Application of built-in adjuvants for epitope-based vaccines

Several studies have shown that epitope vaccines exhibit substantial advantages over conventional vaccines. However, epitope vaccines are associated with limited immunity, which can be overcome by conjugating antigenic epitopes with built-in adjuvants (e.g., some carrier proteins or new biomaterials) with special properties, including immunologic specificity, good biosecurity and biocompatibility, and the ability to vastly improve the immune response of epitope vaccines. When designing epitope vaccines, the following types of built-in adjuvants are typically considered: (1) pattern recognition receptor ligands (i.e., toll-like receptors); (2) virus-like particle carrier platforms; (3) bacterial toxin proteins; and (4) novel potential delivery systems (e.g., self-assembled peptide nanoparticles, lipid core peptides, and polymeric or inorganic nanoparticles). This review primarily discusses the current and prospective applications of these built-in adjuvants (i.e., biological carriers) to provide some references for the future design of epitope-based vaccines

Effect of conservation methods on the mineral contents of some maize varieties (Zea mays L.) produced in Côte d’Ivoire

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of conservation methods on the mineral content of some maize varieties during post-harvest storage. To meet the needs for the human and animal consumption, it is necessary to determine the mineral contents of raw materials.Methodology: Eight maize varieties, including two local varieties used as controls (“Violet de Katiola” and AC176) and six improved varieties (Obatanpa, MDJ, EV8728, GMRP18, Acr97TZLcomp-1w and Acr97TZLcomp-1wsynth), produced by the Centre National de Recherché Agronomique (CNRA), were stored according to three preservation methods (granary, attic and jute bag) during 120 days. Sampling was performed every 30 days, followed by chemical analyses.Results: The ash contents of local varieties were better preserved in the granary than in the attic or the jute bag because no significant variation was observed at the end of the preservation time. In improved varieties, all the ash contents varied. Concerning constitutive minerals, magnesium and calcium contents were preserved in all varieties respectively during 30 and 120 days of storage in the granary, the attic and the jute bag. On the other hand, some variations were observed for potassium and phosphorus contents. For example, “Violet de Katiola” potassium content was best preserved in the jute bag during 120 days; AC176 and EV8728 potassium contents were best preserved in the attic respectively during 90 days and 60 days. The three preservation modes were suitable to maintain ACr97 comp1wsynth potassium content between 60 and 120 days; but in this variety, phosphorus was best preserved in the attic during 90 days.Conclusion: The three modes of maize grain storage were suitable to preserve magnesium and calcium contents of local and improved varieties and Acr97TZLcomp1-wsynth potassium content.Keywords: Maize, variety, mineral content, preservation, period, Côte d’Ivoire

The antibiotic crisis: How bacterial predators can help

This work has been supported by the Spanish Government, grant BFU2016-75425-P to Aurelio Moraleda-Munoz (70% funded by FEDER). Funder has no involvement in study design; in the collection, analysis and interpretation of data; in the writing of the report; and in the decision to submit the article for publication. We thank Lola Contreras-Moreno for technical assistance with Fig. 1.Discovery of antimicrobials in the past century represented one of the most important advances in public health. Unfortunately, the massive use of these compounds in medicine and other human activities has promoted the selection of pathogens that are resistant to one or several antibiotics. The current antibiotic crisis is creating an urgent need for research into new biological weapons with the ability to kill these superbugs. Although a proper solution requires this problem to be addressed in a variety of ways, the use of bacterial predators is emerging as an excellent strategy, especially when used as whole cell therapeutic agents, as a source of new antimicrobial agents by awakening silent metabolic pathways in axenic cultures, or as biocontrol agents. Moreover, studies on their prey are uncovering mechanisms of resistance that can be shared by pathogens, representing new targets for novel antimicrobial agents. In this review we discuss potential of the studies on predator-prey interaction to provide alternative solutions to the problem of antibiotic resistance.Spanish Government BFU2016-75425-PEuropean Union (EU