Evaluating the performance of machine learning and variable selection methods to identify document paper using infrared spectral data.

Infrared spectroscopy is a valuable tool for forensic examinations because it realizes nondestructive and rapid analysis. Recent advancements in machine learning have facilitated the development of chemometrics, extending to applications in questioned document examination. In this study, support vector machine (SVM), feedforward neural network (FNN), and random forest (RF) models were constructed using the infrared spectral data of document paper samples to identify the manufacturer of document paper products.

Longitudinal study of SARS-CoV-2 infections in different employee groups of long distance train services from June 2020 until February 2021 in Germany.

This prospective longitudinal epidemiological study was aimed at investigating the occupational SARS-CoV-2 infection risk of long distance train services in Germany. Three different employee groups (train attendants, train drivers and maintenance workers) within the workforce of the German railway carrier Deutsche Bahn Fernverkehr AG were studied based on their contact frequency with passengers and colleagues. Approximately 1100 employees were tested by PCR for acute infections and by antibody detection for past infections in June 2020, October 2020 and February 2021.

Serum Levels and Glycosylation Changes of Alpha-1-Acid Glycoprotein According to Severity of Breast Cancer in Korean Women.

Elevated serum levels of alpha-1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) are known to be associated with several types of cancer. In addition, some reports have indicated that changes in glycosylation of AGP are associated with cancer progression. However, changes in AGP levels of serum and changes in glycosylation of AGPs in breast cancer have not been specifically studied.

Current status and future directions of fish vaccines employing virus-like particles.

In most breeding schemes, fish are cultured in enclosed spaces, which greatly increases the risk of outbreaks where the onset of infectious diseases can cause massive mortality and enormous economic losses. Vaccination is the most effective and long-term measure for improving the basic make-up of a fish farm. As the relationship between antibody and antigen is similar to that between screw and nut, similarity in the shape or nature of the vaccine antigen to the original pathogen is important for achieving a satisfactory/good/excellent antibody response with a vaccine.

IgG and IgM responses to human papillomavirus L1 virus-like particle as a function of dosing schedule and vaccine formulation.

Most commercialized virus-like particle (VLP) vaccines use aluminum salt as adjuvant, even though VLPs provoke adequate antibody responses without adjuvant. We do not have detailed knowledge of how adjuvant affects the profile of anti-VLP antibodies. Meanwhile, there is evidence that differences between vaccination protocols influence the glycosylation of antibodies, which may alter their effector functions.

Serum anti-GAPDH autoantibody levels reflect the severity of cervical lesions: A potential serum biomarker for cervical cancer screening.

Recent studies have indicated that a certain level of autoantibodies may be essential for maintaining good health as well as preventing cancer development, and that the levels of serum autoantibodies can decline during malignant progression. The aim of the present study was to identify such an autoantibody-based biomarker for screening cervical lesions. An autoantigen reactive with healthy female sera was detected in the cytosolic fraction of HeLa cells, a cervical cancer cell line, and identified.

Profiling of serum antibodies against human papillomavirus antigens in Korean women with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and cervical cancer.

Sero-epidemiological studies of human papillomavirus (HPV) have been undertaken over the last two decades. In this study, the prevalences of nine serum antibodies (anti-E6, E7 and L1 antibodies of HPV types 16, 18, and 58) were evaluated in normal (control) Korean women and women with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) I, CIN II, CIN III, and cervical cancer. The frequencies of all types of anti-HPV antibodies were higher in the CIN stages and cervical cancer than in normal women, and those of anti-HPV16 E6 and E7, anti-HPV18 E6 and E7, and anti-HPV58 E7 antibodies were higher in the cervical cancer group than in the CIN stages.

Use of CA15‑3 for screening breast cancer: An antibody‑lectin sandwich assay for detecting glycosylation of CA15‑3 in sera.

