Evolution of neutralizing antibodies through vaccination and breakthrough infections in the era of COVID-19 endemicity.

Despite a high vaccination rate, the COVID-19 pandemic continues with immune-evading Omicron variants. The success of additional antigenic stimulation through breakthrough infection (BI) and updated vaccination in overcoming antigenic imprinting needs to be determined. Participants in a long-term follow-up cohort of healthcare worker (HCW) vaccinee were categorized according to their infection/vaccination status.

Short-Term Effectiveness of Oral Nirmatrelvir/Ritonavir Against the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant and Culture-Positive Viral Shedding.

Background: Information on the effectiveness of nirmatrelvir/ritonavir against the omicron is limited. The clinical response and viral kinetics to therapy in the real world need to be evaluated.

Methods: Mild to moderate coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients with risk factors for severe illness were prospectively enrolled as a treatment group with nirmatrelvir/ritonavir therapy versus a control group with supportive care.

Can nirmatrelvir/ritonavir treatment shorten the duration of COVID-19 isolation?

Background: The impact of nirmatrelvir/ritonavir treatment on shedding of viable virus in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is unclear.

Methods: A prospective cohort study evaluating mildly ill COVID-19 patients was conducted. Virologic responses were compared between nirmatrelvir/ritonavir-treatment and supportive care groups.

Discovery of New Potent anti-MERS CoV Fusion Inhibitors.

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), capable of zoonotic transmission, has been associated with emerging viral pneumonia in humans. In this study, a set of highly potent peptides were designed to prevent MERS-CoV fusion through competition with heptad repeat domain 2 (HR2) at its HR1 binding site. We designed eleven peptides with stronger estimated HR1 binding affinities than the wild-type peptide to prevent viral fusion with the cell membrane.

MUC1-C influences cell survival in lung adenocarcinoma Calu-3 cells after SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) induces coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and may increase the risk of adverse outcomes in lung cancer patients. In this study, we investigated the expression and function of mucin 1 (MUC1) after SARS-CoV-2 infection in the lung epithelial cancer cell line Calu-3. MUC1 is a major constituent of the mucus layer in the respiratory tract and contributes to pathogen defense.

MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 replication can be inhibited by targeting the interaction between the viral spike protein and the nucleocapsid protein.

The molecular interactions between viral proteins form the basis of virus production and can be used to develop strategies against virus infection. The interactions of the envelope proteins and the viral RNA-binding nucleocapsid (N) protein are essential for the assembly of coronaviruses including the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV). Using co-immunoprecipitation, immunostaining, and proteomics analysis, we identified a protein interacting with the spike (S) protein in the cells infected with MERS-CoV or SARS-CoV-2.

Differential Signaling and Virus Production in Calu-3 Cells and Vero Cells upon SARS-CoV-2 Infection.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome CoV-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is responsible for the current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Signaling pathways that are essential for virus production have potential as therapeutic targets against COVID-19. In this study, we investigated cellular responses in two cell lines, Vero and Calu-3, upon SARS-CoV-2 infection and evaluated the effects of pathway-specific inhibitors on virus production.

Discovery of New Fusion Inhibitor Peptides against SARS-CoV-2 by Targeting the Spike S2 Subunit.

A novel coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), caused a worldwide pandemic. Our aim in this study is to produce new fusion inhibitors against SARS-CoV-2, which can be the basis for developing new antiviral drugs. The fusion core comprising the heptad repeat domains (HR1 and HR2) of SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) were used to design the peptides.

CD83 expression regulates antibody production in response to influenza A virus infection.

Background: CD83 is known to regulate lymphocyte maturation, activation, homeostasis, and antibody response to immunization and infection. While CD83 has a major part in B cell function, its role in influenza A virus infection has not yet been investigated.

Methods: We investigated the role of CD83 using C57BL/6J wild type mice and CD83 knockout (KO) mice after intraperitoneal administration of the influenza A/WSN/1933 virus.

Abdominal and Pelvic Organ Failure Induced by Intraperitoneal Influenza A Virus Infection in Mice.

In humans, respiratory infections with influenza A viruses can be lethal, but it is unclear whether non-respiratory influenza A infections can be equally lethal. Intraperitoneal infection makes the abdominal and pelvic organs accessible to pathogens because of the circulation of peritoneal fluid throughout the pelvis and abdomen. We found that high-dose intraperitoneal infection in mice with influenza A viruses resulted in severe sclerosis and structural damage in the pancreas, disruption of ovarian follicles, and massive infiltration of immune cells in the uterus.

A pilot study of the antiviral activity of anionic and cationic polyamidoamine dendrimers against the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus.

The Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is an emerging virus that causes infection with a potentially fatal outcome. Dendrimers are highly branched molecules that can be added to antiviral preparations to improve their delivery, as well as their intrinsic antiviral activity. Studies on identifying anti-MERS-CoV agents are few.

Small Molecule Inhibitors of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Fusion by Targeting Cavities on Heptad Repeat Trimers.

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is a newly emerging viral disease with fatal outcomes. However, no MERS-CoV-specific treatment is commercially available. Given the absence of previous structure-based drug discovery studies targeting MERS-CoV fusion proteins, this set of compounds is considered the first generation of MERS-CoV small molecule fusion inhibitors.

Peritoneal Cells Mediate Immune Responses and Cross-Protection Against Influenza A Virus.

Intraperitoneal inoculation with live influenza A virus confers protection against intranasal infections in mice and ferrets. However, the responses of peritoneal cells to influenza A virus have not been investigated. Here we show that intraperitoneal inoculation with A/WSN/1933 (H1N1) virus induced virus-reactive IgG production in the peritoneal cavity in mice.

Production of a Monoclonal Antibody Targeting the M Protein of MERS-CoV for Detection of MERS-CoV Using a Synthetic Peptide Epitope Formulated with a CpG-DNA-Liposome Complex.

