RESUMEN
The uneven worldwide vaccination coverage against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and emergence of variants escaping immunity call for broadly effective and easily deployable therapeutic agents. We have previously described the human single-chain scFv76 antibody, which recognizes SARS-CoV-2 Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Delta variants. We now show that scFv76 also neutralizes the infectivity and fusogenic activity of the Omicron BA.1 and BA.2 variants. Cryoelectron microscopy (cryo-EM) analysis reveals that scFv76 binds to a well-conserved SARS-CoV-2 spike epitope, providing the structural basis for its broad-spectrum activity. We demonstrate that nebulized scFv76 has therapeutic efficacy in a severe hACE2 transgenic mouse model of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia, as shown by body weight and pulmonary viral load data. Counteraction of infection correlates with inhibition of lung inflammation, as observed by histopathology and expression of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. Biomarkers of pulmonary endothelial damage were also significantly reduced in scFv76-treated mice. The results support use of nebulized scFv76 for COVID-19 induced by any SARS-CoV-2 variants that have emerged so far.
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COVID-19 , SARS-CoV-2 , Humanos , Animales , Ratones , SARS-CoV-2/genética , Microscopía por Crioelectrón , Aerosoles y Gotitas Respiratorias , Anticuerpos , Ratones Transgénicos , Pulmón , Anticuerpos Antivirales , Anticuerpos NeutralizantesRESUMEN
The COVID-19 pandemic and the need for additional safe, effective, and affordable vaccines gave new impetus into development of vaccine genetic platforms. Here we report the findings from the phase 1, first-in-human, dose-escalation study of COVID-eVax, a DNA vaccine encoding the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. Sixty-eight healthy adults received two doses of 0.5, 1, or 2 mg 28 days apart, or a single 2-mg dose, via intramuscular injection followed by electroporation, and they were monitored for 6 months. All participants completed the primary safety and immunogenicity assessments after 8 weeks. COVID-eVax was well tolerated, with mainly mild to moderate solicited adverse events (tenderness, pain, bruising, headache, and malaise/fatigue), less frequent after the second dose, and it induced an immune response (binding antibodies and/or T cells) at all prime-boost doses tested in up to 90% of the volunteers at the highest dose. However, the vaccine did not induce neutralizing antibodies, while particularly relevant was the T cell-mediated immunity, with a robust Th1 response. This T cell-skewed immunological response adds significant information to the DNA vaccine platform and should be assessed in further studies for its protective capacity and potential usefulness also in other therapeutic areas, such as oncology.
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COVID-19 , Vacunas de ADN , Adulto , Humanos , Anticuerpos Neutralizantes , Anticuerpos Antivirales , COVID-19/prevención & control , Vacunas contra la COVID-19/efectos adversos , Método Doble Ciego , Pandemias/prevención & control , SARS-CoV-2 , Vacunas de ADN/efectos adversosRESUMEN
As of December 2021, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), remains a global emergency, and novel therapeutics are urgently needed. Here we describe human single-chain variable fragment (scFv) antibodies (76clAbs) that block an epitope of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein essential for ACE2-mediated entry into cells. 76clAbs neutralize the Delta variant and other variants being monitored (VBMs) and inhibit spike-mediated pulmonary cell-cell fusion, a critical feature of COVID-19 pathology. In two independent animal models, intranasal administration counteracted the infection. Because of their high efficiency, remarkable stability, resilience to nebulization, and low cost of production, 76clAbs may become a relevant tool for rapid, self-administrable early intervention in SARS-CoV-2-infected subjects independently of their immune status.
