BacMam Expressing Highly Glycosylated Porcine Interferon Alpha Induces Robust Antiviral and Adjuvant Effects against Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus in Pigs.

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is an acute contagious disease that affects cloven-hoofed animals and has severe global economic consequences. FMD is most commonly controlled by vaccination. Currently available commercial FMD vaccines contain chemically inactivated whole viruses, which are thought to be slow acting as they are effective only 4 to 7 days following vaccination. Hence, the development of a novel rapid vaccine or alternative measures, such as antiviral agents or the combination of vaccines and antiviral agents for prompt FMD virus (FMDV) outbreak containment, is desirable. Here, we constructed a recombinant baculovirus (BacMam) expressing consensus porcine interferon alpha (IFN-α) that has three additional N-glycosylation sites driven by a cytomegalovirus immediate early (CMV-IE) promoter (Bac-Con3N IFN-α) for protein expression in mammalian cells. Bac-Con3N IFN-α expressing highly glycosylated porcine IFN-α protein increased the duration of antiviral effects. We evaluated the antiviral effects of Bac-Con3N IFN-α in swine cells and mice and observed sustained antiviral effects in pig serum; additionally, Bac-Con3N IFN-α exhibited sustained antiviral effects in vivo as well as adjuvant effects in combination with an inactivated FMD vaccine. Pigs injected with a combination of Bac-Con3N IFN-α and the inactivated FMD vaccine were protected against FMDV at 1, 3, and 7 days postvaccination. Furthermore, we observed that in combination with the inactivated FMD vaccine, Bac-Con3N IFN-α increased neutralizing antibody levels in mice and pigs. Therefore, we suggest that Bac-Con3N IFN-α is a strong potential antiviral and adjuvant candidate for use in combination with inactivated FMD vaccines to protect pigs against FMDV. IMPORTANCE Early inhibition of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) virus (FMDV) replication in pigs is highly desirable as FMDV transmission and shedding rates are higher in pigs than in cattle. However, commercial FMD vaccines require at least 4 to 7 days postvaccination (dpv) for protection, and animals are vulnerable to heterologous viruses before acquiring high antibody levels after the second vaccination. Therefore, the development of antiviral agents for use in combination with FMD vaccines is essential. We developed a novel antiviral and immunostimulant, Bac-Con3N IFN-α, which is a modified porcine IFN-α-expressing recombinant baculovirus, to improve IFN stability and allow its direct delivery to animals. We present a promising candidate for use in combination with inactivated FMD vaccines as pigs applied to the strategy had early protection against FMDV at 1 to 7 dpv, and their neutralizing antibody levels were higher than those in pigs administered the vaccine only.

Efficacy of distance training program for cardiopulmonary resuscitation utilizing smartphone application and home delivery system.

AIM OF THE STUDY: Community cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) education is important for laypersons. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, with social distancing, conventional face-to-face CPR training was unavailable. We developed a distance learning CPR training course (HEROS-Remote) using a smartphone application that monitors real-time chest compression quality and a home delivery collection system for mannikins. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of the HEROS-Remote course by comparing chest compression quality with that of conventional CPR training. METHODS: We applied layperson CPR education with HEROS-Remote and conventional education in Seoul during the COVID-19 pandemic. Both groups underwent a 2-min post-training chest compression test, and we tested non-inferiority. Chest compression depth, rate, complete recoil, and composite chest compression score was measured. Trainees completed a satisfaction survey on CPR education and delivery. The primary outcome was the mean chest compression depth. RESULTS: A total of 180 trainees were enrolled, with 90 assigned to each training group. Chest compression depth of HEROS-Remote training showed non-inferiority to that of conventional training (67.4 vs. 67.8, p = 0.78), as well as composite chest compression score (92.7 vs. 95.5, p = 0.16). The proportions of adequate chest compression depth, chest compression rate, and chest compressions with complete chest recoil were similar in both training sessions. In the HEROS-Remote training, 90% of the trainees were satisfied with CPR training, and 96% were satisfied with the delivery and found it convenient. CONCLUSION: HEROS-Remote training was non-inferior to conventional CPR training in terms of chest compression quality. Distance learning CPR training using a smartphone application and mannikin delivery had high user satisfaction and was logistically feasible.

