Advances in mRNA vaccines for viral diseases.

Since the onset of the pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines have demonstrated outstanding performance. mRNA vaccines offer significant advantages over conventional vaccines in production speed and cost-effectiveness, making them an attractive option against other viral diseases. This article reviewed recent advances in viral mRNA vaccines and their delivery systems to provide references and guidance for developing mRNA vaccines for new viral diseases.

Revolutionizing viral disease vaccination: the promising clinical advancements of non-replicating mRNA vaccines.

The mRNA vaccine technology was developed rapidly during the global pandemic of COVID-19. The crucial role of the COVID-19 mRNA vaccine in preventing viral infection also have been beneficial to the exploration and application of other viral mRNA vaccines, especially for non-replication structure mRNA vaccines of viral disease with outstanding research results. Therefore, this review pays attention to the existing mRNA vaccines, which are of great value for candidates for clinical applications in viral diseases. We provide an overview of the optimization of the mRNA vaccine development process as well as the good immune efficacy and safety shown in clinical studies. In addition, we also provide a brief description of the important role of mRNA immunomodulators in the treatment of viral diseases. After that, it will provide a good reference or strategy for research on mRNA vaccines used in clinical medicine with more stable structures, higher translation efficiency, better immune efficacy and safety, shorter production time, and lower production costs than conditional vaccines to be used as preventive or therapeutic strategy for the control of viral diseases in the future.

Peroxide- and transition metal-free electrochemical synthesis of α,ß-epoxy ketones.

A novel electrochemical method for the synthesis of α,ß-epoxy ketones is reported. With KI as the redox mediator, methyl ketones reacted with aldehydes under peroxide- and transition metal-free electrolytic conditions and afforded α,ß-epoxy ketones in one pot (36 examples, 52-90% yield). This safe and environmental-friendly method has a broad substrate scope and can readily provide a variety of α,ß-epoxy ketones in gram-scales for evaluation of their anti-cancer activities.

Formulation and evaluation of a topical liposomal gel containing a combination of zedoary turmeric oil and tretinoin for psoriasis activity.

This study was to develop a combination of zedoary turmeric oil (ZTO) and tretinoin (TRE)-loaded liposomal gel as a topical drug delivery system. We used a combination of single-factor experiment and orthogonal experiment to systematically optimize encapsulation process of the compound liposomes. The optimized liposome vesicles were incorporated into Carbopol gel matrix and studied by continuous in vitro (skin penetration and retention) and in vivo (anti-psoriatic activity using mouse vaginal model and mouse tail model) experiments. The optimized liposomes had an entrapment efficiency (EE) of ZTO was (64.63 ± 1.00)%, EE of TRE was (90.33 ± 0.72)%, drug loading (DL) of ZTO was (9.09 ± 0.14)%, DL of TRE was (1.43 ± 0.02)%, particle size of 257.41 ± 7.58 nm, polydispersity index (PDI) of 0.10 ± 0.04 and zeta potential of -38.77 ± 0.81 mV. Transmission electron microscopy showed liposomes had a regular spherical surface. After 1-month storage at (4 ± 2)°C, the optimized liposome preparations maintained its stability. In vitro study indicated that liposome formulations could significantly prolong the penetration of drugs into the hair follicles of mice and keep more drugs in the skin compared with conventional gel formulations. In vivo study showed that liposomal gel was more effective than conventional gel in treating psoriasis and had a significant dose-dependent effect on psoriasis. In summary, liposomal gel is expected to be an ideal carrier for topical drug delivery systems of ZTO and TRE.

Probiotic Supplements: Their Strategies in the Therapeutic and Prophylactic of Human Life-Threatening Diseases.

