A novel oncolytic vaccinia virus with multiple gene modifications involved in viral replication and maturation increases safety for intravenous administration while maintaining proliferative potential in cancer cells.

To generate a novel oncolytic vaccinia virus with improved safety and productivity, the genome of smallpox vaccine strain LC16m8 was modified by a bacterial artificial chromosome system. By using LC16m8, a replicating virus homologous to the target virus, as a helper virus for the bacterial artificial chromosome system, we successfully recovered genome-edited infectious viruses. Oncolytic viruses with limited growth in normal cells were obtained by deleting the genes for vaccinia virus growth factor (VGF), extracellular signal-regulated kinase-activating protein (O1L), and ribonucleotide reductase (RNR) present in the viral genome.

Decreased neutralizing antigenicity in IBV S1 protein expressed from mammalian cells.

We evaluated the antigenicity of recombinant infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) S1 protein expressed in mammalian cells. Recombinant S1 was expressed as a secreted protein fused with a trimerization motif peptide, then purified using Ni Sepharose. The purified protein was analyzed by Western blotting, mixed with oil adjuvant, and administered to 29-day-old specific-pathogen-free chickens.

Development of a recombinant vaccine against infectious coryza in chickens.

Infectious coryza is an acute respiratory disease of chickens caused by Avibacterium paragallinarum, and this infection is associated with growth retardation and reduced egg production. Previous studies have shown that HMTp210, a 210-kDa outer-membrane protein, is the major protective antigen of Av. paragallinarum both serovars A and C.

Development of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the measurement of antibodies against infectious coryza vaccine.

Infectious coryza is an acute respiratory disease caused by infection with Avibacterium (Haemophilus) paragallinarum. It is characterized by nasal discharge and facial swelling and is associated with growth retardation and a reduction in egg production. Hemagglutination inhibition (HI) tests are used to estimate vaccine-induced immunity against infectious coryza in vitro; however, these procedures are complicated and their sensitivity is insufficient.

Development of a multiplex PCR and PCR-RFLP method for serotyping of Avibacterium paragallinarum.

Avibacterium (Haemophilus) paragallinarum (A. paragallinarum) is a causative agent of infectious coryza in chickens and is classified into three serovars by agglutination tests. In an effort to identify the serovars easily, PCR and PCR-RFLP were employed.

Detection of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus infection in vaccinated chicken flocks by monitoring antibodies against non-structural protein 1 (NS1).

H5 and H7 highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) represent a major global concern in poultries and human health. Avian influenza (AI) vaccines are available but not preferred for field applications, primarily because vaccination interferes with sero-surveillances of AIV infection. To overcome the problem, ELISA systems using non-structural protein 1 (NS1) of AIV as antigens (NS1-ELISA) have been developed to measure anti-NS1 antibodies that are raised in AIV-infected but not in vaccinated chickens.

Safety test and field study of an inactivated oil-adjuvanted H5N1 avian influenza vaccine.

We previously reported the development of an inactivated oil-adjuvanted avian influenza vaccine using an apathogenic H5N1 strain of the same lineage as the Eurasian lineage viruses currently epidemic in Asia. In this study, we confirmed the safety and evaluated the efficacy of this vaccine in layer chicken farms by field trials. No problematic adverse reactions occurred in the safety test.

Potency of an inactivated avian influenza vaccine prepared from a non-pathogenic H5N1 reassortant virus generated between isolates from migratory ducks in Asia.

A reassortant influenza virus, A/duck/Hokkaido/Vac-1/2004 (H5N1) (Dk/Vac-1/04), was generated between non-pathogenic avian influenza viruses isolated from migratory ducks in Asia. Dk/Vac-1/04 (H5N1) virus particles propagated in embryonated chicken eggs were inactivated with formalin and adjuvanted with mineral oil to form a water-in-oil emulsion. The resulting vaccine was injected intramuscularly into chickens.

Acute thrombus formation in the left atrium after the termination of warfarin.

We report a case of acute thrombosis formation in the left atrium 3 days after the discontinuation of warfarin therapy prior to mitral valve replacement in a patient with mitral stenosis and atrial fibrillation. A 58-year-old Asian female patient was scheduled for mitral valve replacement for mitral stenosis. She had received warfarin therapy every day for 2 years.