The Werther effect following the suicides of three korean celebrities (2017-2018): an ecological time-series study.

BACKGROUND: The suicide rate in Korea was the highest among the member countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development(OECD) for 2013-2016 and 2018-2020. In korea, suicide was the leading cause of death among individuals aged 10-39, and the second leading cause of death for aged 40-59. Thus, this study aimed to examine the Werther effect of the suicides of three Korean idol singers (Jonghyun: December 18, 2017, Sulli: October 14, 2019, and Hara Gu: November 24, 2019). METHODS: The study conducted Poisson regression and used the cause-of-death statistics microdata from 2016 to 2020 provided by Statistics Korea. The case periods ranged from the day of the suicide of each celebrity to 10 weeks after. The control periods were all weeks from 2016 to 2020, excluding the case periods. RESULTS: The suicide rates in Korea significantly increased by 1.21, 1.30, and 1.28 times after the deaths of Jonghyun, Sulli, and Hara Gu, respectively. The Werther effect was more evident in women than men. Suicide rate among individuals aged 10-29 years was greater than those for other age groups. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirmed that the rate of copycat suicides increased after three celebrity singers in Korea died by suicide. Nevertheless, the rate of suicide after the suicide of the three celebrity singers was lower than those in previous studies in Korea.

Comparison of the seed nutritional composition between conventional varieties and transgenic soybean overexpressing Physaria FAD3-1.

BACKGROUND: PfFAD3 transgenic soybean expressing omega-3 fatty acid desaturase 3 of Physaria produces increased level of α-linolenic acid in seed. Composition data of non-transgenic conventional varieties is important in the safety assessment of the genetically-modified (GM) crops in the context of the natural variation. RESULTS: The natural variation was characterized in seed composition of 13 Korean soybean varieties grown in three locations in South Korea for 2 years. Univariate analysis of combined data showed significant differences by variety and cultivation environment for proximates, minerals, anti-nutrients, and fatty acids. Percent variability analysis demonstrated that genotype, environment and the interaction of environment with genotype contributed to soybean seed compositions. Principal component analysis and orthogonal projections to latent structure discriminant analysis indicated that significant variance in compositions was attributable to location and cultivation year. The composition of three PfFAD3 soybean lines for proximates, minerals, anti-nutrients, and fatty acids was compared to a non-transgenic commercial comparator (Kwangankong, KA), and three non-transgenic commercial varieties grown at two sites in South Korea. Only linoleic and linolenic acids significantly differed in PfFAD3-1 lines compared to KA, which were expected changes by the introduction of the PfFAD3-1 trait in KA. CONCLUSION: Genotype, environment, and the interaction of environment with genotype contributed to compositional variability in soybean. PfFAD3-1 soybean is equivalent to the conventional varieties with respect to these components. © 2020 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Evaluation of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) Virus Asia1 Genotype-V as an FMD Vaccine Candidate: Study on Vaccine Antigen Production Yield and Inactivation Kinetics.

South Korea has experienced outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) of serotypes O and A, leading to nationwide vaccination with a bivalent vaccine. Since the FMD virus (FMDV) Asia1 group-V genotype occurred in North Korea in 2007, an Asia1/MOG/05 vaccine strain belonging to the Asia1 group-V genotype was developed using a genetic recombination method (Asia1/MOG/05-R). This study aimed to evaluate the antigen productivity and viral inactivation kinetics of Asia1/MOG/05-R to assess its commercial viability. The antigen yield of Asia1/MOG/05-R produced in flasks and bioreactors was approximately 4.0 µg/mL. Binary ethylenimine (BEI) inactivation kinetics of Asia1/MOG/05-R showed that 2 mM and 1.0 mM BEI treatment at 26 °C and 37 °C, respectively, resulted in a virus titer <10-7 TCID50/mL within 24 h, meeting the inactivation kinetics criteria. During incubation at 26 °C and 37 °C, 10% antigen loss occurred, but not due to BEI treatment. When pigs were inoculated twice with the Asia1/MOG/05-R antigen, the virus neutralization titer increased to approximately 1:1000; therefore, it can sufficiently protect against Asia1/MOG/05-R and Asia1 Shamir viruses. The Asia1/MOG/05-R will be useful as a vaccine strain for domestic antigen banks.

