DNA immunisation. New histochemical and morphometric data

Splenic germinal center reactions were measured during primary response to a plasmidic DNA intramuscular injection. Cardiotoxin-pretreated Balb/c mice were immunized with DNA plasmids encoding or not the SAG1 protein, a membrane antigen of Toxoplasma gondii. Specific anti-SAG1 antibodies were detected on days 16 and 36 after injection of coding plasmids. The results of ELISAs showed that the SAG1-specific antibodies are of the IgG2a class. Morphometric analyses were done on serial immunostained cryosections of spleen and draining or non-draining lymph nodes. This new approach made it possible to evaluate the chronological changes induced by DNA immunisation in the germinal centres (in number and in size). Significant increases in the number of germinal centres were measured in the spleen and only in draining lymph nodes after plasmid injection. the measured changes of the germinal centers appeared to result from the adjuvant stimulatory effect of the plasmidic DNA since both the coding and the noncoding plasmid DNA induced them. No measurable changes were recorded in the Tdependent zone of lymph organs

Atmospheric plasma: a simple way of improving the interface between natural polysaccharides and polyesters

International audienceIn this study, a novel simple and fast method was developed of immobilizing a natural polysaccharide (chitosan) on a polylactide (PLA) surface. In order to overcome the lack of surface adhesion between the chitosan and the PLA due to incompatibility issues, atmospheric pressure plasma was used. The plasma activation was able to modify the PLA surface by generating surface chemistry proper for stabilizing the chitosan layer. The activation of the surface was monitored through water contact angle (WCA) measurements and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Indeed, the introduction of new functionalities lowers the hydrophobicity of the PLA surface allowing an effective spreading and immobilization of the chitosan layer. The presence of chitosan on the polyester’s surface was proven by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR)