Long-term efficacy and anamnestic response of hepatitis B vaccine derived from Chinese hamster ovary cell after 18-20 years.

To evaluate the long-term efficacy and anamnestic response of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell-derived hepatitis B vaccine (CHO-HepB) after 18-20 years, a cross-sectional survey was conducted in seven communities in Zhengding County at the end of 2017. The birth cohort 1997-1999 vaccinated primarily with three doses of CHO-HepB were enrolled in the survey. The HBV serological markers were quantified using the Chemiluminescence method.

Potential option for rabies post-exposure prophylaxis: New vaccine with PIKA adjuvant against diverse Chinese rabies strains.

Rabies is a fatal zoonotic disease caused by the rabies virus. Despite existing vaccines, failures still persist. Complete protection relies on improving vaccination for delayed antibody response and weak cellular immunity.

[Intervention effects of estradiol on myocardial ischemia- reperfusion injury of rat and its mechanisms].

To study the effects of estradiol (E2) on alleviating myocardial ischemia/reperfusion(I/R) injury through estrogen receptorβ(ERβ) mediated extracellular regulated protein kinases(ERK) pathway activation. Eighty-four adult female SD rats were ovariectomized and randomly divided into control group, NC siRNA adeno-associated virus (AAV) group received sham operation, the myocardial I/R injury model was prepared by ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery in I/R group, E2+I/R group, NC siRNA AAV+I/R group, NC siRNA AAV+E2+I/R group and ERβ-siRNA AAV+E2+I/R group. E2+I/R group, NC siRNA AAV+E2+I/R group and ERβ-siRNA AAV+E2+I/R group were treated with E2 0.

Sequential administration of virus-like particle-based nanomedicine to elicit enhanced tumor chemotherapy.

Protein cages have played a long-standing role in biomedicine applications, especially in tumor chemotherapy. Among protein cages, virus like particles (VLPs) have received attention for their potential applications in vaccine development and targeted drug delivery. However, most of the existing protein-based platform technologies are plagued with immunological problems that may limit their systemic delivery efficiency as drug carriers.

Long-Lasting Virus-Specific T Cell Response with Divergent Features in Self-Resolved and Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Patients 35 Years Postinfection.

Although recognized as a curable disease, the persistence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in chronically infected patients remains a great burden for public health. T cell immune responses serve a key role in anti-HCV infection; however, the features of T cell immunity in patients after a long-term infection are not well explored. We recruited a special cohort of patients with similar genetic background and natural developing progression of disease who were infected with HCV through blood donation 35 y ago.

Recombinant SARS-CoV-2 RBD with a built in T helper epitope induces strong neutralization antibody response.

Without approved vaccines and specific treatments, COVID-19 is spreading around the world with above 26 million cases and approximately 864 thousand deaths until now. An efficacious and affordable vaccine is urgently needed. The Val308 - Gly548 of spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 linked with Gln830 - Glu843 of Tetanus toxoid (TT peptide) (designated as S1-4) and without TT peptide (designated as S1-5) were expressed and renatured.

Preparation and preliminary evaluation of hepatitis B core antigen virus like nanoparticles loaded with indocyanine green.

Background: In recent years, nanotechnology has attracted a plethora of attention due of its ability to effectively diagnose and treat various tumors. Virus-like particles (VLPs) have good biocompatibility, are safe and non-toxic, and have an internal hollow space, and as such they are often used as nano drug carriers. In recent years, it has become one of the hot spots in the field of biopharmaceutical engineering.

Dual-Antigen-Loaded Hepatitis B Virus Core Antigen Virus-like Particles Stimulate Efficient Immunotherapy Against Melanoma.

Tumor cells are rich in antigens, which provide a reliable antigen library for the design of personalized vaccines. However, an effective tumor vaccine vector that can efficiently deliver antigens to lymphoid organs to stimulate strong CD8 cytotoxic T-lymphocyte immune response is still lacking. Here we designed a dual-antigen delivery system based on hepatitis B virus core antigen virus-like particles (HBc VLPs).