Porcine interferon-α linked to the porcine IgG-Fc induces prolonged and broad-spectrum antiviral effects against foot-and-mouth disease virus.

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is an economically important disease, and the FMD virus (FMDV) can spread rapidly in susceptible animals. FMD is usually controlled through vaccination. However, commercial FMD vaccines are only effective 4-7 days after vaccination. Furthermore, FMDV comprises seven serotypes and various topotypes, and these aspects should be considered when selecting a vaccine. Antiviral agents could provide rapid and broad protection against FMDV. Therefore, this study aimed to develop a fusion protein of consensus porcine interferon-α and Fc portion of porcine antibody IgG (poIFN-α-Fc) using a baculovirus expression system to develop a novel antiviral agent against FMDV. We measured the antiviral effects of the poIFN-α-Fc protein against FMDV and the enhanced duration in vitro and in vivo. The broad-spectrum antiviral effects were tested against seven FMDV serotypes, porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), and bovine enterovirus (BEV). Furthermore, the early protective effects and neutralizing antibody levels were tested by co-injecting poIFN-α-Fc and an FMD-inactivated vaccine into mice or pigs. Sustained antiviral effects in pig sera and mice were observed, and pigs injected with a combination of the poIFN-α-Fc and an inactivated FMD vaccine were protected against FMDV in a dose-dependent manner at 2- and 4-days post-vaccination. In addition, combined with the inactivated FMD vaccine, poIFN-α-Fc increased the neutralizing antibody levels in mice. Therefore, poIFN-α-Fc is a potential broad-spectrum antiviral and adjuvant candidate that can be used with inactivated FMD vaccines to protect pigs against FMDV.

Determination of Optimal Antigen Yield and Virus Inactivation Conditions for the Production of the Candidate Foot-and-Mouth Disease Recombinant Vaccine Strain Asia1 Shamir-R in a Bioreactor.

Since the foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak in South Korea in 2010-2011, vaccination policies utilizing inactivated FMD vaccines composed of types O and A have been implemented nationwide. However, because type Asia1 occurred in North Korea in 2007 and intermittently in neighboring countries, the risk of type Asia1 introduction cannot be ruled out. This study evaluated the antigen yield and viral inactivation kinetics of the recombinant Asia1 Shamir vaccine strain (Asia1 Shamir-R). When Asia1 Shamir-R was proliferated in shaking flasks (1 L), a 2 L bioreactor (1 L), and a wave bioreactor (25 L), the antigen yields were 7.5 µg/mL, 5.2 µg/mL, and 3.8 µg/mL, respectively. The optimal FMDV inactivation conditions were 2 mM BEI at 26 °C and 1.0 mM BEI at 37 °C. There was no antigen loss due to BEI treatment, and only a decrease in antigen levels was observed during storage. The sera from pigs immunized with antigen derived from a bioreactor exhibited a neutralizing antibody titer of approximately 1/1000 against Asia1 Shamir and Asia1/MOG/05 viruses; therefore, Asia1 Shamir-R is expected to provide sufficient protection against both viruses. If an FMD vaccine production facility is established, this Asia1 Shamir-R can be employed for domestic antigen banks in South Korea.

Calcium Chloride as a Novel Stabilizer for Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus and Its Application in the Vaccine Formulation.

The thermal stability of the in-house-developed foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) type O and A viruses was evaluated, and the O Jincheon virus was found to exhibit the lowest thermal stability. To overcome this instability, we proposed a novel stabilizer, calcium chloride. The thermal stability of FMDVs increased up to a CaCl2 concentration of 10 mM, and it had a decreasing trend at >30 mM. The O Jincheon virus showed a significant decrease in the amount of antigen over time at 4 °C. In contrast, the samples treated with CaCl2 showed stable preservation of the virus without significant antigen loss. After the CaCl2-formulated vaccine was administered twice to pigs, the virus neutralization titer reached approximately 1:1000, suggesting that the vaccine could protect pigs against the FMDV challenge. In summary, the O Jincheon virus is difficult to utilize as a vaccine given its low stability during storage after antigen production. However, following its treatment with CaCl2, it can be easily utilized as a vaccine. This study evaluated CaCl2 as a novel stabilizer in FMD vaccines and may contribute to the development of stable vaccine formulations, especially for inherently unstable FMDV strains.

