65 research outputs found
Toolbox for Non-Intrusive Structural and Functional Analysis of Recombinant VLP Based Vaccines: A Case Study with Hepatitis B Vaccine
Background: Fundamental to vaccine development, manufacturing consistency, and product stability is an understanding of the vaccine structure-activity relationship. With the virus-like particle (VLP) approach for recombinant vaccines gaining popularity, there is growing demand for tools that define their key characteristics. We assessed a suite of non-intrusive VLP epitope structure and function characterization tools by application to the Hepatitis B surface antigen (rHBsAg) VLP-based vaccine. Methodology: The epitope-specific immune reactivity of rHBsAg epitopes to a given monoclonal antibody was monitored by surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and quantitatively analyzed on rHBsAg VLPs in-solution or bound to adjuvant with a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The structure of recombinant rHBsAg particles was examined by cryo transmission electron microscopy (cryoTEM) and in-solution atomic force microscopy (AFM). Principal Findings: SPR and competitive ELISA determined relative antigenicity in solution, in real time, with rapid turnaround, and without the need of dissolving the particulate aluminum based adjuvant. These methods demonstrated the nature of the clinically relevant epitopes of HBsAg as being responsive to heat and/or redox treatment. In-solution AFM and cryoTEM determined vaccine particle size distribution, shape, and morphology. Redox-treated rHBsAg enabled 3D reconstruction from CryoTEM images β confirming the previously proposed octahedral structure and the established lipidto-protei
Detection of drug effects on gastric emptying and contractility using a wireless motility capsule
T1761 Hrp12, the Murine Member of the Highly Conserved But Enigmatic Yer057c/Yjgf/Uk114 Family, Interacts with Mitochondrial and Secreted Liver Proteins in the Yeast-Based Two-Hybrid System
Colonic squamous cell carcinoma in ulcerative colitis: Report of a case and review of the literature
Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is a rare neoplasm in the colorectum. A case of SCC rising from an area of squamous metaplasia in the rectum is presented in a patient with long-standing ulcerative colitis and perianal warts. This is the first report in the literature describing the evolution of squamous metaplasia in the colonic mucosa into invasive carcinoma over time. Related literature on colorectal SCC and squamous metaplasia, and their relationships with inflammatory bowel disease and human papilloma virus, is reviewed
ERK, and its downstream target, est-1, are involved in the 1,25(OH)2D3-induced inhibition of cell growth and stimulation of apoptosis in Caco-2 cells
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