Melanoma-associated repair-like Schwann cells suppress anti-tumor T-cells via 12/15-LOX/COX2-associated eicosanoid production.

Peripheral glia, specifically the Schwann cells (SCs), have been implicated in the formation of the tumor microenvironment (TME) and in cancer progression. However, and analyses of how cancers reprogram SC functions in different organs of tumor-bearing mice are lacking. We generated Plp1-CreERT/tdTomato mice which harbor fluorescently labeled myelinated and non-myelin forming SCs.

A microarray patch SARS-CoV-2 vaccine induces sustained antibody responses and polyfunctional cellular immunity.

Sustainable global immunization campaigns against COVID-19 and other emerging infectious diseases require effective, broadly deployable vaccines. Here, we report a dissolvable microarray patch (MAP) SARS-CoV-2 vaccine that targets the immunoresponsive skin microenvironment, enabling efficacious needle-free immunization. Multicomponent MAPs delivering both SARS-CoV-2 S1 subunit antigen and the TLR3 agonist Poly(I:C) induce robust antibody and cellular immune responses systemically and in the respiratory mucosa.

Research Techniques Made Simple: Skin-Targeted Drug and Vaccine Delivery Using Dissolvable Microneedle Arrays.

Skin-targeted drug delivery is broadly employed for both local and systemic therapeutics and is an important tool for discovery efforts in cutaneous biology. Recently, emerging technologies support efforts toward skin-targeted biocargo delivery for local and systemic therapeutic benefit. Effective targeting of bioactive molecules, including large (molecular weight > 500 Da) or complex (hydrophilic and charged) molecules, to defined cutaneous microenvironments is intrinsically challenging owing to the protective barrier function of the skin.

A single subcutaneous or intranasal immunization with adenovirus-based SARS-CoV-2 vaccine induces robust humoral and cellular immune responses in mice.

Optimal vaccines are needed for sustained suppression of SARS-CoV-2 and other novel coronaviruses. Here, we developed a recombinant type 5 adenovirus vector encoding the gene for the SARS-CoV-2 S1 subunit antigen (Ad5.SARS-CoV-2-S1) for COVID-19 immunization and evaluated its immunogenicity in mice.

Microarray patches enable the development of skin-targeted vaccines against COVID-19.

The COVID-19 pandemic is a serious threat to global health and the global economy. The ongoing race to develop a safe and efficacious vaccine to prevent infection by SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent for COVID-19, highlights the importance of vaccination to combat infectious pathogens. The highly accessible cutaneous microenvironment is an ideal target for vaccination since the skin harbors a high density of antigen-presenting cells and immune accessory cells with broad innate immune functions.

Ethanol consumption synergistically increases ultraviolet radiation induced skin damage and immune dysfunction.

Background: Excessive UV radiation disrupts skin homeostasis by multiple mechanisms that extend beyond the simple erythema associated with sunburns including reduction of antioxidants, increased DNA damage, and impairment of skin immune responses. Recreational UV exposure frequently occurs concurrently with excessive ethanol (EtOH). Epidemiological studies suggest a harmful, dose-dependent impact of EtOH in the setting of high UV exposure, leading to increased severity of sunburns relative to those generated in the absence of EtOH.

Emerging skin-targeted drug delivery strategies to engineer immunity: A focus on infectious diseases.

Introduction: Infectious pathogens are global disrupters. Progress in biomedical science and technology has expanded the public health arsenal against infectious diseases. Specifically, vaccination has reduced the burden of infectious pathogens.

Microneedle array delivered recombinant coronavirus vaccines: Immunogenicity and rapid translational development.

Background: Coronaviruses pose a serious threat to global health as evidenced by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), and COVID-19. SARS Coronavirus (SARS-CoV), MERS Coronavirus (MERS-CoV), and the novel coronavirus, previously dubbed 2019-nCoV, and now officially named SARS-CoV-2, are the causative agents of the SARS, MERS, and COVID-19 disease outbreaks, respectively. Safe vaccines that rapidly induce potent and long-lasting virus-specific immune responses against these infectious agents are urgently needed.

Dissolving undercut microneedle arrays for multicomponent cutaneous vaccination.

The skin is an attractive tissue target for vaccination, as it is readily accessible and contains a dense population of antigen-presenting and immune-accessory cells. Microneedle arrays (MNAs) are emerging as an effective tool for in situ engineering of the cutaneous microenvironment to enable diverse immunization strategies. Here, we present novel dissolving undercut MNAs and demonstrate their application for effective multicomponent cutaneous vaccination.