scholarly journals High levels of HCV core+1 antibodies in HCV patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

2011 ◽  
Vol 92 (6) ◽  
pp. 1343-1351 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Dalagiorgou ◽  
N. Vassilaki ◽  
P. Foka ◽  
A. Boumlic ◽  
A. Kakkanas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatocellular Carcinoma ◽  
Humoral Response ◽  
Negative Control ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Reading Frame ◽  
Cellular Immune Responses ◽  
The Core ◽  
Specific Reactivity ◽  
Cellular Immune

The core region of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) genome possesses an overlapping ORF that has been shown to encode a protein, known as the alternate reading frame protein (ARFP), F or core+1. The biological role of this protein remains elusive, as it appears to be non-essential for virus replication. However, a number of independent studies have shown that the ARFP/F/core+1 protein elicits humoral and cellular immune responses in HCV-infected individuals and interacts with important cellular proteins. To assess the significance of the core+1 humoral response in HCV-infected patients, we examined the prevalence of anti-core+1 antibodies in sera from patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in comparison with chronically HCV-infected individuals without HCC. We produced two HCV core+1 histidine-tagged recombinant proteins for genotypes 1a (aa 11–160) and 1b (aa 11–144), as well as a non-tagged highly purified recombinant core+1/S protein (aa 85–144) of HCV-1b. Using an in-house ELISA, we tested the prevalence of core+1 antibodies in 45 patients with HCC in comparison with 47 chronically HCV-infected patients without HCC and 77 negative-control sera. More than 50 % of the serum samples from HCC patients reacted with all core+1 antigens, whereas <26 % of the sera from the non-HCC HCV-infected individuals tested positive. No core+1-specific reactivity was detected in any of the control samples. In conclusion, the high occurrence of anti-core+1 antibodies in the serum of HCC patients suggests a role for the ARFP/F/core+1 protein in the pathogenesis of HCC.

Does a Ribosome Really Read? On the Cognitive Roots and Heuristic Value of Linguistic Metaphors in Molecular Genetics. Part 2

2020 ◽  
Vol 63 (2) ◽  
pp. 46-62
Author(s):  
Suren T. Zolyan
Keyword(s):  
Information Processing ◽  
Genetic Information ◽  
Formal Organization ◽  
Dual Nature ◽  
Reading Frame ◽  
The Core ◽  
Genetic Information Processing ◽  
Cognitive Frame ◽  
Effective Instrument

We discuss the role of linguistic metaphors as a cognitive frame for the understanding of genetic information processing. The essential similarity between language and genetic information processing has been recognized since the very beginning, and many prominent scholars have noted the possibility of considering genes and genomes as texts or languages. Most of the core terms in molecular biology are based on linguistic metaphors. The processing of genetic information is understood as some operations on text – writing, reading and editing and their specification (encoding/decoding, proofreading, transcription, translation, reading frame). The concept of gene reading can be traced from the archaic idea of the equation of Life and Nature with the Book. Thus, the genetics itself can be metaphorically represented as some operations on text (deciphering, understanding, code-breaking, transcribing, editing, etc.), which are performed by scientists. At the same time linguistic metaphors portrayed gene entities also as having the ability of reading. In the case of such “bio-reading” some essential features similar to the processes of human reading can be revealed: this is an ability to identify the biochemical sequences based on their function in an abstract system and distinguish between type and its contextual tokens of the same type. Metaphors seem to be an effective instrument for representation, as they make possible a two-dimensional description: biochemical by its experimental empirical results and textual based on the cognitive models of comprehension. In addition to their heuristic value, linguistic metaphors are based on the essential characteristics of genetic information derived from its dual nature: biochemical by its substance, textual (or quasi-textual) by its formal organization. It can be concluded that linguistic metaphors denoting biochemical objects and processes seem to be a method of description and explanation of these heterogeneous properties.

scholarly journals mRNA vaccination in people over 80 years of age induces strong humoral immune responses against SARS-CoV-2 with cross neutralization of P.1 Brazilian variant

eLife ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helen Parry ◽  
Gokhan Tut ◽  
Rachel Bruton ◽  
Sian Faustini ◽  
Christine Stephens ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Responses ◽  
Cellular Response ◽  
Humoral Response ◽  
Antibody Responses ◽  
Vaccine Platform ◽  
Humoral Immune ◽  
Vaccine Responses ◽  
Cellular Immune Responses ◽  
Humoral Immune Responses ◽  
Cellular Immune

