Vertical and Horizontal Transmission of Streptococcus Mutans and Effective Factors: An In Vivo Study

Aim: The degree of vertical (intrafamilial) and horizontal (extrafamilial) transfer of Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) to a child shows differences according to cultures. The wrong care habits may result in transfer of S. mutans. The aim of this study was to determine the vertical and horizontal transmission of S. mutans to a child and effective factors

Proteome Profile of Extratemporal Structures in Amygdala Kindling Mesial Temporal Lobe Epilepsy Rat Model: A Preliminary Study

WOS: 000392741600003Background: Mesial temporal lobe epilepsy is the most prevalent type of human epilepsy and its pathogenesis still remains unknown. Structures outside the temporal lobe may also play critical roles in the disease's progress. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate proteome alterations and to identify differentially expressed proteins in frontoparietal cortex and thalamus regions of 6-month-old amygdala-kindled WAG/Rij rats as a mesial temporal lobe epilepsy model by using bottom-up proteomics approach. Method: Protein extraction from the tissues was followed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Proteins were identified by peptide mass fingerprinting analysis using MALDI-TOF MS followed by MASCOT database search. Results: 58 and 47 proteins were identified in frontoparietal cortex and thalamus, respectively. Differentially expressed proteins in frontoparietal cortex were all up-regulated in the kindled groups compared to kindled-resistant group (p<0.05). These proteins were; Fabp4, Gamma-enolase, Annexin AT, Rab-15, RAB6-interacting golgin, PGAM1, DAB-2 and Fructose-bisphosphate aldolase C. In thalamus, BDNF (in spot 13), TRAPPC2L, Ras-related protein Rab-2A, GTP-binding protein REM 2 and Calcyclin-binding protein were up-regulated (p<0.05); and BDNF (in spot 9), kif3a, Parvalbumin alpha were down-regulated in the kindled groups compared to the kindled-resistant group (p<0,05). Conclusion: In this study, we identified proteins that might have roles in enabling or complicating mesial temporal lobe epilepsy progress. The potential of these proteins as biomarkers needs further research.TUBITAK (Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey) [108S196]This study was funded by TUBITAK (Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey) (Grant number: 108S196)

Process development for an effective COVID-19 vaccine candidate harboring recombinant SARS-CoV-2 delta plus receptor binding domain produced by Pichia pastoris

Abstract Recombinant protein-based SARS-CoV-2 vaccines are needed to fill the vaccine equity gap. Because protein-subunit based vaccines are easier and cheaper to produce and do not require special storage/transportation conditions, they are suitable for low-/middle-income countries. Here, we report our vaccine development studies with the receptor binding domain of the SARS-CoV-2 Delta Plus strain (RBD-DP) which caused increased hospitalizations compared to other variants. First, we expressed RBD-DP in the Pichia pastoris yeast system and upscaled it to a 5-L fermenter for production. After three-step purification, we obtained RBD-DP with > 95% purity from a protein yield of > 1 g/L of supernatant. Several biophysical and biochemical characterizations were performed to confirm its identity, stability, and functionality. Then, it was formulated in different contents with Alum and CpG for mice immunization. After three doses of immunization, IgG titers from sera reached to > 106 and most importantly it showed high T-cell responses which are required for an effective vaccine to prevent severe COVID-19 disease. A live neutralization test was performed with both the Wuhan strain (B.1.1.7) and Delta strain (B.1.617.2) and it showed high neutralization antibody content for both strains. A challenge study with SARS-CoV-2 infected K18-hACE2 transgenic mice showed good immunoprotective activity with no viruses in the lungs and no lung inflammation for all immunized mice