Chronic diseases and viral infections have threatened human life over the ages and constitute the main reason for increasing death globally. The rising burden of these diseases extends to negatively affecting the economy and trading globally, as well as daily life, which requires inexpensive, novel, and safe therapeutics. Therefore, scientists have paid close attention to probiotics as safe remedies to combat these morbidities owing to their health benefits and biotherapeutic effects. Probiotics have been broadly adopted as functional foods, nutraceuticals, and food supplements to improve human health and prevent some morbidity. Intriguingly, recent research indicates that probiotics are a promising solution for treating and prophylactic against certain dangerous diseases. Probiotics could also be associated with their essential role in animating the immune system to fight COVID-19 infection. This comprehensive review concentrates on the newest literature on probiotics and their metabolism in treating life-threatening diseases, including immune disorders, pathogens, inflammatory and allergic diseases, cancer, cardiovascular disease, gastrointestinal dysfunctions, and COVID-19 infection. The recent information in this report will particularly furnish a platform for emerging novel probiotics-based therapeutics as cheap and safe, encouraging researchers and stakeholders to develop innovative treatments based on probiotics to prevent and treat chronic and viral diseases.

Development and In Vivo Evaluation of Ziyuglycoside I-Loaded Self-Microemulsifying Formulation for Activity of Increasing Leukocyte.

Ziyuglycoside I (ZgI), a major effective ingredient of Sanguisorba officinalis L, has shown good activity in increasing leukocyte of myelosuppression mice. However, oral ZgI therapy has been deterred by poor bioavailability because of its low aqueous solubility and permeability. Our study was to develop ZgI-loaded self-microemulsifying drug delivery system (SMEDDS) and evaluate its intestinal absorption, and pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic activity for increasing leukocyte. The formulation was designed and optimized by measuring the equilibrium solubility of ZgI in different vehicles and the pseudoternary phase diagram. Further, morphology, particle size, stability, in vitro release, in situ single-pass intestinal perfusion (SPIP), in vivo activity, and in vivo pharmacokinetic (PK) of ZgI-SMEDDS were charactered or studied. Optimized formulations for in vitro dissolution were Obleique CC497, Tween-20, and Transcutol HP with a proportion of 0.25/0.45/0.30 via D-optimal mixture design. Results showed that the solubility of ZgI was enhanced up to 23.93 mg/g and its average particle size was 207.92 ± 2.13 nm. The release of ZgI had been greatly improved by the SMEDDS. In SPIP, the intestinal absorption of SMEDDS was much better than plain ZgI. In PK, we found the oral bioavailability of ZgI-SMEDDS was 6.94-fold higher absolute bioavailability (21.94 ± 4.67) % than ZgI (3.16 ± 0.89) %. The most important was that the mice WBC of ZgI-SMEDDS group was significantly higher than that of the ZgI group. Our study suggested that SMEDDS could increase the solubility of ZgI, which was beneficial to improve oral bioavailability and enhance biological activity.

[Effects of sanguisorba tannins and saponins compatibility on pharmacokinetic parameters of catechin, epicatechin and ziyuglycoside â in rats].

To study the effects of sanguisorba tannins and saponins compatibility at different proportions [tannins-saponins (1∶1) and tannins-saponins(8∶1)] after intragastric administration (50 mg•kg⁻¹) on pharmacokinetic parameters of catechin, epicatechin and ziyuglycoside Ⅰ in rats by using pharmacokinetic techniques and methods. Kinetica 5.0 software was used to calculate the pharmacokinetic parameters. The results showed that the specificity, linearity, recovery rate, precision and stability of the established detection method were in line with the test requirements. When the sanguisorba tannins and eaponins were combined at the rate of 1∶1, Vd and CL of catechin and epicatechin were increased significantly（P<0.05); MRT was significantly shortened(P<0.05); Cmax and AUC were significantly reduced(P<0.05). When the sanguisorba tannins and saponins were combined at the rate of 8∶1, Vd and CL of catechin and epicatechin were significantly reduced(P<0.05); MRT was significantly prolonged(P<0.05); Cmax and AUC were increased significantly(P<0.05). In addition, with the increase in proportion of sanguisorba tannins in the compatibility, Cmax and AUC of ziyuglycoside Ⅰ were increased significantly(P<0.05); Vd and CL were significantly reduced(P<0.05), Tmax was obviously lagging behind, and MRT was also significantly prolonged(P<0.05). In our present study, catechin, epicatechin and ziyuglycoside Ⅰ showed good pharmacokinetic behavior in rats when sanguisorba tannins and saponins were combined at the rate of 8∶1 in compatibility, which could be used as a reference for the proportion in sanguisorba tannins and saponins compatibility.