Age is the major risk factor for mortality after SARS-CoV-2 infection and older people have received priority consideration for COVID-19 vaccination. However, vaccine responses are often suboptimal in this age group and few people over the age of 80 years were included in vaccine registration trials. We determined the serological and cellular response to spike protein in 100 people aged 80–96 years at 2 weeks after the second vaccination with the Pfizer BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine. Antibody responses were seen in every donor with high titers in 98%. Spike-specific cellular immune responses were detectable in only 63% and correlated with humoral response. Previous SARS-CoV-2 infection substantially increased antibody responses after one vaccine and antibody and cellular responses remained 28-fold and 3-fold higher, respectively, after dual vaccination. Post-vaccine sera mediated strong neutralization of live Victoria infection and although neutralization titers were reduced 14-fold against the P.1 variant first discovered in Brazil they remained largely effective. These data demonstrate that the mRNA vaccine platform delivers strong humoral immunity in people up to 96 years of age and retains broad efficacy against the P.1 variant of concern.

scholarly journals THE ROLE OF HUMORAL ANTIBODIES IN REJECTION OF SKIN HOMOGRAFTS IN RABBITS

1961 ◽  
Vol 114 (4) ◽  
pp. 509-520 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roberto R. Kretschmer ◽  
Ruy Peréz-Tamayo
Keyword(s):  
Immune Responses ◽  
Skin Graft ◽  
Local Administration ◽  
Cellular Immune Responses ◽  
Humoral Antibodies ◽  
Skin Homograft ◽  
Cellular Immune ◽  
Control Skin

Gross and microscopic observations of skin homograft rejection carried out in cortisone-conditioned and non-conditioned rabbits seem to indicate that humoral antibodies play an important role in the phenomenon. Thus, local administration of isoimmune serum to animals bearing skin homografts resulted in a significantly earlier rejection of that particular test graft without modifying the course of a neighboring control-skin graft. This result appears to support the idea that homograft rejection is not only due to cellular antibodies but to a combination of both humoral and cellular immune responses, which should not be regarded as completely unrelated.

scholarly journals Detection of a gamma interferon-induced protein IP-10 in psoriatic plaques.

1988 ◽  
Vol 168 (3) ◽  
pp. 941-948 ◽  
Author(s):  
A B Gottlieb ◽  
A D Luster ◽  
D N Posnett ◽  
D M Carter
Keyword(s):  
Immune Responses ◽  
Cdna Probe ◽  
Gamma Interferon ◽  
Activated T Cells ◽  
Cellular Immune Responses ◽  
Hla Dr ◽  
Pathologic Features ◽  
Dermal Infiltrate ◽  
Cellular Immune

The pathologic features of psoriatic plaques are inflammation and increased epidermal turnover. IP-10, a cytokine the expression of which is induced by gamma-interferon, is a member of a family of soluble mediators with inflammatory and growth-promoting activities. IP-10 protein was detected in keratinocytes and the dermal infiltrate from active psoriatic plaques using an affinity-purified rabbit anti-IP-10 antibody in immunoperoxidase studies. Successful treatment of active plaques decreased IP-10 expression in plaques. These results were corroborated by Northern blot analysis with an IP-10 cDNA probe. We have previously detected activated T cells and HLA-DR keratinocytes in active psoriatic plaques. Since IP-10 is detected in delayed cellular immune responses, the present study further points to the role of ongoing cellular immune responses in the pathogenesis of psoriasis.

Functional and immunological evaluation of two novel proteins of Leptospira spp.

Microbiology ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 160 (1) ◽  
pp. 149-164 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luis G. V. Fernandes ◽  
Monica L. Vieira ◽  
Ivy J. Alves ◽  
Zenaide M. de Morais ◽  
Silvio A. Vasconcellos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Recombinant Proteins ◽  
Cellular Localization ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Novel Proteins ◽  
Metal Affinity ◽  
Cellular Immune Responses ◽  
Cellular Immune ◽  
Surface Adhesins ◽  
Immunological Evaluation

