The immunogenicity and reactogenicity of four COVID-19 booster vaccinations against SARS-CoV-2 variants following CoronaVac or ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 primary series.

Background: The appropriate COVID-19 booster vaccine following inactivated or adenoviral vector COVID-19 vaccination is unclear.

Objective: To investigate the immunogenicity of four COVID-19 booster vaccines.

Methods: We prospectively enrolled healthy adults who received a two-dose CoronaVac or ChAdOx1 8-12 weeks earlier and allocated them to receive one of the following booster vaccine: inactivated (BBIBP-CorV), ChAdOx1 or mRNA (BNT162b2 at full [30 μg] and half [15 μg] dose) vaccines.

Extracellular Vesicles Derived from Early and Late Stage -Infected Red Blood Cells Contain Invasion-Associated Proteins.

In infectious diseases, extracellular vesicles (EVs) released from a pathogen or pathogen-infected cells can transfer pathogen-derived biomolecules, especially proteins, to target cells and consequently regulate these target cells. For example, malaria is an important tropical infectious disease caused by spp. Previous studies have identified the roles of -infected red blood cell-derived EVs (-EVs) in the pathogenesis, activation, and modulation of host immune responses.

Extracellular Vesicles from Induce IL-8 Response in THP-1 Macrophage.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) released from pathogenic protozoans play crucial roles in host-parasite communication and disease pathogenesis. is a free-living protozoan causing primary amoebic meningoencephalitis, a fatal disease in the central nervous system. This study aims to explore the roles of -derived EVs (-EVs) in host-pathogen interactions using the THP-1 cell line as a model.

Quantification of histone H2AX phosphorylation in white blood cells induced by ex vivo gamma irradiation of whole blood by both flow cytometry and foci counting as a dose estimation in rapid triage.

A quick, reliable, and reproducible biological assay to distinguish individuals with possible life-threatening risk following radiological or nuclear incidents remains a quest in biodosimetry. In this paper, we examined the use of a γ-H2AX assay as an early dose estimation for rapid triage based on both flow cytometry and image analyses. In the experiment, whole blood from 11 donors was irradiated ex vivo inside a water phantom by gamma rays from Co-60 at 0.

Comparison of safety and immunogenicity of CoronaVac and ChAdOx1 against the SARS-CoV-2 circulating variants of concern (Alpha, Delta, Beta) in Thai healthcare workers.

Background: Inactivated vaccine (CoronaVac) and chimpanzee adenovirus-vector vaccine (ChAdOx1) have been widely used in resource-limited settings. However, the information on the reactogenicity and immunogenicity of these two vaccines in the same setting are limited.

Methods: Healthy health care workers (HCWs) aged 18 years or older were randomly assigned to receive either two doses of CoronaVac at 4 weeks interval or two doses of ChAdOx1 at 10 weeks interval.

Performance Evaluation of BD FACSPresto Near-Patient CD4 Counter for Monitoring Antiretroviral Therapy in HIV-Infected Individuals in Primary Healthcare Clinics in Thailand.

HIV viral load is more reliable tool for monitoring treatment throughout the course of HIV/AIDS, but the test may be expensive in resource-limited settings. Therefore, enumeration of CD4 T-lymphocyte count remains important in these settings. This study evaluated the performance of BDFACSPresto, a near-patient CD4 counter planned to be used in primary healthcare clinics in Thailand.

Kinetic Changes of Peripheral Blood Monocyte Subsets and Expression of Co-Stimulatory Molecules during Acute Dengue Virus Infection.

Monocytes, one of the main target cells for dengue virus (DENV) infection, contribute to the resolution of viremia and to pathogenesis. We performed a longitudinal study by a detailed phenotypic comparison of classical (CD14++CD16-, non-classical (CD14+CD16++) and intermediate (CD14++CD16+) monocyte subsets in blood samples from dengue fever (DF) to the severe dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) and healthy individuals. Various costimulatory molecules of CD40, CD80, CD86 and inducible costimulatory ligand (ICOSL) expressed on these three monocyte subsets were also analyzed.

Extracellular vesicles from thalassemia patients carry iron-containing ferritin and hemichrome that promote cardiac cell proliferation.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are bioactive, submicron-sized membrane vesicles released from all cell types upon activation or apoptosis. EVs including microparticles (MPs) and exosomes have emerged as important mediators of cell-to-cell communication in both normal and pathological states including thalassemia (thal). However, the role of EVs derived from β-thal patients with iron overload (+ IO) and without iron overload (-IO) on cardiac cells is unclear.