The emerging role of PANoptosis in cancer treatment.

Programmed cell death (PCD) is a key mechanism for the study of anticancer drugs and has a significant impact on the development and management of cancer. A growing amount of data indicates that different kinds of PCD, particularly pyroptosis, apoptosis, and necroptosis, interact closely. Recent research has revealed the existence of the distinct inflammatory PCD modality known as PANoptosis, which is controlled by complex PANoptosome complexes built by combining elements from different PCD pathways. No single PCD route is sufficient to explain all of the physiologic effects seen in PANoptosis. Numerous studies have demonstrated that PANoptosis can successfully stop cancer cells from growing, proliferating, and developing drug resistance. As a result, it has changed the focus of targeted anticancer therapy. In this review, we outlined the molecular processes of PANoptosis activation and modulation as well as the mechanisms of innate immune cell death. In order to provide a theoretical foundation for the development of drugs targeting PANoptosis as an anti-cancer target, we also highlight the PANoptosomes discovered to date and give an overview of the implications of PANoptosis in cancer treatment.

Gold Nanoparticles Coated with SH-PEG-NH2 and Loaded with Ziyuglycoside I for Promoting Autophagy in Hematopoietic Stem Cells.

Introduction: Radiotherapy and chemotherapy are the fundamental causes of myelosuppression in cancer patients, which usually induce a serious hematopoietic system toxicity, causing the hemocytes and immunity decline of patients. Ziyuglycoside I (ZgI), an active ingredient isolated from traditional Chinese medicine Sanguisorba officinalis L, has been demonstrated to increase the leucocytes and protect hematopoietic stem cells, which is related to its promotion of autophagy in hematopoietic stem cells. Methods: In the present study, we formulated the SH-PEG-NH2-coated gold nanoparticles loading ZgI (ZgI-AuNPs) with a enhanced autophagy promotion in hematopoietic stem cells. ZgI-AuNPs were prepared by HAuCl4-sodium citrate reduction method, and the synthesis of ZgI-AuNPs was validated by XRD, FT-IR, DSC, and TEM findings. Furthermore, the drug loading rate and the release of ZgI were evaluated, and the ZgI-AuNPs' effects on autophagy and immunofluorescence staining for LC3B were tested. Finally, the effect of ZgI-AuNPs on the autophagy and hematopoietic ability of HSCs in vivo was also carried out. Results: The prepared ZgI-AuNPs have an irregular cubic crystal structure by TEM observation, and the average particle size was 340 ± 16.5 nm determined by DLS. The XRD, FT-IR and DSC detection showed that the ZgI had been well loaded in AuNPs, and the AuNPs can load the ZgI at a content of 160.63 ± 1.35 µg·mg-1. Meanwhile, the AuNPs can reduce the drug release rate of ZgI. Importantly, the ZgI-AuNPs enhanced autophagy of HSCs both in vitro and in vivo. At the same time, the gold nanoparticles enhance the hematopoietic effect of ZgI on mice HSCs. Conclusion: Our research suggests that SH-PEG-NH2-coated gold nanoparticles loading ZgI has potential application in myelosuppression therapy.

The crosstalk between classic cell signaling pathways, non-coding RNAs and ferroptosis in drug resistance of tumors.

Ferroptosis is an iron-dependent oxidative cell death characterized by the lethal accumulation of lipid-based reactive oxygen species (ROS), which is distinct from apoptosis, necrosis, and autophagy. Extensive studies suggest that ferroptosis be critical in regulating the growth and drug resistance of tumors, thus providing potential targets for cancer therapy. The development of resistance to cancer therapy remains a major challenge. Ferroptosis is associated with cancer drug resistance and inducing ferroptosis has been demonstrated to reverse drug resistance. This review focuses on a detailed account of the interplay between ferroptosis and related signaling pathways, including the Hippo signaling pathway, Keap1-Nrf2-ARE signaling pathway, Autophagy, and non-coding RNAs, which will shed light on developing the therapeutic role of regulating ferroptosis in reversing the resistance of cancer.