Epidemiological distribution of hepatitis B virus genotypes in 1-29-year-olds in the mainland of China.

Background: To analyze the epidemiological distribution of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotype in the mainland of China following the implementation of effective preventive measures.

Methods: Five hundred and seventeen HBsAg-positive subjects aged 1-29 years surveyed in the 2014 national HBV sero-survey in the mainland of China were enrolled in the study. The full-length HBV genome was obtained by PCR amplification and sequencing.

Complete genome analysis of hepatitis B virus in Qinghai-Tibet plateau: the geographical distribution, genetic diversity, and co-existence of HBsAg and anti-HBs antibodies.

Background: The genetic variation and origin of Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau were poorly studied. The coexistence of HBsAg and anti-HBs has been described as a puzzle and has never been reported in the indigenous population or in recombinant HBV sequences. This study aimed to report geographical distribution, genetic variability and seroepidemiology of HBV in southwest China.

The biological characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein Pro330-Leu650.

SARS-CoV-2 is the cause of the worldwide outbreak of COVID-19 that has been characterized as a pandemic by the WHO. Since the first report of COVID-19 on December 31, 2019, 179,111 cases were confirmed in 160 countries/regions with 7426 deaths as of March 17, 2020. However, there have been no vaccines approved in the world to date.

Theranostic Quercetin Nanoparticle for Treatment of Hepatic Fibrosis.

The progression of hepatic fibrosis can lead to cirrhosis and hepatic failure, but the development of antifibrotic drugs have faced the challenges of poor effectiveness and targeted specificity. Herein, a theranostic strategy was carried to encapsulate a natural medicine (Quercetin, QR) into hepatitis B core (HBc) protein nanocages (NCs) for imaging and targeted treatment of hepatic fibrosis. It was noted that nanoparticles (RGD-HBc/QR) with surface-displayed RGD targeting ligand exhibit a rather high selectivity toward activated HSCs via the binding affinity with integrin αβ, and an efficient inhibition of proliferation and activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) in vitro and in vivo.

Long-term protection at 20-31 years after primary vaccination with plasma-derived hepatitis B vaccine in a Chinese rural community.

: To assess the long-term protection conferred by plasma-derived hepatitis B vaccine at 20-31y after primary immunization during infancy in Chinese rural community.: Participants born between 1986 and 1996, who received a full course of primary vaccination with plasma-derived hepatitis B vaccine and had no experience with booster vaccination were enrolled. An epidemiological investigation was performed, and blood samples were collected to detect hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs), and hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc).

Hepatitis E outbreak in a mechanical factory in Qingdao City, China.

Objective: In July 2018, recurrent hepatitis E cases were reported from a factory in Qingdao City, China. The aim of this study was to identify additional cases, and help prevent future incidents by identifying possible risk factors for infection.

Methods: Participants were asked to provide blood samples for hepatitis E virus (HEV) IgM and IgG antibodies screening, as well as liver function test.

Immune persistence 17 to 20 years after primary vaccination with recombination hepatitis B vaccine (CHO) and the effect of booster dose vaccination.

Background: To assess the immune persistence conferred by a Chinese hamster ovary (CHO)-derived hepatitis B vaccine (HepB) 17 to 20 years after primary immunization during early life.

Methods: Participants born between 1997 and 1999 who received a full course of primary vaccination with HepB (CHO) and who had no experience with booster vaccination were enrolled. Blood samples were required from each participant for measurement of hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs), surface antigen and core antibody levels.

Bioengineered Nanocage from HBc Protein for Combination Cancer Immunotherapy.

