Co-immunization with spike and nucleocapsid based DNA vaccines for long-term protective immunity against SARS-CoV-2 Omicron.

The continuing evolution of SARS-CoV-2 variants challenges the durability of existing spike (S)-based COVID-19 vaccines. We hypothesized that vaccines composed of both S and nucleocapsid (N) antigens would increase the durability of protection by strengthening and broadening cellular immunity compared with S-based vaccines. To test this, we examined the immunogenicity and efficacy of wild-type SARS-CoV-2 S- and N-based DNA vaccines administered individually or together to K18-hACE2 mice.

A neutrophil elastase-generated mature form of IL-33 is a potent regulator of endothelial cell activation and proliferative retinopathy.

Human interleukin-33 (IL-33) is a 270 amino acid protein that belongs to the IL-1 cytokine family and plays an important role in various inflammatory disorders. Neutrophil proteases (Cathepsin G and Elastase) and mast cell proteases (tryptase and chymase) regulate the activity of IL-33 by processing full-length IL-33 into its mature form. There is little evidence on the role of these mature forms of IL-33 in retinal endothelial cell signaling and pathological retinal angiogenesis.

Antibiotic resistance: a global crisis, problems and solutions.

Healthy state is priority in today's world which can be achieved using effective medicines. But due to overuse and misuse of antibiotics, a menace of resistance has increased in pathogenic microbes. World Health Organization (WHO) has announced ESKAPE pathogens (, spp.

Protective antigen of Bacillus anthracis in combination with TLR4 or TLR5 agonist confers superior protection against lethal challenge in mouse model.

The immunogenicity and protective ability of recombinant PA (rPA) with two innate immune system modulators, i.e., monophosphoryl lipid A (MPLA), a TLR4 agonist, and recombinant flagellin C (FliC), a TLR5 agonist, were studied in the mouse model.

Safety, Tolerability, and Immunogenicity of COVID-19 Bivalent Vaccination.

The COVID-19 pandemic has triggered unparalleled global disruption [...

Broad-Spectrum Antivirals against Multiple Human and Animal Coronaviruses Infection.

Among the seven coronaviruses that infect humans, HCoV-229E, HCoV-OC43, HCoV-NL63, and HCoV-HKU1 usually cause mild and common cold symptoms; however, infection with three coronaviruses, namely severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus [SARS-CoV], Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus [MERS-CoV], and the newly identified severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 [SARS-CoV-2], often results in respiratory distress, cytokine storm and multiorgan failure [...

SARS-CoV-2 Omicron (B.1.1.529) shows minimal neurotropism in a double-humanized mouse model.

Although severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) initially infects the respiratory tract, it also directly or indirectly affects other organs, including the brain. However, little is known about the relative neurotropism of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs), including Omicron (B.1.

New-age vaccine adjuvants, their development, and future perspective.

In the present scenario, immunization is of utmost importance as it keeps us safe and protects us from infectious agents. Despite the great success in the field of vaccinology, there is a need to not only develop safe and ideal vaccines to fight deadly infections but also improve the quality of existing vaccines in terms of partial or inconsistent protection. Generally, subunit vaccines are known to be safe in nature, but they are mostly found to be incapable of generating the optimum immune response.

Determination of Conformational and Functional Stability of Potential Plague Vaccine Candidate in Formulation.

Generally, protein-based vaccines are available in liquid form and are highly susceptible to instability under elevated temperature changes including freezing conditions. There is a need to create a convenient formulation of protein/peptides that can be stored at ambient conditions without loss of activity or production of adverse effects. The efficiency of naturally occurring biocompatible polymer dextran in improving the shelf-life and biological activity of a highly thermally unstable plague vaccine candidate protein called Low Calcium Response V antigen (LcrV), which can be stored at room temperature (30 ± 2 °C), has been evaluated.

Role of G-Proteins and GPCRs in Cardiovascular Pathologies.

Cell signaling is a fundamental process that enables cells to survive under various ecological and environmental contexts and imparts tolerance towards stressful conditions. The basic machinery for cell signaling includes a receptor molecule that senses and receives the signal. The primary form of the signal might be a hormone, light, an antigen, an odorant, a neurotransmitter, etc.

A Zika virus mutation enhances transmission potential and confers escape from protective dengue virus immunity.

Zika virus (ZIKV) and dengue virus (DENV) are arthropod-borne pathogenic flaviviruses that co-circulate in many countries. To understand some of the pressures that influence ZIKV evolution, we mimic the natural transmission cycle by repeating serial passaging of ZIKV through cultured mosquito cells and either DENV-naive or DENV-immune mice. Compared with wild-type ZIKV, the strains passaged under both conditions exhibit increased pathogenesis in DENV-immune mice.

