Toxicity and Efficacy Evaluation of Soluble Recombinant Ricin Vaccine.

Background: Ricin, a toxin extracted from the seeds of , is classified as a ribosome-inactivating protein. The A-subunit of ricin shows RNA -glycosidase activity that cleaves ribosomal RNA (rRNA) and exhibits toxicity by inhibiting protein synthesis and inducing vascular leak syndrome.

Methods: In this study, we created a truncated version of the previously developed R51 ricin vaccine (RTA 1-194 D75C Y80C) through in silico analysis.

Pretreatment of rhesus monkeys with transdermal patches containing physostigmine and procyclidine: implications of the delivery system for the potential application against VX nerve agent intoxication in humans.

Physostigmine (Phs) is a reversible inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) that penetrates the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and could be used to protect the central nervous system (CNS) against the effects of nerve agents. For prophylactic effectiveness, long, steady, and adequate inhibition of AChE activity by Phs is needed to broadly protect against the CNS effects of nerve agents. Here, we evaluated the efficacy of transdermal patches containing Phs and procyclidine (PC) as prophylactic agents.

A multipathogen DNA vaccine elicits protective immune responses against two class A bioterrorism agents, anthrax and botulism.

The potential use of biological agents has become a major public health concern worldwide. According to the CDC classification, Bacillus anthracis and Clostridium botulinum, the bacterial pathogens that cause anthrax and botulism, respectively, are considered to be the most dangerous potential biological agents. Currently, there is no licensed vaccine that is well suited for mass immunization in the event of an anthrax or botulism epidemic.

Application of OXITEST for Prediction of Shelf-Lives of Selected Cold-Pressed Oils.

Due to the enhanced awareness of consumers concerning healthy foods, homemade expeller-pressed oils have become popular worldwide. However, an extended storage period may lead to oxidization of the oil and exposure to hazardous byproducts by consumers. In this study, 10 pressed oil samples prepared from common oilseeds using a small-scale expeller oil press were analyzed by OXITEST with a sample amount of 5 g of oil and an oxygen pressure of 800 kPa under accelerated conditions for shelf-life projections.

A therapeutic neutralizing antibody targeting receptor binding domain of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein.

Vaccines and therapeutics are urgently needed for the pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Here, we screen human monoclonal antibodies (mAb) targeting the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the viral spike protein via antibody library constructed from peripheral blood mononuclear cells of a convalescent patient. The CT-P59 mAb potently neutralizes SARS-CoV-2 isolates including the D614G variant without antibody-dependent enhancement effect.

Immunogenicity and Biodistribution of Anthrax DNA Vaccine Delivered by Intradermal Electroporation.

Purpose: Anthrax is a lethal bacterial disease caused by gram-positive bacterium Bacillus anthracis and vaccination is a desirable method to prevent anthrax infections. In the present study, DNA vaccine encoding a protective antigen of Bacillus anthracis was prepared and we investigated the influence of DNA electrotransfer in the skin on the induced immune response and biodistribution.

Methods And Results: The tdTomato reporter gene for the whole animal in vivo imaging was used to assess gene transfer efficiency into the skin as a function of electrical parameters.

Intradermal immunization with botulinum neurotoxin serotype E DNA vaccine induces humoral and cellular immunity and protects against lethal toxin challenge.

Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) produced by the spore-forming, gram-positive, anaerobic bacterium Clostridium botulinum are the most toxic substances known and cause botulism, flaccid paralysis, or death. Owing to their high lethality, BoNTs are classified as category A agents by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Currently, there are no vaccines available to protect against BoNTs, so the rapid development of a safe and effective vaccine is important.

A mutated recombinant subunit vaccine protects mice and guinea pigs against botulinum type A intoxication.

Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) are the most potent toxins to mammals. A toxoid vaccine was previously used for prevention of botulinum intoxication; however, this vaccine is no longer available. Currently, no approved botulinum vaccines are available from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Lrp, a global regulator, regulates the virulence of Vibrio vulnificus.

Background: An attenuated mutant (designated NY303) of Vibrio vulnificus, which causes serious wound infection and septicemia in humans, was isolated fortuitously from a clinical strain YJ016. This mutant was defective in cytotoxicity, migration on soft agar and virulence in the mouse. The purpose of this study was to map the mutation in this attenuated mutant and further explore how the gene thus identified is involved in virulence.

A novel staphylococcal enterotoxin B subunit vaccine candidate elicits protective immune response in a mouse model.

Staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB), produced by the gram-positive bacterium Staphylococcus aureus, is responsible for food poisoning and toxic shock syndrome, and is considered a potential bioterrorism agent. Unfortunately, still now no approved vaccines are available against SEB. In this study, we constructed a series of nontoxic SEB mutants (mSEBs) and examined whether these mSEBs provide protective immunity against SEB challenge.

An effective strategy for increasing the radiosensitivity of Human lung Cancer cells by blocking Nrf2-dependent antioxidant responses.

