An omicron-specific neutralizing antibody test predicts neutralizing activity against XBB 1.5.

Introduction: Understanding the immune status of an individual using neutralizing antibody testing is complicated by the continued evolution of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Previous work showed that assays developed against the wildtype strain of SARS-CoV-2 were insufficient predictors of neutralization of omicron variants, thus we developed an omicron-specific flow cytometry-based neutralizing antibody test and performed experiments to assess how well it compared to an omicron-specific PRNT assay (gold standard) and whether it could predict neutralizing activity to more recent omicron subvariants such as XBB.1.

Simultaneous measurement of multiple variant-specific SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies with a multiplexed flow cytometric assay.

Introduction: Neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) have been recognized as surrogates of protection against SARS-CoV-2; however, the emergence of variants/subvariants escaping neutralization suggests that laboratory assessments of NAbs against the ancestral/wild type (WT) antigens likely overestimate the degree of protection.

Methods: A novel flow cytometry-based multiplex test system was developed for the simultaneous detection of NAbs of multiple SARS-CoV-2 variants. SARS-CoV-2 antibodies (Abs) including IgG, IgM, IgA isotypes were measured in the same system.

A mathematical model of the within-host kinetics of SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies following COVID-19 vaccination.

Compelling evidence continues to build to support the idea that SARS-CoV-2 Neutralizing Antibody (NAb) levels in an individual can serve as an important indicator of the strength of protective immunity against infection. It is not well understood why NAb levels in some individuals remain high over time, while in others levels decline rapidly. In this work, we present a two-state mathematical model of within-host NAb dynamics in response to vaccination.

Reversal of Hyperglycemia and Suppression of Type 1 Diabetes in the NOD Mouse with Apoptotic DNA Immunotherapy™ (ADi™), ADi-100.

The antigen-specific apoptotic DNA immunotherapeutic, ADi-100, is designed to suppress type 1 diabetes and consists of two DNA plasmids encoding genetic sequences of the apoptosis-inducing molecule, BAX, and the secreted form of the autoantigen, glutamic acid decarboxylase 65, that is CpG hyper-methylated to avoid inflammatory signaling (msGAD55). Upon a four-day treatment with ADi-100 of young female non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice, the frequency of various tolerogenic dendritic cell populations increased in draining lymph nodes; these cells lost the capacity to stimulate glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD)-specific CD4 T lymphocytes and were associated with the previously demonstrated enhancement of GAD-specific regulatory T cells. The efficacy of two ADi-100 formulations containing different proportions of BAX and msGAD55, 1:4 (10/40 µg) and 1:2 (17/33 µg), was evaluated in mildly hyperglycemic pre-diabetic NOD female mice.

Regenerative Endodontic Treatment in Immature Noninfected Ferret Teeth Using Blood Clot or SynOss Putty as Scaffolds.

Introduction: SynOss Putty (Collagen Matrix, Oakland, NJ) has shown the formation of mineralized tissues when used as a scaffold in regenerative endodontic treatment (RET) in immature human teeth. The aim of this study was to compare the outcome of RET in immature ferret teeth using 2 scaffolds: a blood clot and SynOss Putty.

Methods: Thirty-two immature canine teeth in 8 ferrets (95-105 days old) were divided into 4 groups: group 1, no treatment (positive control, n = 8); group 2, full pulpectomy with no further treatment (negative control, n = 8); group 3, revascularization using a blood clot (n = 8); and group 4, revascularization using a SynOss Putty scaffold (n = 8).