Validation of an interferon-gamma enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot assay to evaluate cell-mediated immunity against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2.

The COVID-19 pandemic forced the rapid development of methods to measure humoral and cellular immunity against SARS-CoV-2. The lack of a global standardized protocol and the high variability of intra- and inter-assay precision of the T-cell response made it difficult to compare T-cell assay results with those of other laboratories. The interferon-gamma enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot (IFN-γ ELISpot) assay for immunogenicity evaluation was validated using naturally infected donor peripheral blood mononuclear cells, a commercially available IFN-γ ELISpot kit, and a SARS-CoV-2 specific peptide pool.

Evaluation of flow cytometry-based fluorescent antibody to membrane antigen test to measure the humoral immunity against the varicella-zoster virus.

The fluorescent antibody to membrane antigen (FAMA) test is the gold standard for measuring the immunity induced by varicella vaccines with high sensitivity and specificity. However, certain aspects of the FAMA test, such as time consumption, non-automation, and subjective interpretation by observers using fluorescence microscopy, are obstacles to handling large amounts of samples. To overcome these hurdles, flow cytometry was adopted to analyze and compare the flow FAMA titer with the classic FAMA titer.

Baculovirus Vector-Based Varicella-Zoster Virus Vaccine as a Promising Alternative with Enhanced Safety and Therapeutic Functions.

Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) poses lifelong risks, causing varicella and herpes zoster (HZ, shingles). Currently, varicella and HZ vaccines are predominantly live attenuated vaccines or adjuvanted subunit vaccines utilizing VZV glycoprotein E (gE). Here, we propose our vaccine candidates involving a comparative analysis between recombinant baculoviral vector vaccines (AcHERV) and a live attenuated vaccine strain, vOka.

Varicella zoster virus glycoprotein E facilitates PINK1/Parkin-mediated mitophagy to evade STING and MAVS-mediated antiviral innate immunity.

Viruses have evolved to control mitochondrial quality and content to facilitate viral replication. Mitophagy is a selective autophagy, in which the damaged or unnecessary mitochondria are removed, and thus considered an essential mechanism for mitochondrial quality control. Although mitophagy manipulation by several RNA viruses has recently been reported, the effect of mitophagy regulation by varicella zoster virus (VZV) remains to be fully determined.

Cross-reactive humoral immunity of clade 2 Oka and MAV/06 strain-based varicella vaccines against different clades of varicella-zoster virus.

The currently used Japanese Oka and Korean MAV/06-attenuated varicella vaccine strains belong to clade 2 genotype varicella-zoster viruses (VZV). More than seven clades of VZV exist worldwide. In this study, we investigated the cross-reactivity of antibodies induced by clade 2 genotype vaccines against VZV strains belonging to clades 1, 2, 3, and 5 using a fluorescent antibody to membrane antigen (FAMA) test.

Humoral and Cellular Responses to COVID-19 Vaccines in SARS-CoV-2 Infection-Naïve and -Recovered Korean Individuals.

In the face of a global COVID-19 vaccine shortage, an efficient vaccination strategy is required. Therefore, the immunogenicity of single or double COVID-19 vaccination doses (ChAdOX1, BNT162b2, or mRNA-1273) of SARS-CoV-2-recovered individuals was compared to that of unvaccinated individuals with SARS-CoV-2 infection at least one year post-convalescence. Moreover, the immunogenicity of SARS-CoV-2-naïve individuals vaccinated with a complete schedule of Ad26.

MG1141A as a Highly Potent Monoclonal Neutralizing Antibody Against SARS-CoV-2 Variants.

Since the coronavirus disease outbreak in 2019, several antibody therapeutics have been developed to treat severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections. Antibody therapeutics are effective in neutralizing the virus and reducing hospitalization in patients with mild and moderate infections. These therapeutics target the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2; however, emerging mutations in this protein reduce their efficiency.

Cross-Sectional Study of Varicella Zoster Virus Immunity in Healthy Korean Children Assessed by Glycoprotein Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay and Fluorescent Antibody to Membrane Antigen Test.

The prevalence of varicella is especially high among children in the age group of 4-6 years in South Korea, regardless of vaccination. We investigated the immune status of healthy children enrolled in day-care centers and compared pre- and post-vaccination immunity. Antibody titers were measured using a glycoprotein enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (gpEIA) kit, and the seroconversion rate was assessed using a fluorescent antibody to membrane antigen (FAMA) test.

Coxsackievirus B3 Infection of Human Neural Progenitor Cells Results in Distinct Expression Patterns of Innate Immune Genes.

Coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3), a member of family, is an important human pathogen that causes a wide range of diseases, including myocarditis, pancreatitis, and meningitis. Although CVB3 has been well demonstrated to target murine neural progenitor cells (NPCs), gene expression profiles of CVB3-infected human NPCs (hNPCs) has not been fully explored. To characterize the molecular signatures and complexity of CVB3-mediated host cellular responses in hNPCs, we performed QuantSeq 3' mRNA sequencing.

Recent Updates on Research Models and Tools to Study Virus-Host Interactions at the Placenta.

The placenta is a unique mixed organ, composed of both maternal and fetal tissues, that is formed only during pregnancy and serves as the key physiological and immunological barrier preventing maternal-fetal transmission of pathogens. Several viruses can circumvent this physical barrier and enter the fetal compartment, resulting in miscarriage, preterm birth, and birth defects, including microcephaly. The mechanisms underlying viral strategies to evade the protective role of placenta are poorly understood.

Characterization and phylogenetic analysis of Varicella-zoster virus strains isolated from Korean patients.

Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) is a causative agent of chickenpox in primary infection and shingles after its reactivation from latency. Complete or almost-complete genomic DNA sequences for various VZV strains have been reported. Recently, clinical VZV strains were isolated from Korean patients whose genome was sequenced using high-throughput sequencing technology.

Coxsackievirus B infection is highly related with missed abortion in Korea.

Purpose: This study investigated the possible relationship between viral infection and first trimester pregnancy loss.

Materials And Methods: A prospective study was performed on 51 gravidas with missed abortion, fetal anomaly, pre-term delivery, and full-tem delivery at Hanyang University Hospital. Enteroviruses were detected by semi-nested reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry in abortive tissues and placentas.

Measurement of antibodies to varicella-zoster virus using a virus-free fluorescent-antibody-to-membrane-antigen (FAMA) test.

The fluorescent-antibody-to-membrane-antigen (FAMA) test is regarded as the "gold standard" to detect protective antibodies to varicella-zoster virus (VZV) because of its high sensitivity and specificity. Because the classic FAMA test uses an infectious virus for detection of antibodies to VZV, it is labor-intensive, and also requires special equipment for handling the virus. For this reason, we attempted to develop a simple and safe FAMA assay.

Detection of antibodies to varicella-zoster virus in recipients of the varicella vaccine by using a luciferase immunoprecipitation system assay.

A high-throughput test to detect varicella-zoster virus (VZV) antibodies in varicella vaccine recipients is not currently available. One of the most sensitive tests for detecting VZV antibodies after vaccination is the fluorescent antibody to membrane antigen (FAMA) test. Unfortunately, this test is labor-intensive, somewhat subjective to read, and not commercially available.

Evaluation of a commercial glycoprotein enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for measuring vaccine immunity to varicella.

Purpose: To evaluate a recently marketed commercial glycoprotein enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (gpEIA) kit, the VaccZyme™ VZV gpEIA, for measuring the immunity of varicella-vaccinated children.

Materials And Methods: We investigated the accuracy and reproducibility of the VaccZyme™ VZV gpEIA kit for the detection of antibodies to VZV. We also examined the sensitivity, specificity, and correlation between antibody titers calculated with gpEIA versus fluorescent antibody to membrane antigen (FAMA) by using sera of 349 children, ranging from 1 to 6 years old.

Pregnancy loss following coxsackievirus b3 infection in mice during early gestation due to high expression of coxsackievirus-adenovirus receptor (CAR) in uterus and embryo.

Coxsackieviruses are important pathogens in children and the outcomes of neonatal infection can be serious or fatal. However, the outcomes of coxsackievirus infection during early gestation are not well defined. In this study, we examined the possibility of vertical transmission of coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) and the effects of CVB3 infection on early pregnancy of ICR mice.

Colocalization of interferon regulatory factor 7 (IRF7) with latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1) of Epstein-Barr virus.

Interferon regulatory factor 7 (IRF7) is one of the transcriptional factors for the activation of type I Interferon (IFN) genes. It is known that IRF7 and the latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1) of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) are highly expressed in EBV type III latency cells, and LMP1 induces mRNA expression of IRF7. In this study, the expression pattern of endogenous IRF7 was observed in several B cell lines with or without EBV infection by immunofluorescence staining.

Pirfenidone suppressed the development of glomerulosclerosis in the FGS/Kist mouse.

Pirfenidone (PFD) is a newly developed anti-fibrotic agent. We evaluated the effect of PFD for the prevention of renal fibrosis using a spontaneous progressive glomerulosclerosis animal model, FGS/Kist mice. Male and female FGS/Kist mice were fed a diet containing 0.