• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.52 no.6
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• pp.581-593
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• 2014

Toxoplasmosis is an opportunistic infection caused by the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii. T. gondii is widespread globally and causes severe diseases in individuals with impaired immune defences as well as congenitally infected infants. The high prevalence rate in some parts of the world such as South America and Africa, coupled with the current drug treatments that trigger hypersensitivity reactions, makes the development of immunotherapeutics intervention a highly important research priority. Immunotherapeutics strategies could either be a vaccine which would confer a pre-emptive immunity to infection, or passive immunization in cases of disease recrudescence or recurrent clinical diseases. As the severity of clinical manifestations is often greater in developing nations, the development of well-tolerated and safe immunotherapeutics becomes not only a scientific pursuit, but a humanitarian enterprise. In the last few years, much progress has been made in vaccine research with new antigens, novel adjuvants, and innovative vaccine delivery such as nanoparticles and antigen encapsulations. A literature search over the past 5 years showed that most experimental studies were focused on DNA vaccination at 52%, followed by protein vaccination which formed 36% of the studies, live attenuated vaccinations at 9%, and heterologous vaccination at 3%; while there were few on passive immunization. Recent progress in studies on vaccination, passive immunization, as well as insights gained from these immunotherapeutics is highlighted in this review.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.42.1-42.16
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• 2021

Background: Inclusion body hepatitis (IBH) is an economically important viral disease primarily affecting broiler and breeder chickens. All 12 serotypes of fowl adenovirus (FAdV) can cause IBH. Objectives: To characterize FAdV isolates based on phylogenetic analysis, and to study the pathogenicity of FAdV-8b in specific-pathogen-free (SPF) chickens following virus inoculation via oral and intramuscular (IM) routes. Methods: Suspected organ samples were subjected to virus isolation and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for FAdV detection. Hexon gene sequencing and phylogenetic analysis were performed on FAdV-positive samples for serotype identification. One FAdV-8b isolate, UPM/FAdV/420/2017, was selected for fiber gene characterization and pathogenicity study and was inoculated in SPF chickens via oral and IM routes. Results: The hexon gene phylogenetic analysis revealed that all isolates belonged to FAdV-8b. The fiber gene-based phylogenetic analysis of isolate UPM/FAdV/420/2017 supported the grouping of that isolate into FAdV species E. Pathogenicity study revealed that, chickens infected with UPM/FAdV/420/2017 via the IM route had higher clinical score values, higher percent mortality, higher degree of the liver lesions, higher antibody response (p < 0.05), and higher virus shedding amounts (p < 0.05) than those infected via the oral route. The highest virus copy numbers were detected in liver and gizzard. Conclusions: FAdV-8b is the dominant FAdV serotype in Malaysia, and pathogenicity study of the FAdV-8b isolate UPM/FAdV/420/2017 indicated its ability to induce IBH in young SPF chickens when infected via oral or IM routes.

• BMB Reports
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• v.51 no.11
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• pp.584-589
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• 2018

Secondary prevention via earlier detection would afford the greatest chance for a cure in premalignant lesions. We investigated the exomic profiles of non-malignant and malignant changes in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and the genomic blueprint of human papillomavirus (HPV)-driven carcinogenesis in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC). Whole-exome (WES) and whole-genome (WGS) sequencing were performed on peripheral blood and adjacent non-tumor and tumor specimens obtained from eight Korean HNSCC patients from 2013 to 2015. Next-generation sequencing yielded an average coverage of $94.3{\times}$ for WES and $35.3{\times}$ for WGS. In comparative genomic analysis of non-tumor and tumor tissue pairs, we were unable to identify common cancer-associated early mutations and copy number alterations (CNA) except in one pair. Interestingly, in this case, we observed that non-tumor tonsillar crypts adjacent to HPV-positive OPSCC appeared normal under a microscope; however, this tissue also showed weak p16 expression. WGS revealed the infection and integration of high-risk type HPV16 in this tissue as well as in the matched tumor. Furthermore, WES identified shared and tumor-specific genomic alterations for this pair. Clonal analysis enabled us to infer the process by which this transitional crypt epithelium (TrCE) evolved into a tumor; this evolution was accompanied by the subsequent accumulation of genomic alterations, including an ERBB3 mutation and large-scale CNAs, such as 3q27-qter amplification and 9p deletion. We suggest that HPV16-driven OPSCC carcinogenesis is a stepwise evolutionary process that is consistent with a multistep carcinogenesis model. Our results highlight the carcinogenic changes driven by HPV16 infection and provide a basis for the secondary prevention of OPSCC.

