Induction of innate immunity in lungs with virus-like nanoparticles leads to protection against influenza and Streptococcus pneumoniae challenge.

Unlabelled: Nanoparticles composed of the coat protein of a plant virus (papaya mosaic virus; PapMV) and a single-stranded RNA (ssRNA) trigger a strong innate immune stimulation in the lungs of the animals a few hours following instillation. A rapid recruitment of neutrophils, monocytes/macrophages and lymphocytes follows. This treatment was able to provide protection to an influenza challenge that lasts at least 5 days.

Improvement of the trivalent inactivated flu vaccine using PapMV nanoparticles.

Commercial seasonal flu vaccines induce production of antibodies directed mostly towards hemaglutinin (HA). Because HA changes rapidly in the circulating virus, the protection remains partial. Several conserved viral proteins, e.

Metabolic activity and mRNA levels of human cardiac CYP450s involved in drug metabolism.

Background: Tissue-specific expression of CYP450s can regulate the intracellular concentration of drugs and explain inter-subject variability in drug action. The overall objective of our study was to determine in a large cohort of samples, mRNA levels and CYP450 activity expressed in the human heart.

Methodology: CYP450 mRNA levels were determined by RTPCR in left ventricular samples (n = 68) of explanted hearts from patients with end-stage heart failure.

Differential contribution of bacterial N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl- phenylalanine and host-derived CXC chemokines to neutrophil infiltration into pulmonary alveoli during murine pneumococcal pneumonia.

Despite the development of new potent antibiotics, Streptococcus pneumoniae remains the leading cause of death from bacterial pneumonia. Polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN) recruitment into the lungs is a primordial step towards host survival. Bacterium-derived N-formyl peptides (N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine [fMLP]) and host-derived chemokines (KC and macrophage inflammatory protein 2 [MIP-2]) are likely candidates among chemoattractants to coordinate PMN infiltration into alveolar spaces.