Publications by authors named "M Downs"

There are varying data concerning the effect of prior anti-vector immunity on the T-cell response induced by immunisation with an identical vectored vaccine containing a heterologous antigen insert. To determine whether prior exposure to ChAdOx1-SARS-CoV2 immunisation (Vaxzevria) impacts magnitudes of antigen-specific T-cell responses elicited by subsequent administration of the same viral vector (encoding HBV antigens, ChAdOx1-HBV), healthy volunteers that had received Vaxzevria (n = 15) or the Pfizer or Moderna mRNA COVID-19 vaccine (n = 11) between 10 and 18 weeks prior were recruited to receive a single intramuscular injection of ChAdOx1-HBV. Anti-ChAdOx1-neutralising antibody titers were determined, and vector or insert-specific T-cell responses were measured by a gamma-interferon ELISpot and intracellular cytokine staining (ICS) assay using multiparameter flow cytometry.

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Background: Food allergen cross-contact during food preparation and production is one of the causes of unintentional allergen presence in packaged foods. However, little is known about allergen cross-contact in shared frying or roasting oil, which prevents the establishment of effective allergen controls and may put allergic individuals at risk. To better understand the quantity of allergen transferred to frying oil and subsequent products, an analytical method is needed for quantifying protein in oil that has been exposed to frying/roasting conditions.

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Article Synopsis
  • - The study involved 24 women with breast cancer, split evenly between hormone receptor-positive and advanced triple-negative types, treated with a combination of entinostat, nivolumab, and ipilimumab.
  • - Results showed no severe side effects and indicated a 25% overall response rate, with better outcomes (40%) in triple-negative patients compared to hormone receptor-positive (10%).
  • - The treatment yielded a 40% clinical benefit rate and a 50% progression-free survival rate at 6 months, suggesting further research in a phase II trial is warranted.
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Glycosylation is widely recognized as the most complex post-translational modification due to the widespread presence of macro- and microheterogeneities, wherein its biological consequence is closely related to both the glycosylation sites and the glycan fine structures. Yet, efficient site-specific detailed glycan characterization remains a significant analytical challenge. Here, utilizing an Orbitrap-Omnitrap platform, higher-energy electron-activated dissociation (heExD) tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) revealed extraordinary efficacy for the structural characterization of intact glycopeptides.

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Infections caused by Acinetobacter baumannii, a Gram-negative opportunistic pathogen, are difficult to eradicate due to the bacterium's propensity to quickly gain antibiotic resistances and form biofilms, a protective bacterial multicellular community. The A. baumannii DNA damage response (DDR) mediates the antibiotic resistance acquisition and regulates RecA in an atypical fashion; both RecA and RecA cell types are formed in response to DNA damage.

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