A differential proteome in tumors suppressed by an adenovirus-based skin patch vaccine encoding human carcinoembryonic antigen.

We created an anti-tumor vaccine by using adenovirus as a vector which contains a cytomegalovirus early promoter-directed human carcinoembryonic antigen gene (AdCMV-hCEA). In an attempt to develop the skin patch vaccine, we epicutaneously vaccinated Balb/c mice with AdCMV-hCEA. After nine weeks post-immunization, vaccinated mice evoked a robust antibody titer to CEA and demonstrated the capability of suppressing in vivo growth of implanted murine mammay adenocarioma cell line (JC-hCEA) tumor cells derived from a female Balb/c mouse.

Prospective highlights of functional skin proteomics.

Although a wide variety of protein profiles have been extensively constructed via proteomic analysis, the comprehensive proteomic profiling of the skin, which is considered to be the largest organ of the human body, is still far from complete. Our efforts to establish the functional skin proteome, a protein database describing the protein networks that underlie biological processes, has set in motion the identification and characterization of proteins expressed in the epidermis and dermis of the BALB/c mice. In this review, we will highlight various cutaneous proteins we have characterized and discuss their biological functions associated with skin distress, immunity, and cancer.

Identification of Bacillus anthracis proteins associated with germination and early outgrowth by proteomic profiling of anthrax spores.

The use of anthrax spores as a bioweapon has spurred efforts aimed at identifying key proteins expressed in Bacillus anthracis. Because spore germination and outgrowth occur prior to and are required for disease manifestations, blocking germination and early outgrowth with novel vaccines or inhibitors targeting critical B. anthracis germination and outgrowth-associated factors is a promising strategy in mitigating bioterror.