Designing a potent L1 protein-based HPV peptide vaccine: A bioinformatics approach

BackgroundOncogenic human papilloma viruses (HPV) are the cause of various types of cancer, specifically cervical cancer. L1 protein is the main protein of HPV capsid which targeted in many vaccine-producing attempts. However, they have not enough coverage on the various high risk HPV types. Therefore, having a low cost potent HPV vaccine to protect against all members of the α-papillomaviridea family will be promising. In this study, L1 protein-based peptide vaccine was designed using immunoinformatics methods which provides physicochemical properties such as stability in room temperature, potential of antigenicity, non-allergic properties and no requirement with eukaryotic host system.ResultsThe designed vaccine has two HPV conserved epitopes with lengths 18 and 27 amino acids in all members of α-papillomaviridea. These peptides promote humoral and cellular immunity and INF-γ responses. In order to ensure strong induction of immune responses, Flagellin, a Toll like receptor 5(TLR-5) agonist, and a short synthetic toll like receptor 4 (TLR-4) agonist were also joined to the epitopes. Structure of the designed- vaccine was validated using Rampage and ERRAT and a high quality 3D structure of the vaccine protein was provided. Docking studies demonstrated an appropriate and stable interaction between the vaccine and TLR-5.ConclusionsThe vaccine is expected to have a high quality structure and suitable properties including high stability, solubility and a high potential to be expressed in E.coli. High potentiality of the vaccine in inducing humoral and cellular immune responses, may be considered as an anti-tumor vaccine.     

Total synthesis, elucidation of absolute stereochemistry, and adjuvant activity of trihydroxy fatty acids

Pinellic acid from the tuber of Pinellia ternate, an active herbal component of the traditional Japanese herbal (Kampo) medicine Sho-seiryu-to, is a C18 trihydroxy fatty acid whose absolute stereochemistry has now been determined. All stereoisomers of pinellic acid were synthesized via regioselective asymmetric dihydroxylation, regioselective inversion, and stereoselective reduction in order to determine their absolute stereochemistries and adjuvant activities. Among this series of isomers, the (9S,12S,13S)-compound, which is a natural product, exhibited the most potent adjuvant activity. Spectral data for all of the stereoisomers of the 1,2-allylic diols were compared and related to their stereochemistries.     

Keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH): a biomedical review

In this review we present a broad survey of fundamental scientific and medically applied studies on keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH). Commencing with the biochemistry of KLH, information on the biosynthesis and biological role of this copper-containing respiratory protein in the marine gastropod Megathura crenulata is provided. The established methods for the purification of the two isoforms of KLH (KLH1 and KLH2) are then covered, followed by detailed accounts of the molecular mass determination, functional unit (FU) structure, carbohydrate content, immunological analysis and recent aspects of the molecular genetics of KLH. The transmission electron microscope (TEM) has contributed significantly to the understanding of KLH structure, primarily from negatively stained images. We give a brief account of TEM studies on the native KLH oligomers, the experimental manipulation of the oligomeric states, together with immunolabelling data and studies on subunit reassociation. The field of cellular immunology has provided much relevant biomedical information on KLH and has led to the expansion of use of KLH in experimental immunology and clinically as an immunotherapeutic agent; this area is presented in some detail. The major clinical use of KLH is specifically for the treatment of bladder carcinoma, with efficacy probably due to a cross-reacting carbohydrate epitope. KLH also has considerable possibilities for the treatment of other carcinomas, in particular the epithelially derived adenocarciomas, when used as a carrier for carcinoma ganglioside and mucin-like epitopes. The widespread use of KLH as a hapten carrier and generalised vaccine component represent other major on-going aspects of KLH research, together with its use for the diagnosis of Schistosomiasis, drug assay and the treatment of drug addiction. Immune competence testing, assessment of stress and the understanding of inflammatory conditions are other areas where KLH is also making a useful contribution to medical research.     

合成多肽疫苗研究进展

综述了合成多肽疫苗的研究进展,系统地介绍了目前寻找抗原肽的各种方法以及各类可用作疫苗接种的合成多肽抗原的制备和应用.     

Computer-Aided Discovery of Potent Broad-Spectrum Vaccine Adjuvants

Adjuvants stimulate the immune system to vigorously respond to a vaccine. While current adjuvants such as aluminum salts and oil-in-water emulsions have been used for decades, they do not generate broad and long-lasting responses in many vaccines. Consequently, more potent adjuvants are needed. Here, using computer-aided molecule design and machine learning, we discovered 2 new, broad-spectrum adjuvants that can boost vaccine responses. Our library containing 46 toll-like receptor (TLR)-targeting agonist ligands were assembled on Au nanoparticles. Comprehensive in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo studies showed both leads promoted dendritic cell activation via multiple TLRs and enhanced antigen presentation to T cells. When used together with tumor-specific antigens to immunize mice against B16-OVA melanoma and 4T1-PD1 breast cancer, both adjuvants unleashed strong immune responses that suppressed tumor growth and lung metastases. Our results show computer-aided design and screening can rapidly uncover potent adjuvants for tackling waning immunity in current vaccines.     

