Role of bi-specific monoclonal antibodies in immunodiagnostic assay

This review paper highlights the use of bi-specific monoclonal antibodies (bsMAb) in the diagnostic assays for the early detection of pathogens of human infectious diseases such as severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), chikungunya (CHIKV), tuberculosis (TB) and dengue. Bi-specific monoclonal antibodies (bsMAb) are unique and artificially engineered macromolecules with two distinct binding sites, and are capable of binding two different antigens non-covalently. However, the traditional methods of diagnosis such as virus or bacterial isolation, and PCR amplification are quite expensive and time consuming. Bispecific monoclonal antibodies (bsMAb) are versatile, and can increase the specificity and sensitivity of detection in the suspected individuals. Therefore, immunodiagnostic assays using bsMAb are less expensive, and a large number of clinical samples could be analyzed at a faster rate for the detection of pathogens within a stipulated time. This could allow in developing a cost effective diagnostic kit, which is very useful particularly in the developing countries for the early assessment of the disease outbreak

Dengue Diagnostics: Current Scenario

There is an urgent requirement for specific, sensitive and inexpensive dengue diagnostic tools that can be used for clinical management, surveillance and outbreak investigations would permit early intervention to treat patients and prevent or control epidemics. Additionally, new techniques for the early detection of severe disease such as the use of biomarkers have the potential to decrease morbidity and mortality. Recent developments in rapid detection technologies offer the promise of improved diagnostics for case management and the early detection of dengue outbreaks. This short review summarizes the various diagnostics tests currently pursued

A Mini-review of Dengue Vaccine Development

About 100 million dengue cases are reported annually and an estimated 2.5 billion people are susceptible to the infection mostly in the tropical regions. Dengue virus is a member of the Flavivirus genus and consists of four serotypes (DV-1, DV-2, DV-3, and DV- 4), each of which is capable of causing dengue fever and the more severe dengue hemorrhagic fever or dengue shock syndrome. There is an urgent need to develop a safe and effective vaccine that induces protective immune response to all the four serotypes overcoming antibody dependent enhancement. At present there is no licensed vaccine or specific therapeutic measures for prevention or management of the fatal infection. This mini review outlines the different vaccine candidates that are at various stages of development

Targeting strategies and nanocarriers in vaccines and therapeutics

In the past few decades, remarkable advances have been made in the field of immunology and molecular biology. Even though the efficacy level, protein binding capacity and other pharmacological parameters are extraordinary, formulations have become more challenging in terms of making drugs or antigens reach specific sites of action, the release rate of a drug at the site of action, proper presentation of an antigen by antigen-presenting cells or dendritic cells and other pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic parameters of finished drug products and vaccines. The purpose of this review is to present a brief overview of the challenges to drug targeting, especially vaccines, as well as of different approaches designed to overcome these barriers

Towards multiomic analysis of oral mucosal pathologies

Oral mucosal pathologies comprise an array of diseases with worldwide prevalence and medical relevance. Affecting a confined space with crucial physiological and social functions, oral pathologies can be mutilating and drastically reduce quality of life. Despite their relevance, treatment for these diseases is often far from curative and remains vastly understudied. While multiple factors are involved in the pathogenesis of oral mucosal pathologies, the host's immune system plays a major role in the development, maintenance, and resolution of these diseases. Consequently, a precise understanding of immunological mechanisms implicated in oral mucosal pathologies is critical (1) to identify accurate, mechanistic biomarkers of clinical outcomes; (2) to develop targeted immunotherapeutic strategies; and (3) to individualize prevention and treatment approaches. Here, we review key elements of the immune system's role in oral mucosal pathologies that hold promise to overcome limitations in current diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. We emphasize recent and ongoing multiomic and single-cell approaches that enable an integrative view of these pathophysiological processes and thereby provide unifying and clinically relevant biological signatures

Explosively driven facture and fragmentation of metal cylinders and rings

Cylinders and rings fabricated from AerMet{reg_sign} 100 alloy and AISI 1018 steel have been explosively driven to fragmentation in order to determine the fracture strains for these materials under plane strain and uniaxial stress conditions. The phenomena associated with the dynamic expansion and subsequent break up of the cylinders are monitored with high-speed diagnostics. In addition, complementary experiments are performed in which fragments from the explosively driven cylinder are recovered and analyzed to determine the statistical distribution associated with the fragmentation process as well as to determine failure mechanisms. The data are used to determine relevant coefficients for the Johnson-Cook (Hancock-McKenzie) fracture model. Metallurgical analysis of the fragments provides information on damage and failure mechanisms

Dust generation in tokamaks: Overview of beryllium and tungsten dust characterisation in JET with the ITER-like wall

Operation of the JET tokamak with beryllium and tungsten ITER-like wall provides unique opportunity for detailed studies on dust generation: quantity, morphology, location, etc. The programme carried out in response to ITER needs for safety assessment comprises: (i) remotely controlled vacuum cleaning of the divertor; (ii) local sampling of loosely bound matter from plasma-facing components (PFC); (iii) collection of mobilized dust on various erosion-deposition probes located in the divertor and in the main chamber. Results of comprehensive analyses performed by a number of complementary techniques, e.g. a range of microscopy methods, electron and ion spectroscopy, liquid scintillography and thermal desorption, are summarized by following points:(a) Total amount of dust collected by vacuum cleaning after three campaigns is about 1-1.4 g per campaign (19.1-23.5 h plasma operation), i.e. over 100 times smaller than in JET operated with carbon walls (i.e. in JET-C).(b) Two major categories of Be dust are identified: flakes of co-deposits formed on PFC and droplets (2-10 mu m in diameter). Small quantifies, below 1 g, of Be droplets and splashes are associated mainly with melting of beryllium limiters.(c) Tungsten dust occurs mainly as partly molten flakes originating from the W-coated tiles