Publications by authors named "Demarcus D Woolfork"

Article Synopsis
  • The development of intranasal vaccines for respiratory viruses is increasing, but currently only a live-attenuated influenza vaccine is approved for this method in the U.S.
  • This study focused on the influenza virus and explored a novel structure of hemagglutinin (HA) called spike nanobicelles (SNB), which are lipid disc complexes that may enhance immune response.
  • Using these SNBs, researchers found that intranasal immunization led to the production of broad-spectrum antibodies and protection against various strains of H1N1, potentially paving the way for more effective universal influenza vaccines.
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Influenza virus nucleoprotein (NP) is one of the most conserved influenza proteins. Both NP antigen and anti-NP antibodies are used as reagents in influenza diagnostic kits, with applications in both clinical practice, and influenza zoonotic surveillance programs. Despite this, studies on the biochemical basis of NP diagnostic serology and NP epitopes are not as developed as for hemagglutinin (HA), the fast-evolving antigen which has been the critical component of current influenza vaccines.

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As new vaccine technologies and platforms, such as nanoparticles and novel adjuvants, are developed to aid in the establishment of a universal influenza vaccine, studying traditional influenza split/subunit vaccines should not be overlooked. Commercially available vaccines are typically studied in terms of influenza A H1 and H3 viruses but influenza B viruses need to be examined as well. Thus, there is a need to both understand the limitations of split/subunit vaccines and develop strategies to overcome those limitations, particularly their ability to elicit cross-reactive antibodies to the co-circulating Victoria (B-V) and Yamagata (B-Y) lineages of human influenza B viruses.

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The molecular implications of food consumption on cancer etiology are poorly defined. The rate of nutrition associated non-enzymatic glycoxidation, a reaction that occurs between reactive carbonyl groups on linear sugars and nucleophilic amino, lysyl and arginyl groups on fats and proteins, is rapidly increased by food cooking and manufacturing processes. In this study, we assign nutrition-associated glycoxidation with significant oncogenic potential, promoting prostate tumor growth, progression, and metastasis in vivo.

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