First Questionnaire-based Survey on the Uptake and Use of FMD-HS Combined Oil Adjuvant Vaccine in India

Background: The Government of India allowed the State of Haryana to go for the 27th round of FMD and HS combined oil adjuvant vaccine for mass vaccination of eligible bovine population, at a six monthly interval under FMD-CP. This was the second phase of the combined vaccination. Haryana is the only state in India where a single FMD and HS combined vaccine was used in bovines as a pilot project for protection against two most economically important diseases i.e. Hemorrhagic Septicemia (HS) and Foot and Mouth (FMD) diseases. The aim of this study is to describe the current uptake and usage of FMD and HS dual vaccine on the basis of a questionnaire-based survey of livestock owners in Haryana. Methods: Randomly selected livestock owners from 6 district namely Karnal, Panipat, Kurukshetra, Ambala, Panchkula and Yamunanagar of Haryana State were contacted and a questionnaire, made available in paper format, was distributed to them to participate in this study. Appropriate, answers to open questions were categorised into themes using thematic analysis methodology (Attride-Stirling, 2001). Result: Total of 96.81 (ninety six point eight one) percent of respondents (n=942/973) had their cattle vaccinated. Of the 31 respondents who excluded their animals from the vaccination, 58.06 percent pregnant (18/31), 16.12 percent lactating (5/31), 12.9 percent calves (4/31) and 6.45 percent sick (2/31) animals were indicated. The respondents who excluded their animals further expressed their desire to get their animals vaccinated during later stages of life.

Nanomedicine for SARS-CoV-2: Therapeutic and Prophylactic Approach in Immunocompromised Individuals

SARS-CoV-2 is a novel coronavirus that first appeared in Wuhan, China in December 2019 and then spread all over the world, causing a global respiratory epidemic COVID-19 illness. Certain health conditions can increase your exposure to COVID-19, such as chronic obstructive lung disease, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. The immune system of the host is severely compromised in the event of a respiratory viral infection. Immunocompromised patients have a more difficult time avoiding respiratory viral infections, making them more vulnerable to COVID-19 pneumonia and increasing the death rate to 19%. The ability of SARS-CoV-2 to damage the host cell by modifying its own DNA or RNA and proliferating inside the host cell, with antiviral treatments and prophylactic vaccinations being tested. In recent years, numerous innovative technologies have been examined to diagnose, prevent and treat viral infections. Nano technology opens the way to distinguish the living cell mechanisms and develop new technologies that make it possible to diagnose and cure various viral infections in the early stage. The therapeutic and preventative approaches of nanomedicine are essential factors for curing SARS-CoV-2. The delivery of antiviral drugs based on nanocarrier, changes in pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic properties, leading in dose reduction, reductions in toxicity, increased bioavailability, and the prevention of the virus. The overall efficiency and safety of vaccinated adjuvant vaccine nanoparticles (VANs) helps enhance the immune response of older, immunocompromised persons with the greatest death rate of SARS-CoV-2. The review focuses on recent advancements in nanomedicine treatments and prevention strategies for SARS-CoV-2.

Enhancing the Immune Response of a Nicotine Vaccine with Synthetic Small “Non-Natural” Peptides

The addictive nature of nicotine is likely the most significant reason for the continued prevalence of tobacco smoking despite the widespread reports of its negative health effects. Nicotine vaccines are an alternative to the currently available smoking cessation treatments, which have limited efficacy. However, the nicotine hapten is non-immunogenic, and successful vaccine formulations to treat nicotine addiction require both effective adjuvants and delivery systems. The immunomodulatory properties of short, non-natural peptide sequences not found in human systems and their ability to improve vaccine efficacy continue to be reported. The aim of this study was to determine if small “non-natural peptides,” as part of a conjugate nicotine vaccine, could improve immune responses. Four peptides were synthesized via solid phase methodology, purified, and characterized. Ex vivo plasma stability studies using RP-HPLC confirmed that the peptides were not subject to proteolytic degradation. The peptides were formulated into conjugate nicotine vaccine candidates along with a bacterial derived adjuvant vaccine delivery system and chitosan as a stabilizing compound. Formulations were tested in vitro in a dendritic cell line to determine the combination that would elicit the greatest 1L-1β response using ELISAs. Three of the peptides were able to enhance the cytokine response above that induced by the adjuvant delivery system alone. In vivo vaccination studies in BALB/c mice demonstrated that the best immune response, as measured by nicotine-specific antibody levels, was elicited from the conjugate vaccine structure, which included the peptide, as well as the other components. Isotype analyses highlighted that the peptide was able to shift immune response toward being more humorally dominant. Overall, the results have implications for the use of non-natural peptides as adjuvants not only for the development of a nicotine vaccine but also for use with other addictive substances and conventional vaccination targets as well.

Seroconversion Studies of Indian Newcastle Disease Virus Isolates of Genotype XIII in 3 week Old Chickens

Poultry industry plays an important role in sustaining economy of India. Despite routine vaccination strategies has been a common practice to control commonly occurring diseases in poultry, outbreaks are commonplace. Recently, emergence of genotype XIII strains of NDV resulted in widespread economic losses in India. We prepared inactivated oil adjuvant vaccine derived from Lasota, ndv53/Haryana or ndv52/Sarsa, which is recently isolated genotype XIII virus in India. Three groups of SPF chickens were vaccinated once with each vaccine and serum samples were collected every 7 days interval and tested for HI titres with three different antigens prepared from same virus to assess cross neutralization antibodies amongst them. All three vaccines have shown some degree of cross reactivity after 14 days post vaccination. However, vaccine prepared from Lasota, a genotype II virus failed to generate significant titers against both ndv53/Haryana and ndv52/Sarsa. Our observation explains recent outbreaks of genotype XIII viruses in the field and necessitates development of new vaccines to control the recently emerged NDV strains in India.