Vaccine Potential of a Recombinant Bivalent Fusion Protein LcrV-HSP70 Against Plague and Yersiniosis.

To counteract the deadly pathogens, i.e., , and , we prepared a recombinant DNA construct encoding the bivalent fusion protein LcrV-HSP70.

Plague Vaccine Development: Current Research and Future Trends.

Plague is one of the world's most lethal human diseases caused by , a Gram-negative bacterium. Despite overwhelming studies for many years worldwide, there is no safe and effective vaccine against this fatal disease. Inhalation of bacilli causes pneumonic plague, a fast growing and deadly dangerous disease.

Characterization of pandemic influenza A (H1N1) virus hemagglutinin specific polyclonal antibodies for biosensor applications.

In this study, recombinant hemagglutinin protein (rH1N1HA) of Pandemic influenza virus and polyclonal antibodies against it for biosensor applications have been characterized. For rapid and high sensitive detection of H1N1 virus or its antibodies, PCR-free and label free detection method based on a surface plasmon resonance technique has been proposed. The glycosylated H1N1HA protein was expressed in yeast and the authenticity of the expressed protein was confirmed by Western blotting.

Immunogenicity and protective potential of a bacterially expressed recombinant dihydrolipoamide succinyltransferase (rE2o) of Brucella abortus in BALB/c mice.

Brucellosis is one of the world's major zoonoses. No vaccine is available for the prevention of brucellosis in human. Efforts are needed to develop an effective, safe, stable, vaccine with long lasting immunity against human brucellosis.

Non-muscle myosin IIA transports a Golgi glycosyltransferase to the endoplasmic reticulum by binding to its cytoplasmic tail.

The mechanism of the Golgi-to-ER transport of Golgi glycosyltransferases is not clear. We utilize a cell line expressing the core 2 N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase-M (C2GnT-M) tagged with c-Myc to explore this mechanism. By immunoprecipitation using anti-c-Myc antibodies coupled with proteomics analysis, we have identified several proteins including non-muscle myosin IIA (NMIIA), heat shock protein (HSP)-70 and ubiquitin activating enzyme E1 in the immunoprecipitate.

Abnormal endosperm development causes female sterility in rice insertional mutant OsAPC6.

A T-DNA insertional mutant OsAPC6 of rice, with gibberellic acid insensitivity and reduced height, had up to 45% reduced seed set. The insertion occurred on chromosome 3 of rice in the gene encoding one of the subunits of anaphase promoting complex/Cyclosome APC6. The primary mother cells of the mutant plants had normal meiosis, male gametophyte development and pollen viability.

Use of a recombinant burkholderia intracellular motility a protein for immunodiagnosis of glanders.

Glanders, caused by the Gram-negative, nonmotile bacterium Burkholderia mallei, is a contagious and highly fatal disease of equines. During the last decade, the number of glanders outbreaks has increased steadily. The disease also has high zoonotic significance and B.

Antibodies against refolded recombinant envelope protein (domain III) of Japanese encephalitis virus inhibit the JEV infection to Porcine Stable Kidney cells.

Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is a mosquito-borne viral zoonosis of public health importance. Global efforts have been made towards development of vaccine for prevention of Japanese encephalitis. The envelope protein of JEV is associated with viral binding to cellular receptors, membrane fusion, and the induction of protective neutralizing antibody response in hosts.

Bacterially expressed recombinant envelope protein domain III of Japanese encephalitis virus (rJEV-DIII) elicits Th1 type of immune response in BALB/c mice.

Japanese encephalitis is a major cause of encephalitis in Asia. Cases occur largely in rural areas of the South and East Asian region resulting in significant morbidity and mortality. Multiple vaccines exist to control Japanese encephalitis, but all suffer from problems.

Bacterially expressed and refolded envelope protein (domain III) of dengue virus type-4 binds heparan sulfate.

An arboviral infection like dengue fever/dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) with high morbidity and mortality rate are extensively prevalent in several parts of the world. Global efforts have been directed towards development of vaccine for prevention of dengue. However, lack of thorough understanding about biology and pathogenesis of dengue virus restricts us from development of an effective vaccine.

Search for new prototypes for the chemotherapy of filariasis: a chemotherapeutic and biochemical approach.

The antifilarial activity of two coumarin derivatives (A, B) and three glycosyl amine derivatives (D, E, F) was evaluated against a subperiodic strain of human lymphatic filarial parasite Brugia malayi by the intraperitoneal route at 50 mg/kg for 5 consecutive days. Of these, the two sugar derivatives (D and E) were selected for evaluation by the oral route based on their microfilaricidal (mild), macrofilaricidal and female worm sterilization efficacy using the i.p.