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COVID-19 , SARS-CoV-2 , Animales , Anticuerpos Neutralizantes/uso terapéutico , Anticuerpos Antivirales/uso terapéutico , Humanos , Fragmentos de Inmunoglobulinas , SARS-CoV-2/genética , Glicoproteína de la Espiga del CoronavirusRESUMEN
The COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 has made the development of safe and effective vaccines a critical priority. To date, four vaccines have been approved by European and American authorities for preventing COVID-19, but the development of additional vaccine platforms with improved supply and logistics profiles remains a pressing need. Here we report the preclinical evaluation of a novel COVID-19 vaccine candidate based on the electroporation of engineered, synthetic cDNA encoding a viral antigen in the skeletal muscle. We constructed a set of prototype DNA vaccines expressing various forms of the SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein and assessed their immunogenicity in animal models. Among them, COVID-eVax-a DNA plasmid encoding a secreted monomeric form of SARS-CoV-2 S protein receptor-binding domain (RBD)-induced the most potent anti-SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibody responses (including against the current most common variants of concern) and a robust T cell response. Upon challenge with SARS-CoV-2, immunized K18-hACE2 transgenic mice showed reduced weight loss, improved pulmonary function, and lower viral replication in the lungs and brain. COVID-eVax conferred significant protection to ferrets upon SARS-CoV-2 challenge. In summary, this study identifies COVID-eVax as an ideal COVID-19 vaccine candidate suitable for clinical development. Accordingly, a combined phase I-II trial has recently started.
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Vacunas contra la COVID-19/administración & dosificación , COVID-19/prevención & control , Inmunización/métodos , Modelos Animales , SARS-CoV-2/aislamiento & purificación , Glicoproteína de la Espiga del Coronavirus/inmunología , Vacunas de ADN/administración & dosificación , Animales , Anticuerpos Neutralizantes/inmunología , Anticuerpos Antivirales/inmunología , COVID-19/genética , COVID-19/virología , Femenino , Hurones , Humanos , Ratones , Ratones Endogámicos BALB C , Ratones Endogámicos C57BL , Ratones Transgénicos , Dominios Proteicos , Ratas Sprague-DawleyRESUMEN
Aspergillus fumigatus is the most common opportunistic fungal pathogen and causes invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA), with high mortality among immunosuppressed patients. The fungistatic activity of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) has been recently described in vitro We evaluated the efficacy of ATRA in vivo and its potential synergistic interaction with other antifungal drugs. A rat model of IPA and in vitro experiments were performed to assess the efficacy of ATRA against Aspergillus in association with classical antifungal drugs and in silico studies used to clarify its mechanism of action. ATRA (0.5 and 1 mM) displayed a strong fungistatic activity in Aspergillus cultures, while at lower concentrations, synergistically potentiated fungistatic efficacy of subinhibitory concentration of amphotericin B (AmB) and posaconazole (POS). ATRA also enhanced macrophagic phagocytosis of conidia. In a rat model of IPA, ATRA reduced mortality similarly to posaconazole. Fungistatic efficacy of ATRA alone and synergistically with other antifungal drugs was documented in vitro, likely by inhibiting fungal heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) expression and Hsp90-related genes. ATRA treatment reduced mortality in a model of IPA in vivo Those findings suggest ATRA as a suitable fungistatic agent that can also reduce dosage and adverse reactions of classical antifungal drugs and add to the development of new therapeutic strategies against IPA and systemic fungal infections.
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Aspergillus fumigatus , Aspergilosis Pulmonar Invasiva , Anfotericina B/farmacología , Animales , Antifúngicos/farmacología , Antifúngicos/uso terapéutico , Humanos , Aspergilosis Pulmonar Invasiva/tratamiento farmacológico , Ratas , Tretinoina/farmacologíaRESUMEN
COVID-19 is a rapidly spreading disease, posing a huge hazard to global health. The plasmid vaccine pTK1A-TPA-SpikeA (named COVID-eVax) encodes the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 S protein receptor-binding domain, developed for intramuscular injection followed by electroporation (EP). The aim of this study was to assess the systemic toxicity and local tolerance of COVID-eVax delivered intramuscularly followed by EP in Sprague Dawley (SD) rats. The animals were killed 2 days and 4 weeks after the last injection (30-day and 57-day, respectively). No mortality was observed, and no signs of toxicity were evident, including injection site reactions. A lasting and specific immune response was observed in all treated animals, confirming the relevance of the rat as a toxicological model for this vaccine. Histopathological evaluation revealed muscle fiber necrosis associated with subchronic inflammation at the injection sites (at the 30-day time point), with a clear trend for recovery at the 57-day time point, which is expected following EP, and considered a desirable effect to mount the immune response against the target antigen. In conclusion, the intramuscular EP-assisted DNA vaccine, COVID-eVax showed an excellent safety profile in SD rats under these experimental conditions and supports its further development for use in humans.