The Middle East respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus (MERS-CoV) contains four major structural proteins, the spike glycoprotein, nucleocapsid phosphoprotein, membrane (M) glycoprotein and small envelope glycoprotein. The M protein of MERS-CoV has a role in the morphogenesis or assembly of the virus and inhibits type I interferon expression in infected cells. Here, we produced a monoclonal antibody specific against the M protein of MERS-CoV by injecting BALB/c mice with a complex containing the epitope peptide and CpG-DNA encapsulated with a phosphatidyl-β-oleoyl-γ-palmitoyl ethanolamine (DOPE):cholesterol hemisuccinate (CHEMS).

Generation and characterization of a monoclonal antibody against MERS-CoV targeting the spike protein using a synthetic peptide epitope-CpG-DNA-liposome complex.

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) uses the spike (S) glycoprotein to recognize and enter target cells. In this study, we selected two epitope peptide sequences within the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the MERS-CoV S protein. We used a complex consisting of the epitope peptide of the MERS-CoV S protein and CpG-DNA encapsulated in liposome complex to immunize mice, and produced the monoclonal antibodies 506-2G10G5 and 492-1G10E4E2.

Erratum to "Gomisin G Inhibits the Growth of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells by Suppressing AKT Phosphorylation and Decreasing Cyclin D1" [Biomol.Ther. 26 (2018) 322-327].

The authors request to correct the author name from Yoonho Lim to Yoongho Lim page 322.

A Novel Monoclonal Antibody Targets Mucin1 and Attenuates Growth in Pancreatic Cancer Model.

Mucin1 (MUC1) is a highly glycosylated transmembrane protein that plays a crucial role in the lubrication and protection of normal epithelial cells. However, MUC1 has emerged as a potential target for cancer therapy because it is overexpressed and functions in several types of cancers. Recently, we produced a monoclonal antibody (the anti-hMUC1 antibody) specific to the extracellular region of the MUC1 subunit MUC1-C to evaluate the utility of using anti-MUC1 antibodies in pancreatic cancer models.

Gomisin G Suppresses the Growth of Colon Cancer Cells by Attenuation of AKT Phosphorylation and Arrest of Cell Cycle Progression.

Colorectal cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer related death due to a poor prognosis. In this study, we investigated the effect of Gomisin G on colon cancer growth and examined the underlying mechanism of action. We found that Gomisin G significantly suppressed the viability and colony formation of LoVo cells.

Production of an anti-TM4SF5 monoclonal antibody and its application in the detection of TM4SF5 as a possible marker of a poor prognosis in colorectal cancer.

The cell surface transmembrane 4 superfamily member 5 protein (TM4SF5) has been implicated in various human cancers. Immunization with a peptide vaccine targeting human TM4SF5 has been shown to exert prophylactic and therapeutic effects against the development of hepatocellular carcinoma and colon cancer in mouse models. In this study, we developed a novel monoclonal antibody (mEC2‑CF) targeting a cyclic epitope of TM4SF5 and evaluated its reactivity to TM4SF5 in colorectal cancer (CRC) cells and cancer tissues.

Gomisin G Inhibits the Growth of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells by Suppressing AKT Phosphorylation and Decreasing Cyclin D1.

A type of breast cancer with a defect in three molecular markers such as the estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and human epidermal growth factor receptor is called triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Many patients with TNBC have a lower survival rate than patients with other types due to a poor prognosis. In this study, we confirmed the anti-cancer effect of a natural compound, Gomisin G, in TNBC cancer cells.

Anti-metastatic effect of the TM4SF5-specific peptide vaccine and humanized monoclonal antibody on colon cancer in a mouse lung metastasis model.

Transmembrane 4 superfamily member 5 protein (TM4SF5) is a potential therapeutic target for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and colon cancer. In a previous study, we demonstrated the prophylactic and therapeutic effects of a TM4SF5-specific peptide vaccine and monoclonal antibody in HCC and colon cancer in a mouse model. Here, we designed a cyclic peptide targeting TM4SF5.

Ethanol Extract of Cirsium japonicum var. ussuriense Kitamura Exhibits the Activation of Nuclear Factor Erythroid 2-Related Factor 2-dependent Antioxidant Response Element and Protects Human Keratinocyte HaCaT Cells Against Oxidative DNA Damage.

Unlabelled: Keratinocytes are constantly exposed to extracellular insults, such as ultraviolet B, toxic chemicals and mechanical stress, all of which can facilitate the aging of keratinocytes via the generation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is a transcription factor that plays a critical role in protecting keratinocytes against oxidants and xenobiotics by binding to the antioxidant response element (ARE), a cis-acting element existing in the promoter of most phase II cytoprotective genes. In the present study, we have attempted to find novel ethanol extract(s) of indigenous plants of Jeju island, Korea that can activate the Nrf2/ARE-dependent gene expression in human keratinocyte HaCaT cells.

Extracellular Release of CD11b by TLR9 Stimulation in Macrophages.

CpG-DNA upregulates the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, chemokines and cell surface markers. Investigators have shown that CD11b (integrin αM) regulates TLR-triggered inflammatory responses in the macrophages and dendritic cells. Therefore, we aimed to identify the effects of CpG-DNA on the expression of CD11b in macrophages.

Monoclonal Antibodies Against the Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus Obtained by Immunization with Epitope Peptides and CpG-DNA-liposome Complex.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the major cause of pulmonary inflammation in infants, young children, and immunocompromised adults. However, the RSV vaccine is not yet available commercially. The RSV-F glycoprotein mediates virus-host cell fusion, leading to syncytial formation; therefore, the RSV-F glycoprotein has been a treatment target for prevention and therapy of RSV infection.