Elevated serum CA15‑3 assessed by enzyme‑linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) has been considered a diagnostic marker of breast cancer. However, accumulating data indicate that the current ELISA system for detecting CA15‑3, which targets the peptide backbone of CA15‑3, is not sufficiently sensitive to detect early or localized breast cancer. In the present study, we designed an antibody‑lectin sandwich assay detecting glycosylation of CA15‑3 in patients with breast cancer.

Comparison of the size distributions and immunogenicity of human papillomavirus type 16 L1 virus-like particles produced in insect and yeast cells.

Insect and yeast cells are considered the expression systems of choice for producing virus-like particles (VLPs), and numerous types of VLPs have been produced in these systems. However, previous studies were restricted to identifying the characteristics of individual VLP preparations. No direct comparison of the structures and immunogenic properties of insect and yeast-derived VLPs has so far been made.

Use of protein-based biomarkers of exfoliated cervical cells for primary screening of cervical cancer.

There has been no attempt to apply protein-based markers of exfoliated cervical cells (ECCs) for primary screening of cervical cancer. In the present study, the levels of six tumor-associated protein [TAPs: Sialyl Lewis A (SLeA), Cancer Antigen 15-3 (CA 15-3), p53, heat shock protein (Hsp)70, Hsp27 and squamous cervical carcinoma antigen (SCCA)]and of two human papillomavirus (HPV) viral proteins (HPV16 E7 and HPV16 L1) of ECCs lysates were evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs).The wells of 96-well plates were coated with the ECCs lysates from normal, cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) I, CIN II, CIN III and cancer groups, and candidate proteins were detected by relevant antibodies.

Stability of virus-like particles of red-spotted grouper nervous necrosis virus in the aqueous state, and the vaccine potential of lyophilized particles.

Virus-like particles (VLPs) are multi protein complexes mimicking the structural properties of the native virus. The development of freeze-dried formulations of such complex protein structures remains a challenge. Red-spotted grouper nervous necrosis virus (RGNNV) causes mass mortality in fish culture, and RGNNV VLPs have been suggested to be promising vaccine candidates.

Current status and future prospects for human papillomavirus vaccines.

Cervical cancer is the fourth most frequent cancer among women worldwide. Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) cause almost all cervical cancers in low-income countries. Three prophylactic HPV virus-like particle-based vaccines have been licensed to date, and they have all shown high efficacy and reliable safety profiles.

Oral vaccination through voluntary consumption of the convict grouper Epinephelus septemfasciatus with yeast producing the capsid protein of red-spotted grouper nervous necrosis virus.

Nervous necrosis viruses (NNV) cause serious economic losses in marine fish cultivation. The red-spotted grouper NNV (RGNNV) is the most common species of NNV worldwide. There have been many efforts to develop prophylactic NNV vaccines, and various types of vaccine candidate have been suggested.

Two-step chromatographic purification of glutathione S-transferase-tagged human papillomavirus type 16 E6 protein and its application for serology.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) E6 protein is an oncoprotein with a pivotal role in cervical carcinogenesis. Expression and purification of HPV E6 from Escherichia coli (E. coli) has been difficult because of its strong hydrophobicity even when expressed as a fusion protein with glutathione S-transferase (GST).

Characterization of human papillomavirus type 16 pseudovirus containing histones.

Background: Pseudoviruses (PsVs) that encapsidate a reporter plasmid DNA have been used as surrogates for native human papillomavirus (HPV), whose continuous production is technically difficult. HPV PsVs have been designed to form capsids made up of the major capsid protein L1 and the minor capsid proteins L2. HPV PsVs have been produced in 293TT cells transfected with plasmid expressing L1 and L2 protein and plasmid containing the reporter gene.

Effects of carboxypeptidase B treatment and elevated temperature on recombinant monoclonal antibody charge variants in cation-exchange chromatography analysis.