Recent Advances in the Study of the Immune Escape Mechanism of SFTSV and Its Therapeutic Agents.

Sever fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is a new infectious disease that has emerged in recent years and is widely distributed, highly contagious, and lethal, with a mortality rate of up to 30%, especially in people with immune system deficiencies and elderly patients. SFTS is an insidious, negative-stranded RNA virus that has a major public health impact worldwide. The development of a vaccine and the hunt for potent therapeutic drugs are crucial to the prevention and treatment of Bunyavirus infection because there is no particular treatment for SFTS. In this respect, investigating the mechanics of SFTS-host cell interactions is crucial for creating antiviral medications. In the present paper, we summarized the mechanism of interaction between SFTS and pattern recognition receptors, endogenous antiviral factors, inflammatory factors, and immune cells. Furthermore, we summarized the current therapeutic drugs used for SFTS treatment, aiming to provide a theoretical basis for the development of targets and drugs against SFTS.

Polydopamine-coated mesoporous silica nanoparticles co-loaded with Ziyuglycoside I and Oseltamivir for synergistic treatment of viral pneumonia.

Viral pneumonia (VP) is a serious health risk to humans, however, there is still a lack of specific treatments for VP. The spread of the virus in the body induces an excessive inflammatory response that can cause chronic or irreversible damage to lungs. Hence, VP treatment requires rapid clearance of the virus and sustained inflammation control. In this study, an innovative mesoporous silica medication delivery system co-loaded with Ziyuglycoside I(ZgI) and Oseltamivirv(OST) in fast and slow monomeric forms ZgI@MSNs-OST@ Polydopamine (PDA) was prepared for targeted treatment of VP. The prepared ZgI@MSNs-OST@PDA nanoparticles had a homogeneous and membrane-encapsulated spherical structure, with an average particle size of approximately 760 nm. in vitro release and in vivo pharmacokinetic studies demonstrated that ZgI@MSNs-OST@PDA achieved immediate release of OST and sustained release of ZgI, which was readily taken up by the cells. In vitro anti-H1N1 virus experiments showed that nanoparticles rapidly killed the virus in host cells, and the anti-inflammatory effect was sustained and long-lasting, providing excellent protection to host cells. In vivo antiviral pneumonia experiments confirmed the rapid clearance of influenza viruses from mouse lungs and the effective control of overactivated immune responses by ZgI@MSNs-OST@PDA nanoparticles. Through a mechanistic study, we found that the treatment of viral pneumonia with nanoparticles was associated with inhibition of the NLRP3 inflammasome pathway. In conclusion, the constructed nanoparticles achieved synergistic therapeutic effects of ZgI and OST on VP, that is, rapid killing of influenza viruses by OST and effective control of the virus-induced hyperinflammatory response by ZgI.

Recent Advances in Antiviral Activities of Triterpenoids.

Triterpenoids, important secondary plant metabolites made up of six isoprene units, are found widely in higher plants and are studied for their structural variety and wide range of bioactivities, including antiviral, antioxidant, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory properties. Numerous studies have demonstrated that different triterpenoids have the potential to behave as potential antiviral agents. The antiviral activities of triterpenoids and their derivatives are summarized in this review, with examples of oleanane, ursane, lupane, dammarane, lanostane, and cycloartane triterpenoids. We concentrated on the tetracyclic and pentacyclic triterpenoids in particular. Furthermore, the particular viral types and possible methods, such as anti-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), anti-influenza virus, and anti-hepatitis virus, are presented in this article. This review gives an overview and a discussion of triterpenoids as potential antiviral agents.

Isolation and identification of two new compounds from the seeds of Moringa oleifera and their antiviral and anti-inflammatory activities.

