Adenovirus Expressing the Myostatin-Somatostatin-fusing Gene Increases Mouse Growth Rate

Background Myostatin (MSTN), a type of transforming growth factor, can negatively regulate skeletal muscle growth. Immunisation of mice with recombinant yeast expressing MSTN increased bodyweight and muscle composition of them. Somatostatin (SST) is an inhibitory effector of growth hormone (GH), and active immunisation against SST with a DNA vaccine improves the growth performance of piglets via an influence on GH secretion. Here, a recombinant adenovirus was constructed and used to deliver MSTN-SST to mice to achieve the goal of regulation the growth performance of the mice. Results A recombinant adenovirus, rAd-MSTN-SST, expressing the MSTN-SST fusing protein was successfully rescued in HEK293A cells. The expressions of MSTN-SST were confirmed by western blotting and indirect immunofluorescence. Mice immunised with rAd-MSTN-SST were successfully induced to have an immune response against MSTN-SST, which increased their growth rate and muscle mass. In addition, a booster immunisation was beneficial in terms of higher antibody response and mouse growth rate. Conclusions Fusing protein MSTN-SST is a good candidate for regulating animal growth rate and muscle mass. Adenovirus can be used as a vector for delivering MSTN and SST to animals.

Adenovirus Expressing the Myostatin-Somatostatin-fusing Gene Increases Mouse Growth Rate

Background Myostatin (MSTN), a type of transforming growth factor, can negatively regulate skeletal muscle growth. Immunisation of mice with recombinant yeast expressing MSTN increased bodyweight and muscle composition of them. Somatostatin (SST) is an inhibitory effector of growth hormone (GH), and active immunisation against SST with a DNA vaccine improves the growth performance of piglets via an influence on GH secretion. Here, a recombinant adenovirus was constructed and used to deliver MSTN-SST to mice to achieve the goal of regulation the growth performance of the mice. Results A recombinant adenovirus, rAd-MSTN-SST, expressing the MSTN-SST fusing protein was successfully rescued in HEK293A cells. The expressions of MSTN-SST were confirmed by western blotting and indirect immunofluorescence. Mice immunised with rAd-MSTN-SST were successfully induced to have an immune response against MSTN-SST, which increased their growth rate and muscle mass. In addition, a booster immunisation was beneficial in terms of higher antibody response and mouse growth rate. Conclusions Fusing protein MSTN-SST is a good candidate for regulating animal growth rate and muscle mass. Adenovirus can be used as a vector for delivering MSTN and SST to animals.

Adenovirus Expressing the Myostatin-Somatostatin-fusing Gene Increases Mouse Growth Rate

Background Myostatin (MSTN), a type of transforming growth factor, can negatively regulate skeletal muscle growth. Immunisation of mice with recombinant yeast expressing MSTN increased bodyweight and muscle composition of them. Somatostatin (SST) is an inhibitory effector of growth hormone (GH), and active immunisation against SST with a DNA vaccine improves the growth performance of piglets via an influence on GH secretion. Here, a recombinant adenovirus was constructed and used to deliver MSTN-SST to mice to achieve the goal of regulation the growth performance of the mice. Results A recombinant adenovirus, rAd-MSTN-SST, expressing the MSTN-SST fusing protein was successfully rescued in HEK293A cells. The expressions of MSTN-SST were confirmed by western blotting and indirect immunofluorescence. Mice immunised with rAd-MSTN-SST were successfully induced to have an immune response against MSTN-SST, which increased their growth rate and muscle mass. In addition, a booster immunisation was beneficial in terms of higher antibody response and mouse growth rate. Conclusions Fusing protein MSTN-SST is a good candidate for regulating animal growth rate and muscle mass. Adenovirus can be used as a vector for delivering MSTN and SST to animals.

Adenovirus Expressing the Myostatin-Somatostatin-fusing Gene Increases Mouse Growth Rate

BackgroundMyostatin (MSTN), a type of transforming growth factor, can negatively regulate skeletal muscle growth. Immunisation of mice with recombinant yeast expressing MSTN increased bodyweight and muscle composition of them. Somatostatin (SST) is an inhibitory effector of growth hormone (GH), and active immunisation against SST with a DNA vaccine improves the growth performance of piglets via an influence on GH secretion. Here, a recombinant adenovirus was constructed and used to deliver MSTN-SST to mice to achieve the goal of regulation the growth performance of the mice. ResultsA recombinant adenovirus, rAd-MSTN-SST, expressing the MSTN-SST fusing protein was successfully rescued in HEK293A cells. The expressions of MSTN-SST were confirmed by western blotting and indirect immunofluorescence. Mice immunised with rAd-MSTN-SST were successfully induced to have an immune response against MSTN-SST, which increased their growth rate and muscle mass. In addition, a booster immunisation was beneficial in terms of higher antibody response and mouse growth rate. ConclusionsFusing protein MSTN-SST is a good candidate for regulating animal growth rate and muscle mass. Adenovirus can be used as a vector for delivering MSTN and SST to animals.

