Chimeric Virus-like Particles of Physalis Mottle Virus as Carriers of M2e Peptides of Influenza a Virus.

Plant viruses and virus-like particles (VLPs) are safe for mammals and can be used as a carrier/platform for the presentation of foreign antigens in vaccine development. The aim of this study was to use the coat protein (CP) of Physalis mottle virus (PhMV) as a carrier to display the extracellular domain of the transmembrane protein M2 of influenza A virus (M2e). M2e is a highly conserved antigen, but to induce an effective immune response it must be linked to an adjuvant or carrier VLP.

Dendritic cells derived from induced pluripotent stem cells and stimulated by antigens of hepatitis C virus efficiently activate T-lymphocytes.

During infection, the hepatitis C virus (HCV) can evade immune response and cause chronic disease. Formation of effective T-cell response is important for the control of HCV infection. Dendritic cells derived from peripheral blood monocytes activated by immunodominant epitopes of the pathogen can effectively stimulate T-lymphocytes.

Influenza A Vaccine Candidates Based on Virus-like Particles Formed by Coat Proteins of Single-Stranded RNA Phages Beihai32 and PQ465.

Efficient control of influenza A infection can potentially be achieved through the development of broad-spectrum recombinant vaccines based on conserved antigens. The extracellular domain of the transmembrane protein M2 of influenza A virus (M2e) is highly conserved but poorly immunogenic and needs to be fused to an adjuvant protein or carrier virus-like particles (VLPs) to increase immunogenicity and provide protection against infection. In this study, we obtained VLPs based on capsid proteins (CPs) of single-stranded RNA phages Beihai32 and PQ465 bearing the M2e peptides.

Corrigendum to "WCN24-1897 MONOCLONAL GAMMOPATHY OF RENAL SIGNIFICANCE AND MONOCLONAL IMMUNOGLOBULIN RELATED KIDNEY DAMAGE IN B-CELL MALIGNANCIES: THE REAL CLINICAL PRACTICE" [ Volume 9, Issue 4, Supplement, April 2024, Page S624-S625].

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.ekir.

Effect of "ColdArc" WAAM Regime and Arc Torch Weaving on Microstructure and Properties of As-Built and Subtransus Quenched Ti-6Al-4V.

Defect-free thin-walled samples were built using wire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) combined with the "coldArc" deposition technique by feeding a Ti-6Al-4V welding wire and using two deposition strategies, namely with and without the welding torch weaving. The microstructures formed in these samples were examined in relation to mechanical characteristics. The arc torch weaving at 1 Hz allowed us to interfere with the epitaxial growth of the β-Ti columnar grains and, thus, obtain them a lower aspect ratio.

Nanoparticles Carrying Conserved Regions of Influenza A Hemagglutinin, Nucleoprotein, and M2 Protein Elicit a Strong Humoral and T Cell Immune Response and Protect Animals from Infection.

Current influenza vaccines are mainly strain-specific and have limited efficacy in preventing new influenza A strains. Efficient control of infection can potentially be achieved through the development of broad-spectrum vaccines based on conserved antigens. A combination of several such antigens, including the conserved region of the second subunit of the hemagglutinin (HA2), the extracellular domain of the M2 protein (M2e), and epitopes of nucleoprotein (NP), which together can elicit an antibody- and cell-mediated immune response, would be preferred for vaccine development.

Platinum(IV) compounds as potential drugs: a quantitative structure-activity relationship study.

Introduction: Machine learning methods, coupled with a tremendous increase in computer power in recent years, are promising tools in modern drug design and drug repurposing.

Methods: Machine learning predictive models, publicly available at chemosophia.com, were used to predict the bioactivity of recently synthesized platinum(IV) complexes against different kinds of diseases and medical conditions.

Microstructures and Phases in Electron Beam Additively Manufactured Ti-Al-Mo-Zr-V/CuAl9Mn2 Alloy.

Electron beam additive manufacturing from dissimilar metal wires was used to intermix 5, 10 and 15 vol.% of Ti-Al-Mo-Z-V titanium alloy with CuAl9Mn2 bronze on a stainless steel substrate. The resulting alloys were subjected to investigations into their microstructural, phase and mechanical characteristics.

