MTADV 5-MER peptide suppresses chronic inflammations as well as autoimmune pathologies and unveils a new potential target-Serum Amyloid A.

Despite the existence of potent anti-inflammatory biological drugs e.g., anti-TNF and anti IL-6 receptor antibodies, for treating chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, these are costly and not specific.

Adjuvanted influenza vaccines.

Influenza is one of the most common causes of human morbidity and mortality that is preventable by vaccination. Immunization with available vaccines provides incomplete protection against illness caused by influenza virus, especially in high-risk groups such as the elderly and young children. Thus, more efficacious vaccines are needed for the entire population, and all the more so for high-risk groups.

A new intranasal influenza vaccine based on a novel polycationic lipid-ceramide carbamoyl-spermine (CCS). II. Studies in mice and ferrets and mechanism of adjuvanticity.

We recently showed that lipid assemblies comprised of a novel polycationic sphingolipid (ceramide carbamoyl-spermine, CCS) are an effective adjuvant/carrier when complexed with cholesterol (CCS/C) for influenza and other vaccines administered parenterally and intranasally (i.n.) in mice.

Femtosecond laser: a new intradermal DNA delivery method for efficient, long-term gene expression and genetic immunization.

A femtosecond laser beam gene transduction (SG-LBGT) system is described as a novel and efficient method of intradermal (i.d.) nonviral gene delivery in mice by permeabilizing cells utilizing femtosecond laser pulses.

Mucosal immunization against hepatitis A: antibody responses are enhanced by co-administration of synthetic oligodeoxynucleotides and a novel cationic lipid.

Hepatitis A caused by hepatitis A virus (HAV) transmitted by the fecal-oral route, results in considerable morbidity and economic loss. Mucosal immunization can be more effective than conventional injection at inducing both local and systemic immunity to HAV. Here we show that co-administration of killed HAV with synthetic oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) containing CpG sequences, and a novel polycationic sphingolipid (CCS)/cholesterol liposomal delivery system, markedly enhances the HAV-specific antibody response at the intestinal interface, particularly when delivered intrarectally or intranasally, to Balb/c mice at low HAV doses.

A new intranasal influenza vaccine based on a novel polycationic lipid--ceramide carbamoyl-spermine (CCS) I. Immunogenicity and efficacy studies in mice.

Although most pathogens use the mucosal routes for invasion, the majority of currently available vaccines are administered parenterally. Injectable vaccines induce good systemic immunity but often unsatisfactory mucosal immunity. A non-injectable mucosal vaccine, which can be self-administered intranasally, may provide both effective systemic and mucosal immunity and can be used for vaccination of large populations within a short period of time in case of a sudden epidemic.

The mechanisms controlling the recognition of tumor- and virus-infected cells by NKp46.

The destruction of viral-infected and tumor cells is mediated in part via the lysis receptor of natural killer (NK) cells, NKp46. The nature, however, of its lysis ligands expressed on target cells is poorly defined. Recently, we have identified a novel functional interaction between the lysis receptors NKp46 and NKp44 and the hemagglutinin of influenza and hemagglutinin-neuroaminidase of Sendai viruses.

Enhanced recognition of human NK receptors after influenza virus infection.

The NK cell cytotoxic activity is regulated by both inhibitory and activating NK receptors. Thus, changes in the expression levels and in the affinity or avidity of those receptors will have a major effect on the killing of target cells. In this study, we demonstrate that the binding of NK-inhibitory receptors is enhanced after influenza virus infection.

Immunogenicity and safety of a novel IL-2-supplemented liposomal influenza vaccine (INFLUSOME-VAC) in nursing-home residents.

Influenza and its complications account for substantial morbidity and mortality, especially among the elderly. In young adults, immunization provides 70-90% protection, while among the elderly the vaccine may be only View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Immunogenicity and safety of a novel liposomal influenza subunit vaccine (INFLUSOME-VAC) in young adults.

Influenza and its complications account for substantial morbidity and mortality among young adults and especially among the elderly. In young adults, immunization provides 70-90% protection, while among the elderly the vaccine may be only 30-40% effective; hence the need for new, more immunogenic vaccines. We compared the safety and immunogenicity of a novel IL-2-supplemented liposomal influenza vaccine (designated INFLUSOME-VAC) with that of a commercial subunit vaccine and a commercial split virion vaccine in young adults (mean age 28 years) in the winter of 1999-2000.

Liposomal immunostimulatory DNA sequence (ISS-ODN): an efficient parenteral and mucosal adjuvant for influenza and hepatitis B vaccines.

Synthetic oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) containing immunostimulatory sequences (ISS-ODN, also known as CpG-ODNs) have been shown to display in experimental models potent Th1-biassed immunoadjuvant activity upon parenteral or mucosal co-administration with a variety of antigens. In an attempt to potentiate adjuvant activity, and to reduce dose and number of administrations, ISS-ODN was entrapped (up to 90% efficiency) in large (1.5 microm) multilamellar liposomes using a simple and fast (5 min) procedure.