Enumeration of the Invasion Efficiency of Plasmodium falciparum In Vitro in Four Different Red Blood Cell Populations Using a Three-Color Flow Cytometry-Based Method.

A novel in vitro culture system using variable concentrations of biotin/streptavidin to label red blood cells (RBCs) that allows for the simultaneous comparison of growth rates in Plasmodium falciparum malaria parasite in four heterogeneous target RBC populations is described. Donor RBCs containing both P. falciparum-infected RBCs and non-infected RBCs at 0.

Analytical performance of automated platelet counts and impact on platelet transfusion guidance in patients with acute leukemia.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of automated impedance platelet counts by Beckman Coulter LH780 (PLT-LH), Sysmex XN-3000 (PLT-XNi) and fluorescence method by Sysmex XN-3000 (PLT-F) in patients with acute leukemia. Blood specimens were subjected to platelet measurements by evaluated methods and then compared against the international reference method (IRM). Eighty-two blood specimens were included.

Altered profile of circulating microparticles in nonvalvular atrial fibrillation.

Background: Nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia, and it is associated with the prothrombotic state. Circulating microparticles (cMPs) are membrane vesicles that are shed from many cell types in response to cell activation and cell apoptosis. Several studies reported that cMPs may play a role in the hypercoagulable state that can be observed in patients with AF.

CD4 Lymphocyte Enumeration and Hemoglobin Assessment Aid for Priority Decisions: A Multisite Evaluation of the BD FACSPresto System.

Background: The BD FACSPresto system uses capillary and venous blood to measure CD4 absolute counts (CD4), %CD4 in lymphocytes, and hemoglobin (Hb) in approximately 25 minutes. CD4 cell count is used with portable CD4 counters in resource-limited settings to manage HIV/AIDS patients. A method comparison was performed using capillary and venous samples from seven clinical laboratories in five countries.

Production of anti-CD3/28 expanded CD4⁺ T lymphocytes from HIV-infected patients with different degrees of disease progression.

Aims: CD4+ T lymphocytes from HIV-infected patients with different degrees of disease progression based on CD4 count were expanded in vitro using anti-CD3/28-coated beads.

Materials & Methods: Purified CD4+ T lymphocytes from healthy subjects and patients were expanded for 3 weeks. Moreover, the improvement of cell expansion by IL-2 supplementation was also determined.

Immunomodulatory activities of alpha-mangostin on peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

Mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana L.) a tropical fruit, has been used in traditional medicine. A frequently used part of mangosteen is the pericarp, containing a high content of xanthones.

Immune activation and viral replication after vaccination with an influenza A H1N1 2009 vaccine in HIV-infected children receiving antiretroviral therapy.

Immunization with a pandemic influenza A H1N1 2009 was recommended for HIV-infected patients. However, there is limited information concerning the impact of immunization with this vaccine on immune activation and HIV viral replication. In this study, 45 HIV-infected children and adolescents receiving antiretroviral therapy were immunized with a 2-dose series of nonadjuvated monovalent influenza A H1N1 2009 vaccine upon enrollment and approximately 1 month later.

Influence of cell isolation method on the optimization of CD4+ T cell expansion using anti-CD3/CD28 coated beads.

Backgrounds: Activation of CD4+ T lymphocytes with anti-CD3/CD28 coated magnetic beads promotes intrinsic resistance to HIV as well as cell expansion. The propose of this study is to define the optimal cell isolation protocol for expansion of CD4+ T lymphocytes by using anti-CD3/CD28 coated bead stimulation with an ultimate goal of using these cells for adoptive immunotherapy.

Methods: CD4+ T cells were isolated from healthy donor blood samples using three different methods including immunorosette formation, negative selection and CD8 depletion using immunomagnetic beads.

Platelet activation and platelet-leukocyte interaction in β-thalassemia/hemoglobin E patients with marked nucleated erythrocytosis.

Patients with thalassemia, an inherited hemolytic anemia, have increased risk of hypercoagulable complications. A whole blood flow cytometric (FCM) method has been used for studies of platelet activation and platelet-leukocyte aggregation in these patients. However, this FCM method presents technical difficulties because of the high proportion of immature red blood cells (RBCs) in these patients.