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COVID-19 , Vacunas de ADN , Animales , Anticuerpos Antivirales , Vacunas contra la COVID-19 , Electroporación , Humanos , Plásmidos , Ratas , Ratas Sprague-Dawley , SARS-CoV-2 , Vacunas de ADN/toxicidadRESUMEN
COVID-19 has rapidly spread all over the world, progressing into a pandemic. This situation has urgently impelled many companies and public research institutes to concentrate their efforts on research for effective therapeutics. Here, we outline the strategies and targets currently adopted in developing a vaccine against SARS-CoV-2. Based on previous evidence and experience with SARS and MERS, the primary focus has been the Spike protein, considered as the ideal target for COVID-19 immunotherapies.
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Betacoronavirus/inmunología , Infecciones por Coronavirus/prevención & control , Pandemias/prevención & control , Neumonía Viral/prevención & control , Glicoproteína de la Espiga del Coronavirus/inmunología , Vacunas Virales/inmunología , Animales , Anticuerpos Antivirales/efectos adversos , Anticuerpos Antivirales/biosíntesis , Acrecentamiento Dependiente de Anticuerpo/inmunología , Betacoronavirus/genética , Betacoronavirus/patogenicidad , COVID-19 , Vacunas contra la COVID-19 , Infecciones por Coronavirus/epidemiología , Infecciones por Coronavirus/genética , Infecciones por Coronavirus/inmunología , Humanos , Neumonía Viral/epidemiología , Neumonía Viral/inmunología , SARS-CoV-2 , Glicoproteína de la Espiga del Coronavirus/química , Glicoproteína de la Espiga del Coronavirus/genética , Investigación Biomédica Traslacional , Vacunas Virales/efectos adversos , Vacunas Virales/genéticaAsunto(s)
Betacoronavirus/inmunología , Infecciones por Coronavirus/prevención & control , Pandemias/prevención & control , Neumonía Viral/prevención & control , Vacunas de ADN/efectos adversos , Vacunas de ADN/inmunología , Vacunas Virales/uso terapéutico , COVID-19 , Infecciones por Coronavirus/virología , ADN Viral/genética , Humanos , Inmunogenicidad Vacunal , Neumonía Viral/virología , Reacción en Cadena de la Polimerasa/métodos , SARS-CoV-2 , Vacunación , Vacunas de ADN/economía , Vacunas Virales/inmunologíaRESUMEN
Posaconazole is currently used for the prophylaxis of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA). Limitations to posaconazole usage are drug-drug interactions and side effects. PTX3 is an innate immunity glycoprotein with opsonic activity, proven to be protective in IPA animal models. This study investigated the combination of posaconazole with PTX3. The results indicate synergy between PTX3 and posaconazole against aspergillosis, suggesting that a combination of reduced doses of posaconazole with the immune response enhancer PTX3 might represent a treatment option with a higher therapeutic index than posaconazole.
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Antifúngicos/farmacología , Proteína C-Reactiva/farmacología , Aspergilosis Pulmonar Invasiva/tratamiento farmacológico , Componente Amiloide P Sérico/farmacología , Triazoles/farmacología , Animales , Sinergismo Farmacológico , Masculino , RatasRESUMEN
Crohn's and ulcerative colitis are common conditions associated with inflammatory bowel disease as well as intestinal flora and epithelial barrier dysfunction. A novel fermented Lactobacillus brevis (AL0035) herein assayed in a trinitro benzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis mice model after oral administration significantly counteracted the body weight loss and improves the disease activity index and histological injury scores. AL0035 significantly decreased the mRNA and protein expression of different pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNFalpha, IL-1beta, IL-6, IL-12, IFN-gamma) and enhanced the expression of IL-10. In addition, the probiotic promoted the expression of tight junction proteins, such as ZO-1, keeping the intestinal mucosal barrier function to attenuate colitis symptoms in mice. Markers of inflammation cascade such as myeloperoxidase (MPO) and PPAR-gamma measured in the colon were also modified by AL0035 treatment. AL0035 was also able to reduce different lymphocyte markers' infiltration in the colon (GATA-3, T-Bet, NK1.1) and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1/CCL2), a key chemokine involved in the migration and infiltration of monocytes/macrophages in the immunological surveillance of tissues and inflammation. In colonic microbiota profile analysis through 16S rRNA sequencing, AL0035 increased the microbial diversity depleted by TNBS administration and the relative abundance of the Lactobacillaceae and Lachnospiraceae families, whereas it decreased the abundance of Proteobacteria. Altogether, these data indicated that AL0035 could lower the severity of colitis induced by TNBS by regulating inflammatory cytokines, increasing the expression of tight junction proteins and modulating intestinal microbiota, thus preventing tissue damage induced by colitis.