Protein nanocages are promising multifunctional platforms for nanomedicine owing to the ability to decorate their surfaces with multiple functionalities through genetic and/or chemical modification to achieve desired properties for therapeutic and diagnostic purposes. Here, we describe a model antigen (OVA peptide) that was conjugated to the surface of a naturally occurring hepatitis B core protein nanocage (HBc NC) by genetic modification. The engineered OVA-HBc nanocages (OVA-HBc NCs), displaying high density repetitive array of epitopes in a limited space by self-assembling into symmetrical structure, not only can induce bone marrow derived dendritic cells (BMDC) maturation effectively but also can be enriched in the draining lymph nodes.

Investigation of the risk factors associated with the failure of hepatitis B vaccination of neonates in Yunnan province, China.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate HBsAg positive rates and risk factors of HBV infection among the children less than 15 years old in Yunnan province, a remote southwest part of mainland China.

Methods: Multi-stage sampling was used to randomly select study subjects from 9,360,000 individuals. Hepatitis B vaccine inoculation rate and HBsAg positive rate were investigated, and then propensity score and generalized linear mixed model (GLMMs) were applied to the case-control study.

Intranasal vaccination with ebola virus GP amino acids 258-601 protects mice against lethal challenge.

Ebola virus (EBOV) disease (EVD) leads to lethal hemorrhagic fever with a case fatality rate as high as 90%, thus posing a serious global public health concern. However, while several vaccines based on the EBOV glycoprotein have been confirmed to be effective in animal experiments, no licensed vaccines or effective treatments have been approved since the first outbreak was reported in 1976. In this study, we prepared the extracellular domain of the EBOV GP protein (designated as N20) by prokaryotic expression and purification via chromatography.

CD8 T-Cell Response-Associated Evolution of Hepatitis B Virus Core Protein and Disease Progress.

Under the immune pressure of cytotoxic T cells (CTLs), hepatitis B virus (HBV) evolves to accumulate mutations more likely within epitopes to evade immune detection. However, little is known about the specific patterns of the immune pressure-associated HBV mutation of T-cell epitopes and their link to disease progression. Here, we observed a correlation of the accumulated variants on HBV core protein (HBc) with the disease severity of HBV infection.

A new dual-targeting real-time RT-PCR assay for hepatitis D virus RNA detection.

In this study, a real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (real time RT-PCR) assay targeting 2 genetic segments was established to detect HDV RNA. Utilizing the World Health Organization International Standard for Hepatitis D Virus RNA, the lower limit of detection was 575 IU/mL, and the linearity of quantification ranged from 575,000 IU/mL to 575 IU/mL. 384 HBsAg-positive samples collected from China were tested by this method and HDV antibody detection.

Intranasal inoculate of influenza virus vaccine against lethal virus challenge.

Vaccine adjuvants are essential for enhancing immune responses during vaccination. However, only a limited number of safe and effective adjuvants, especially mucosal adjuvants, are available for use in vaccines. The development of a practically applicable mucosal adjuvant is therefore urgently needed.

Improved Stable Indocyanine Green (ICG)-Mediated Cancer Optotheranostics with Naturalized Hepatitis B Core Particles.

In recent years, hepatitis B core protein virus-like particle (HBc VLP) is an impressive biomaterial, which has attracted considerable attention due to favorable properties such as structural stability, high uptake efficiency, and biocompatibility in biomedical applications. Heretofore, only a few attempts have been made to apply it in physical, chemical, and biological therapy for cancer. In this study, a tumor-targeting RGD-HBc VLP is first fabricated through genetic engineering.

Design of Fusion Proteins for Efficient and Soluble Production of Immunogenic Ebola Virus Glycoprotein in Escherichia coli.

The Ebola hemorrhagic fever caused by Ebola virus is an extremely dangerous disease, and effective therapeutic agents are still lacking. Platforms for the efficient production of vaccines are crucial to ensure quick response against an Ebola virus outbreak. Ebola virus glycoprotein (EbolaGP) on the virion surface is responsible for membrane binding and virus entry, thus becoming the key target for vaccine development.