Shedding reduction and immunity modulation in piglets with an inactivated Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae vaccine encapsulated in nanostructured SBA-15 silica.

Mycoplasma (M.) hyopneumoniae is a primary etiological agent of porcine enzootic pneumonia (PEP), a disease that causes significant economic losses to pig farming worldwide. Current commercial M.

Ordered mesoporous silicas for potential applications in solid vaccine formulations.

In an effort to develop efficient vaccine formulations, the use of ordered mesoporous silica (SBA-15) as an antigen carrier has been investigated. SBA-15 has required properties such as high surface area and pore volume, including narrow pore size distribution to protect antigens inside its matrix. This study aimed to examine the impact of solvent removal methods, specifically freeze-drying and evaporation on the intrinsic properties of an immunogenic complex.

Evaluation of tumor growth remission in a murine model for subcutaneous solid tumors - Benefits of associating the antitumor agent crotamine with mesoporous nanosilica particles to achieve improved dosing frequency and efficacy.

Crotamine is a highly cationic polypeptide first isolated from South American rattlesnake venom, which exhibits affinity for acidic lysosomal vesicles and proliferating cells. This cationic nature is pivotal for its in vitro cytotoxicity and in vivo anticancer actions. This study aimed to enhance the antitumor efficacy of crotamine by associating it with the mesoporous SBA-15 silica, known for its controlled release of various chemical agents, including large proteins.

Use of Nanostructured Silica SBA-15 as an Oral Vaccine Adjuvant to Control in Swine Production.

is a difficult-to-control bacterium since commercial vaccines do not prevent colonization and excretion. The present study aimed to evaluate the performance of an orally administered vaccine composed of antigens extracted from and incorporated into mesoporous silica (SBA-15), which has an adjuvant-carrier function, aiming to potentiate the action of the commercial intramuscular vaccine. A total of 60 piglets were divided into four groups (n = 15) submitted to different vaccination protocols as follows, Group 1: oral SBA15 + commercial vaccine at 24 days after weaning, G2: oral vaccine on the third day of life + vaccine commercial vaccine at 24 days, G3: commercial vaccine at 24 days, and G4: commercial vaccine + oral vaccine at 24 days.

Efficacy evaluation of a novel oral silica-based vaccine in inducing mucosal immunity against Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae.

Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae, the main etiological agent of Porcine Enzootic Pneumonia, is widely spread in swine production worldwide. Its prevention is of great interest for the productive system, since its colonization in the lung tissue leads to intense production losses. This study aimed to compare the M.

Formyl peptide receptors are involved in CTX-induced impairment of lymphocyte functions.

Crotoxin (CTX) is a neurotoxin that is isolated from the venom of Crotalus durissus terrificus, which displays immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, and anti-tumoral effects. Previous research has demonstrated that CTX promotes the adherence of leukocytes to the endothelial cells in blood microcirculation and the high endothelial venules of lymph nodes, which reduces the number of blood cells and lymphocytes. Studies have also shown that these effects are mediated by lipoxygenase-derived mediators.

Adjuvant effect of mesoporous silica SBA-15 on anti-diphtheria and anti-tetanus humoral immune response.

Routine immunization against diphtheria and tetanus has drastically reduced the incidence of these diseases worldwide. Anti-diphtheria/tetanus vaccine has in general aluminum salt as adjuvant in its formulation that can produce several adverse effects. There is a growing interest in developing new adjuvants.

Antibodies as Snakebite Antivenoms: Past and Future.

Snakebite envenomation is considered a neglected tropical disease, affecting tens of thousands of people each year. The recommended treatment is the use of antivenom, which is composed of immunoglobulins or immunoglobulin fragments obtained from the plasma of animals hyperimmunized with one (monospecific) or several (polyspecific) venoms. In this review, the efforts made in the improvement of the already available antivenoms and the development of new antivenoms, focusing on snakes of medical importance from sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America, are described.

The development of new oral vaccines using porous silica.

