N-protein vaccine is effective against COVID-19: Phase 3, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.

Background: Despite the success of first-generation COVID-19 vaccines targeting the spike (S) protein, emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants have led to immune escape, reducing the efficacy of these vaccines. Additionally, some individuals are unable to mount an effective immune response to S protein-based vaccines. This has created a need for alternative vaccine strategies that are less susceptible to mutations and capable of providing broad and durable protection.

Treatment of COVID-19 patients with a SARS-CoV-2-specific siRNA-peptide dendrimer formulation.

Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus (SARS-CoV-2) infection frequently causes severe and prolonged disease but only few specific treatments are available. We aimed to investigate safety and efficacy of a SARS-CoV-2-specific siRNA-peptide dendrimer formulation MIR 19® (siR-7-EM/KK-46) targeting a conserved sequence in known SARS-CoV-2 variants for treatment of COVID-19.

Methods: We conducted an open-label, randomized, controlled multicenter phase II trial (NCT05184127) evaluating safety and efficacy of inhaled siR-7-EM/KK-46 (3.

Silencing of SARS-CoV-2 with modified siRNA-peptide dendrimer formulation.

Background: First vaccines for prevention of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are becoming available but there is a huge and unmet need for specific forms of treatment. In this study we aimed to evaluate the anti-SARS-CoV-2 effect of siRNA both in vitro and in vivo.

Methods: To identify the most effective molecule out of a panel of 15 in silico designed siRNAs, an in vitro screening system based on vectors expressing SARS-CoV-2 genes fused with the firefly luciferase reporter gene and SARS-CoV-2-infected cells was used.

RHIZOSCAN: A semiautomatic image processing system for characterization of the morphology and secondary metabolite concentration in hairy root cultures.

We describe the application of the newly developed RHIZOSCAN software for accurate morphological analysis and determination of overall and local secondary metabolite concentrations in two clones of Beta vulgaris throughout the growth period. Local secondary metabolite concentrations may be determined at any point in the root, and pigment gradients in each lateral root can be followed during culture and saved to the computer. Throughout the entire analysis process, an image appears in a graphical result window on the screen, which enables visual evaluation of the numerical output at each stage of the analysis.

Immunogenicity of recombinant core particles of hepatitis B virus containing epitopes of human immunodeficiency virus 1 core antigen.

A Gag protein segment of human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) has been fused to a C terminally truncated core antigen of hepatitis B virus (HBcAg) using an E. coli expression system. Fusion of 90 amino acids of HIV-1 Gag protein to HBcAg still allowed the formation of capsids presenting on their surface epitopes of HIV-1 core protein, whereas fusion of 317, 189, or 100 amino acids of Gag prevented self-assembly of chimeric particles.

[Exposure of the major immunodominant epitope of the gp51 envelope protein of bovine leukosis virus on the surface of the hepatitis B core antigen capsid].

Insertion of 48 amino acid long sequence of envelope protein gp51 of bovine leukemia virus (BLV), located from position 56 till 103 of mature protein, into Pro144 position of hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg) leads to the formation of chimeric capsids. These capsids preserve morphology of intact HBcAg but expose on their outer surface BLV epitopes which are localised in the inserted gp51 fragment and responsible for the recognition of chimeras by monoclonal anti-gp51 antibodies MAK14. The anti-genicity of gp51 epitopes within chimeric capsids is not disturbed after shortening of C terminal part of inserted gp51 fragment by deletion of amino acids 73-103.