytic activity in 76% of the total studied strains of Vibrio parahaemolyticus. The complete genome of the novel phage was 222,634 bp with 42% G + C content; electron microscopy showed that the total length and head length were 411.66 ± 6.69 and 129.87 ± 5.10 nm, respectively. In vitro characterization, V. parahaemolyticus ATCC 17802 was used as a standard pathogenic strain of BPVP-3325 host. The latent period was approximately 40 min, and the burst size was 6.76 PFU/infected cell. BPVP-3325 demonstrated excellent efficacy in a relatively wide pH range of up to 5–10 and temperature of <50 °C. When ATCC 17802 was treated with BPVP-3325 in a liquid medium for 6 h, OD600 in the phage-treated group was significantly lower (~50%) than that in the host. The application of BPVP-3325 to oyster meat effectively inhibited the growth and activity of the standard strain (P < 0.05). Therefore, this study described the potential of novel BPVP-3325 therapy for natural oyster culture and food industry for the biocontrol of V. parahaemolyticus disease in aquaculture and human food.
•Novel BPVP-3325 phage was isolated from seawater.•BPVP-3325 inhibited the growth of Vibrio parahaemolyticus.•Complete genome of the BPVP-3325 phage was 222,634 bp with 42% G + C content.•BPVP-3325 showed excellent efficacy in a relatively wide pH range and temperature.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Abstract We have synthesized a pH-dependent, NIR-sensitive, reduced graphene oxide (rGO) hybrid nano-composite via electrostatic interaction with indocyanine green (ICG) which is designed not only to ...destroy localized cancer cells but also be minimally invasive to surrounding normal cells. The near-infrared (NIR) irradiated hybrid nano-composites showed pH dependent photo-thermal heat generation capability from pH 5.0 to 7.4 due to the pH response relief and quenching effects of poly(2-dimethyl amino ethyl methacrylate) poly(PDMAEMA) with ICG on a single rGO sheet. This pH-triggered relief and quenching mechanism regulated in vitro photo-thermolysis as the pH changed from 5.0 to 7.4. The in vitro cellular uptake and confocal laser scan microscopic (CLSM) images at different pH values show promise for environment sensitive bio-imaging. The NIR-absorbing hybrid nanomaterials showed a remarkably improved in vitro cancer cell targeted photothermal destruction compared to free ICG. Upon local NIR irradiation, these hybrid nano-composites-treated tumors showed necrotic, shrunken, ablation of malignant cells and totally healed after 18 days treatment. Our finding regarding the acidic pH stimulus of cancer cellular environment has proven to be a wining platform for the fight against cancer.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
Living a healthy lifestyle is the most important need in the world today. However, oxidative stress (OS) is caused by several stress-inducing factors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, chronic ...diseases, and inflammatory responses, oxygen-free radicals are produced in excess and can damage major organs in the body. This phenomenon has been implicated in the pathogenesis of several gastrointestinal (GI) diseases, including gastritis, constipation, and inflammatory bowel diseases, which include Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, functional dyspepsia, acid reflux, diverticular disease, and irritable bowel syndrome. In this review article, we provide a brief overview of the role of OS in the pathogenesis of GI disorders. Additionally, we discuss the therapeutic role of alkaline-reduced water (ARW) on GI diseases and existing studies on ARW related to GI diseases. Furthermore, we believe that findings from this review article will enhance the knowledge of the readers on the role of ARW on OS and inflammation-based GI diseases.
A novel amperometric biosensor for catechol was developed using the layer-by-layer (LbL) self-assembly of positively charged hexadecyltrimethylammonium stabilized gold nanocubes (AuNCs), negatively ...charged poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) and tyrosinase on a screen printed carbon electrode (SPCE). A carboxylic acid terminated alkanethiol assembled on electrochemically deposited Au nanoparticles on a SPCE was used as a platform for LbL assembly. Each SPCE sensor surface was terminated with tyrosinase and the electrocatalytic response due to the tyrosinase reaction with catechol was measured using cyclic voltammetry and square wave voltammetry (SWV). The effect of introducing AuNCs into the LbL assembly to further enhance the catechol detection performance was then investigated by comparing the SWV results to those from biosensors created using both the tyrosinase modified LbL assembly in the absence of NCs and the covalent attachment of tyrosinase. A wide dynamic range from 10nM to 80µM of catechol with an excellent sensitivity of 13.72 A/M and a detection limit of 0.4nM were both achieved alongside a good selectivity and reproducibility for the AuNC-modified electrodes. As a demonstration, the optimized biosensor design was applied to determine catechol concentrations in tea samples.
•A novel gold nanocube (AuNC) enhanced amperometric biosensor for catechol molecules.•Layer-by-layer assembly of AuNC׳s, polyelectrolytes and tyrosinase on an electrode.•Highly reproducible nanostructured biosensors offering cheap and easy configuration.•Excellent sensitivity and detection limit enhanced by AuNC incorporation.•Direct analysis of catechol in tea samples to highlight sensor applicability.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
Abstract Objective Studies have shown that dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors have anti-inflammatory effects. Soluble DPP-4 (sDPP-4) has been considered as an adipokine of which actions need ...to be further characterized. Methods We investigated the pro-inflammatory actions of sDPP-4 and the anti-inflammatory effects of DPP-4 inhibition, using vildagliptin, as an enzymatic inhibitor, and mannose-6-phosphate (M6P) as a competitive binding inhibitor. Results In lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 cells, vildagliptin suppressed the increased expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and phosphorylated JNK (pJNK), activation of the NF-κB pathway, and the resultant NO and proinflammatory cytokine production. Although sDPP-4 alone did not affect the protein level of iNOS or pJNK or the production of NO in RAW264.7 cells, it did amplify iNOS expression, NO responses, and proinflammatory cytokine production in LPS-stimulated RAW264 cells. As a probable mechanism, we found that sDPP-4 caused dose-dependent increases in the expression levels of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and TLR2 in RAW264.7 cells, and that these alterations were inhibited by vildagliptin, M6P, or bisindolylmaleimide II, a protein kinase C inhibitor. Either vildagliptin or M6P suppressed iNOS expression and NO and cytokine production in LPS + DPP-4-co-stimulated macrophages, while combined treatment of the co-stimulated cells with both agents had increased anti-inflammatory effects compared with either treatment alone. Intravenous injection of sDPP-4 to C57BL/6J mice increased the expression of both TLRs in kidney and white adipose tissues. Conclusion Our findings suggest that sDPP-4 enhances inflammatory actions via TLR pathway, while DPP-4 inhibition with either an enzymatic or binding inhibitor has anti-inflammatory effects.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZRSKP
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