Enhancing Efficacy and Stability of an Antiheroin Vaccine: Examination of Antinociception, Opioid Binding Profile, and Lethality.

In recent years, drug conjugate vaccines have shown promise as therapeutics for substance use disorder. As a means to improve the efficacy of a heroin conjugate vaccine, we systematically explored 20 vaccine formulations with varying combinations of carrier proteins and adjuvants. In regard to adjuvants, we explored a Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) agonist and a TLR3 agonist in the presence of alum.

Toll-like receptor 3 adjuvant in combination with virus-like particles elicit a humoral response against HIV.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Virus-Like Particles (VLPs) composed of HIV Gag and HIV gp120/gp41 envelope are a pseudovirion vaccine capable of presenting antigens in their native conformations. To enhance the immunogenicity of the HIV Env antigen, VLPs were coupled to VesiVax Conjugatable Adjuvant Lipid Vesicles (CALV) containing one of four toll-like-receptor (TLR) ligands, each activating a receptor with distinct cellular localization and downstream pathways. C57BL/6 mice were vaccinated by intranasal prime followed by two sub-cheek boosts and their sera immunoglobulin and neutralizing potency were measured over a duration of 3months after vaccination.

Assessment of free fatty acids and cholesteryl esters delivered in liposomes as novel class of antibiotic.

Background: Healthcare associated infections (HAI) with multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria continue to be a global threat, highlighting an urgent need for novel antibiotics. In this study, we assessed the potential of free fatty acids and cholesteryl esters that form part of the innate host defense as novel antibacterial agents for use against MDR bacteria.

Methods: Liposomes of six different phospholipid mixtures were employed as carrier for six different fatty acids and four different cholesteryl esters.

A Novel Prime and Boost Regimen of HIV Virus-Like Particles with TLR4 Adjuvant MPLA Induces Th1 Oriented Immune Responses against HIV.

HIV virus-like particles (VLPs) present the HIV envelope protein in its native conformation, providing an ideal vaccine antigen. To enhance the immunogenicity of the VLP vaccine, we sought to improve upon two components; the route of administration and the additional adjuvant. Using HIV VLPs, we evaluated sub-cheek as a novel route of vaccine administration when combined with other conventional routes of immunization.