Eleven compounds were isolated from methanol extract taken from Moringa oleifera seeds, including two previously unknown and nine known compounds. These compounds were authenticated as a carbamate, three phenylglycosides, four phenol glycosides, two nucleosides, and one flavonoid. Their chemical structures were elucidated using 1 D/2D nuclear magnetic resonance and high resolution-MS. Antivirus activity analyses revealed that Moringa A, glucomoringin, and Vitexin possessed strong inhibitory effects against the H1N1 virus, having IC50 values in the range of IC50 = 0.26 ± 0.03, 0.98 ± 0.17, and 3.42 ± 0.37 µg/mL, respectively. Furthermore, these three compounds could decrease the levels of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1ß, which occur in hosts because of H1N1 infections.

Review of lignans from 2019 to 2021: Newly reported compounds, diverse activities, structure-activity relationships and clinical applications.

Lignans, with various biological activities, such as antitumor, antioxidant, antibacterial, and antiviral activities, are widely distributed in nature and mainly exist in the xylem of plants. In this paper, we summarized the structures and bioactivities of lignans reported in recent years (2019-2021) from five parts, including (1) a summary and classification of newly reported compounds; (2) the pharmacological activities of lignans; (3) molecular resources and activity distribution; (4) the structure-activity relationships; and (5) the clinical application of lignans. This review covers all undescribed compounds that were reported within the covered period of time and all bioactivity data about previously isolated lignans. The distribution of lignans in different plants and families is visualized, which improves the efficiency of searching for specific molecules. The diverse activities of different types of lignans provide an important reference for the rapid screening of these compounds. Discussion about the structure-activity relationships of lignans provides a direction for the structural modification of skeleton molecules. Combined with the clinical application of such molecules, this work will provide a valuable reference for pharmaceutical chemists.

The crosstalk between the caspase family and the cGAS‒STING signaling pathway.

Edited by Jiarui Wu Cytosolic nucleic acid sensors are critical for sensing nucleic acids and initiating innate immunity during microbial infections and/or cell death. Over the last decade, several key studies have characterized the conserved mechanism of cyclic guanosine monophosphate‒adenosine monophosphate synthase (cGAS) and the downstream signaling adaptor stimulator of interferon genes (STING) initiating the innate immune signaling pathways. Aside from its primary involvement in microbial infections and inflammatory diseases, there is growing interest in the alternate roles of cGAS‒STING-mediated signaling. Caspase family members are powerful functional proteins that respond to cellular stress, including cell death signals, inflammation, and innate immunity. Recent studies have uncovered how the caspase family cooperates with the cGAS‒STING signaling pathway. Most caspase family members negatively regulate the cGAS‒STING signaling pathway. In turn, some caspase family members can also be modulated by cGAS‒STING. This review gives a detailed account of the interplay between the caspase family and the cGAS‒STING signaling pathway, which will shed light on developing novel therapeutics targeting the caspase family and cGAS‒STING signaling in antiviral innate immunity, cancer, inflammatory, and autoimmunity.

TPGS-Modified Long-Circulating Liposomes Loading Ziyuglycoside I for Enhanced Therapy of Myelosuppression.

BACKGROUND: Ziyuglycoside I (ZgI), an active ingredient isolated from traditional Chinese medicine Sanguisorba officinalis L, has been demonstrated to increase the leucocytes and protect hematopoietic stem cells. However, the poor solubility and a short half-life of ZgI limit its bioavailability and efficacy. The D-α-tocopherol polyethylene glycol 1000 succinate (TPGS) has been widely used to increase the solubility, improve the encapsulation rate, and extend the half-life of drugs. METHODS: Here, we formulated the TPGS-modified long-circulating liposomes loading ZgI with a sustained drug release and enhanced therapy for myelosuppression. ZgI-TPGS-liposomes were manufactured using a thin-film hydration technique, followed by characterizations of physicochemical properties, including the particle size, zeta potential, TEM, SEM, FTIR, XRD, stability, drug loading (DL), encapsulation efficiency (EE). The in vitro and in vivo delivery efficiency were further evaluated by cellular uptake, in vitro drug release and in vivo pharmacokinetics. Finally, therapeutic effect on myelosuppression was investigated. RESULTS: The ZgI-TPGS-liposomes had an particle size of 97.89 ± 1.42 nm and ZP of -28.65 ± 0.16 mV. It exhibited DL of 9.06 ± 0.76% and EE of 92.34 ± 3.83%, along with excellent storage stability, cellular uptake and sustained drug release to free ZgI and liposomes without TPGS. Additionally, the TPGS modified liposomes significantly enhanced the therapeutic effect of ZgI on CTX induced myelosuppression, which can be confirmed in the apoptosis inhibition and cell viability promotion of CTX injured HSPC-1 cells. Also, the mice in vivo pharmacodynamics demonstrated that TPGS liposomes promoted ZgI increasing the numbers of leucocytes and neutrophils in myelosuppression mice induced by CTX. CONCLUSION: Our research suggest that TPGS-modified long-circulating liposomes loading ziyuglycoside I has potential application in myelosuppression therapy.