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Colitis , Microbioma Gastrointestinal , Levilactobacillus brevis , Humanos , Animales , Ratones , Verduras , ARN Ribosómico 16S , Colitis/inducido químicamente , Inflamación , Citocinas , Proteínas de Uniones Estrechas/genéticaRESUMEN
The COVID-19 pandemic, once a global crisis, is now largely under control, a testament to the extraordinary global efforts involving vaccination and public health measures. However, the relentless evolution of SARS-CoV-2, leading to the emergence of new variants, continues to underscore the importance of remaining vigilant and adaptable. Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) have stood out as a powerful and immediate therapeutic response to COVID-19. Despite the success of mAbs, the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 continues to pose challenges and the available antibodies are no longer effective. New variants require the ongoing development of effective antibodies. In the present study, we describe the generation and characterization of neutralizing mAbs against the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein by combining plasmid DNA and recombinant protein vaccination. By integrating genetic immunization for rapid antibody production and the potent immune stimulation enabled by protein vaccination, we produced a rich pool of antibodies, each with unique binding and neutralizing specificities, tested with the ELISA, BLI and FACS assays and the pseudovirus assay, respectively. Here, we present a panel of mAbs effective against the SARS-CoV-2 variants up to Omicron BA.1 and BA.5, with the flexibility to target emerging variants. This approach ensures the preparedness principle is in place to address SARS-CoV-2 actual and future infections.
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The kinesin spindle protein (KSP), a member of the kinesin superfamily of microtubule-based motors, plays a critical role in mitosis as it mediates centrosome separation and bipolar spindle assembly and maintenance. Inhibition of KSP function leads to cell cycle arrest at mitosis with the formation of monoastral microtubule arrays, and ultimately, to cell death. Several KSP inhibitors are currently being studied in clinical trials and provide new opportunities for the development of novel anticancer therapeutics. RNA interference (RNAi) may represent a powerful strategy to interfere with key molecular pathways involved in cancer. In this study, we have established an efficient method for intratumoral delivery of siRNA. We evaluated short interfering RNA (siRNA) duplexes targeting luciferase as surrogate marker or KSP sequence. To examine the potential feasibility of RNAi therapy, the siRNA was transfected into pre-established lesions by means of intratumor electro-transfer of RNA therapeutics (IERT). This technology allowed cell permeation of the nucleic acids and to efficiently knock down gene expression, albeit transiently. The KSP-specific siRNA drastically reduced outgrowth of subcutaneous melanoma and ovarian cancer lesions. Our results show that intratumoral electro-transfer of siRNA is feasible and KSP-specific siRNA may provide a novel strategy for therapeutic intervention.
