A Compensatory Liability Regime to Promote the Exchange of Microbial Genetic Resources for Research and Benefit Sharing

Female rhesus macaques were immunized with HIV virus-like particles (HIV-VLPs) or HIV DNA administered as sequential combinations of mucosal (intranasal) and systemic (intramuscular) routes, according to homologous or heterologous prime-boost schedules. The results show that in rhesus macaques only the sequential intranasal and intramuscular administration of HIV-VLPs, and not the intranasal alone, is able to elicit humoral immune response at the systemic as well as the vaginal level.funding agencies|Simian Vaccine Evaluation Unit (SVEU) of the Division of AIDS||European Community|201433|</p

Accreditation procedure for Trichinella spp. Detection in slaughterhouses: The experience of an internal laboratory in Italy

Trichinellosis is a severe foodborne zoonotic disease due to the consumption of undercooked meat containing Trichinella spp. larvae. According to Commission Regulation (EU) No 1375/2015, domestic pigs, farmed wild boar, and horses must be tested for the presence of the parasite in the muscles as part of post-mortem examination. In this study, the accreditation procedure and the maintenance of the certificate for internal laboratory attached to a slaughterhouse are described. The main advantages of such accreditation are represented by the possibility to obtain fast results in order to process carcasses quickly, whereas the difficulties for the technician are linked to performing proficiency testing and following training courses. This program can be considered particularly useful for surveillance and food safety purposes

Effects of adjuvants on IgG subclasses elicited by virus-like Particles

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Virus-Like Particles (VLPs) represent an efficient strategy to present and deliver conformational antigens to the immune system, inducing both arms of the adaptive immune response. Moreover, their particulate structure surrounded by cell membrane provides an adjuvanted effect to VLP-based immunizations. In the present study, the elicitation of different patterns of IgG subclasses by VLPs, administered in CpG ODN1826 or poly(I:C) adjuvants, has been evaluated in an animal model.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Adjuvanted VLPs elicited a higher titer of total specific IgG compared to VLPs alone. Furthermore, while VLPs alone induced a balanced T_H2 pattern, VLPs formulated with either adjuvant elicited a T_H1-biased IgG subclasses (IgG2a and IgG3), with poly(I:C) more potent than CpG ODN1826.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The results confirmed that adjuvants efficiently improve antigen immunogenicity and represent a suitable strategy to skew the adaptive immune response toward the differentiation of the desired T helper subset, also using VLPs as antigen.</p

Identification of immunogenic candidate for new serological tests for Brucella melitensis by a proteomic approach.

Background: The diagnosis of brucellosis by serological tests is based on antigen suspensions derived from smooth lipopolysaccharide extracts, which can give false-positive results linked to cross-reactivity with other Gram-negative microorganisms, especially Yersinia enterocolitica O:9 and Escherichia coli O157:H7. Objective: The objective of the present study was the characterization by proteomic analysis of specific immunogenic proteins not associated with smooth lipopolysaccharide to improve the diagnostic tests used in the ovine brucellosis eradication programs. Methods: The serum from a sheep positive to Brucella melitensis was treated to eliminate all antibodies against such lipopolysaccharides and highlight the reaction towards the immunoreactive proteins in western blotting. Results: The immunoreactive bands were identified by nLC-MS/MS, and through bioinformatics tools, it was possible to select 12 potential candidates as protein antigens specific for Brucella melitensis. Conclusion: The detection of new antigens not subjected to cross-reactivity with other Gram-negative microorganisms can offer additional tools for the serological diagnosis of such diseases