Publications by authors named "S Sagan"
Article Synopsis
- - Scientists identified specific proteins and molecules in the central nervous system (CNS) that can be targeted to create engineered cells for therapy.
- - They developed synthetic Notch receptors to program T cells to release certain treatments only in the brain, effectively clearing brain tumors without affecting cells in other areas.
- - The research also found that T cells delivering interleukin-10, an immune-suppressing cytokine, helped reduce symptoms in a mouse model of neuroinflammation, showing potential for targeted treatment strategies.
Article Synopsis
- Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is used as a model for studying CNS diseases like multiple sclerosis, and this research focuses on improving the production of recombinant human MOG (rhMOG) to study EAE in mice.
- The new protocol utilizes SHuffle E. coli cells to produce high-yield, soluble rhMOG, overcoming the challenges of using bacterial cells which often lead to insolubility and ineffective protein folding.
- The effective production of rhMOG not only allows for B cell-dependent EAE induction in wild-type mice but also sets the stage for further research into the role of MOG in CNS demyelinating diseases.
Sticholysin II (StII), a pore-forming toxin from the marine anemone Stichodactyla helianthus, enhances an antigen-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) response when co-encapsulated in liposomes with a model antigen. This capacity does not depend exclusively on its pore-forming activity and is partially supported by its ability to activate Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) in dendritic cells, presumably by interacting with this receptor or by triggering signaling cascades upon binding to lipid membrane. In order to investigate whether the lipid binding capacity of StII is required for immunomodulation, we designed a mutant in which the aromatic amino acids from the interfacial binding site Trp110, Tyr111 and Trp114 were substituted by Ala.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHighly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 has caused the deaths of more than 100 million birds since 2021, and human cases since 1997 have been associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Given recent detections of HPAI H5N1 in dairy cattle and H5N1 RNA detections in pasteurized retail milk in the United States, we established the pan-Canadian Milk Network in April 2024. Through our network of collaborators from across Canada, retail milk was procured longitudinally, approximately every 2 weeks, and sent to a central laboratory to test for the presence of influenza A virus RNA.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- The text discusses the global need for increased trust in vaccines, particularly in the context of COVID-19, highlighting a collaborative effort in Fiji to improve vaccination rates through a training program for health workers and community influencers.
- The Vaccine Champions program involved co-designing training, educating participants, and supporting them to lead community vaccine discussions over six months, evaluated using the RE-AIM framework.
- Results showed significant increases in Champions’ confidence and knowledge about vaccines, with community vaccination intention rising from 41% to 83% after sessions led by trained Champions.