Pharmaceutical formulations as immunological adjuvants

The aim of this work was to enhance the immune responses to ovalbumin (OVA) following its oral administration, by the association of the protein with colloidal carriers, which may protect the protein from degradation in the gastrointestinal tract and/or facilitate its uptake across the intestine. An enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was established for the determination of rat anti-OVA antibodies and an immunisation protocol was established to induce a statistically significant salivary antibody response to OVA in the rat. A radioimmunoassay for the determination of rat anti-OVA antibodies was also established, to confirm the ELISA results. Methods were established to determine the extent of incorporation or adsorption of OVA into or onto the colloidal carrier formulations. OVA was incorporated into liposomes and polyacrylamide microparticles, and adsorbed to poly 2-butylcyanoacrylate particles, and gastrically intubated into separate groups of experimental rats. The primary and memory immune responses, both sera and saliva, were compared for each formulation with suitable control and blank groups. All colloidal carriers induced enhanced immune responses to OVA following oral administration in the rat, when compared with the respective control group responses. However, the enhancement for the liposomal group was not statistically significant when assessed in an Unpaired Student 't' test. The effect of particle size on the immune responses was assessed by the oral administration of 100 nm and 3pm poly 2-butylcyanoacrylate particles with adsorbed OVA. An electron microscopy study was undertaken with gold labelled poly 2-butylcyanoacrylate particles in an attempt to demonstrate the uptake of particles by M-cells overlying the Peyers' patches in the rat intestine

Pharmaceutical formulations as immunological adjuvants

The aim of this work was to enhance the immune responses to ovalbumin (OVA) following its oral administration, by the association of the protein with colloidal carriers, which may protect the protein from degradation in the gastrointestinal tract and/or facilitate its uptake across the intestine. An enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was established for the determination of rat anti-OVA antibodies and an immunisation protocol was established to induce a statistically significant salivary antibody response to OVA in the rat. A radioimmunoassay for the determination of rat anti-OVA antibodies was also established, to confirm the ELISA results. Methods were established to determine the extent of incorporation or adsorption of OVA into or onto the colloidal carrier formulations. OVA was incorporated into liposomes and polyacrylamide microparticles, and adsorbed to poly 2-butylcyanoacrylate particles, and gastrically intubated into separate groups of experimental rats. The primary and memory immune responses, both sera and saliva, were compared for each formulation with suitable control and blank groups. All colloidal carriers induced enhanced immune responses to OVA following oral administration in the rat, when compared with the respective control group responses. However, the enhancement for the liposomal group was not statistically significant when assessed in an Unpaired Student 't' test. The effect of particle size on the immune responses was assessed by the oral administration of 100 nm and 3pm poly 2-butylcyanoacrylate particles with adsorbed OVA. An electron microscopy study was undertaken with gold labelled poly 2-butylcyanoacrylate particles in an attempt to demonstrate the uptake of particles by M-cells overlying the Peyers' patches in the rat intestine

Characterization of a murine mixed neuron-glia model and cellular responses to regulatory T cell-derived factors

Abstract One of the unmet clinical needs in demyelinating diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is to provide therapies that actively enhance the process of myelin regeneration (remyelination) in the central nervous system (CNS). Oligodendrocytes, the myelinating cells of the CNS, play a central role in remyelination and originate from oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs). We recently showed that depletion of regulatory T cells (Treg) impairs remyelination in vivo, and that Treg-secreted factors directly enhance oligodendrocyte differentiation. Here we aim to further characterize the dynamics of Treg-enhanced oligodendrocyte differentiation as well as elucidate the cellular components of a murine mixed neuron-glia model. Murine mixed neuron-glia cultures were generated from P2–7 C57BL/6 mice and characterized for percentage of neuronal and glial cell populations prior to treatment at 7 days in vitro (div) as well as after treatment with Treg-conditioned media at multiple timepoints up to 12 div. Mixed neuron-glia cultures consisted of approximately 30% oligodendroglial lineage cells, 20% neurons and 10% microglia. Furthermore, a full layer of astrocytes, that could not be quantified, was present. Treatment with Treg-conditioned media enhanced the proportion of MBP+ oligodendrocytes and decreased the proportion of PDGFRα+ OPCs, but did not affect OPC proliferation or survival. Treg-enhanced oligodendrocyte differentiation was not caused by Treg polarizing factors, was dependent on the number of activation cycles Treg underwent and was robustly achieved by using 5% conditioned media. These studies provide in-depth characterization of a murine mixed neuron-glia model as well as further insights into the dynamics of Treg-enhanced oligodendrocyte differentiation

