• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.85-90
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• 2011

Relatively little has been studied on the AMA-1 vaccine against Plasmodium vivax and on the plasmid DNA vaccine encoding P. vivax AMA-1 (PvAMA-1). In the present study, a plasmid DNA vaccine encoding AMA-1 of the reemerging Korean P. vivax has been constructed and a preliminary study was done on its cellular immunogenicity to recipient BALB/c mice. The PvAMA-1 gene was cloned and expressed in the plasmid vector UBpcAMA-1, and a protein band of approximately 56.8 kDa was obtained from the transfected COS7 cells. BALB/c mice were immunized intramuscularly or using a gene gun 4 times with the vaccine, and the proportions of splenic T-cell subsets were examined by fluorocytometry at week 2 after the last injection. The spleen cells from intramuscularly injected mice revealed no significant changes in the proportions of CD8$^+$ T-cells and CD4$^+$ T-cells. However, in mice immunized using a gene gun, significantly higher (P<0.05) proportions of CD8$^+$ cells were observed compared to UB vector-injected control mice. The results indicated that cellular immunogenicity of the plasmid DNA vaccine encoding AMA-1 of the reemerging Korean P. vivax was weak when it was injected intramuscularly; however, a promising effect was observed using the gene gun injection technique.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.375-390
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• 2022

Influenza viruses are zoonotic respiratory pathogens, and influenza infections have caused a substantial burden on public health systems and the livestock industry. Although currently approved seasonal influenza vaccines have shown potent protection efficacy against antigenically well-matched strains, there are considerable unmet needs for the efficient control of viral infections. Enormous efforts have been made to develop broadly protective universal influenza vaccines to tackle the huge levels of genetic diversity and variability of influenza viruses. In addition, antiviral drugs have been considered important interventions for the treatment of viral infections. The viral neuraminidase inhibitor oseltamivir is the most widely used antiviral medication to treat influenza A and influenza B viruses. However, unsatisfactory clinical outcomes resulting from side effects and the emergence of resistant variants have led to greater attention being paid to plants as a natural resource for anti-influenza drugs. In particular, the recent COVID-19 pandemic has underpinned the need for safe and effective antiviral drugs with a broad spectrum of antiviral activity to prevent the rapid spread of viruses among humans. This review outlines the results of the antiviral activities of various natural products isolated from plants against influenza viruses. Special focus is paid to the virucidal effects and the immune-enhancing effects of antiviral natural products, since the products have broad applications as inactivating agents for the preparation of inactivated vaccines and vaccine adjuvants.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.269-276
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• 2012

The anti-tumor effect of monocyte-derived DC (MoDC) vaccine was studied in lung cancer model with feasible but weak Ag-specific immune response and incomplete blocking of tumor growth. To overcome this limitation, the hematopoietic stem cell-derived DC (SDC) was cultured and the anti-tumor effect of MoDC & SDC was compared in mouse lung cancer minimal residual model (MRD). Therapeutic DCs were cultured from either $CD34^+$ hematopoietic stem cells with GM-CSF, SCF and IL-4 for 14 days (SDC) or monocytes with GM-CSF and IL-4 for 7 days (MoDC). DCs were injected twice by one week interval into the peritoneum of mice that are inoculated with Lewis Lung Carcinoma cells (LLC) one day before the DC injection. Anti-tumor responses and the immune modulation were observed 3 weeks after the final DC injection. CD11c expression, IL-12 and TGF-${\beta}$ secretion were higher in SDC but CCR7 expression, IFN-${\gamma}$ and IL-10 secretion were higher in MoDC. The proportion of $CD11c^+CD8a^+$ cells was similar in both DC cultures. Although both DC reduced the tumor burden, histological anti-tumor effect and the frequencies of IFN-${\gamma}$ secreting $CD8^+$ T cells were higher in SDC treated group than in MoDC. Conclusively, although both MoDC and SDC can induce the anti-tumor immunity, SDC may be better module as anti-tumor vaccine than MoDC in mouse lung cancer.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.135-144
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• 2022