Calcium Chloride Treatment Enhances Antigen Production in Foot-and-Mouth Disease Vaccines for Serotypes SAT1 and SAT3.

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a highly contagious viral infection causing acute and severe vesicular lesions in cattle and pigs, which has prompted global vaccination policies. This study presents a technique for enhancing antigen yield in SAT1 BOT and SAT3 ZIM by treatment with calcium chloride (CaCl2). We tested changes in cell viability in BHK-21 suspension cells treated with varying concentrations of CaCl2. The optimal CaCl2 concentration was determined based on antigen yield. The timing of CaCl2 supplementation relative to FMD virus inoculation was tested. Finally, the optimal medium for antigen production was identified. We observed a concentration-dependent decrease in BHK-21 cell viability at >7.5 mM CaCl2. A CaCl2 concentration of 3 mM yielded the most antigens. CaCl2 supplementation relative to FMD virus infection was optimal 2 h before or with viral inoculation. CD-BHK 21 medium supplemented with CaCl2 was the most productive medium. Specifically, SAT1 BOT and SAT3 ZIM showed improved antigen production in CD-BHK 21 medium with 3 mM CaCl2, while Provero-1 and Cellvento BHK-200 media showed no significant enhancement. Overall, CaCl2 supplementation enhanced FMD antigen productivity. This study provides a useful framework for enhancing antigen production efficiently in the FMD vaccine industry.

Preventive effects of quercetin against foot-and-mouth disease virus in vitro and in vivo by inducing type I interferon.

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is an acute contagious infectious disease that affects cloven-hoofed animals. Although current emergency FMD vaccines only take effect 7 days after vaccination, antiviral agents, such as quercetin, which is a common flavonoid, could reduce the spread of FMD virus (FMDV) during outbreaks. We investigated the in vitro and in vivo antiviral effects of quercetin against FMDV. Analysis of viral copy numbers showed that quercetin had a dose-dependent inhibitory effect on FMDV at concentrations between 19.5 and 1,250 µM in porcine cells. In addition, we observed a quercetin-induced interferon (IFN)-α protein and interferon-stimulated gene (ISG) upregulation in swine cells. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay of sera revealed that quercetin induces the production of IFN-α, IFN-ß, IFN-γ, interleukin (IL)-12, and IL-15 in mice. Inoculation of mice with quercetin or a combination of quercetin with an inactivated FMD vaccine enhanced both the survival rate and neutralizing antibody titer. Therefore, we suggest the use of quercetin as a novel and effective antiviral agent for controlling FMDV infection; however, further investigation of its application in livestock is required.

Immunogenicity and Protection against Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus in Swine Intradermally Vaccinated with a Bivalent Vaccine of Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus Type O and A.

Following the worst outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), a highly contagious disease in cloven-hoofed animals caused by the FMD virus, from November 2010-April 2011, the Korean government enforced a mandatory vaccination policy. A bivalent (FMD type O and A; O + A) vaccine has been recently implemented. Although the FMD outbreak was suppressed by vaccination, the intramuscular (IM) injection presents side effects. Therefore, improving FMD vaccine quality is necessary. Here, we investigated the side effects and immune efficacy of the O + A bivalent vaccine using two different routes of administration: intradermal (ID) and IM. To compare the immune efficacy of the two inoculation routes, virus neutralization titers and structural protein (antigen) levels were measured. The protective efficacy of ID vaccines was confirmed using two viruses (FMDV O/AS/SKR/2019 and A/GP/SKR/2018) isolated in the Republic of Korea. Serological analysis revealed that both animals administered by ID and IM injections exhibited equal immune efficacy. A virus challenge test in the target animal (swine) revealed no (or extremely low) clinical symptoms. Swine in the ID injected group exhibited no side effects. In conclusion, we suggest that the ID route of vaccination is an effective alternative to the existing IM route, which is associated with more frequent side effects.

