A novel subunit vaccine based on Fiber1/2 knob domain provides full protection against fowl adenovirus serotype 4 and induces stronger immune responses than a Fiber2 subunit vaccine.

Outbreaks of hepatitis-hydropericardium syndrome (HHS) caused by fowl adenovirus serotype 4 (FAdV-4) have resulted in huge economic losses to the poultry industry in China since 2015. However, commercially available vaccines against the FAdV-4 infection remain scarce. In our study, subunit vaccine candidates derived from the bacterially expressed recombinant Fiber1 knob domain and Fiber2 knob domain fusion protein (termed as Fiber1/2 knob subunit vaccine) and Fiber2 protein (termed as Fiber2 subunit vaccine) of the FAdV-4 SDSX strain were developed. Immunogenicity evaluation showed that the Fiber1/2 knob subunit vaccine induced the production of antibodies at 7 d postvaccination (dpv), earlier than the Fiber2 subunit vaccine. Moreover, the neutralizing antibody level of the Fiber1/2 subunit vaccine group was higher than the Fiber2 subunit vaccine group, showing significant differences at 14, 21, and 28 dpv. Immune protection test results revealed that both Fiber1/2 knob subunit and Fiber2 subunit vaccines could protect chickens from death against FAdV-4 challenge, although the weight of chickens in the Fiber1/2 knob subunit vaccine group decreased less. Furthermore, analysis of plasma Glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (AST) and blood glutamic pyruvic transaminase (ALT) levels suggested that the Fiber1/2 subunit vaccine can significantly inhibit liver damage caused by FAdV-4 infection and is more effective in blocking the pathogenicity of FAdV-4 in target organs. In addition, the Fiber1/2 knob subunit vaccine further reduced the viral load in different tissues and virus shedding in chickens than the Fiber2 subunit vaccine. Overall, the Fiber1/2 knob subunit vaccine was more effective than the Fiber2 subunit vaccine. These findings lay the foundation for the development of more effective FAdV-4 subunit vaccines.

Changes in stigma characteristics of HIV infectionAIDS patients treated with antiviral therapy in Guangxi / 中国热带医学

@#Abstract: Objective To explore the dynamic characteristics of stigmatization in HIV/AIDS patients and provide scientific evidence for psychological care. Methods HIV/AIDS patients receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) treatment in Nanning Fourth People's Hospital were randomly selected for baseline and 1 year follow-up questionnaire survey including internalized HIV stigma, anticipated HIV stigma, exposure to HIV stigma. The differences between the two groups at different time points were dynamically compared to analyze the changing characteristics of stigma in HIV/AIDS patients. Results After one year of ART treatment, among the eight items of internalizing stigma, five items including the proportion of feeling ashamed of being infected with HIV/AIDS, feeling unclean because of being infected with HIV/AIDS, feeling inferior to others because of having HIV/AIDS, feeling guilty because of having HIV/AIDS, and having a poorer self-perception due to how others view HIV/AIDS decreased significantly from 34.0% to 43.5% at the baseline to 19.5% to 29.5%, showing significant improvement with statistical significance (χ2=18.586, 14.277, 10.473, 12.219, 9.934, P<0.05); among the nine items of anticipated stigma, four items including the proportion of community/community workers not taking my needs seriously, discriminating against me, refusing to provide services for me, and healthcare workers avoiding contact with me decreased significantly from 16.0% to 27.5% at the baseline to 7.0% to 15.5%, respectively, showing significant improvement with statistical significance (χ2=13.690, 15.787, 12.034, 12.593, P<0.05); among the 16 items of exposure to HIV stigma, six items including the proportion of experiencing physical attacks, psychological pressure from spouses/partners, being refused sexual relationships, losing jobs or other economic sources, being rejected or losing a job opportunity due to HIV/AIDS, changing job nature due to HIV/AIDS, or being refused medical services decreased significantly from 2.5% to 15.0% at the baseline to 1.0% to 8.0%, respectively, showing significant improvement with statistical significance (χ2=8.619, 15.558, 6.061, 9.049, 5.432, 8.156, P<0.05). Physical assaults on people with HIV/AIDS increased by 5.5 percent(χ2=5.368, P<0.05). Conclusions Through 1-year dynamic monitoring, 48.48% of the three dimensions of stigma of HIV/AIDS patients were alleviated. Treatment intervention, self-acceptance and the creation of a good non-discriminatory social environment have an important impact on the stigma of HIV/AIDS patients and deserve the attention of society as a whole.