Co-formulation of the rF1V plague vaccine with depot-formulated cytokines enhances immunogenicity and efficacy to elicit protective responses against aerosol challenge in mice.

This study evaluated a depot-formulated cytokine-based adjuvant to improve the efficacy of the recombinant F1V (rF1V) plague vaccine and examined the protective response following aerosol challenge in a murine model. The results of this study showed that co-formulation of the Alhydrogel-adsorbed rF1V plague fusion vaccine with the depot-formulated cytokines recombinant human interleukin 2 (rhuIL-2) and/or recombinant murine granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (rmGM-CSF) significantly enhances immunogenicity and significant protection at lower antigen doses against a lethal aerosol challenge. These results provide additional support for the co-application of the depot-formulated IL-2 and/or GM-CSF cytokines to enhance vaccine efficacy.

The magnitude of the germinal center B cell and T follicular helper cell response predicts long-lasting antibody titers to plague vaccination.

The development of a safe and effective vaccine against , the causative organism for plague disease, remains an important global health priority. Studies have demonstrated effective immune-based protection against plague challenge that is induced by plague antigen subunit vaccination in an aqueous alhydrogel formulation; however, whether these candidate vaccines in this formulation and presentation, induce long-lasting immunological memory in the form of durable cellular and antibody recall responses has not been fully demonstrated. In this study, we analyzed germinal center T follicular helper and germinal center B cell responses following F1V and F1 + V plague subunit immunization of mice with vaccines formulated in various adjuvants.

Effect of a Pluronic(®) P123 formulation on the nitric oxide-generating drug JS-K.

Purpose: O(2)-(2,4-dinitrophenyl)1-[(4-ethoxycarbonyl)piperazin-1-yl]diazen-1-ium-1,2-diolate] or JS-K is a nitric oxide-producing prodrug of the arylated diazeniumdiolate class with promising anti-tumor activity. JS-K has challenging solubility and stability properties. We aimed to characterize and compare Pluronic(®) P123-formulated JS-K (P123/JS-K) with free JS-K.

Probing bis-ANS binding sites of different affinity on aggregated IgG by steady-state fluorescence, time-resolved fluorescence and isothermal titration calorimetry.

Fluorescent dyes, for example, 4,4'-dianilino-1,1'-binaphthyl-5,5'-disulfonic acid dipotassium salt (bis-ANS) are extensively used to detect nonnative protein structures in therapeutic protein products, for example, during formulation development by monitoring the greatly enhanced dye fluorescence upon binding to nonnative species. Our aim was to characterize the level of heterogeneity of bis-ANS binding sites in a thermally stressed monoclonal antibody (IgG) formulation by steady-state fluorescence, time-resolved fluorescence and isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), and to obtain apparent dissociation constants (Kd ) by data fitting. Because the methods differ in their underlying measurement principles, they provide different information on binding properties of bis-ANS to thermally stressed IgG.

In-plane parallel scanning: a microarray technology for point-of-care testing.

A new microarray technology is described for rapid, inexpensive, multiplex diagnostics assays. Referred to as "in-plane parallel scanning" (IPPS), this technology replaces expensive laser scanning with a grid of 100-μm-wide waveguides embedded in the chip's substrate, enabling real-time quantification of molecular complex formation on the chip's surface. Compared to conventional microarray technology, IPPS has advantages of shorter assay time and lower instrument cost and complexity so that the platform can potentially be used in point-of-care (POC) settings.

Optical system design for biosensors based on CCD detection.

The use of Charge Coupled Device (CCD) detectors as an integral part of a biosensing system has become widespread in recent years due to several advantages of this type of detection, such as the ability to image multiple zones on the sensor, the flexibility of defining the sensing configuration and the low-noise performance of the detectors. The specification of the CCD as well as the selection of the other components in this system--including the source and the filters--is driven by the particular transduction mechanism, but all parts must be matched. Particular attention must be paid to reducing the various noise components of the CCD to obtain the lowest detection level, and it is shown that cooling the CCD is often a wise choice.

A liposome permeability model for stratum corneum lipid bilayers based on commercial lipids.