This work shows the production and characterization of two novel putative lipoproteins encoded by the genes LIC10645 and LIC10731 identified in the genome sequences of Leptospira interrogans. In silico conservation analysis indicated that the proteins are well conserved among pathogenic leptospiral serovars and species. Recombinant proteins were obtained in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3) Star pLysS strain, purified by metal-affinity chromatography, and used for characterization and immunological evaluations. Recombinant proteins were capable of eliciting a combination of humoral and cellular immune responses in animal models, and could be recognized by antibodies present in human serum samples. The recombinant proteins Lsa44 and Lsa45 were able to bind laminin, and were named Lsa44 and Lsa45 for leptospiral surface adhesins of 44 and 45 kDa, respectively. The attachment to laminin was dose-responsive with K D values of 108.21 and 250.38 nM for Lsa44 and Lsa45, respectively. Moreover, these proteins interact with plasminogen (PLG) with K D values of 53.56 and 36.80 nM, respectively. PLG bound to the recombinant proteins could be converted to plasmin (PLA) in the presence of an activator. Cellular localization assays suggested that the Lsa44 and Lsa45 were surface-exposed. These are versatile proteins capable of interacting with laminin and PLG/PLA, and hence could mediate bacterial adhesion and contribute to tissue penetration.

scholarly journals PRAK-03202: A triple antigen VLP vaccine candidate against SARS CoV-2

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saumyabrata Mazumder ◽  
Ruchir Rastogi ◽  
Avinash Undale ◽  
Kajal Arora ◽  
Nupur Mehrotra Arora ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Vaccine Candidate ◽  
Rapid Development ◽  
Humoral Response ◽  
T Helper 1 ◽  
Cellular Immune Responses ◽  
Ifn Γ ◽  
Neutralizing Potential ◽  
Cellular Immune ◽  
Different Doses

AbstractThe rapid development of safe and effective vaccines against SARS CoV-2 is the need of the hour for the coronavirus outbreak. Here, we have developed PRAK-03202, the world’s first triple antigen VLP vaccine candidate in a highly characterized S. cerevisiae-based D-CryptTM platform, which induced SARS CoV-2 specific neutralizing antibodies in BALB/c mice. Immunizations using three different doses of PRAK-03202 induces antigen specific (Spike, envelope and membrane proteins) humoral response and neutralizing potential. PBMCs from convalescent patients, when exposed to PRAK-03202, showed lymphocyte proliferation and elevated IFN-γ levels suggestive of conservation of epitopes and induction of T helper 1 (Th1)–biased cellular immune responses. These data support the clinical development and testing of PRAK-03202 for use in humans.

scholarly journals ISCOM-like Nanoparticles Formulated with Quillaja brasiliensis Saponins Are Promising Adjuvants for Seasonal Influenza Vaccines

Vaccines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 1350
Author(s):  
Mariana Rivera-Patron ◽  
María Moreno ◽  
Mariana Baz ◽  
Paulo M. Roehe ◽  
Samuel P. Cibulski ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Response ◽  
Immune Responses ◽  
Influenza Vaccine ◽  
Public Health Intervention ◽  
Humoral Response ◽  
Influenza Vaccines ◽  
Respiratory Illnesses ◽  
Cellular Immune Responses ◽  
Saponin Fraction ◽  
Cellular Immune

Vaccination is the most effective public health intervention to prevent influenza infections, which are responsible for an important burden of respiratory illnesses and deaths each year. Currently, licensed influenza vaccines are mostly split inactivated, although in order to achieve higher efficacy rates, some influenza vaccines contain adjuvants. Although split-inactivated vaccines induce mostly humoral responses, tailoring mucosal and cellular immune responses is crucial for preventing influenza infections. Quillaja brasiliensis saponin-based adjuvants, including ISCOM-like nanoparticles formulated with the QB-90 saponin fraction (IQB90), have been studied in preclinical models for more than a decade and have been demonstrated to induce strong humoral and cellular immune responses towards several viral antigens. Herein, we demonstrate that a split-inactivated IQB90 adjuvanted influenza vaccine triggered a protective immune response, stronger than that induced by a commercial unadjuvanted vaccine, when applied either by the subcutaneous or the intranasal route. Moreover, we reveal that this novel adjuvant confers up to a ten-fold dose-sparing effect, which could be crucial for pandemic preparedness. Last but not least, we assessed the role of caspase-1/11 in the generation of the immune response triggered by the IQB90 adjuvanted influenza vaccine in a mouse model and found that the cellular-mediated immune response triggered by the IQB90-Flu relies, at least in part, on a mechanism involving the casp-1/11 pathway but not the humoral response elicited by this formulation.

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