Alum colloid encapsulated inside β-glucan particles enhance humoral and CTL immune responses of MUC1 vaccine

We have developed a MUC1 antigen-based antitumor vaccine loaded on alum colloid encapsulated insideβ-glucan particles(GP-Al). The constructed vaccine induced strong MUC1 antigen specific Ig G antibody titers and enhanced CD8~+ T cells cytotoxic effect to kill tumor cells. These results indicated that GP-Al can be served as an efficient delivery system and adjuvant for the development of cancer vaccines especially small molecule antigens based cancer vaccines.     

Antitumor Effects of Newcastle Disease Virus Hemagglutinin-neuraminidase Used as a Molecular Adjuvant

Gene therapy is a potentially powerful tool used in cancer therapy. The strength of immune responses induced by some strategies is usually low, therefore, the development of agents capable of enhancing these responses is highlighted. The authors investigated the potential of an approach based on the hemagglutinin-neuraminidase(HN) of Newcastle disease virus(NDV) as a potential immune adjuvant. It was found that recombinant adenovirus(Ad) infected SGC7901 cells expressing HN exhibited both hemagglutinin(HA) and neuraminidase(NA) activities. It was demonstrated that administration of HN induced higher levels of the effector cytokines TNF-α, IFN-α and IFN-γ and increased natural killer(NK) cell activity. Based on the therapeutic tumor model, the results show that the administration of HN with Apoptin led to improved survival and tumor suppression. In conclusion, this study indicates that HN stimulates innate immune responses to make the activity of NK cells increased, which highlights the potential adjuvant activity of HN in cancer gene therapy.     

Immunization Schedule of Liposomal Rabies Vaccine in Animals

The standard rabies vaccines recommended by WHO include Essen regimen, the Thai Red Cross two-site ID regimen and the eight-site ID regimen, and so on. The present schedules of rabies vaccine are all laborious and time consuming. We developed a new rabies vaccine with liposome as adjuvant(LipoRabV) and found that liposome could facilitate the inactivated rabies vaccine(RabV) to induce the more vigorous production of rabies virus neutra-lizing antibody(RVNA) in BALB/c mice and beagles. We established preliminary pre-and post-exposure prophylaxis schedules for LipoRabV. LipoRabV(0/14) could elicit similar RVNA level as RabV(0/7/28) by pre-exposure prophy-laxis schedules in mice and beagles. LipoRabV(0/3/14) could elicit higher RVNA level vs. RabV(0/3/7/14/28) in BALB/c. The data indicate that the three-shot liposome-enhanced rabies vaccine could achieve a higher protection rate(survival rate 56.2%) by post-exposure prophylaxis compared with that of the RabV group(survival rate 40.6%) in mice. The data also indicate that the three-inoculation liposome-enhanced rabies vaccine could achieve a survival rate of 80.0% vs. RabV(70.0%) by post-exposure prophylaxis in beagles. The results show that the immunization schedule for LipoRabV could be preliminarily determined at 0 and 14 d for pre-exposure prophylaxis and at 0, 3 and 14 d for post-exposure prophylaxis.     

Enantioselective Effect of Chiral Small Molecules in SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine-Induced Immune Response

Although numerous chiral small molecules have been discovered and synthesized, the investigation on their enantioselective immunological effects remains limited. In this study, we designed and synthesized a pair of small molecule enantiomers (R/S-ResP) by covalently bonding two immunostimulators (resiquimod/Res) onto a planar chiral framework (paracyclophane/P). Notably, we found that S-ResP exhibits a 4.05-fold higher affinity for toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7) than R-ResP, thereby more effectively enhancing the functions of dendritic cells and macrophages in cytokine secretion and antigen internalization. Furthermore, we observed that S-ResP significantly enhances RBD antigen-induced cross-neutralization against various SARS-CoV-2 strains compared to R-ResP. These findings demonstrate the enantioselective effects of small molecules on regulating vaccine-induced immune responses and emphasize the significance of chirality in designing small molecular adjuvants.     

流动注射-分光光度法测定助燃剂中铂

王水溶解助燃剂中的铂 ,原子吸收分光光度计为检测器 ,流动注射 -氯化亚锡分光光度法测定铂含量 ,用于 CO助燃剂中铂的测定 ,结果与理论值一致