Development of Broad-Spectrum Antiviral Agents-Inspiration from Immunomodulatory Natural Products.

Developing broad-spectrum antiviral drugs remains an important issue as viral infections continue to threaten public health. Host-directed therapy is a method that focuses on potential targets in host cells or the body, instead of viral proteins. Its antiviral effects are achieved by disturbing the life cycles of pathogens or modulating immunity. In this review, we focus on the development of broad-spectrum antiviral drugs that enhance the immune response. Some natural products present antiviral effects mediated by enhancing immunity, and their structures and mechanisms are summarized here. Natural products with immunomodulatory effects are also discussed, although their antiviral effects remain unknown. Given the power of immunity and the feasibility of host-directed therapy, we argue that both of these categories of natural products provide clues that may be beneficial for the discovery of broad-spectrum antiviral drugs.

Virucidal activity of Moringa A from Moringa oleifera seeds against Influenza A Viruses by regulating TFEB.

Influenza A viruses (IAVs) are highly contagious pathogens infecting human and numerous animals. The viruses cause millions of infection cases and thousands of deaths every year, making IAVs a continual threat to global health. Our study demonstrated the virucidal activity of Moringa A as a new compound from Moringa oleifera seeds against IAVs. It inhibits virus replication in host cells and protects infected cells from the cytopathic effect induced by IAVs. The EC50andEC90 values of Moringa A for IAVs were 1.27 and 5.30 µM, respectively, when RAW264.7 cells were infected at MOI of 1. The different treatment experiments revealed that Moringa A has a significant inhibitory effect on the IAVs both before and afterdrug addition. Moringa A was observed to decrease the inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1ß, and IFN-ß in H1N1 infected RAW264.7 cells. Finally, Moringa A was found to inhibit the expression and nuclear transfer of the cellular protein transcription factor EB (TFEB) and weaken the autophagy in infected cells, which could be an important antiviral mechanism. Our study demonstrates Moringa A has potent antiviral activity against IVAs, which could be due to the autophagy inhibition property.

Therapeutic potential of Moringa oleifera seed polysaccharide embedded silver nanoparticles in wound healing.

Wound healing is a complicated process that influences patient's life quality. Plant-based polysaccharide has recently gained interest in its use in wound dressing materials because of its biological compatibility, natural abundance, and ideal physiochemical properties. The present study reveals the potential of polysaccharide isolated from Moringa oleifera seed (MOS-PS) and its nanocomposite with silver (MOS-PS-AgNPs) as alternative materials for wound dressing. First, MOS-PS was isolated and structurally characterized by TLC, HPLC, FTIR, NMR, and GPC analyses. A green and simple method was used to synthesize AgNPs using MOS-PS as a stabilizing and reducing agent. The size, morphology, and structure of the MOS-PS-AgNPs were characterized by UV-Vis spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and zeta potential analysis. The results showed that the MOS-PS-AgNPs were spherically shaped, having no cytotoxicity toward mouse fibroblasts cells and promoting their in-vitro migration. Moreover, the MOS-PS-AgNPs displayed strong anti-microbial activity against wound infectious pathogenic bacteria. Finally, the MOS-PS-AgNPs were used for dressing animal wounds and its preliminary mechanism was studied by RT-PCR and histological analysis. The results showed that the MOS-PS-AgNPs can promote wound contraction and internal tissue growth well. Overall, our results indicated that the MOS-PS-AgNPs might be an excellent candidate for use as an optimal wound dressing material.