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Cinesinas/metabolismo , Neoplasias Experimentales/terapia , ARN Interferente Pequeño , Animales , Línea Celular Tumoral , Electroporación , Femenino , Regulación Neoplásica de la Expresión Génica , Técnicas de Silenciamiento del Gen , Proteínas Fluorescentes Verdes , Humanos , Cinesinas/genética , Masculino , Melanoma , Ratones , Ratones Desnudos , Neoplasias Ováricas , Interferencia de ARNRESUMEN
Dietary agents are receiving much attention for the chemoprevention of cancer. While curcumin is known to influence several pathways and affect tumor growth in vivo, carnitin and its congeners play a variety of important metabolic functions: are involved in the oxydation of long-chain fatty acids, regulate acyl-CoA levels and influence protein activity and stability by modifying the extent of protein acetylation. In this study we evaluated the efficacy of carnitines in the prevention of cancer development using the 1,2,-dimethylhydrazine (DMH)-induced colon carcinogenesis model. We also assessed whether their combination was able to give rise to increased protection from cancer development. Mice treated with DMH were dosed orally with curcumin and/or carnitine and acylcarnitines for 20 weeks. At the end of the treatment colon samples were collected, and scored for multiple ACF and adenomas. We observed that carnitine and acyl-carnitines had same, if not higher, efficacy than curcumin alone in inhibiting the formation of neoplastic lesions induced by DMH treatment. Interestingly, the combination of curcumin and acetyl-L-carnitine was able to fully inhibit the development of advanced adenoma lesions. Our data unveil the antitumor effects of carnitines and warrant additional studies to further support the adoption of carnitines as cancer chemopreventative agents.
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1,2-Dimetilhidrazina/toxicidad , Carnitina/uso terapéutico , Neoplasias del Colon/tratamiento farmacológico , Acetilcarnitina/uso terapéutico , Animales , Apoptosis/efectos de los fármacos , Proliferación Celular/efectos de los fármacos , Neoplasias del Colon/química , Neoplasias del Colon/metabolismo , Curcumina/uso terapéutico , Células HT29 , Humanos , Inmunohistoquímica , Masculino , Ratones , Ratones Endogámicos BALB CRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Treatment of advanced melanoma has been improved with the advent of the BRAF inhibitors. However, a limitation to such treatment is the occurrence of resistance. Several mechanisms have been identified to be responsible for the development of resistance, either MEK-dependent or MEK-independent. In order to overcome resistance due to reactivation of MEK signaling, MEK inhibitors are being clinically developed with promising results. However, also in this case resistance inevitably occurs. It has been recently reported that ErbB3, a member of the EGFR receptor family, may be involved in the establishment of drug resistance. METHODS: Three melanoma cell lines were tested: LOX IMVI (BRAF V600E), MST-L (BRAF V600R) and WM266 (BRAF V600D). Phosphorylation of Receptor Tyrosine Kinases (RTKs) was assessed by an RTK array. Western blot analysis was performed on total protein extracts using anti-ErbB3, anti-AKT and anti-ERK 1/2 antibodies. The expression of neuregulin after vemurafenib treatment was assessed by Real Time PCR and Western blotting. The growth inhibitory effects of vemurafenib, GSK1120212b and/or anti-ErbB3 mAbs were evaluated by in vitro colony formation assays. RESULTS: In the present study we demonstrate that ErbB3 is the main RTK undergoing rapidly hyperphosphorylation upon either treatment with a BRAF inhibitor or with a MEK inhibitor in a panel of melanoma cell lines harboring a variety of V600BRAF mutations and that this results in a strong activation of phospho-AKT. Importantly, ErbB3 activation is fully abrogated by the simultaneous use of anti-ErbB3 monoclonal antibodies, which are also shown to potently synergize with BRAF inhibitors in the inactivation of both AKT and ERK pathways and in the inhibition of melanoma cell growth. We show that upregulation of phospho-ErbB3 is due to an autocrine loop involving increased transcription and production of neuregulin by melanoma cells. CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of these results, we propose that initial co-treatment with BRAF and/or MEK inhibitors and anti-ErbB3 antibodies should be pursued as a strategy to reduce the ErbB3-dependent feedback survival mechanism and enhance duration of clinical response.