Radiotherapy and chemotherapeutic agents can effectively induce apoptosis through generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Cancer cells frequently express high levels of ROS-scavenging enzymes, which confer resistance to ROS-mediated cell death. Keap1 (Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1) sequesters and promotes the degradation of the antioxidant response element-binding transcription factor Nrf2 (nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2).

Acriflavine enhances radiosensitivity of colon cancer cells through endoplasmic reticulum stress-mediated apoptosis.

Radiotherapy (RT) is one of the most effective tools in the clinical treatment of cancer. Because the tumor suppressor p53 plays a central role in radiation-mediated responses, including cell cycle-arrest and apoptosis, a number of studies have suggested that p53 could be a useful therapeutic target of anti-cancer agents. Accordingly, we sought to discover a new agent capable of increasing p53 activity.

Re-examination of chromogenic quantitative assays for determining flavonoid content.

Flavonoids in plants have gained worldwide attention because of their benefits for human health. This study compared three analytical procedures commonly used for determining flavonoid content in plant samples in terms of chromogenic relationships and the reaction products of different flavonoid structures by means of using flavonoid standards with flavone, flavonol, flavanone, flavanol, and isoflavone and analytes such as phenolic acids commonly found in plant extracts. Procedure A produced a stable color reaction between 3-hydroxy-4-keto-flavonoids (flavonols) and 5-hydroxyflavones and was highly sensitive.

Serial expression of hypoxia inducible factor-1α and neuronal apoptosis in hippocampus of rats with chronic ischemic brain.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to investigate serial changes of hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α), as a key regulator of hypoxic ischemia, and apoptosis of hippocampus induced by bilateral carotid arteries occlusion (BCAO) in rats.

Methods: Adult male Wistar rats were subjected to the permanent BCAO. The time points studied were 1, 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks after occlusions, with n=6 animals subjected to BCAO, and n=2 to sham operation at each time point, and brains were fixed by intracardiac perfusion fixation with 4% neutral-buffered praraformaldehyde for brain section preparation.

Histopathological retrospective study of canine renal disease in Korea, 2003~2008.

Renal disease includes conditions affecting the glomeruli, tubules, interstitium, pelvis, and vasculature. Diseases of the kidney include glomerular diseases, diseases of the tubules and interstitium, diseases of renal pelvis, and developmental abnormalities. Renal tissue samples (n = 70) submitted to the Department of Veterinary Pathology of Konkuk University from 2003 to 2008 were included in this study.

Distribution and characterization of IL-10-secreting cells in lymphoid tissues of PCV2-infected pigs.

Distribution and characterization of interlukin-10 (IL-10)-secreting cells in lymphoid tissues of pigs naturally infected with porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) were evaluated in accordance with PCV2 antigen detection. After screening a total of 56 pigs showing the symptoms of postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS), 15 pigs were PCV2 positive and 5 pigs, which showed stronger positive signals over multiples tissues were further investigated. This study showed that in PCV2-infected lymphoid tissues, particularly mandibular lymph node, spleen and tonsil, IL-10 expression was mainly localized in T-cell rich areas but rarely in B cell rich areas.

Canine classical seminoma: a specific malignant type with human classifications is highly correlated with tumor angiogenesis.

Background: Human seminoma is classified as classical seminoma (SE) and spermatocytic seminoma (SS). Human SE is known to be more malignant and metastasizing more frequently than SS. Tumor angiogenesis is highly related with tumor progression and metastasis, with microvessel density (MVD) being an important parameter of metastatic potential.

Characterization of canine oral papillomavirus by histopathological and genetic analysis in Korea.

In August 2008, forty dogs out of 400 developed oral warts in a breeding farm in Korea. Canine oral papilloma infection is a common disease in dogs. However, there has been no report of an outbreak of canine oral papillomavirus (COPV) in a group of dogs or in dog breeding farms in Korea, and the genetic analysis of COPV in Korea has yet to be performed.

Crystal structure of Get4-Get5 complex and its interactions with Sgt2, Get3, and Ydj1.

Get3, Get4, and Get5 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae participate in the insertion of tail-anchored proteins into the endoplasmic reticulum membrane. We elucidated the interaction between Get4 and Get5 and investigated their interaction with Get3 and a tetratricopeptide repeat-containing protein, Sgt2. Based on co-immunoprecipitation and crystallographic studies, Get4 and Get5 formed a tight complex, suggesting that they constitute subunits of a larger complex.

Comparative immunohistochemical characterization of canine seminomas and Sertoli cell tumors.

Primary testicular tumors are the most common causes of cancer in male dogs. Overall, the majority of canine patients should be cured by testicular surgery. However, tumor markers are not well-known in veterinary medicine.

Effects of T lymphocytes, interleukin-1, and interleukin-6 on renal fibrosis in canine end-stage renal disease.

Canine end-stage renal disease (ESRD) is defined as the almost complete failure of renal function or irreversible destruction and is characterized by extensive glomerular sclerosis, tubular atrophy, interstitial inflammation, and fibrosis. Renal fibrosis is a common pathway leading to kidney failure. Infiltrating immunocytes in the end-stage kidney and several related factors are involved in renal fibrogenesis.