Sequential Immunizations with Influenza Neuraminidase Protein Followed by Peptide Nanoclusters Induce Heterologous Protection.

Enhancing cross-protections against diverse influenza viruses is desired for influenza vaccinations. Neuraminidase (NA)-specific antibody responses have been found to independently correlate with a broader influenza protection spectrum. Here, we report a sequential immunization regimen that includes priming with NA protein followed by boosting with peptide nanoclusters, with which targeted enhancement of antibody responses in BALB/c mice to certain cross-protective B-cell epitopes of NA was achieved.

2-Bromopalmitate inhibits malignant behaviors of HPSCC cells by hindering the membrane location of Ras protein.

Palmitoylation, which is mediated by protein acyltransferase (PAT) and performs important biological functions, is the only reversible lipid modification in organism. To study the effect of protein palmitoylation on hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (HPSCC), the expression levels of 23 PATs in tumor tissues of 8 HPSCC patients were determined, and high mRNA and protein levels of DHHC9 and DHHC15 were found. Subsequently, we investigated the effect of 2-bromopalmitate (2BP), a small-molecular inhibitor of protein palmitoylation, on the behavior of Fadu cells in vitro (50 μM) and in nude mouse xenograft models (50 μmol/kg), and found that 2BP suppressed the proliferation, invasion, and migration of Fadu cells without increasing cell apoptosis.

Chimeric Virus-like Particles Co-Displaying Hemagglutinin Stem and the C-Terminal Fragment of DnaK Confer Heterologous Influenza Protection in Mice.

Influenza virus hemagglutinin (HA) stem is currently regarded as an extremely promising immunogen for designing universal influenza vaccines. The appropriate antigen-presenting vaccine vector would be conducive to increasing the immunogenicity of the HA stem antigen. In this study, we generated chimeric virus-like particles (cVLPs) co-displaying the truncated C-terminal of DnaK from and H1 stem or full-length H1 antigen using the baculovirus expression system.

Validation and Application of the Chinese Version of the M. D. Anderson Symptom Inventory in Breast Cancer Patients.

Objective: To validate and use the Chinese Version of the M. D. Anderson Symptom Inventory (MDASI-C) to assess the symptom burden of breast cancer patients in China.