Charge variants (acidic and basic) of recombinant monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) have received much attention due to their potential biological effects. C-terminal lysine variants are common in Mabs and their proportion is affected by the manufacturing process. In the present study, changes of trastuzumab charge variants brought about by carboxypeptidase B treatment and subsequent storage at 8 or 37 °C for up to 24 h were monitored by cation-exchange chromatography analysis to investigate the effects of C-terminal lysine cleavage and its subsequent reaction at 8 or 37 °C.

A lectin-based approach to detecting carcinogenesis in breast tissue.

It has been suggested that the diversity of glycosylation structures that form during cancer progression and the sensitivity with which they are able to be detected have great potential for cancer screening. However, the large majority of breast cancer research has instead focused on the development of protein or nucleic acid markers. In the present study, alterations in glycosylation in breast cancer tissue were analyzed using enzyme-linked lectin assays (ELLAs), which have potential for high-throughput screening.

Increased sialylation and reduced fucosylation of exfoliated cervical cells are potential markers of carcinogenesis in the cervix.

Background: The Pap test has been used for over 50 years for primary screening of cervical cancer. There has been no study of glycosylation changes in Pap test samples despite considerable potential of the glycosylation changes as biomarkers for detecting cancerous lesions. In this study, we developed a 96-well platform for enzyme-linked lectin assays (ELLAs) to evaluate glycosylation levels in cervical cells.

Ameliorating Effect of Dietary Xylitol on Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus (hRSV) Infection.

Human respiratory syncytial virus (hRSV) is the most common cause of bronchiolitis and pneumonia in infants. The lack of proper prophylactics and therapeutics for controlling hRSV infection has been of great concern worldwide. Xylitol is a well-known sugar substitute and its effect against bacteria in the oral cavity is well known.

Age-related reduction of antibody response against the human endogenous retrovirus K envelope in women.

In the present study, the correlation between the antibody response against human endogenous retrovirus K (HERV-K) envelope and human age was investigated. Antibody levels were compared in groups in their 20s (n = 25), 30s (n = 39), 40s (n = 68), 50s (n = 32), and 60s and over (n = 25), which included healthy individuals and breast cancer and/or cervical cancer patients. It appeared that both IgM and IgG responses against the HERV-K envelope fell with increasing age.

A lectin-based diagnostic system using circulating antibodies to detect cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and cervical cancer.

In the present study, we developed serological strategies using immunoglobulin fractions obtained by protein A chromatography to screen for cervical cancer and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia I (CIN I). The reactivities of the immunoglobulins purified from sera of women with normal cytology, CIN I and cervical cancer were compared in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) and enzyme-linked lectin assays (ELLAs). To capture the immunoglobulins, ELISAs and ELLAs were performed in protein A immobilized microplates.

The effect of dietary bovine colostrum on respiratory syncytial virus infection and immune responses following the infection in the mouse.

Human respiratory syncytial virus (hRSV) is the most common cause of respiratory tract infection among young children because of immature T cell immunity of them against hRSV. CD8 T cells play a pivotal role in clearing hRSV and preventing subsequent infection. We examined the effects of dietary bovine colostrum on virus infection and CD8 T cell responses following hRSV infection in the mouse model.

The Free Radical Scavenger NecroX-7 Attenuates Acute Graft-versus-Host Disease via Reciprocal Regulation of Th1/Regulatory T Cells and Inhibition of HMGB1 Release.

Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is a major complication associated with allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Despite the prominent role of the adaptive immune system, the importance of controlling the innate immune system in the pathogenesis of GVHD has recently been rediscovered. High-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) is a crucial damage-associated molecular pattern signal that functions as a potent innate immune mediator in GVHD.

Protective immunity against nervous necrosis virus in convict grouper Epinephelus septemfasciatus following vaccination with virus-like particles produced in yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Infection with nervous necrosis virus (NNV) causes viral nervous necrosis, which inflicts serious economic losses in marine fish cultivation. Virus-like particles (VLPs) are protein complexes consisting of recombinant virus capsid proteins, whose shapes are similar to native virions. VLPs are considered a novel vaccine platform because they are not infectious and have the ability to induce neutralizing antibodies efficiently.