Caspase-8 Collaborates with Caspase-11 to Drive Tissue Damage and Execution of Endotoxic Shock.

The execution of shock following high dose E. coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or bacterial sepsis in mice required pro-apoptotic caspase-8 in addition to pro-pyroptotic caspase-11 and gasdermin D. Hematopoietic cells produced MyD88- and TRIF-dependent inflammatory cytokines sufficient to initiate shock without any contribution from caspase-8 or caspase-11.

Evaluation of adenovirus vectors containing serotype 35 fibers for vaccination.

In contrast to commonly used serotype 5-based adenovirus (Ad) vectors, Ad's containing fibers derived from B-group serotype 35 (Ad5/35) efficiently transduce human DCs ex vivo and appear to target antigen-presenting cells after intravenous injection into baboons. Based on this, Ad5/35 vectors could be valuable tools for immunotherapy and vaccination. On the other hand, a number of studies indicate that signaling through the B-group Ad receptor, CD46, can cause tolerance or immunosuppression.

Development and assessment of human adenovirus type 11 as a gene transfer vector.

Adenovirus vectors based on human serotype 5 (Ad5) have successfully been used as gene transfer vectors in many gene therapy-based approaches to treat disease. Despite their widespread application, many potential therapeutic applications are limited by the widespread prevalence of vector-neutralizing antibodies within the human population and the inability of Ad5-based vectors to transduce important therapeutic target cell types. In an attempt to circumvent these problems, we have developed Ad vectors based on human Ad serotype 11 (Ad11), since the prevalence of neutralizing antibodies to Ad11 in humans is low.