OBJECTIVETo determine whether B7-2 could improve hepatitis B virus (HBV)-specific immunity induced by inoculation of a plasmid encoding HBV preS2+S HBV DNA vaccine.

METHODSB7-2 expression plasmids were inoculated with the DNA vaccine in the gastrocemius muscles. Then the cytolytic T Lymphocyte activity (CTL), the delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) response and the titers of anti-HBs were analysed.

RESULTSThe DTH response and CTL activity were significantly enhanced when B7-2 expression plasmids were coinoculated with the DNA vaccine (P<0.01), but the titers of anti-HBs were unaffected (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe results suggest that B7-2 expression plasmid could improve HBV specific cell-mediated immunity induced by HBV DNA vaccine, and the gene-based coinoculation strategy using HBV viral antigen and B7-2 costimmulating could be a powerful means of combating HBV infection.

Adjuvants, Immunologic ; Animals ; Antigens, CD ; immunology ; B7-2 Antigen ; Hepatitis B Antibodies ; biosynthesis ; Hepatitis B Vaccines ; immunology ; Hypersensitivity, Delayed ; immunology ; Male ; Membrane Glycoproteins ; immunology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Plasmids ; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic ; immunology ; Vaccines, DNA ; immunology

A 23 amino acid, bifunctional integrin-targeted synthetic oligopeptide was evaluated for ex vivo gene delivery to rabbit bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs). Synthesis of the peptide (K)16GRGDSPC was performed on a solid-phase batch peptide synthesizer. BMSCs were transfected with plasmid DNA coding for luciferase by (K)16GRGDSPC and the transfection efficiency was assayed. The influences of chloroquine and polyethyleneimine on the transfection efficiency were also examined. The target specificity of (K)16GRGDSPC to mediate exogenous gene into BMSCs was analyzed using cell attachment test and gene delivery inhibition test. The results showed that the transfection efficiency of the oligopeptide vector was lower than that of Lipofectamine. But in the presence of endosomal buffer chloroquine or endosomal disrupting agent polyethyleneimine, the transfection efficiency of the vector was greatly enhanced. In addition, RGD-containing peptides inhibited BMSCs' attachment to the 96-well plates pretreated with fibronectin or vitronectin and significantly decreased the transfection efficiency of the oligopeptide vector. These studies demonstrated that oligopeptide (K)16GRGDSPC was an ideal novel targeted non-viral gene delivery vector, which was easy to be synthesized, high efficient and low cytotoxicity. The vector could effectively deliver exogenous gene into rat BMSCs.

Objective To investigate the feasibility and efficiency of K16GRGDSPC(K16-RGD) for exogenous gene transfer to bone marrow derived stroma cells(BMSCs).Methods The peptide K16-RGD was synthesized by solid-phase batch peptide synthesizer.The K16-RGD was used as vector for transfecting the luciferase into BMSCs and the expression of the luciferase gene was monitored.The influence of chloroquine and polyethyleneimine was observed.The targeted specificity was examined by cell attachment test and transfection inhibitation test.Results The transfection efficiency of K16-RGD vector was lower than that of commercial lipofectamine.But the efficency of K16-RGD was greatly enhanced in the presence of chloroquine and polyethyleneimine.The peptides containing RGD inhibited the BMSCs attachment to the 96-well plates and decreased the transfection efficiency of K16-RGD significantly.Conclusion Peptide K16GRGDSPC is a new kind of targeted-nonviral gene delivery vector,which is easy to be synthesized,high efficiency and low cytotoxicity.

Objective To establish an inactivated viral particle-based ELISA for the detection of antibodies against Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in serum samples collected from a MERS-CoV associated case. Methods Serum samples were collected from 10 newborns and 40 healthy adults. A viral particle-based ELISA was established by using the inactivated MERS-CoV virions as antigen. The levels of IgM and IgG antibodies in the serum samples were detected by the established ELISA and the cut-off values for positive detection were determined. Then the inactivated MERS-CoV virion-based ELISA was used to detect the antibodies against MERS-CoV in 5 serum samples collected from the first im-ported MERS case in China. Results The cut-off values of IgM and IgG antibodies in serum samples for ELISA were determined to be A450 readings of 0. 32 and 0. 42, respectively. The titers of IgM and IgG anti-bodies in serum samples collected at early admission to hospital from the first imported MERS case in China were both 1 ︰ 40. Seroconversion occurred 2 weeks after his admission to hospital with the titers of IgM and IgG reaching to 1 ︰ 320. Conclusion The inactivated MERS-CoV virion-based ELISA was established successfully and could be used for the detection of serum antibodies (IgG and IgM) in MERS associated cases.

Objective To detect the positive rates of antibodies against avian influenza virus (AIV) subtypes H5, H6, H7 and H9 among people in poultry occupations in Guangdong province and to analyze the transmission of various subtypes of AIV from poultry to human contacts for the prevention and control of novel AIV infection in human beings.Methods Serum specimens were collected from 1066 peo-ple in poultry occupations ( occupational group) and 205 people not in poultry occupations ( non-occupational group) in 10 cities of Guangdong province.The inactivated AIV strains, isolated from poultry or environment of Guangdong province, were used as antigens to detect antibodies against AIV subtypes H5, H6, H7 and H9 by using the hemagglutination inhibition ( HI) assay.Results The positive rates of antibodies against AIV subtypes H5, H6, H7 and H9 carried by people from the occupational group were respectively 0.44%, 0%, 0.30%and 0.30%in 2013 and 1.08%, 0.0%, 0.0%and 0.27%in 2014.Only the anti-H9 anti-bodies were detected in serum samples collected form people in the non-occupational group in 2013 with a positive rate of 0.95%.No significant differences with the positive rates of anti-AIV antibodies were found between the occupational group and the non-occupational group.However, the geometric mean titer ( GMT) of anti-AVI antibodies in people from the occupational group was higher than that of the non-occupational group.Conclusion Although a grand spread of AIV from avian to human is not likely to happen yet, con-tacting with poultry is the risk factor for AIV infection in Guangdong population.A long-term surveillance of anti-AIV antibodies in serum should be strengthened among people in poultry occupations for the timely pre-vention and control of novel AIV outbreak.

A 23 amino acid, bifunctional integrin-targeted synthetic oligopeptide was evaluated for ex vivo gene delivery to rabbit bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs). Synthesis of the peptide (K)16GRGDSPC was performed on a solid-phase batch peptide synthesizer. BMSCs were transfected with plasmid DNA coding for luciferase by (K)16GRGDSPC and the transfection efficiency was assayed. The influences of chloroquine and polyethyleneimine on the transfection efficiency were also examined. The target specificity of (K)16GRGDSPC to mediate exogenous gene into BMSCs was analyzed using cell attachment test and gene delivery inhibition test. The results showed that the transfection efficiency of the oligopeptide vector was lower than that of Lipofectamine. But in the presence of endosomal buffer chloroquine or endosomal disrupting agent polyethyleneimine, the transfection efficiency of the vector was greatly enhanced. In addition, RGD-containing peptides inhibited BMSCs' attachment to the 96-well plates pretreated with fibronectin or vitronectin and significantly decreased the transfection efficiency of the oligopeptide vector. These studies demonstrated that oligopeptide (K)16GRGDSPC was an ideal novel targeted non-viral gene delivery vector, which was easy to be synthesized, high efficient and low cytotoxicity. The vector could effectively deliver exogenous gene into rat BMSCs.