Interaction between bystander sex and patient sex in bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation for Out-of-Hospital cardiac arrests.

BACKGROUND: Bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a critical factor in improving out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) survival. The aim of this study was to investigate the interaction effect of bystander sex and patient sex on the provision of bystander CPR. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study using national OHCA registry in Korea. The inclusion criteria were adult bystander-witnessed OHCA patients with presumed cardiac etiology from January 2016 to December 2020. The primary outcome was the provision of bystander CPR. Multivariable logistic regression and interaction analysis were conducted to evaluate the impact of bystander sex on bystander CPR provision based on patient sex. RESULTS: The study included 24,919 patients with OHCA, 58.2% with male-bystanders and 41.8% with female-bystanders. Female bystanders were less likely to perform bystander CPR than male bystanders (68.0% vs. 78.8%, adjusted OR (95% CI): 0.62 (0.58-0.66)). Among patients with CPR-trained bystanders, female bystanders had lower odds of bystander CPR (0.85 (0.73-0.97)). In the interaction analysis between bystander and patient sex, a significant difference was observed in the likelihood of bystander CPR according to the patient sex. Female bystanders had lower odds of bystander CPR than male bystanders for male patients (0.47 (0.43-0.50)). However, there were no significant differences between male and female bystanders for female patients (0.91 (0.88-1.07)). CONCLUSION: Female bystanders have a lower likelihood of providing bystander CPR than male bystanders. Additionally, an interaction was observed between bystander sex and patient sex in the providing bystander CPR, with the association being more pronounced in male OHCA patients.

Is Avoidable Hospitalization Experienced Prior to Infection Associated With COVID-19-Related Deaths?

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the effect of the presence or absence of avoidable hospitalization before acquiring coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on COVID-19-related deaths. Methods: This study used the total NHIS-COVID-19 dataset comprising domestic COVID-19 patients, provided by the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) in South Korea. We conducted logistic regression and double robust estimation (DRE) to confirm the effect of avoidable hospitalization on COVID-19-related deaths. Results: Logistic regression analysis confirmed that the odds ratio (OR) of death due to COVID-19 was high in the group that experienced avoidable hospitalization. DRE analysis showed a higher OR of death due to COVID-19 in the group that experienced avoidable hospitalization compared to the group that did not experience avoidable hospitalization, except in the subgroup aged ≤69 years. Conclusion: The effect of avoidable hospitalization on COVID-19-related deaths was confirmed. Therefore, continued health care, preventive medicine, and public health management are essential for reducing avoidable hospitalizations despite the COVID-19 pandemic. Clinicians need to be informed about the importance of continuous disease management.

Antiviral effect of vesatolimod (GS-9620) against foot-and-mouth disease virus both in vitro and invivo.

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is an acute contagious disease of cloven-hoofed animals such as cows, pigs, sheep, and deer. The current emergency FMD vaccines, to induce early protection, have limited use, as their protective effect in pigs does not begin until 7 days after vaccination. Therefore, the use of antiviral agents would be required for reducing the spread of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) during outbreaks. Vesatolimod (GS-9620), a toll-like receptor 7 agonist, is an antiviral agent against various human disease-causing viruses. However, its antiviral effect against FMDV has not been reported yet. The aim of this study was to investigate the antiviral effects of GS-9620 against FMDV both in vitro and in vivo. The inhibitory effect of GS-9620 on FMDV in swine cells involved the induction of porcine interferon (IFN)-α and upregulation of interferon-simulated genes. Protective effect in mice injected with GS-9620 against FMDV was maintained for 5 days after injection, and cytokines such as IFN-γ, interleukin (IL)-12, IL-6, and IFN-γ inducible protein-10 could be detected following the treatment with GS-9620. Furthermore, the combination of GS-9620 with an FMD-inactivated vaccine was found to be highly effective for early protection in mice. Overall, we suggest GS-9620 as a novel and effective antiviral agent for controlling FMDV infection.

Effect of COVID-19-Related Interventions on the Incidence of Infectious Eye Diseases: Analysis of Nationwide Infectious Disease Incidence Monitoring Data.

