The moss Physcomitrella patens has a number of advantages for the production of biopharmaceuticals, including: i) availability of standardized conditions for cultivation in bioreactors; ii) not being ...part of the food chain; iii) high biosafety; iv) availability of highly efficient transformation methods; v) a haploid, fully sequenced genome providing genetic stability and uniform expression; vi) efficient gene targeting at the nuclear level allows for the generation of mutants with specific post-translational modifications (e.g., glycosylation patterns); and vii) oral formulations are a viable approach as no toxic effects are attributed to ingestion of this moss. In the light of this panorama, this opinion paper analyzes the possibilities of using P. patens for the production of oral vaccines and presents some specific cases where its use may represent significant progress in the field of plant-based vaccine development. The advantages represented by putative adjuvant effects of endogenous secondary metabolites and producing specific glycosylation patterns are highlighted.
Subunit vaccines stand as a leading approach to expanding the current portfolio of vaccines to fight against COVID-19, seeking not only to lower costs but to achieve long-term immunity against ...variants of concern and have the main attributes that could overcome the limitations of the current vaccines. Herein a chimeric protein targeting S1 and S2 epitopes, called LTp50, was designed as a convenient approach to induce humoral responses against SARS-CoV-2. LTp50 was produced in recombinant Escherichia coli using a conventional pET vector, recovering the expected antigen in the insoluble fraction. LTp50 was purified by chromatography (purity > 90%). The solubilization and refolding stages helped to obtain a stable protein amenable for vaccine formulation. LTp50 was adsorbed onto alum, resulting in a stable formulation whose immunogenic properties were assessed in BALB/c mice. Significant humoral responses against the S protein (BA.5 variant) were detected in mice subjected to three subcutaneous doses (10 µg) of the LTp50/alum formulation. This study opens the path for the vaccine formulation optimization using additional adjuvants to advance in the development of a highly effective anti-COVID-19 vaccine directed against the antigenic regions of the S protein, which are less prone to mutations.
The entero–mammary pathway is a specialized route that selectively translocates bacteria to the newborn’s gut, playing a crucial role in neonatal development. Previous studies report shared bacterial ...and archaeal taxa between human milk and neonatal intestine. However, the functional implications for neonatal development are not fully understood due to limited evidence. This study aimed to identify and characterize the microbiota and metabolome of human milk, mother, and infant stool samples using high-throughput DNA sequencing and FT-ICR MS methodology at delivery and 4 months post-partum. Twenty-one mothers and twenty-five infants were included in this study. Our results on bacterial composition suggest vertical transmission of bacteria through breastfeeding, with major changes occurring during the first 4 months of life. Metabolite chemical characterization sheds light on the growing complexity of the metabolites. Further data integration and network analysis disclosed the interactions between different bacteria and metabolites in the biological system as well as possible unknown pathways. Our findings suggest a shared bacteriome in breastfed mother–neonate pairs, influenced by maternal lifestyle and delivery conditions, serving as probiotic agents in infants for their healthy development. Also, the presence of food biomarkers in infants suggests their origin from breast milk, implying selective vertical transmission of these features.
Abstract Background: Vitamin E has antioxidant properties, which help in scavenging free radicals, thereby reducing oxidation of lipids and proteins. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of oral ...vitamin E supplementation in preventing retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) and decreasing oxidative stress 15 and 28 days post-intervention. Methods: Ninety VLBW infants were randomly assigned to two groups: Each group received 25 IU of vitamin E (T) or placebo (C). Results: The incidence of ROP in groups T and C was 12.5% (n=6) and 31% (n = 13), respectively (RR: 0.40; 95% CI: 0.10–0.96). There were no differences in mortality between groups. As expected, the vitamin E concentration was significantly increased 28 days post-intervention in group T. Conclusion: Oral supplementation with vitamin E may effectively prevent ROP development in VLBW infants with RDS. Oxidative damage markers were significantly lower, whereas total antioxidant capacity was increased in group T. However, levels of other antioxidants as vitamin A and C were not measured in two groups.
KEY MESSAGE : The first report on the recombinant production of a candidate vaccine in the moss system. The need for economical and efficient platforms for vaccine production demands the exploration ...of emerging host organisms. In this study, the production of an antigenic protein is reported employing the moss Physcomitrella patens as an expression host. A multi-epitope protein from the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) based on epitopes from gp120 and gp41 was designed as a candidate subunit vaccine and named poly-HIV. Transgenic moss plants were generated carrying the corresponding poly-HIV transgene under a novel moss promoter and subsequently seven positive lines were confirmed by PCR. The poly-HIV protein accumulated up to 3.7 µg g⁻¹fresh weight in protonema cultures. Antigenic and immunogenic properties of the moss-produced recombinant poly-HIV are evidenced by Western blots and by mice immunization assays. The elicitation of specific antibodies in mice was observed, reflecting the immunogenic potential of this moss-derived HIV antigen. This is the first report on the production of a potential vaccine in the moss system and opens the avenue for glycoengineering approaches for the production of HIV human-like glycosylated antigens as well as other vaccine prototypes under GMP conditions in moss bioreactors.
