Pre-clinical safety and toxicology profile of a candidate vaccine to treat oxycodone use disorder.

Opioid use disorders (OUD) and overdose represent a public health threat, resulting in thousands of deaths annually worldwide. Vaccines offer a promising treatment for OUD and potentially the prevention of fatal overdoses. The Oxy(Gly)4-sKLH Conjugate Vaccine, Adsorbed (Oxy(Gly)4-sKLH) has shown promising pre-clinical efficacy at reducing the behavioral and pharmacological effects of oxycodone. To support its clinical evaluation, a GLP toxicology study was performed to address the safety of Oxy(Gly)4-sKLH. Sprague Dawley rats were vaccinated with either aluminum adjuvant (alum) or vaccine adsorbed on alum. Low and high doses of Oxy(Gly)4-sKLH, equivalent to a 1X or 47X human dose, respectively, were administered every two weeks for a total of four vaccinations. Both vaccine doses induced high antibody titers. Vaccine-related toxicity was assessed postmortem in one experimental group after receiving the fourth immunization of the vaccine's high dose. For the remaining experimental groups, rats were challenged with 1.5 mg/kg/day s.c. oxycodone for 7 days after the fourth vaccination to assess whether concurrent exposure to oxycodone in vaccinated animals resulted in toxicity. All rats, except a subset of the aluminum control and the high dose vaccine groups, were sacrificed following oxycodone exposure. These subsets were allowed a four weeks recovery period prior to euthanasia. In this study, no Oxy(Gly)4-sKLH-related hematology, clinical chemistry, urinalysis, body weight, organ weight, or anatomic pathology toxicological findings were observed. These results demonstrate that the Oxy(Gly)4-sKLH vaccine is well tolerated, is immunogenic even at low doses, and does not produce undesired side effects in rats.

Influence of Ethanol on Emulsions Stabilized by Low Molecular Weight Surfactants.

The effect of ethanol on oil-in-water emulsions stabilized with low molecular weight surfactants was investigated. Oil-in-water emulsions were prepared containing varying percentages of ethanol and sunflower oil, and stabilized with different emulsifiers (Tween 20, Tween 80, and Lecithin). Droplet size, viscosity, density, and interfacial tension measurements were carried out. The droplet size of emulsions stabilized by each of the surfactants studied decreased with the addition of ethanol to the aqueous phase showing a minimum at a concentration of ethanol around 40%. The trend in droplet size is accompanied by a decrease in the interfacial tension between water and oil as the ethanol concentration increases. Viscosity measurements show that the change in viscosity of the final emulsion is the result of the change in viscosity of the continuous phase, as well as the change in solubility of the surfactants due to the addition of ethanol. The density of the continuous phase decreases with the addition of ethanol and it is possible to match the densities of the two phases in order to reduce the effect of creaming/sedimentation and improve stability. This study provides scientific evidence for the formulation of stable emulsions containing a range of ethanol form 0 to 40%. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Formation and stability of food-grade emulsions in the presence of ethanol.

Opioid Dose- and Route-Dependent Efficacy of Oxycodone and Heroin Vaccines in Rats.

Heroin and oxycodone abuse occurs over a wide range of drug doses and by various routes of administration characterized by differing rates of drug absorption. The current study addressed the efficacy of a heroin vaccine [morphine hapten conjugated to keyhole limpet hemocyanin (M-KLH)] or oxycodone vaccine [oxycodone hapten conjugated to keyhole limpet hemocyanin (OXY-KLH)] for reducing drug distribution to brain after intravenous heroin or oxycodone, or subcutaneous oxycodone. Rats immunized with M-KLH or keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) control received an intravenous bolus dose of 0.26 or 2.6 mg/kg heroin. Vaccination with M-KLH increased retention of heroin and its active metabolites 6-acetylmorphine (6-AM) and morphine in plasma compared with KLH controls, and reduced total opioid (heroin + 6-AM + morphine) distribution to brain but only at the lower heroin dose. Immunization also protected against respiratory depression at the lower heroin dose. Rats immunized with OXY-KLH or KLH control received 0.22 or 2.2 mg/kg oxycodone intravenously, the molar equivalent of the heroin doses. Immunization with OXY-KLH significantly reduced oxycodone distribution to brain after either oxycodone dose, although the magnitude of effect of immunization at the higher oxycodone dose was small (12%). By contrast, vaccination with OXY-KLH was more effective when oxycodone was administered subcutaneously rather than intravenously, reducing oxycodone distribution to brain by 44% after an oxycodone dose of 2.3 mg/kg. Vaccination also reduced oxycodone-induced antinociception. These data suggest that the efficacy of OXY-KLH and M-KLH opioid vaccines is highly dependent upon opioid dose and route of administration.