As the number of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccinations increases, various side effects are being reported, and menstrual abnormalities have been reported as a side effect in women. However, it is still unclear whether the COVID-19 vaccine has detrimental effects on the female reproductive system. Therefore, we investigated the effect of excessive immune response on reproductive function by administering Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) instead of the COVID-19 vaccine. The immune response in mice was induced by injection of LPS. Mice injected with saline 5 times were used as a control group, and mice injected with LPS 5 times were used as an experimental group. Repeated administration of LPS significantly reduced the number of corpus luteum (CL). On the other hand, the injection of LPS did not affect the development of follicles leading before the CL. The expression of the apoptosis-related genes Fas and Fas-L increased in the experimental group. In addition, the expression of the inflammation-related genes increased in the experimental group. In this study, we confirmed that LPS had detrimental effects on the uterus and ovaries in mice. These results suggest that injection of LPS can cause immune reactions within the uterus and ovaries and cause hormonal changes, which can have adverse effects such as abnormal operation or bleeding of the menstrual cycle. These results are expected to help determine the cause of decreased reproductive function, infertility, or physiological disorders caused by the COVID-19 vaccine.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.405-411
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• 2011

Avian influenza virus vaccines produced in oil-emulsified inactivated form with antigen content of at least 160 hemagglutinin units (HAU) induced immunity in birds. However, in addition to enhancing the effect of the adjuvant(s), other additional supplemented biological compounds included in inactivated vaccines could produce higher levels of antibody. We examined in chickens, Vietnamese ducks, and muscovy ducks the adjuvant effect of Sophy ${\beta}$-glucan (SBG), a ${\beta}$-1,3-1,6 glucan produced by the black yeast Aureobasidium pollulans strain AF0-202, when administered with an avian influenza H5 subtype vaccine. In Experiment 1, 40 chickens (ISA Brown hybrid), allocated to four groups of ten each, were immunized with Oil-H5N1(VN), Oil-H5N1(CN), Oil-H5N2(CN), and saline (control group), respectively. In Experiment 2, chickens (ISA Brown hybrid), muscovy ducks (French hybrid), and Vietnamese ducks (indigenous Vietnamese) were used to further assess the effect of SBG on immunogenicity of the Oil-H5N1(VN) Vietnamese vaccine. ELISA and hemagglutination inhibition (HI) assays were used to assess the antibody response. The H5 subtype vaccines initiated significantly higher immune responses in the animals dosed with SBG, with 1.0-1.5 $log_2$ higher HI titers and 10-20% ELISA seroconversion, compared with those not dosed with ${\beta}$-glucan. Notably, some of the animals dosed with SBG induced HI titers higher than 9.0 $log_2$ following boosting immunization. Taken together, our serial studies indicated that SBG is a potential effector, such as enhancing the immune response to the H5 vaccines tested.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.38-48
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• 2022

Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is an oncofetal antigen primarily detected in the peripheral blood of cancer patients, particularly in those with colorectal cancer. CEA is considered a valuable target for antigen-specific immunotherapy. In this study, we induced the anti-tumor immunity for CEA through the administration of a dendritic cell (DC) vaccine. However, there was a limitation in inducing tumor regression in the DC vaccinated mice. To enhance the efficacy of anti-tumor immunity in MC38/CEA2 tumor-bearing mice, we evaluated the effects of DC vaccine in combination with cyclophosphamide (CYP). Administration of CYP 100 mg/kg in mice resulted in significant inhibition of tumor growth in the 2-day tumor model, whereas a lower inhibition of tumor growth was seen in the 10-day tumor model. Therefore, the 10-day tumor model was selected for testing chemo-immunotherapy. The combined CYP and DC vaccine not only increased tumor antigen-specific immune responses but also induced synergistic anti-tumor immunity. Furthermore, the adverse effects of CYP such as weight loss and immunosuppression by regulatory T cells and myeloid-derived suppressor cells showed a significant reduction in the combined chemo-immunotherapy treatment compared with CYP alone. Our data suggest that chemoimmunotherapy with the DC vaccine may offer a new therapeutic strategy to induce a potent anti-tumor effect and reduce the adverse effects of chemotherapy.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.55-63
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• 2024