The objective was to evaluate stratum corneum lipid liposomes (SCLLs) prepared from commercial lipids as a convenient model system for studying the mechanisms of chemical permeation enhancers. Liposomes prepared from extracted stratum corneum lipids (ESCLLs) were used as a control. Three different types of SCLLs were prepared by sonication or extrusion from mixtures of commercial ceramides, cholesterol, free fatty acids, and cholesterol 3-sulfate (SCLL-I-III; 55/25/15/5 weight ratio).

Rapid throughput screening of apparent KSP values for weakly basic drugs using 96-well format.

A rapid-throughput screening assay was developed to estimate the salt solubility parameter, K(SP), with a minimal quantity of drug. This assay allows for early evaluation of salt limited solubility with a large number of counter-ions and biologically promising drug leads. Drugs dissolved (typically 10 mM) in DMSO are robotically distributed to a 96-well plate.

Rapid throughput solubility screening method for BCS class II drugs in animal GI fluids and simulated human GI fluids using a 96-well format.

A rapid solubility-screening assay was developed with a focus on Biopharmaceutic Classification Scheme (BCS) class II drug solubility in animal and simulated human gastrointestinal (GI) fluids. The assay enables biologically promising drug leads to be evaluated for solubility limitations earlier in the drug development process, minimizes GI fluid needs, and produces in vitro solubility information with potential in vivo implications. A number of BCS II drugs were dissolved in DMSO at approximately 40 mM, and robotically distributed to a 96-well plate.

How well can an idiotope peptide mimic replace its parent idiotype in a synthetic peptide vaccine?

Purpose: To determine whether a vaccine consisting of an idiotope peptide mimic of the third complementarity-determining region of the immunoglobulin heavy chain (CDR-H3) is an effective substitute for its parent idiotype. Such peptide vaccines could ultimately be used for targeting pathological B lymphocytes.

Methods: Hen egg lysozyme (HEL) conjugates of the Fab' fragment of monoclonal anti-fluorescein antibody 9-40 (Fab'-HEL) or a peptide mimic of the 9-40 CDR-H3 (referred to as the "B epitope" or "Bep," the conjugate is referred to as "Bep-HEL") were injected into separate cohorts of B10.

Three-dimensional structures of idiotypically related Fabs with intermediate and high affinity for fluorescein.

Multi-disciplinary studies of fluorescein-protein conjugates have led to the generation of a family of antibodies with common idiotypes and affinities for fluorescein ranging over five orders of magnitude. The high affinity 4-4-20 prototype traps the ligand in a highly complementary binding slot, which is lined by multiple aromatic side-chains. An antibody (9-40) of intermediate affinity belongs to the same idiotypic family as 4-4-20 and shares substantial amino acid identities within the VL and VH domains.

How well can a T-cell epitope replace its parent carrier protein? A dose-response study.

Purpose: This work examines the effectiveness of synthetic peptide immunogens derived from immunodominant T-cell epitopes as replacements for their intact parent protein in vaccines.

Methods: Fluorescein was conjugated to hen egg lysozyme (FL-HEL, positive control) and three synthetic peptide immunogens: (a) murine B10.A (H-2a) immunodominant T-cell epitope of HEL [FL-(T-cell epitope)]; (b) multiple antigenic peptide (MAP) multimer of this epitope ([FL-(T epitope)]n-MAP, n = 2-4); and (c) negative control MAP with T-cell epitope residues replaced with glycine [(FL-Gly18)4-MAP].

Single-chain polymorphism analysis in long QT syndrome using planar waveguide fluorescent biosensors.

Rapid detection of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) has potential applications in both genetic screening and pharmacogenomics. Planar waveguide fluorescent biosensor technology was employed to detect SNPs using a simple hybridization assay with the complementary strand ("capture oligo") immobilized on the waveguide. This technology allows real-time measurements of DNA hybridization kinetics.

Bifluorophoric molecules as fluorescent beacons for antibody-antigen binding.

The quenching of fluorescence (up to 98%) by anti-fluorescein antibodies is well documented in the literature. Here we report a system where, instead of quenching, bifluorophoric molecules are designed to increase in fluorescence upon binding by an anti-fluorescein antibody. Bifluorophoric molecules are made of fluorescein (F) linked to tetramethylrhodamine (T) via varying numbers of methylene units, denoted as F-(CH(2))(n)-T.