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Anticuerpos/farmacología , MAP Quinasa Quinasa 1/metabolismo , Melanoma/metabolismo , Melanoma/terapia , Proteínas Proto-Oncogénicas c-raf/metabolismo , Receptor ErbB-3/metabolismo , Neoplasias Cutáneas/metabolismo , Antineoplásicos/farmacología , Línea Celular Tumoral , Supervivencia Celular , Resistencia a Antineoplásicos , Inhibidores Enzimáticos/farmacología , Regulación Neoplásica de la Expresión Génica , Humanos , Fosforilación , Reacción en Cadena en Tiempo Real de la Polimerasa , Transducción de SeñalRESUMEN
BRAF-mutated melanoma relapsing after targeted therapies is an aggressive disease with unmet clinical need. Hence the need to identify novel combination therapies able to overcome drug resistance. miRNAs have emerged as orchestrators of non-genetic mechanisms adopted by melanoma cells to challenge therapies. In this context we previously identified a subset of oncosuppressor miRNAs downregulated in drug-resistant melanomas. Here we demonstrate that lipid nanoparticles co-encapsulating two of them, miR-199-5p and miR-204-5p, inhibit tumor growth both in vitro and in vivo in combination with target therapy and block the development of drug resistance. Mechanistically they act by directly reducing melanoma cell growth and also indirectly by hampering the recruitment and reprogramming of pro-tumoral macrophages. Molecularly, we demonstrate that the effects on macrophages are mediated by the dysregulation of a newly identified miR-204-5p-miR-199b-5p/CCL5 axis. Finally, we unveiled that M2 macrophages programs are molecular signatures of resistance and predict response to therapy in patients. Overall, these findings have strong translational implications to propose new combination therapies making use of RNA therapeutics for metastatic melanoma patients.
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Melanoma , MicroARNs , Humanos , MicroARNs/genética , MicroARNs/metabolismo , Proteínas Proto-Oncogénicas B-raf/genética , Proteínas Proto-Oncogénicas B-raf/metabolismo , Inhibidores de Proteínas Quinasas/farmacología , Resistencia a Antineoplásicos/genética , Recurrencia Local de Neoplasia/tratamiento farmacológico , Melanoma/tratamiento farmacológico , Melanoma/genética , Línea Celular TumoralRESUMEN
The role of the ErbB3 receptor in signal transduction is to augment the signaling repertoire of active heterodimeric ErbB receptor complexes through activating the PI3K/AKT pathway, which in turn promotes survival and proliferation. ErbB3 has recently been proposed to be involved in acquired resistance to tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), and is therefore a promising new drug cancer target. Since ErbB3 is a kinase defective receptor, it cannot be targeted by small molecule inhibitors, whereas monoclonal antibodies may offer a viable strategy for pharmacological intervention. In this study, we have utilized DNA electroporation (DNA-EP) to generate a set of novel hybridomas directed against human ErbB3, which have been characterized for their biochemical and functional properties and selected for their ability to negatively regulate the ErbB3-mediated signaling pathway. In vitro, the anti-ErbB3 antibodies modulate the growth rate of cancer cells of different origins. In vivo they show antitumoral properties in a xenograft model of human pancreatic tumor and in the ErbB2-driven carcinogenesis genetically engineered mouse model (GEMM) for mammary tumor, the BALB/neuT. Our data confirm that downregulating the ErbB3-mediated signals with the use of anti-ErbB3 monoclonal antibodies is both feasible and relevant for therapeutic purposes and provides new opportunities for novel anti-ErbB3 combinatory strategies for cancer treatment.
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Anticuerpos Monoclonales/farmacología , Antineoplásicos/farmacología , Neoplasias de la Mama/tratamiento farmacológico , Receptor ErbB-3/antagonistas & inhibidores , Animales , Neoplasias de la Mama/genética , Neoplasias de la Mama/metabolismo , Línea Celular Tumoral , Proliferación Celular/efectos de los fármacos , Regulación hacia Abajo/efectos de los fármacos , Resistencia a Antineoplásicos/efectos de los fármacos , Femenino , Humanos , Neoplasias Mamarias Experimentales/tratamiento farmacológico , Neoplasias Mamarias Experimentales/genética , Neoplasias Mamarias Experimentales/metabolismo , Ratones , Ratones Endogámicos BALB C , Receptor ErbB-2/genética , Receptor ErbB-2/metabolismo , Receptor ErbB-3/genética , Receptor ErbB-3/inmunología , Receptor ErbB-3/metabolismo , Transducción de Señal/efectos de los fármacos , Trasplante HeterólogoRESUMEN
Objective: Periodontitis is a common disorder that leads to the loss of both tooth and personal well-being, contributing to worsen the risk for metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. Recently, probiotics, characterized by rapid oral dispersion, have been topically used. Here, we present data of a mucoadhesive gel containing probiotics, capable of ensuring a slow release of bacteria to prevent and treat periodontitis. Methods: An original mucoadhesive gel (AL0005) that is anhydrous and of food grade, loaded with the blend of lactobacilli and plants' dry extracts, has been assayed. Results: The release kinetics of the bacterial mixture in different experimental models in vitro, including simulated saliva or physiological solutions, showed a significant and stable release for 5-8 hours. In one in vivo study of a mouse model of periodontitis, a locally applied mucoadhesive gel enriched with probiotic strains improved significantly the tissue pathology when compared with vehicle-exposed mice. Conclusions: Together, the results suggest that this mucoadhesive gel can be useful in the normalization of the gum bacterial flora and improvement of the tissue pathology of gum disorders.