Evaluation of the immunogenicity of prime-boost vaccination with the replication-deficient viral vectored COVID-19 vaccine candidate ChAdOx1 nCoV-19

Clinical development of the COVID-19 vaccine candidate ChAdOx1 nCoV-19, a replication-deficient simian adenoviral vector expressing the full-length SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein was initiated in April 2020 following non-human primate studies using a single immunisation. Here, we compared the immunogenicity of one or two doses of ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 in both mice and pigs. Whilst a single dose induced antigen-specific antibody and T cells responses, a booster immunisation enhanced antibody responses, particularly in pigs, with a significant increase in SARS-CoV-2 neutralising titres.

Proper pertussis vaccination will probably not increase vaccination coverage: a case–control study

Vaccination coverage (VC) against pertussis can increase when management practices and policies at primary care centres (PCCs) are reinforced. From 2011 to 2015, we performed a case–control study to evaluate VC among pertussis patients treated at PCCs in Barcelona, Spain. We recorded pertussis in patients from 8- to 16-year-olds at 52 PCCs. Pertussis cases had laboratory diagnostic and controls were healthy outpatients visiting the same facility for reasons other than cough. DTaP/dTap VC was recorded as either proper vaccination status (five doses recorded) or improper vaccination status (<5 doses recorded). We used a logistic regression model to estimate OR and 95% CI. We included 229 cases and 576 controls. VC was higher in cases (mean 5.01, s.e.: 0.57) than in controls (4.89, s.e.: 0.73). Around 69% of the cases had received DTaP primary immunisation after 2–5 years and 31.4% of cases had the dTap booster immunisation after 7–10 years. The 87% of children 5–9 years were properly vaccinated. We found no protection from becoming ill among properly vaccinated children (OR 1.87; 95% CI 1.22–2.85). The highest VC was observed in patients with confirmed pertussis, which was likely due to a more exhaustive follow-up of the VC in these patients. Being properly vaccinated against pertussis will probably not increase VC.

Predictors of the immune response to booster immunisation against tetanus in Czech healthy adults

An evaluation of the relationship between predictors and immune response was conducted using data obtained from a clinical trial in 200 Czech healthy adults aged 24–65 years receiving a booster dose of a monovalent tetanus vaccine in 2017. The response was determined from ELISA antibody concentrations of paired sera obtained before and 4 weeks after the immunisation. While all subjects with initial antibody levels <1.2 IU/ml achieved a 100% seroconversion rate (at least a fourfold rise in antibodies), only 8% seroconversion was documented in subjects with initial levels >2.2 IU/ml. The immune response was not affected by sex, age, tetanus vaccine type, concomitant medication, related adverse events or post-vaccination period since there were no significant differences in geometric mean concentrations or seroconversion rates. The seroconversion rate of 56% in smokers was significantly lower than that of 73% achieved in non-smokers. Although the seroconversion rates did not differ between individuals with normal or higher body weight, the adjusted odds ratio (1.3; 95% Cl 1.08–1.60) revealed a positive correlation between seroconversion rate and body mass index (BMI). Although the vaccine-induced response was influenced by pre-vaccination antibody levels, smoking or BMI, the booster immunisation against tetanus produced a sufficient response regardless the predictors.

Immunisation of Labeo rohita with Antigenic preparation of Aphanomyces invadans

Aphanomyces invadans is an important fungal pathogen infecting freshwater and brackishwater fishes. In the present study, an attempt has been made to determine the effect of immunisation in Labeo rohita advanced fingerlings against A. invadans infection. The efficacy of the immunisation was evaluated by challenge with A. invadans as well as quantification of antibody level by ELISA. Following an initial immunisation in conjunction with adjuvant, the fish were given a booster dose after 35 days. After 14 and 28 days of the booster injection, blood was collected from the immunised rohu for monitoring the antibody level. The fish were also challenged with A. invadans zoospores to determine the relative percent survival. The immunised fish had significantly higher antibody level after 14 days of booster injection as compared to the control fish. However, the antibody level after 28 days of booster injection was not significantly different from the control fish. More importantly, similar to control fish, 100% mortality was observed in the immunised fish challenged after 14 and 28 days of booster immunisation. Therefore, it can be concluded that it may not be suitable to induce protective immunity following immunisation with conventional antigenic preparations.