Safety and immunogenicity of dry powder measles vaccine administered by inhalation: a randomized controlled Phase I clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Measles is a highly infectious respiratory disease which causes 122,000 deaths annually. Although measles vaccine is extremely safe and effective, vaccine coverage could be improved by a vaccine that is more easily administered and transported. We developed an inhalable dry powder measles vaccine (MVDP) and two delivery devices, and demonstrated safety, immunogenicity, and efficacy of the vaccine in preclinical studies. Here we report the first clinical trial of MVDP delivered by inhalation. METHODOLOGY: Sixty adult males aged 18 to 45 years, seropositive for measles antibody, were enrolled in this controlled Phase I clinical study. Subjects were randomly assigned in 1:1:1 ratio to receive either MVDP by Puffhaler(®) or by Solovent™ devices or the licensed subcutaneous measles vaccine. Adverse events (AEs) were recorded with diary cards until day 28 post-vaccination and subjects were followed for 180 days post-vaccination to assess potential serious long term adverse events. Measles antibody was measured 7 days before vaccination and at days 21 and 77 after vaccination by ELISA and a plaque reduction neutralization test. RESULTS: All subjects completed the study according to protocol. Most subjects had high levels of baseline measles antibody. No adverse events were reported. MVDP produced serologic responses similar to subcutaneous vaccination. CONCLUSIONS: MVDP was well tolerated in all subjects. Most subjects had high baseline measles antibody titer which limited ability to measure the serologic responses, and may have limited the adverse events following vaccination. Additional studies in subjects without pre-existing measles antibody are needed to further elucidate the safety and immunogenicity of MVDP.

Immunoblotting and immunodetection.

Immunoblotting (western blotting) is used to identify specific antigens recognized by polyclonal or monoclonal antibodies. This unit provides protocols for all steps, starting with solubilization of the protein samples, usually by means of SDS and reducing agents. Following solubilization, the material is separated by SDS-PAGE and the antigens are electrophoretically transferred to a membrane, a process that can be monitored by reversible staining with Ponceau S. The transferred proteins are bound to the surface of the membrane, providing access to immunodetection reagents. After nonspecific binding sites are blocked, the membrane is probed with the primary antibody and washed. The antibody-antigen complexes are tagged with horseradish peroxidase or alkaline phosphatase coupled to a secondary anti-IgG antibody, and detected using appropriate chromogenic or luminescent substrates. Finally, membranes may be stripped and reprobed.

Successful respiratory immunization with dry powder live-attenuated measles virus vaccine in rhesus macaques.

Measles remains an important cause of childhood mortality worldwide. Sustained high vaccination coverage is the key to preventing measles deaths. Because measles vaccine is delivered by injection, hurdles to high coverage include the need for trained medical personnel and a cold chain, waste of vaccine in multidose vials and risks associated with needle use and disposal. Respiratory vaccine delivery could lower these barriers and facilitate sustained high coverage. We developed a novel single unit dose, dry powder live-attenuated measles vaccine (MVDP) for respiratory delivery without reconstitution. We tested the immunogenicity and protective efficacy in rhesus macaques of one dose of MVDP delivered either with a mask or directly intranasal with two dry powder inhalers, PuffHaler and BD Solovent. MVDP induced robust measles virus (MeV)-specific humoral and T-cell responses, without adverse effects, which completely protected the macaques from infection with wild-type MeV more than one year later. Respiratory delivery of MVDP was safe and effective and could aid in measles control.

Dry powder measles vaccine: particle deposition, virus replication, and immune response in cotton rats following inhalation.

A stable and high potency dry powder measles vaccine with a particle size distribution suitable for inhalation was manufactured by CO(2)-Assisted Nebulization with a Bubble Dryer(®) (CAN-BD) process from bulk liquid Edmonston-Zagreb live attenuated measles virus vaccine supplied by the Serum Institute of India. A novel dry powder inhaler, the PuffHaler(®) was adapted for use in evaluating the utility of cotton rats to study the vaccine deposition, vaccine virus replication, and immune response following inhalation of the dry powder measles vaccine. Vaccine deposition in the lungs of cotton rats and subsequent viral replication was detected by measles-specific RT-PCR, and viral replication was confined to the lungs. Inhalation delivery resulted in an immune response comparable to that following injection. The cotton rat model is useful for evaluating new measles vaccine formulations and delivery devices.

Immunoblotting and immunodetection.

Immunoblotting (western blotting) is used to identify specific antigens recognized by polyclonal or monoclonal antibodies. This unit provides protocols for all steps, starting with solubilization of the protein samples, usually by means of SDS and reducing agents. Following solubilization, the material is separated by SDS-PAGE and the antigens are electrophoretically transferred to a membrane, a process that can be monitored by reversible staining with Ponceau S. The transferred proteins are bound to the surface of the membrane, providing access to immunodetection reagents. After nonspecific binding sites are blocked, the membrane is probed with the primary antibody and washed. The antibody-antigen complexes are tagged with horseradish peroxidase or alkaline phosphatase coupled to a secondary anti-IgG antibody, and detected using appropriate chromogenic or luminescent substrates. Finally, membranes may be stripped and reprobed.

Safety and immunogenicity of a booster dose of Staphylococcus aureus types 5 and 8 capsular polysaccharide conjugate vaccine (StaphVAX) in hemodialysis patients.