Objective: Social distancing has been confirmed to reduce the incidence of not only the COVID-19, but also the incidence of other diseases. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effect of social distancing policies on the incidence of infectious eye diseases by monitoring their nationwide incidence data in all age groups. Methods: In this study, to analyse the impact of COVID-19 policy on IEDSC, the time periods were divided into two interventions. The first intervention was the first COVID-19 patient report in Korea on 19 January 2020. The second intervention was relaxation of the social distancing policy on 6 May 2020. Segmented regression analysis of the interrupted time series was used to assess COVID-19 policies on the IEDSC. Results: After the first incidence of a COVID-19 patient, IEDSCs decreased significantly in all age groups, while the relaxation of the social distancing policy increased IEDSCs significantly, mostly in all groups. Conclusion: In the post-COVID-19 era, we hope that national-level interventions such as reducing air pollution and employing precautionary measures will significantly reduce the financial burden of developing infectious ophthalmic diseases.

Factors Associated With the Differences Between Self-Report Smoking and Urinary Cotinine Criteria.

During self-reporting, respondents underreport their smoking status for various reasons. We aimed to evaluate the difference between smoking status self-reporting and urinary cotinine tests in Korea respondents. Logistic regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with the differences between self-reporting and urinary cotinine criteria. The dependent variable was the underreporting of smoking status; independent variables were sociodemographic, health status, and secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure. Total underreporting was 3.6% when Cot ≥164 and 4.0% when Cot-variable (classified) criteria underreported. Positive associations were found between smoking and age, education, drinking, and SHS. Underreporting in the nonsmoker group (odds ratio [OR] = 2.336; confidence interval [CI] = 1.717-3.179) was significantly associated with SHS, but this difference was nonsignificant in the ex-smoker group (OR = 1.184; CI = 0.879-1.638). Underreporting was 3.6% to 4.0%, and C-statistics was about 0.7, indicating that outcomes could be classified. SHS in nonsmokers was positively associated with underreporting; however, only the nonsmoker group had positive associations, demonstrating unintentional underreporting due to SHS.

A Vaccine Strain of the A/ASIA/Sea-97 Lineage of Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus with a Single Amino Acid Substitution in the P1 Region That Is Adapted to Suspension Culture Provides High Immunogenicity.

There are seven viral serotypes of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV): A, O, C, Asia 1, and Southern African Territories 1, 2, and 3 (SAT 1-3). Unlike serotype O FMDV vaccine strains, vaccine strains of serotype A FMDV do not provide broad-range cross-reactivity in serological matching tests with field isolates. Therefore, the topotype/lineage vaccine strain circulating in many countries and a highly immunogenic strain might be advantageous to control serotype A FMDV. We developed a new vaccine strain, A/SKR/Yeoncheon/2017 (A-1), which belongs to the A/ASIA/Sea-97 lineage that frequently occurs in Asian countries. Using virus plaque purification, we selected a vaccine virus with high antigen productivity and the lowest numbers of P1 mutations among cell-adapted virus populations. The A/SKR/Yeoncheon/2017 (A-1) vaccine strain has a single amino acid mutation, VP2 E82K, in the P1 region, and it is perfectly adapted to suspension culture. The A/SKR/Yeoncheon/2017 (A-1) experimental vaccine conferred high immunogenicity in pigs. The vaccine strain was serologically matched with various field isolates in two-dimensional virus neutralization tests using bovine serum. Vaccinated mice were protected against an A/MAY/97 virus that was serologically mismatched with the vaccine strain. Thus, A/SKR/Yeoncheon/2017 (A-1) might be a promising vaccine candidate for protection against the emerging FMDV serotype A in Asia.

Selective Hydrogenation of Acetylene to Ethylene Over Nanosized Gold and Palladium Supported Catalysts.