Plant-Produced Nanoparticles Based on Artificial Self-Assembling Peptide Bearing the Influenza M2e Epitope.

Despite advances in vaccine development, influenza remains a persistent global health threat and the search for a broad-spectrum recombinant vaccine against influenza continues. The extracellular domain of the transmembrane protein M2 (M2e) of the influenza A virus is highly conserved and can be used to develop a universal vaccine. M2e is a poor immunogen by itself, but it becomes highly immunogenic when linked to an appropriate carrier.

Al-AlNi In Situ Composite Formation by Wire-Feed Electron-Beam Additive Manufacturing.

The regularities of microstructure formation in samples of multiphase composites obtained by additive electron beam manufacturing on the basis of aluminum alloy ER4043 and nickel superalloy Udimet-500 have been studied. The results of the structure study show that a multicomponent structure is formed in the samples with the presence of CrC carbides, solid solutions based on aluminum -Al or silicon -Si, eutectics along the boundaries of dendrites, intermetallic phases AlNi, AlNi, Al5CoNi, and AlCo, as well as carbides of complex composition AlCCr, AlSiC, of a different morphology. The formation of a number of intermetallic phases present in local areas of the samples was also distinguished.

Macro- and Microstructure of In Situ Composites Prepared by Friction Stir Processing of AA5056 Admixed with Copper Powders.

This paper is devoted to using multi-pass friction stir processing (FSP) for admixing 1.5 to 30 vol.% copper powders into an AA5056 matrix for the in situ fabrication of a composite alloy reinforced by Al-Cu intermetallic compounds (IMC).

In-Situ Al-Mg Alloy Base Composite Reinforced by Oxides and Intermetallic Compounds Resulted from Decomposition of ZrWO during Multipass Friction Stir Processing.

In the presented work, the effect of friction stir processing admixing the zirconium tungstate ZrWO powder on the microstructure, mechanical and tribological properties of the AA5056 Al-Mg alloy stir zone has been studied. The FSP resulted in obtaining dense composite stir zones where α-ZrWO underwent the following changes: (i) high-temperature transformation into metastable β'-ZrWO and (ii) decomposition into WO and ZrO oxides followed by the formation of intermetallic compounds WAl and ZrA. These precipitates served as reinforcing phases to improve mechanical and tribological characteristics of the obtained fine-grained composites.

Bioinspired Electropun Fibrous Materials Based on Poly-3-Hydroxybutyrate and Hemin: Preparation, Physicochemical Properties, and Weathering.

The development of innovative fibrous materials with valuable multifunctional properties based on biodegradable polymers and modifying additives presents a challenging direction for modern materials science and environmental safety. In this work, high-performance composite fibrous materials based on semicrystalline biodegradable poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) and natural iron-containing porphyrin, hemin () were prepared by electrospinning. The addition of to the feed PHB mixture (at concentrations above 3 wt.

Aluminum Bronze/Udimet 500 Composites Prepared by Electron-Beam Additive Double-Wire-Feed Manufacturing.

Novel composite CuA19Mn2/Udimet-500 alloy walls with different content of the Udimet 500 were built using electron-beam double-wire-feed additive manufacturing. Intermixing both metals within the melted pool resulted in dissolving nickel and forcing out the aluminum from bronze. The resulting phases were NiAl particles and grains, MC/NiAl core/shell particles and Cu-Ni-Al solid solution.

In Situ Intermetallics-Reinforced Composite Prepared Using Multi-Pass Friction Stir Processing of Copper Powder on a Ti6Al4V Alloy.

Multi-pass friction stir processing (FSP) was used to obtain a titanium alloy/copper hybrid composite layer by intermixing copper powder with a Ti6Al4V alloy. A macrostructurally inhomogeneous stir zone was obtained with both its top and middle parts composed of fine dynamically recrystallized α- and β-Ti grains, as well as coarse intermetallic compounds (IMCs) of TiCu and TiCu, respectively. Some β grains experienced β → α decomposition with the formation of acicular α-Ti microstructures either inside the former β-Ti grains or at their grain boundaries.