Purpose: A 2-dose varicella vaccination strategy has been introduced in many countries worldwide, aiming to increase vaccine effectiveness (VE) against varicella infection. In this network meta-analysis, we aimed to provide a comprehensive evaluation and an overall estimated effect of varicella vaccination strategies, via a Bayesian model. Methods: For each eligible study, we collected trial characteristics, such as: 1-dose vs. 2-dose, demographic characteristics, and outcomes of interest. For studies involving different doses, we aggregated the data for the same number of doses delivered into one arm. The preventive effect of 1-dose vs. 2-dose of varicella vaccine were evaluated in terms of the odds ratio (OR) and corresponding equal-tailed 95% confidence interval (95% CI). Results: A total of 903 studies were retrieved during our literature search, and 25 interventional or observational studies were selected for the Bayesian network meta-analysis. A total of 49,265 observed individuals were included in this network meta-analysis. Compared to the 0-dose control group, the OR of all varicella infections were 0.087 (95% CI, 0.046-0.164) and 0.310 (95% CI, 0.198-0.484) for 2-doses and one-dose, respectively, which corresponded to VE of 69.0% (95% CI, 51.6-81.2) and VE of 91.3% (95% CI, 83.6-95.4) for 1- and 2-doses, respectively. Conclusions: A 2-dose vaccine strategy was able to significantly reduce varicella burden. The effectiveness of 2-dose vaccination on reducing the risk of infection was demonstrated by sound statistical evidence, which highlights the public health need for a 2-dose vaccine recommendation.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.205-214
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine womens' perceptions regarding influenza vaccination during pregnancy among Korean childbearing women. Methods: Data was collected using focus group interviews from June to September, 2010. Forty Korean women participated in 13 focus groups. After obtaining permission from participants, each session of the focus group was audio-taped and transcribed verbatim. The responses were analyzed utilizing qualitative content analysis. Results: Forty women ranging from 26 to 43 participated in the study. The major themes were safety concerns; effects of fetal protection and infection prevention; lack of perceived needs; and encouragement as well as concerns from others. Participants raised questions on whether the vaccine was safe and effective, and concerns about the potential harmful effect of influenza vaccine to their bodies and the fetus. The major reason for influenza vaccination during pregnancy was to protect self and fetus. Also, clinician's recommendation was the facilitating factors for influenza vaccination during pregnancy. Conclusion: The findings suggest that concerns associated with influenza vaccination should be considered when educating childbearing women about the influenza vaccine during pregnancy.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.345-351
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• 2004

ln the present work to determine effect of a Streptococcus pneumoniae conjugate vaccine, S.pneumoniae capsule attached to the surface protein (JY-Pol) was ex amined. This JY-Pol contained approximately 92% and 6% carbohydrate and protein, respectively. Gel electrophoresis revealed the presence of the surface protein in the JY-Pol. By the double immunodiffusion and isotyping ELISA analyses, administration of JY-Pol that was adsorbed to alum adjuvant (JY-Pol/Alum) into mice induced IgM, IgG, and IgA specific for the S.pneumoniae capsule. The ATCC capsular polysaccharide adsorbed to alum (ATCC-Pol/Alum) provoked only IgM in mice. In survival tests, mice that were immunized with the JY-Pol/Alum before intravenous challenge with live S.pneumoniae survived entire period of 46 day-observation, whereas all mice that received ATCC-Pol/Alum or only diluent instead of the vaccination died within 5 and 12 days, respectively. Results from footpad-edema test showed that JY-Pol/Alum formula provoked the cellular immunity as determined by swelling of the mouse footpad. These data indicate that the naturally conjugated JY- Pol enhances resistance of mice against disseminated pneumococcal disease due to S.pneumoniae by both humoral and cellular immune responses.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.57 no.3
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• pp.197-200
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• 2017

This study evaluated the effect of a combination of acetaminophen and vitamin C (CAV) on reducing serum cortisol and tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$ ($TNF-{\alpha}$) concentrations in piglets vaccinated with foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccine. Piglets were vaccinated with FMD vaccine and treated with CAV at concentrations of 0.0, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 kg/ton feed (P-CON, AD-1, AD-2, and AD-3, groups, respectively) for 5 days post-vaccination. Cortisol and $TNF-{\alpha}$ levels at 5 days post-treatment in the AD-1-3 groups were significantly lower than that in the P-CON group (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences between AD-2 and AD-3 groups and non-vaccinated, non-CAV-treated piglets.