An HPV 16, 18, and 45 genotyping test based on Hybrid Capture technology.

Background: It has been shown that women positive for HPV 16 and HPV 18 have an increased risk of high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) compared with women positive for other high-risk (HR) HPV types. In addition, HPV 18 and HPV 45 have been closely linked to aggressive and difficult to detect adenocarcinomas.

Objectives: To develop a test based on the Hybrid Capture technology capable of specifically detecting the most important carcinogenic HPV types; 16, 18, and 45.

Boosting of DNA vaccine-elicited gamma interferon responses in humans by exposure to malaria parasites.

A mixture of DNA plasmids expressing five Plasmodium falciparum pre-erythrocyte-stage antigens was administered with or without a DNA plasmid encoding human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (hGM-CSF) as an immune enhancer. After DNA immunization, antigen-specific gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) responses were detected by ELISPOT in 15/31 volunteers to multiple class I- and/or class II-restricted T-cell epitopes derived from all five antigens. Responses to multiple epitopes ( View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Induction in humans of CD8+ and CD4+ T cell and antibody responses by sequential immunization with malaria DNA and recombinant protein.

Vaccine-induced protection against diseases like malaria, AIDS, and cancer may require induction of Ag-specific CD8(+) and CD4(+) T cell and Ab responses in the same individual. In humans, a recombinant Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein (PfCSP) candidate vaccine, RTS,S/adjuvant system number 2A (AS02A), induces T cells and Abs, but no measurable CD8(+) T cells by CTL or short-term (ex vivo) IFN-gamma ELISPOT assays, and partial short-term protection. P.