Flow cytometric CD4 enumeration of four different HIV-infected blood samples at the cost of one monoclonal antibody reagent.

Background: The frequency and absolute number of CD4+ T-lymphocytes continue to be one of the major clinical markers for management of HIV/AIDS. The present standard dual-platform (DP) three-color and two-color PanLeucogating flow cytometric (FCM) methods for most developing countries are either expensive if manufacturers' monoclonal antibody reagents are used or limited due to an insufficient supply of generic reagents. Clearly, more affordable FCM methods are needed.

Discordant CD38 measurement of CD8+ T lymphocytes using fluorescein conjugates in comparison with phycoerythrin conjugates.

Background: We have previously shown that monitoring of CD38 expression can be used as a marker for antiretroviral drug efficacy in HIV infected patients. However, the detection of CD38 expression may be affected by the sensitivity of the fluorochrome conjugated reagent.

Objective: In this study, we determined the level of CD38 expression using PE and FITC conjugated anti-CD38 monoclonal antibodies in different groups of HIV infected patients.

Alteration of CD8+ T cell effector diversity during HIV-1 infection with discordant normalization in effective antiretroviral therapy.

Background: Although the impairment of HIV-specific T lymphocytes is evident during chronic HIV-infection, it is unclear whether the increased CD8+ T cells associates with either selective or overall change of effector functional phenotype. Instead of study on HIV-specific T cells only, analyzing bulk T cell populations represent a neglected area of T cell impairment, which go far beyond HIV-specific T cells.

Methods: In this study, we determined the diversity of CD8+ T cells in term of cytolytic molecule expression (perforin, granzyme A, and granzyme B) and cytokine production ability (IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, and IL-2) using intracellular staining and flow cytometry technique.

Performance evaluation of the Alere PIMA CD4 test for monitoring HIV-infected individuals in resource-constrained settings.

Background: Enumeration of CD4+ T-lymphocytes is important in the management of HIV. However, standard laboratory systems based on flow cytometry are expensive, complicated, and thus unavailable to most resource-limited settings where a low-cost and fully automated point-of-care CD4 testing system is required. In attempts to address this issue, a study was conducted to validate the Alere PIMA point-of-care CD4 test.

The use of glutaraldehyde-fixed chicken red blood cells as counting beads for performing affordable single-platform CD4(+) T-lymphocyte count in HIV-1-infected patients.

CD4(+) T-lymphocyte count is an important marker in management of HIV-1-infected patients. The standard single-platform (SP) flow cytometric (FCM) CD4(+) testing that uses the known reference microbeads is expensive; more affordable alternatives are therefore needed. We evaluated the use of glutaraldehyde-fixed chicken red blood cells (CRBCs) as counting beads as an alternative for enumerating CD4(+) T-lymphocyte counts in 87 HIV-1-infected patients.

Clinical evaluation of a simple image cytometer for CD4 enumeration on HIV-infected patients.

Background: Affordable, easy-to-use, and reliable CD4(+) T lymphocyte enumeration systems are needed in resource-constrained settings to monitor HIV.

Methods: A simple image cytometer was used to count fluorescently labeled CD4(+) T and CD8(+) T lymphocytes from CD3 immunomagnetically selected cells on blood specimens of 460 HIV-1-infected patients in Siriraj Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand. Results were compared with flow cytometry (FCM).

Pinostrobin from Boesenbergia pandurata is an inhibitor of Ca2+-signal-mediated cell-cycle regulation in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Upon searching plant extracts for inhibitors of the Ca(2+) signaling pathway using the zds1Delta-yeast proliferation based assay, a crude rhizome extract of Boesenbergia pandurata was found to be strongly positive, and from this extract pinostrobin, alpinetin, and pinocembrin chalcone were isolated as active components. Further biochemical experiments confirmed that pinostrobin possesses inhibitory activity on the Ca(2+) signals involved in the control of G2/M phase cell cycle progression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Comparison of 5 flow cytometric immunophenotyping systems for absolute CD4+ T-lymphocyte counts in HIV-1-infected patients living in resource-limited settings.

Enumeration of CD4+ T lymphocytes is important in management of HIV-infected patients. However, CD4 testing by current gold standard bead-based flow cytometer (FCM) system is expensive for developing countries. This study compared 2 affordable volumetric FCMs with the 3 predicate FCM systems.