Comparison of human saliva and synthetic histo-blood group antigens usage as ligands in norovirus-like particle binding and blocking assays

Blocking of norovirus-like particle binding to their cellular ligands, histo-blood group antigens with immune sera, is considered a surrogate norovirus neutralization assay. We compared human secretor positive saliva and synthetic biotinylated carbohydrates as a source of histo-blood group antigens in binding and blocking assays. Six norovirus capsid-derived virus-like particles belonging to genogroup I (GI-1-2001 and GI-3-2002) and genogroup II (GII-4-1999, GII-4-2010 New Orleans, GII-4-2012 Sydney and GII-12-1998) noroviruses were produced by a recombinant baculovirus expression system and binding profile to saliva type A, B and O and to synthetic antigens (A trimer, B trimer, H type 1, H type 3, Lewis^a and Lewis^b) was identified. Good correlation between virus-like particle binding to saliva type A and synthetic A trimer (r = 0.66, p < 0.05) and saliva type B and synthetic B trimer (r = 0.75, p < 0.05) was observed. Binding of each norovirus virus-like particle to the selected histo-blood group antigens was blocked by convalescent sera from NoV-infected subjects or type-specific mouse antisera. Our results support the use of either saliva or synthetic antigens in blocking assay to measure the ability of norovirus antisera to block virus-like particle binding to the carbohydrate ligands.     

动物园大型猫科动物犬瘟热的免疫监测

虎、狮、豹等大型猫科动物可发生犬瘟热(CD),有必要进行预防.采取某动物园未免疫的东北虎、非洲狮、猞猁血样,用中和试验检测,结果显示这些动物的犬瘟热病毒(CDV)抗体水平均小于15.用CD弱毒疫苗接种以上动物,幼龄动物免疫14d逐步产生抗体;成年动物体内抗体水平在两月内迅速升高,并维持在164以上,9～11个月后逐步下降,加强免疫后抗体又迅速升高至≥1112.该疫苗对所有接种的动物均安全可靠.白化的孟加拉虎接种疫苗后不能产生CDV中和抗体.     

HPV16/18假病毒中和抗体检测方法的验证

目的应用假病毒中和法建立检测血清HPV16/18中和抗体滴度检测方法并进行验证。方法分别采用不同批次假病毒以及不同代次细胞对不同滴度的HPV16/18阳性血清进行多次平行检测,考察这些因素对检验结果的影响;同时通过对抗HPV16/18双价阳性血清、抗HPV16单价阳性血清和抗HPV18单价阳性血清的检测进一步评估中和抗体检测法的准确性、特异性及重复性。结果不同批次假病毒和不同代次细胞对检验结果的影响均在4倍范围内,此外该检测法的准确性、特异性、重复性均在可接受标准范围之内。结论建立的假病毒法可满足中和抗体效价检测的要求,可用于评价疫苗的免疫效果。     

The role of conventional antibodies targeting the CD4 binding site and CD4-induced epitopes in the control of HIV-1 CRF01_AE viruses

HIV-1 CRF01_AE viruses are highly prevalent in Southeast Asia. However, vulnerability sites in Env of CRF01_AE viruses have not been investigated sufficiently. We examined the sensitivity of CRF01_AE viruses from Japan and Vietnam, together with subtype B viruses from Japan, to neutralization and Fc-mediated signaling. Neutralization coverage of broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs), 2G12 and b12, was significantly low against CRF01_AE viruses, compared with subtype B viruses. In contrast, the conventional antibody targeting the CD4 binding site (CD4bs), 49G2, showed better neutralization and Fc-mediated signaling activities against CRF01_AE viruses than subtype B viruses. Fc-mediated signaling activity of anti-CD4 induced (CD4i) antibody, 4E9C, was also detected against CRF01_AE viruses more than subtype B viruses. These results suggest that conventional antibodies against CD4bs and CD4i may play an important role in the control of CRF01_AE viruses.     

Trypanosoma equiperdum: Active immunization of rabbits with actinomycin D-inactivated parasites

Trypanosoma equiperdum was inactivated with actinomycin D. Rabbits inoculated with inactivated parasites were completely protected from a challenge inoculation of viable T. equiperdum of the same stabilate. Immune serum from the inoculated rabbits, as well as the 7 S and 19 S serum fractions, were tested for their ability to neutralize trypanosomes. During the first 6 weeks of immunization the neutralizing activity of the 19 S fraction was stronger than that of the 7 S fraction. After 9 weeks, the situation was reversed.     

Structural characterization of a 2'F-RNA aptamer that binds a HIV-1 SU glycoprotein,gp120

Here we describe the isolation of specific 2'F-substituted RNA ligands for the SU glycoprotein, gp120, of HIV-1 strain HXB2. These aptamers bind the target protein with an affinity of the order of 10(-7) M. Binding was specific to SU glycoprotein and directed to a non-neutralizing epitope that was not shared with the related strain, HIV-1(BaL). The structure of one aptamer was defined by a combination of deletion analysis and enzymatic probing studies, revealing a 42 nt minimal element comprising a three-helix junction that retained the binding affinity of the parental sequence. Interestingly, binding to SU glycoprotein was accompanied by structural changes in the aptamer that stabilized the weakest of the 3 helices.     

Similar neutralizing activity in the HIV-1 infected long term non-progressors(LTNPs) and typical progressors(TPs)

Neutralizing antibodies are considered to be an important protective parameter used in HIV-l vaccine evaluation.However,the exact role that neutralizing antibodies plays in controlling the disease prog...     

Assessment of the impact of solvent/detergent treatment on the quality and potency of a whole IgG equine antivenom

We have evaluated for the first time the impact of a solvent/detergent (S/D) treatment on the quality and in vivo neutralization potency of horse-derived whole IgG antivenom used in the treatment of viperid snake bite envenoming in Central America. The S/D treatment by 1% tri (n-butyl) phosphate (TnBP) – 1% Triton X-45 at 22–25 °C was applied either on starting plasma or on purified immunoglobulins. The S/D agents were removed from both fractions by extractions with oil. S/D-treated plasma was subjected to caprylic acid precipitation to purify the immunoglobulins. Products were formulated, sterile-filtered, and filled into 10-mL vials, stored at 5 ± 3 °C, and subjected to routine quality controls, SDS-PAGE, determination of anti-Bothrops asper venom antibody titre by ELISA, in vivo B. asper venom-neutralization potency tests, and safety test, comparatively with an antivenom manufactured by caprylic acid fractionation without S/D treatment. Results indicate that these conditions of S/D treatment on purified immunoglobulin yielded an antivenom of high turbidity that induced weight loss in animals. In contrast, antivenom fractionated from the S/D-treated plasma had physico-chemical and biological characteristics indistinguishable from those of the non-S/D-treated antivenom. S/D treatment of horse plasma may be considered to increase the viral safety of antivenoms.