Features of Microstructure and Texture Formation of Large-Sized Blocks of C11000 Copper Produced by Electron Beam Wire-Feed Additive Technology.

The paper investigated the possibility of obtaining large-sized blocks of C11000 copper on stainless steel substrates via electron beam wire-feed additive technology. The features of the microstructure and grain texture formation and their influence on the mechanical properties and anisotropy were revealed. A strategy of printing large-sized C11000 copper was determined, which consists of perimeter formation followed by the filling of the internal layer volume.

Nanoparticles based on artificial self-assembling peptide and displaying M2e peptide and stalk HA epitopes of influenza A virus induce potent humoral and T-cell responses and protect against the viral infection.

The extracellular domain of the M2 protein (M2e) and conserved region of the second subunit of the hemagglutinin (HA2) could be used for the development of broad-spectrum vaccines against influenza A. Here we obtained and characterized recombinant mosaic proteins containing tandem copies of M2e and HA2 fused to an artificial self-assembling peptide (SAP). The inclusion of SAP peptides in the fusion proteins enabled their self-assembly in vitro into spherical particles with a size of 30-50 nm.

Evolution of Microstructure in Friction Stir Processed Dissimilar CuZn37/AA5056 Stir Zone.

Dissimilar friction stir processing on CuZn37/AA5056 was performed to study structural and phase evolution of a friction stir zone. Formation of 5-10 μm intermetallic compounds (IMCs) such as AlCu was the main type of diffusion reaction between copper and aluminum. Other alloying elements such as Mg and Zn were forced out of the forming AlCu grains and dissolved in the melt formed due to exothermic effect of the AlCu formation.

Biocomposites of Low-Density Polyethylene Plus Wood Flour or Flax Straw: Biodegradation Kinetics across Three Environments.

The purpose of this study was to assess the potential for biocomposite films to biodegrade in diverse climatic environments. Biocomposite films based on polyethylene and 30 wt.% of two lignocellulosic fillers (wood flour or flax straw) of different size fractions were prepared and studied.

The Investigation of the Structure and Properties of Ozone-Sterilized Nonwoven Biopolymer Materials for Medical Applications.

Nowadays, the development and research of nonwoven medical fibrous materials based on biopolymers is an area of a great practical interest. One of the most promising methods for producing nonwoven materials with a highly developed surface is electrospinning (ES). In this article, the possibility of efficient sterilization of ultrathin fibers based on polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) by ozone treatment was considered.

[Risk factors for the early development of septic shock in patients with severe COVID-19].

Aim: In a retrospective study, we evaluated factors associated with the early development of septic shock in patients with severe COVID-19.

Materials And Methods: We collected medical records of the intensive care unit patients submitted by the local COVID-19 hospitals across Russia to the Federal Center for the Critical Care at the Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University). Septic shock in crticially ill patients requiring mechanical ventilation was defined as a need in vasopressors to maintain blood pressure.

Highly Immunogenic Nanoparticles Based on a Fusion Protein Comprising the M2e of Influenza A Virus and a Lipopeptide.

The highly conserved extracellular domain of the transmembrane protein M2 (M2e) of the influenza A virus is a promising target for the development of broad-spectrum vaccines. However, M2e is a poor immunogen by itself and must be linked to an appropriate carrier to induce an efficient immune response. In this study, we obtained recombinant mosaic proteins containing tandem copies of M2e fused to a lipopeptide from surface lipoprotein Ag473 and alpha-helical linkers and analyzed their immunogenicity.

The alternative complement pathway in ANCA-associated vasculitis: further evidence and a meta-analysis.

We compared the common pathway components C3a, C5a and membrane attack complex (MAC), also known as C5b-9, and the alternative pathway components factor B and properdin in patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) and healthy controls, and conducted a meta-analysis of the available clinical evidence for the role of complement activation in the pathogenesis of AAV. Complement components were evaluated in 59 patients with newly diagnosed or relapsing granulomatosis with polyangiitis or microscopic polyangiitis and 36 healthy volunteers. In 28 patients, testing was repeated in remission.