Immune activation of Bio-Germanium in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial with 130 human subjects: Therapeutic opportunities from new insights.

REGISTERED CLINICAL TRIAL: [NCT03677921]; www.clinicaltrials.gov [KCT0002726]; https://cris.nih.go.kr.

Effects of germanium biotite supplement on immune responses of vaccinated mini-pigs to foot-and-mouth disease virus challenge.

Since the outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in South Korea in 2010-2011, a trivalent vaccine has been used as a routine vaccination. Despite the high efficacy of the trivalent vaccine, low antibody formation was reported in the pig industry and there is considerable concern about the ability of the vaccine to protect against the Andong strain responsible for recent outbreaks in South Korea. To overcome these problems, immunostimulators have been widely used to improve vaccine efficacy in South Korea, although without any scientific evidence. Based on the current situation, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of germanium biotite, a feed supplement used to enhance the immune system, on the immune responses to FMD vaccination through the Andong strain challenge experiment in trivalent vaccinated pigs. Following the challenge, the germanium biotite-fed pigs showed high levels of IL-8 in serum, and increased cellular immune responses to stimulation with the Andong strain antigen compared to nonsupplemented pigs. In addition, higher FMD virus (FMDV) neutralizing antibody titers were detected in the germanium biotite-fed group than in the nonsupplemented group before the challenge. The findings of this study indicate that germanium biotite supplement might enhance immune responses to the FMD vaccine in pigs.

Physiological parameters of Macaca fascicularis immunized with anti-rubella vaccine with germanium-based adjuvants.

Clinical status, hematological and biochemical parameters, and allergenic activity of organogermanium compounds used as adjuvants in complex with preparation from Orlov rubella virus vaccine strain and reference commercial anti-rubella vaccine based on Wistar RA 27/3 strain were studied on Macaca fascilcularis of both genders. Physiological parameters of monkeys immunized with the Russian and foreign rubella virus vaccine strains with and without adjuvants did not differ. The adjuvants were inessential for the safety of vaccines (absence of toxicity, reactogenic activity, or allergenic activity) in preclinical studies on lower primates.

Effects of a lactobacilli, oligosaccharide and organic germanium intake on the immune responses of mice.

The organic germanium compound, Ge-132, has immune-modulating effects. We evaluated the symbiotic effects of Ge-132 with lactobacilli and oligosaccharide (LB/OS) on the immune responses of mice. The highest fecal IgA levels were observed in the mice receiving a low concentration of Ge-132 with LB/OS for 8 weeks. Our data suggest that LB/OS with a low concentration of Ge-132 stimulated the intestinal immunity.

[Activation of lymphocytes under the influence of an influenza vaccine combined with a low molecular weight germanium organic compound].

AIM: Confirmation of immunostimulating effect of an original low molecular weight germanium organic compound (LMW-GOC) during immunization of mice with Vaxigrip vaccine. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The experiments were carried out in CBA mice divided into 4 groups: control, those that received Vaxigrip influenza vaccine intraperitoneally, those that received LMW-GOC intraperitoneally and those that received both preparations at once. Effect of the preparations administered was evaluated by flow cytofluorometry based on changes of CD3, CD4, CD5, CD8, CD19, CD25, Foxp3, NK1.1, gammadelta T, MHC II, TLR2, TLR4, TLR9 expressing cell content in mice spleens. The content of the colored cells was determined at normal, 24 hours and 7 days after the administration of the preparations. Statistical treatment of the data was carried out by using Win MD 128 program package. RESULTS: LMW-GOC can enhance the effect of Vaxigrip vaccine that is expressed by an increase of content in spleen of some lymphocyte subpopulations 24 hours and 7 days after the intraperitoneal administration. In some cases LMW-GOC increases the content of some lymphocyte subpopulations in mice spleen after administration as a monopreparation, i.e. without the vaccine. LMW-GOC suppressed stimulating effect of the vaccine on the spleen content of various lymphocyte subpopulations in none of the observations. CONCLUSION: By using cytofluorometry method it is possible to form an understanding of an elevated role of various types of cells in the development of immune response to the vaccine as well as regarding additional enhancement of this response during administration of LMW-GOC to mice. The effect of the preparation is manifested for a few days after its administration. The preparation manifests adjuvant properties and after further studies may be suggested for use as an adjuvant.

Restoration of impaired immunoresponse by germanium in mice.

An organogermanium was given to young and aged C3H/HeJ mice sensitized by sheep red blood cells, and plaque-forming cells (PFC) in the spleens from the animals were measured. PFC decreased markedly in the aged mice. The organogermanium at an appropriate dose significantly increased the PFC in the aged mice, whereas it did not increase PFC in the young mice. Thus, germanium is considered to restore to some extent the impaired immunoresponses in aged mice.