Ordered mesoporous silica (OMS) was proved to be an efficient oral adjuvant capable to deliver a wide in size variety of different antigens, promoting efficient immunogenicity. This material can be used in single or polivalent vaccines, which have been developed by a group of Brazilian scientists. The experiments performed with the model protein Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) gave the first promissing results, that were also achieved by testing the virus like particle surface antigen of hepatitis B (HBsAg) and diphtheria anatoxin (dANA).

Using crystallography tools to improve vaccine formulations.

This article summarizes developments attained in oral vaccine formulations based on the encapsulation of antigen proteins inside porous silica matrices. These vaccine vehicles show great efficacy in protecting the proteins from the harsh acidic stomach medium, allowing the Peyer's patches in the small intestine to be reached and consequently enhancing immunity. Focusing on the pioneering research conducted at the Butantan Institute in Brazil, the optimization of the antigen encapsulation yield is reported, as well as their distribution inside the meso- and macroporous network of the porous silica.

Oral vaccination of piglets against Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae using silica SBA-15 as an adjuvant effectively reduced consolidation lung lesions at slaughter.

Mycoplasma (M.) hyopneumoniae is the main pathogen of porcine enzootic pneumonia (PEP). Its controlling is challenging, and requires alternative strategies.

Alphastatin-C a new inhibitor of endothelial cell activation is a pro-arteriogenic agent and retards B16-F10 melanoma growth in a preclinical model.

Most characterized angiogenic modulators are proteolytic fragments of structural plasma and/or matrix components. Herein, we have identified a novel anti-angiogenic peptide generated by the hydrolysis of the C-terminal moiety of the fibrinogen alpha chain, produced by the snake venom metalloprotease bothropasin (SVMP), a hemorrhagic proteinase in Bothrops jararaca venom. The 14-amino acids peptide (alphastatin-C) is a potent antagonist of basic fibroblast growth factor, induced endothelial cell (HUVEC-CS) proliferation, migration and capillary tube formation in matrigel.

The Crotoxin:SBA-15 Complex Down-Regulates the Incidence and Intensity of Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis Through Peripheral and Central Actions.

Crotoxin (CTX), the main neurotoxin from snake venom, has anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory and antinociceptive activities. However, the CTX-induced toxicity may compromise its use. Under this scenario, the use of nanoparticle such as nanostructured mesoporous silica (SBA-15) as a carrier might become a feasible approach to improve CTX safety.

Evaluation of NDEL1 oligopeptidase activity in blood and brain in an animal model of schizophrenia: effects of psychostimulants and antipsychotics.

Nuclear distribution element-like 1 (NDEL1) enzyme activity is important for neuritogenesis, neuronal migration, and neurodevelopment. We reported previously lower NDEL1 enzyme activity in blood of treated first episode psychosis and chronic schizophrenia (SCZ) compared to healthy control subjects, with even lower activity in treatment resistant chronic SCZ patients, implicating NDEL1 activity in SCZ. Herein, higher NDEL1 activity was observed in the blood and several brain regions of a validated animal model for SCZ at baseline.

Crotoxin Conjugated to SBA-15 Nanostructured Mesoporous Silica Induces Long-Last Analgesic Effect in the Neuropathic Pain Model in Mice.

Neuropathic pain is a disease caused by structural and functional plasticity in central and peripheral sensory pathways that produce alterations in nociceptive processing. Currently, pharmacological treatment for this condition remains a challenge. Crotoxin (CTX), the main neurotoxin of Crotalus durissus terrificus rattlesnake venom, has well described prolonged anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities.

Antigenic and physicochemical characterization of Hepatitis B surface protein under extreme temperature and pH conditions.

Hepatitis B virus causes acute and chronic infections in millions of people worldwide and, since 1982, a vaccine with 95% effectiveness has been available for immunization. The main component of the recombinant hepatitis B vaccine is the surface antigen protein (HBsAg). In this work, the effect of pH, ionic strength and temperature on the native state of the HBsAg antigen were studied by a combination of biophysical methods that included small angle X-ray scattering, synchrotron radiation circular dichroism, fluorescence and surface plasmon resonance spectroscopies, as well as in vivo and in vitro potency assays.