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The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted genetic vaccination as a powerful and cost-effective tool to counteract infectious diseases. Invasive fungal infections (IFI) remain a major challenge among immune compromised patients, particularly those undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic bone marrow transplantation (HSCT) or solid organ transplant (SOT) both presenting high morbidity and mortality rates. Candidiasis and Aspergillosis are the major fungal infections among these patients and the failure of current antifungal therapies call for new therapeutic aids. Vaccination represents a valid alternative, and proof of concept of the efficacy of this approach has been provided at clinical level. This review will analyze current understanding of antifungal immunology, with a particular focus on genetic vaccination as a suitable strategy to counteract these diseases.
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COVID-19 is a highly infectious disease caused by a newly emerged coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) that has rapidly progressed into a pandemic. This unprecedent emergency has stressed the significance of developing effective therapeutics to fight the current and future outbreaks. The receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 surface Spike protein is the main target for vaccines and represents a helpful "tool" to produce neutralizing antibodies or diagnostic kits. In this work, we provide a detailed characterization of the native RBD produced in three major model systems: Escherichia coli, insect and HEK-293 cells. Circular dichroism, gel filtration chromatography and thermal denaturation experiments indicated that recombinant SARS-CoV-2 RBD proteins are stable and correctly folded. In addition, their functionality and receptor-binding ability were further evaluated through ELISA, flow cytometry assays and bio-layer interferometry.
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COVID-19/metabolismo , SARS-CoV-2/metabolismo , Glicoproteína de la Espiga del Coronavirus/metabolismo , Animales , Línea Celular , Escherichia coli/genética , Expresión Génica , Células HEK293 , Humanos , Insectos/citología , Unión Proteica , Desnaturalización Proteica , Dominios Proteicos , Pliegue de Proteína , Proteínas Recombinantes/química , Proteínas Recombinantes/genética , Proteínas Recombinantes/metabolismo , SARS-CoV-2/química , SARS-CoV-2/genética , Glicoproteína de la Espiga del Coronavirus/química , Glicoproteína de la Espiga del Coronavirus/genéticaRESUMEN
Invasive fungal infections mainly affect patients undergoing transplantation, surgery, neoplastic disease, immunocompromised subjects and premature infants, and cause over 1.5 million deaths every year. The most common fungi isolated in invasive diseases are Candida spp., Cryptococcus spp., and Aspergillus spp. and even if four classes of antifungals are available (Azoles, Echinocandins, Polyenes and Pyrimidine analogues), the side effects of drugs and fungal acquired and innate resistance represent the major hurdles to be overcome. Monoclonal antibodies are powerful tools currently used as diagnostic and therapeutic agents in different clinical contexts but not yet developed for the treatment of invasive fungal infections. In this paper we report the development of the first humanized monoclonal antibody specific for ß-1,3 glucans, a vital component of several pathogenic fungi. H5K1 has been tested on C. auris, one of the most urgent threats and resulted efficient both alone and in combination with Caspofungin and Amphotericin B showing an enhancement effect. Our results support further preclinical and clinical developments for the use of H5K1 in the treatment of patients in need.