Objective: To know the factors that affect the self-perception of children with cleft lip and palate by means of a bibliographic review. Material and Methods: A bibliographic review was carried out, ...taking as reference 2195 scientific articles from: Pubmed, Scielo, Latindex and Google Scholar. We found 85 duplicate articles, 45 articles met the inclusion criteria, they were articles with scientific relevance in English and Spanish with a time interval of 10 years. Our research questions were: What are the factors that most affect children with this condition emotionally? and What would be the best alternatives for the adequate treatment of these patients? Results: They presented to a greater extent a communication problem in two subscales: social environment and proactive behaviors. An increase in social avoidance was observed among the adult group. The female sex is more affected compared to the male sex being facial appearance and speech the major concerns accompanied with social introversion, besides that a high number of patients have experienced bullying. Conclusion: It was found that children with cleft lip and palate have a high probability of developing socio-emotional alterations during early childhood. The factors that most affect patients with cleft lip and palate emotionally are the notable facial differences, problems in phonation and feeding, negative comments regarding their physical appearance and psychological trauma due to multiple surgeries, while an adequate treatment should include psychological management and speech therapy since these are fundamental pillars for an integral treatment being equally important as surgery.
Objetivo: Conocer los factores que afectan la autopercepción de los niños con labio y paladar fisurado mediante una revisión bibliográfica. Material y Métodos: se realizó una revisión bibliografía, tomó como referencia 2195 artículos científicos de: Pubmed, Scielo, Latindex y Google Scholar. Se encontraron duplicados 85 artículos, 45 artículos cumplían con los criterios de inclusión fueron artículos con relevancia científica en idioma inglés y español con un intervalo de tiempo de 10 años. Nuestras preguntas de investigación fueron: ¿Cuáles son los factores que afectan en mayor medida emocionalmente a los niños con este padecimiento? y ¿Cuáles serían las mejores alternativas para el adecuado tratamiento de estos pacientes? Resultados: Presentaron en mayor medida un problema de comunicación en dos subescalas que son, entorno social y comportamientos proactivos. Se observó un aumento en la evitación social entre el grupo de adultos. El sexo femenino se ve mayormente afectado en comparación al masculino siendo la apariencia facial y el habla las mayores preocupaciones acompañadas con la introversión social, además de que un alto número de pacientes han experimentado acoso escolar. Conclusión: Se encontró que los niños con labio y paladar fisurado tienen una alta probabilidad de desarrollar alteraciones a nivel socio-emocional al transcurrir la primera infancia. Los factores que más afectan emocionalmente a los pacientes con labio y paladar fisurado son las notables diferencias faciales, los problemas en la fonación y alimentación, comentarios negativos respecto a su aspecto físico y traumas psicológicos por las múltiples cirugías, mientras que un adecuado tratamiento debe incluir el manejo psicológico y la terapia de lenguaje ya que estos son pilares fundamentales para un tratamiento integral siendo igual de importantes que la cirugía.
Objective
To study prognostic factors in different types of idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM) associated with interstitial lung disease (ILD).
Patients and methods
Multicenter retrospective ...study of a Spanish cohort of patients diagnosed with IIM. Patients were classified into four categories: polymyositis (PM), dermatomyositis (DM), antisynthetase syndrome (ASS), and overlap myositis (OM). Sociodemographic data, clinical characteristics, antibodies, and treatments were collected. Cox regression models were calculated to identify factors associated with mortality, the necessity for long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT), and deterioration in respiratory function tests (RFT).
Results
The number of patients included was 478, of whom 112 (23.4%) suffered from ILD: 17% PM, 16% DM, 45% ASS, and 22% OM. Factors associated with mortality in the multivariate analysis were clinically meaningful progression of ILD after 3 months (CMP 3m) (hazard ratio (HR) 9.48,
p
= 0.005), severe infections (HR 6.41,
p
= 0.016), heliotrope erythema (HR 31.1,
p
= 0.002), delay in diagnosis (HR 1.29;
p
= 0.011), and Raynaud’s phenomenon (HR 11.9,
p
= 0.007). However, being female (HR 0.19,
p
= 0.044) and positivity solely for ANAs (HR 0.08,
p
= 0.008) presented a protective effect. CMP 3m (HR 22.7,
p
= 0.027) was associated with the need for LTOT, while basal aldolase (HR 0.90;
p
= 0.049) had a protective effect. Likewise, joint manifestations (HR 0.04,
p
= 0.034) were shown to reduce risk of deterioration in RFT.
Conclusions
CMP 3m, severe infections, delay in diagnosis, heliotrope erythema, and Raynaud’s phenomenon were identified as factors of poor prognosis in different IIM associated with ILD.
MAIN CONCLUSION : The Taenia solium HP6/TSOL18 antigen was produced in carrot cells, yielding an immunogenic protein that induced significant protection in an experimental murine model against T. ...crassiceps cysticercosis when orally administered. This result supports the potential of HP6/TSOL18-carrot as a low-cost anti-cysticercosis vaccine candidate. Cysticercosis is a zoonosis caused by Taenia solium that can be prevented by interrupting the parasite life cycle through pig vaccination. Several injectable vaccine candidates have been reported, but the logistic difficulties and costs for its application limited its use in nationwide control programs. Oral plant-based vaccines can deal with this limitation, because of their easy administration and low cost. A stable expression of the HP6/TSOL18 anti-T. solium cysticercosis protective antigen in carrot calli transformed with an optimized transgene is herein reported. An antigen accumulation up to 14 µg g⁻¹ of dry-weight biomass was achieved in the generated carrot lines. Mouse immunization with one of the transformed calli induced both specific IgG and IgA anti-HP6/TSOL18 antibodies. A statistically significant reduction in the expected number of T. crassiceps cysticerci was observed in mice orally immunized with carrot-made HP6/TSOL18, in a similar extent to that obtained by subcutaneous immunization with recombinant HP6/TSOL18 protein. In this study, a new oral plant-made version of the HP6/TSOL18 anti-cysticercosis vaccine is reported. The vaccine candidate should be further tested against porcine cysticercosis.
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