3D visualisation of hepatitis B vaccine in the oral delivery vehicle SBA-15.

Developing a technology that enables oral vaccines to work efficiently remains a considerable effort since a number of difficulties must be addressed. The key objective being to ensure the safe passage through the harsh conditions within the gastrointestinal tract, promoting delivery that induces enhanced immune response. In the particular case of hepatitis B, the oral formulation in the nanostructured silica SBA-15 is a viable approach.

Quality of horse F(ab') antitoxins and anti-rabies immunoglobulins: protein content and anticomplementary activity.

Background: Among other applications, immunotherapy is used for the post-exposure treatment and/or prophylaxis of important infectious diseases, such as botulism, diphtheria, tetanus and rabies. The effectiveness of serum therapy is widely proven, but improvements on the immunoglobulin purification process and on the quality control are necessary to reduce the amount of protein aggregates. These may trigger adverse reactions in patients by activating the complement system and inducing the generation of anaphylatoxins.

The history of antivenoms development: Beyond Calmette and Vital Brazil.

This review presents the main contributions to our knowledge regarding the development of antivenoms for therapeutic use in victims of venomous animal bites. We cover the progress of serum therapy since tetanus and diphtheria antitoxins in Germany and France until the current scenario of antivenom production worldwide. During these more than 120 years of antivenom development, many researchers contributed to establish what are nowadays the antivenoms used for therapeutic purpose.

The origin of prostate gland-secreted IgA and IgG.

The prostate secretes immunoglobulin (Ig) A (IgA) and IgG; however, how immunoglobulins reach the secretion, where the plasma cells are located, whether immunoglobulins are antigen-specific and where activation of the adaptive response occurs are still unknown. Immune cells, including CD45RA cells, were scattered in the stroma and not organized mucosae-associated lymphoid-tissue. IgA (but not IgG) immunostaining identified stromal plasma cells and epithelial cells in non-immunized rats.

Replication Protein A Presents Canonical Functions and Is Also Involved in the Differentiation Capacity of Trypanosoma cruzi.

Replication Protein A (RPA), the major single stranded DNA binding protein in eukaryotes, is composed of three subunits and is a fundamental player in DNA metabolism, participating in replication, transcription, repair, and the DNA damage response. In human pathogenic trypanosomatids, only limited studies have been performed on RPA-1 from Leishmania. Here, we performed in silico, in vitro and in vivo analysis of Trypanosoma cruzi RPA-1 and RPA-2 subunits.

Interferon-gamma activity is potentiated by an intracellular peptide derived from the human 19S ATPase regulatory subunit 4 of the proteasome.

Unlabelled: Hundreds of intracellular peptides that are neither antigens nor neuropeptides are present in mammalian cells and tissues. These peptides correspond to fragments of cytosolic, nuclear or mitochondrial proteins. Proteasome inhibition affects the levels of the intracellular peptides in human cell lines.

Nanostructured SBA-15 silica: An effective protective vehicle to oral hepatitis B vaccine immunization.

Due to its physicochemical properties, nanostructured mesoporous SBA-15 silica shows great potential as a vaccine adjuvant. This study evaluated the capacity of SBA-15 to encapsulate/adsorb the recombinant purified HBsAg from the Hepatitis B virus and the immunoresponsiveness of mice orally immunized with HBsAg inside SBA-15. A simulation of small angle X-ray scattering experimental results, together with the nitrogen adsorption isotherms data, allowed to determine the appropriate mass ratio of HBsAg:SBA-15, indicating antigen encapsulation into SBA-15 macroporosity.

Micrurus snake species: Venom immunogenicity, antiserum cross-reactivity and neutralization potential.

Micrurus snakebites can cause death by muscle paralysis and respiratory arrest a few hours after envenomation. The specific treatment for these snake envenomations is the intravenous application of heterologous antivenom. In Brazil, this antivenom is produced from horses that are immunized with a mixture of Micrurus corallinus and Micrurus frontalis venoms, which are snakes that inhabit the south and southeastern regions of the country.