StaphVAX, an unadjuvanted, bivalent vaccine composed of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) capsular polysaccharides (CPS) types 5 and 8 bound to the mutant non-toxic recombinant Pseudomonas aeruginosa exotoxin A (rEPA) conferred approximately 60% protection for 10 months against bacteremia caused by this pathogen in hemodialysis patients. A protective level of 80 microg/ml was estimated based upon geometric mean (GM) antibody levels at the end of the efficacy period. To extend the duration of protection conferred by StaphVAX in hemodialysis patients, recipients of the vaccine were reinjected in a randomized double-blinded, placebo-controlled study. Vaccinees received StaphVAX and a saline placebo injection 14 days apart according to the randomization schedule. The booster dose of StaphVAX was administered an average of 958 days (753-1167 days) after the first injection. There were no serious adverse reactions. Antibody levels at day 14, 28, 92, and 182 post-injection were measured by ELISA. Maximal levels of IgG anti-CPS were observed at the 28-day interval. For type 5, GM antibody levels increased from 73 microg/ml at day 0 to 162 microg/ml (P < 0.001) and for type 8 from 59 microg/ml to 133 microg/ml (P < 0.001). Anti-CPS antibody levels of approximately 80 microg/ml to type 5 and type 8 were achieved in 72.4 and 74.3% of vaccinees, respectively. There was excellent correlation between the level of anti-CPS and opsonic titer (r = 0.93). Moreover, the decline of anti-CPS antibody levels at six months was significantly less rapid than that observed from the first immunization (P < 0.001). We conclude that a booster immunization to maintain protective levels of specific antibodies for an extended period of time is feasible for patients at continuous risk for S. aureus bacteremia.

Immunoblotting and immunodetection.

Immunoblotting (western blotting) is used to identify specific antigens recognized by polyclonal or monoclonal antibodies. This unit provides protocols for all steps starting with solubilization of the protein samples, usually with SDS and reducing agents. Following solubilization, the material is separated by SDS-PAGE and the antigens are electrophoretically transferred to a membrane, a process that can be monitored by reversible staining or Ponceau S staining. The transferred proteins are bound to the surface of the membrane, providing access to immunodetection reagents. After nonspecific binding sites are blocked, the membrane is probed with the primary antibody and washed. The antibody-antigen complexes are tagged with horseradish peroxidase or alkaline phosphatase coupled to a secondary anti-IgG antibody, and detected using appropriate chromogenic or luminescent substrates. Finally, membranes may be stripped and reprobed.

Immunoblotting and immunodetection.

Immunoblotting (western blotting) is used to identify specific antigens recognized by polyclonal or monoclonal antibodies. This unit provides numerous protocols for all steps starting with solubilization of the protein samples, usually with SDS and reducing agents. Following solubilization, the material is separated by SDS-PAGE and the antigens are then electrophoretically transferred to a membrane, a process that can be monitored by reversible staining or Ponceau S staining. The transferred proteins are bound to the surface of the membrane, providing access to immunodetection reagents. Any remaining binding sites are blocked by immersing the membrane in a blocking solution. After probing with the primary antibody, the membrane is washed and the antibody-antigen complexes are identified with horseradish peroxidase (HRPO) or alkaline phosphatase enzymes coupled to the secondary anti-IgG antibody (e.g., goat anti-rabbit IgG) and appropriate chromogenic or luminescent substrates. Finally, membranes may be stripped and reprobed.

Synthesis and structural characterisation of stable pyridine- and phosphine-functionalised N-heterocyclic carbenes.

Stable, uncoordinated (1-[2-(6-trimethylsilyl)pyridyl]-3-[(2,6- diisopropyl)phenyl]imidazol-2-ylidene), I, and (1-[beta-(diphenylphosphino)ethyl]-3-[(2,6-diisopropyl)phenyl]imidazol- 2-ylidene), II, have been synthesised; in the solid state they adopt a conformation with the lone pairs in a mutually anti arrangement.

Immunoblotting and immunodetection.

Immunoblotting (often referred to as western blotting) is used to identify specific antigens recognized by polyclonal or monoclonal antibodies. This unit presents procedures for electrophoretically transferring antigens from a denaturing polyacrylamide gel in a tank or a semidry transfer apparatus to a nitrocellulose, PVDF, or nylon membrane. The process can be monitored by reversible staining or by Ponceau S staining, both of which are described here. A protocol for blotting previously stained gels is also described. The transferred proteins are bound to the surface of the membrane, providing access for reaction with immunodetection reagents. All remaining binding sites are blocked by immersing the membrane in a solution containing either a protein or detergent blocking agent. After probing with the primary antibody, the membrane is washed and the antibody-antigen complexes are identified with horseradish peroxidase (HRPO) or alkaline phosphatase enzymes coupled to the secondary anti-IgG antibody (e.g., goat anti-rabbit IgG). The enzymes are attached directly or via an avidin-biotin bridge to the secondary antibody, and protocols are provided for both methods. Chromogenic or luminescent substrates are then used as described to visualize the activity. Finally, a method for stripping and reprobing membranes is presented.