• Journal of Gynecologic Oncology
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.93.1-93.11
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• 2018

The introduction of checkpoint inhibitors revolutionized immuno-oncology. The efficacy of traditional immunotherapeutics, like vaccines and immunostimulants was very limited due to persistent immune-escape strategies of cancer cells. Checkpoint inhibitors target these escape mechanisms and re-direct the immune system to anti-tumor toxicity. Phenomenal results have been reported in entities like melanoma, where no other therapy was able to demonstrate survival benefit, before the introduction of immunotherapeutics. The first experience in ovarian cancer (OC) was reported for nivolumab, a fully human anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (PD1) antibody, in 2015. While the data are extraordinary for a mono-immunotherapeutic agent and very promising, they do not match up to the revolutionary results in entities like melanoma. The key to exceptional treatment response in OC, could be the identification of the most immunogenic patients. We hypothyse that BRCA mutation could be a predictor of improved response in OC. The underlying DNA-repair-deficiancy should result in increased immunogenicity because of higher mutational load and more neoantigen presentation. This hypothesis was not tested to date and should be subject to future trials. The present article gives an overview of the immunologic background of checkpoint inhibition (CI). It presents current data on nivolumab and other checkpoint-inhibitors in solid tumors and OC specifically and depicts important topics in the management of this novel substance group, such as side effect control, diagnostic PD-1/programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression assessment and management of pseudoprogression.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.569-577
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• 2017

Sepsis is a syndrome characterized by systemic inflammatory responses to a severe infection. Acute hyper-inflammatory reactions in the acute phase of sepsis have been considered as a primary reason for organ dysfunction and mortality, and advances in emergency intervention and improved intensive care management have reduced mortalities in the early phase. However it has been recognized that increased deaths in the late phase still maintain sepsis mortality high worldwide. Patients recovered from early severe illness are unable to control immune system with sepsis-induced immunosuppression such as immunological tolerance, exhaustion and apoptosis, which make them vulnerable to nosocomial and opportunistic infections ultimately leading to threat to life. Based on strategies to reverse immunosuppression, recent developments in sepsis therapy are focused on molecules having immune enhancing activities. These efforts are focused on defining and revising the immunocompromised status associated with long-term mortality.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.1-9
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• 2018

With the emerging knowledge about tumor biology specific for human papillomavirus (HPV)-related head and neck cancers, the classical understanding about the curative surgery in head and neck cancers are starting to progress, customized for their HPV-associations and ultimately specific for tumor biologic characteristics. The common rule for surgery should reflect the biologic characteristics of target tumors, but still, multi-institutional large-scale data could be scarce, due to the subjective feature of surgical treatment itself. However, the impact of HPV for margin determination is now being questioned by multiple groups, and typical example is European Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG)-3311 study. Here, we review the impact of viral association for surgical decision and its biological background and implications.

• The Korean Journal of Urological Oncology
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• 제15권3호
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• pp.178-186
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• 2017

Purpose: Poloxamer 407 (P407) thermo-sensitive hydrogel formulations were developed to enhance the retention time in the urinary bladder after intravesical instillation. Materials and Methods: P407 hydrogels (P407Gels) containing 0.2 w/w% fluorescein isothiocyanate dextran (FD, MW 4 kDa) as a fluorescent probe were prepared by the cold method with different concentrations of the polymer (20, 25, and 30 w/w%). The gel-forming capacities were characterized in terms of gelation temperature (G-Temp), gelation time (G-Time), and gel duration (G-Dur). Homogenous dispersion of the probe throughout the hydrogel was observed by using fluorescence microscopy. The in vitro bladder simulation model was established to evaluate the retention and drug release properties. P407Gels in the solution state were administered to nude mice via urinary instillation, and the in vivo retention behavior of P407Gels was visualized by using an in vivo imaging system (IVIS). Results: P407Gels showed a thermo-reversible phase transition at $4^{\circ}C$ (refrigerated; sol) and $37^{\circ}C$ (body temperature; gel). The G-Temp, G-Time, and G-Dur of FD-free P407Gels were approximately $10^{\circ}C-20^{\circ}C$, 12-30 seconds, and 12-35 hours, respectively, and were not altered by the addition of FD. Fluorescence imaging showed that FD was spread homogenously in the gelled P407 solution. In a bladder simulation model, even after repeated periodic filling-emptying cycles, the hydrogel formulation displayed excellent retention with continuous release of the probe over 8 hours. The FD release from P407Gels and the erosion of the gel, both of which followed zero-order kinetics, had a linear relationship ($r^2=0.988$). IVIS demonstrated that the intravesical retention time of P407Gels was over 4 hours, which was longer than that of the FD solution (<1 hour), even though periodic urination occurred in the mice. Conclusions: FD release from P407Gels was erosion-controlled. P407Gels represent a promising system to enhance intravesical retention with extended drug delivery.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.172-181
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• 2018