Comprehensive Investigation of the Caveolin 2 Gene: Resequencing and Association for Kidney Transplant Outcomes

Caveolae are plasma membrane structures formed from a complex of the proteins caveolin-1 and caveolin-2. Caveolae interact with pro-inflammatory cytokines and are dysregulated in fibrotic disease. Although caveolae are present infrequently in healthy kidneys, they are abundant during kidney injury. An association has been identified between a CAV1 gene variant and long term kidney transplant survival. Chronic, gradual decline in transplant function is a persistent problem in kidney transplantation. The aetiology of this is diverse but fibrosis within the transplanted organ is the common end point. This study is the first to investigate the association of CAV2 gene variants with kidney transplant outcomes. Genomic DNA from donors and recipients of 575 kidney transplants performed in Belfast was investigated for common variation in CAV2 using a tag SNP approach. The CAV2 SNP rs13221869 was nominally significant for kidney transplant failure. Validation was sought in an independent group of kidney transplant donors and recipients from Dublin, Ireland using a second genotyping technology. Due to the unexpected absence of rs13221869 from this cohort, the CAV2 gene was resequenced. One novel SNP and a novel insertion/deletion in CAV2 were identified; rs13221869 is located in a repetitive region and was not a true variant in resequenced populations. CAV2 is a plausible candidate gene for association with kidney transplant outcomes given its proximity to CAV1 and its role in attenuating fibrosis. This study does not support an association between CAV2 variation and kidney transplant survival. Further analysis of CAV2 should be undertaken with an awareness of the sequence complexities and genetic variants highlighted by this study

Janus faced fluorocyclohexanes for supramolecular assembly : synthesis and solid state structures of equatorial mono-, di- and tri alkylated cyclohexanes and with tri-axial C–F bonds to impart polarity

We thank the EPSRC for a studentship (TJP) through the CRITICAT Doctoral Training Centre. FAPESP is also gratefully acknowledged for a studentship (BAP, #2021/09716-5) and a Young Researcher Award (RAC, #2018/03910-1).Concise and general synthesis protocols are reported to generate all-syn mono-, di- and tri-alkylated cyclohexanes where a single fluorine is located on the remaining carbons of the ring. The alkyl groups are positioned to lie equatorially and to have triaxial C–F bonds imparting polarity to these ring systems. Intermolecular electrostatic interactions in the solid-state structure of the trialkylated systems are explored and the resultant supramolecular order opens up prospects for design in soft materials.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Early life disadvantage strengthens flight performance trade-offs in European starlings, Sturnus vulgaris

Developmental stress has been shown to affect adult flight performance in birds, with both negative and positive effects reported in the literature. Previous studies have used developmental manipulations that had substantial effects on patterns of growth. They have also examined mean levels of flight performance per individual, rather than investigating how developmental stress might alter trade-offs between different components of flight performance. We recorded multiple components of escape flight performance in 20 adult European starlings previously subjected to a manipulation likely to have altered levels of developmental stress. Siblings had been cross-fostered to nests where they were either slightly larger (advantaged treatment) or slightly smaller (disadvantaged treatment) than their competitors. The manipulation had no detectable effect on growth. However, developmental treatment affected performance in escape flights a year later by strengthening the trade-offs between different flight parameters. Disadvantaged birds faced a steeper trade-off between take-off speed and take-off angle, and a steeper trade-off between take-off angle and total time in flight, than advantaged birds. The results suggest that even subtle early life adversity that has no obvious effect on growth or size can leave a lasting legacy in the form of constraints on locomotor performance later in life

A fluorescence lifetime-based fibre-optic glucose sensor using glucose/galactose-binding protein

Alternative, non-electrochemistry-based technologies for continuous glucose monitoring are needed for eventual use in diabetes mellitus. As part of a programme investigating fluorescent glucose sensors, we have developed fibre-optic biosensors using glucose/galactose binding protein (GBP) labelled with the environmentally sensitive fluorophore, Badan. GBP-Badan was attached via an oligohistidine-tag to the surface of Ni-nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA)-functionalized agarose or polystyrene beads. Fluorescence lifetime increased in response to glucose, observed by fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy of the GBP-Badan-beads. Either GBP-Badan agarose or polystyrene beads were loaded into a porous chamber at the end of a multimode optical fibre. Fluorescence lifetime responses were recorded using pulsed laser excitation, high speed photodiode detection and time-correlated single-photon counting. The maximal response was at 100 mM glucose with an apparent K-d of 13 mM (agarose) and 20 mM (polystyrene), and good working-day stability was demonstrated. We conclude that fluorescence lifetime fibre-optic glucose sensors based on GBP-Badan are suitable for development as clinical glucose monitors