Ethylene, the main raw material for polyethylene production, is a by-product produced by thermally decomposing naphtha and it contains a small amount of acetylene. The acetylene reacts as a permanent catalyst poison for the ethylene polymerization catalyst. In this study, we wanted to improve the acetylene conversion and the ethylene selectivity by selective hydrogenation of acetylene for removing acetylene contained in ethylene. Catalyst was prepared by loading nanosized gold (Au) and palladium (Pd) particles on support (Al2O3, TiO2). Deposition order Au and Pd particles was changed. The activity of the catalyst was investigated using a flow-typed fixed bed reactor under atmospheric pressure. Au and Pd particles deposited on TiO2 were oxidized to Au2O3 and PdO due to strong metal support interaction (SMSI). It was considered that the Au/Pd/Al2O3 catalyst was more active than the Pd/Au/Al2O3 catalyst due to the formation of the interface between Au particles and Pd particles (or support). But Pd/Au/Al2O3 catalyst is considered to have poor activity because Pd particles cover part of the interface between Au and the support. Au/Pd/Al2O3 catalyst showed the best catalytic activity, and acetylene conversion and ethylene selectivity were 100% and about 80% at 40 °C, respectively.

Vaccine strain of O/ME-SA/Ind-2001e of foot-and-mouth disease virus provides high immunogenicity and broad antigenic coverage.

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is an economically devastating animal disease. There are seven serotypes, A, O, C, Asia 1, Southern African Territories 1, 2, and 3 (SAT1, SAT2, and SAT3), among which serotype O shows the greatest distribution worldwide. Specifically, the O/ME-SA/Ind-2001 lineage, which was reported in India in 2001, has since emerged worldwide, with the O/ME-SA/Ind-2001d and O/ME-SA/Ind-2001e sublineages recently emerging in North Africa, Middle East Asia, Southeast Asia, and East Asia. The antigenic relationship (r1) value for the O1 Manisa and O/Mya-98 lineage inactivated vaccine against various O/ME-SA/Ind-2001 lineages of FMDV isolates, were matching (r1 > 0.3) or non-matching (r1 < 0.3), indicating that the vaccine based on the O/ME-SA/Ind-2001 lineage FMDV, is valuable. In this study, we developed a new vaccine strain, O/SKR/Boeun/2017 isolate, belonging to the O/ME-SA/Ind-2001e sublineage as an outbreak of this sublineage occurred in 2017 in the Boeun county of the Republic of Korea (O/SKR/Boeun/2017). This experimental vaccine exhibited high immunogenicity in pigs and cattle and was antigenically matched with representative FMDV lineages (ME-SA, O/ME-SA/PanAsia, O/SEA/Mya-98, and O/Cathay) in Asia, as demonstrated by two-dimensional virus neutralization tests (2D-VNT). In addition, a 100% survival rate in C56BL/6 mice vaccinated with 1/15 of a pig dose was observed following challenge with FMDV O/VIT/2013 (O/ME-SA/PanAsia) at 10 days post-vaccination. Further, we analyzed the major antigenic sites of the O/SKR/Boeun/2017 vaccine strain as well as other viruses, by 2D-VNT. These results suggest that the O/ME-SA/Ind-2001e sublineage is a promising vaccine strain candidate in Asia, and other countries, for protection against the emerging FMDV.

Analysis of Amino Acid Mutations of the Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus Serotype O Using both Heparan Sulfate and JMJD6 Receptors.

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is an economically devastating animal disease. Adapting the field virus to cells is critical to the vaccine production of FMD viruses (FMDV), and heparan sulfate (HS) and Jumonji C-domain-containing protein 6 (JMJD6) are alternative receptors of cell-adapted FMDV. We performed serial passages of FMDV O/SKR/Andong/2010, classified as the O/Mya-98 topotype/lineage and known as a highly virulent strain, to develop a vaccine seed virus. We traced changes in the amino acid sequences of the P1 region, plaque phenotypes, and the receptor usage of the viruses, and then structurally analyzed the mutations. VP3 H56R and D60G mutations were observed in viruses using the HS receptor and led to changes in the hydrogen bonding between VP3 56 and 60. A VP1 P208L mutation was observed in the virus using the JMJD6 receptor during cell adaptation, enabling the interaction with JMJD6 through the formation of a new hydrogen bond with JMJD6 residue 300. Furthermore, VP1 208 was near the VP1 95/96 amino acids, previously reported as critical mutations for JMJD6 receptor interactions. Thus, the mutation at VP1 208 could be critical for cell adaptation related to the JMJD6 receptor and may serve as a basis for mechanism studies on FMDV cell adaptation.