Successful anticancer strategies require a differential response between tumor and normal tissue (i.e., a therapeutic ratio). In fact, improving the effectiveness of a cancer therapeutic is of no clinical value in the absence of a significant increase in the differential response between tumor and normal tissue. Although radiation dose escalation with the use of intensity modulated radiation therapy has permitted the maximum tolerable dose for most locally advanced cancers, improvements in tumor control without damaging normal adjacent tissues are needed. As a means of increasing the therapeutic ratio, several new approaches are under development. Drugs targeting signal transduction pathways in cancer progression and more recently, immunotherapeutics targeting specific immune cell subsets have entered the clinic with promising early results. Radiobiological research is underway to address pressing questions as to the dose per fraction, irradiated tumor volume and time sequence of the drug administration. To exploit these exciting novel strategies, a better understanding is needed of the cellular and molecular pathways responsible for both cancer and normal tissue and organ response, including the role of radiation-induced accelerated senescence. This review will highlight the current understanding of promising biologically targeted therapies to enhance the radiation therapeutic ratio.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.17 no.1 s.28
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• pp.41-46
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• 1981

Eighty of Sarcoma 180 bearing mice, averaging 30 gm of body weight, were divided into eight groups of animals receiving Saline as the control, Corynebacterium parvum, Tubercin-3 and Cyclophosphamide alone and Cyclophosphamide combined with C. parvum, with Tubercin-3 and with both C. parvum and Tubercin-3 and Tubercin-3 combined with C. parvum respectively. Treatment was initiated 4.8 hours after tumor implantation and repeated three times once a day. Doses were suspended or dissolved in 0.2 ml of Saline: 1.4 mg of C. parvum: 0.5 micrograms of Tubercin-3; and 2.7 mg of Cyclophosphamide either in alone or in combination. All the agents given were administered subcutaneously but Cyclophosphamide was given intraperitoneally. The observation on the general conditions of animal took place twice a day following the treatment until the time of death after tumor implantation was determined. Average survival days in each group were as follows: In Control, Saline (11.2 days), C. parvum (14.8 days), Tubercin-3 (16.7 days), Cyclophosphamide(18.7 days). In combination therapy, Cyclophosphamide with C. parvum(22.8 days) with Tubercin-3 (26.9 days). Cyclophosphamide with both C. parvum an Tubercin-3, however, was somewhat longer than in Cyclophosphamide alone but shorter than in combined with either one of C. parvum or Tubercin-3. Finally, in combination with immunotherapeutic agents, Tubercin-3 and C. parvum each other it (8.2 days) was shorter even than Control. Life span of host is, in generally, inversely related to the number of malignant cells and conclusively, the therapeutic potentiation was reflected to be extended survival in combined treatment of a chemotherapeutic Cyclophosphamide with either one of immunotherapeutics, Tubercin-3 or C. parvum. Tubercin-3 and C. parvum in combination, however, appeared to be antagonistic each other.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.922-926
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• 1994

This study was carried out to detemrine the efficacy of combined treatment of cyclophosphamide with tubericin-3 and or picibanil. One hundred sixty sarcoma-180 bearing mice were divided eight groups. Each group received saline, tubercin-3, picibanil , and cyclophosphamide along and/or received cyclophosphamide with tubercin-3 , with picibanil or with both tubercin-3 and picinanil, respectively.Average surviving time of each group of animals was as follows ; control was 10.9days, tubercin-3 was 15.1 days. picibanil was 12.6 days, and cylophosphamide was 17.9 days, In combined therapyy that cylophosphamide injected with tubercin-3 , the surviving time was 26.8 days an din the case of other therapy that cyclophosphamide injected with tubercin-3, the surviving time was 26.8 days an din the case of other therapy that cyclophosphamide injected with picibanil, the surviving time was 21.9 day and cyclophosphamide treated with both turbercin03 and picibanil, the surviving time was found to be 18.2 days, conclusively , the therapeutic potentiation seemed to be extended when combined tretment of the chemotherapeutics cyclophosphamide with either one of immunotherapeutics tubericin-3 or picibanil was tried, Combinatin of tubercin-3 and picibanil showed to be atagonistic each other. Yield of ascites fluid were determined 7 days after injectino of sarcoma-180 ascites tumor cells. Adminitration of cyclophosphamide, tubercin-3 , and picibanil alone and their various combinations reduced the yield of ascites fluid except for picibanil group.