The use of nanoparticles as a delivery system for a specific antigen could solve many limitations of mucosal vaccine applications, such as low immunogenicity, or antigen protection and stabilization. In this study, we tested the ability of nasally administered chitosan nanoparticles loaded with glycoprotein B of murine cytomegalovirus to induce an immune response in an animal model. The choice of chitosan nanoparticle type was made by in vitro evaluation of sorption efficiency and antigen release. Three types of chitosan nanoparticles were prepared: crosslinked with tripolyphosphate, coated with hyaluronic acid, and in complex with polycaprolactone. The hydrodynamic size of the nanoparticles by dynamic light scattering, zeta potential, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, stability, loading efficiency, and release kinetics with ovalbumin were evaluated. Balb/c mice were immunized intranasally using the three-dose protocol with nanoparticles, gB, and adjuvants Poly(I:C) and CpG ODN. Subsequently, the humoral and cell-mediated antigen-specific immune response was determined. On the basis of the properties of the tested nanoparticles, the cross-linked nanoparticles were considered optimal for further investigation. The results show that nanoparticles with Poly(I:C) and with gB alone raised IgG antibody levels above the negative control. In the case of mucosal IgA, only gB alone weakly induced the production of IgA antibodies compared to saline-immunized mice. The number of activated cells increased slightly in mice immunized with nanoparticles and gB compared to those immunized with gB alone or to negative control. The results demonstrated that chitosan nanoparticles could have potential in the development of mucosal vaccines.
- MeSH
- adjuvancia imunologická MeSH
- aplikace intranazální MeSH
- chitosan * chemie MeSH
- glykoproteiny MeSH
- imunizace MeSH
- imunoglobulin A MeSH
- Muromegalovirus * MeSH
- myši inbrední BALB C MeSH
- myši MeSH
- nanočástice * chemie MeSH
- slizniční imunita MeSH
- vakcíny * MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- myši MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
Despite lower virulence, the omicron variant of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) still poses a relevant threat for immunocompromised patients. A retrospective multicentric study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of pre-exposure prophylaxis with tixagevimab/cilgavimab (Evusheld) with a 6-month follow-up for preventing severe COVID-19 in adult patients with hematology malignancy. Among the 606 patients in the cohort, 96 (16%) contracted COVID-19 with a median of 98.5 days after Evusheld administration. A total of 75% of patients had asymptomatic or mild severity of COVID-19, while just 25% of patients with SARS-CoV-2 positivity had to be hospitalized. Two patients (2%) died directly, and one patient (1%) in association with COVID-19. Eight patients (1.3%) of every cohort experienced adverse events related to Evusheld, mostly grade 1 and of reversible character. It was found that complete vaccination status or positive seroconversion was not associated with lower risk of COVID-19 infection. Previous treatment with an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody was associated with higher rates of COVID-19, while previous treatment with anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody was not, as was the case for recipients of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation or CAR-T cell therapy. Presence of other comorbidities was not associated with more severe COVID-19. The results support the growing evidence for Evusheld's efficacy against severe COVID-19 in patients with hematology malignancies.
- MeSH
- COVID-19 * MeSH
- dospělí MeSH
- hematologické nádory * komplikace farmakoterapie epidemiologie MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- monoklonální protilátky MeSH
- preexpoziční profylaxe * MeSH
- retrospektivní studie MeSH
- SARS-CoV-2 MeSH
- Check Tag
- dospělí MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- multicentrická studie MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Česká republika MeSH
Patients affected by multiple myeloma (MM) have an increased risk of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and subsequent coronavirus (20)19 disease (COVID-19)-related death. The changing epidemiological and therapeutic scenarios suggest that there has been an improvement in severity and survival of COVID-19 during the different waves of the pandemic in the general population, but this has not been investigated yet in MM patients. Here we analyzed a large cohort of 1221 patients with MM and confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection observed between February 2020, and August 2022, in the EPICOVIDEHA registry from 132 centers around the world. Median follow-up was 52 days for the entire cohort and 83 days for survivors. Three-hundred and three patients died (24%) and COVID-19 was the primary reason for death of around 89% of them. Overall survival (OS) was significantly higher in vaccinated patients with both stable and active MM versus unvaccinated, while only a trend favoring vaccinated patients was observed in subjects with responsive MM. Vaccinated patients with at least 2 doses showed a better OS than those with one or no vaccine dose. Overall, according to pandemic waves, mortality rate decreased over time from 34% to 10%. In multivariable analysis, age, renal failure, active disease, hospital, and intensive care unit admission, were independently associated with a higher number of deaths, while a neutrophil count above 0.5 × 109 /L was found to be protective. This data suggests that MM patients remain at risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection even in the vaccination era, but their clinical outcome, in terms of OS, has progressively improved throughout the different viral phases of the pandemic.
- MeSH
- COVID-19 * MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mnohočetný myelom * terapie MeSH
- pandemie MeSH
- registrace MeSH
- SARS-CoV-2 MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
BACKGROUND: To date there remains much ambiguity in the literature regarding the immunological interplay between SARS-CoV-2 and HIV and the true risk posed to coinfected individuals. There has been little conclusive data regarding the use of CD4 cell count and HIV viral load stratification as predictors of COVID-19 severity in this cohort. METHODS: We performed a retrospective, observational cohort study on people living with HIV (PLWH) who contracted COVID-19 in central and eastern Europe. We enrolled 536 patients from 16 countries using an online survey. We evaluated patient demographics, HIV characteristics and COVID-19 presentation and outcomes. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 20.1. RESULTS: The majority of the study cohort were male (76.4%) and 152 (28.3%) had a significant medical comorbidity. Median CD4 cell count at COVID-19 diagnosis was 605 cells/μL [interquartile range (IQR) 409-824]. The majority of patients on antiretroviral therapy (ART) were virally suppressed (92%). In univariate analysis, CD4 cell count <350 cells/μL was associated with higher rates of hospitalization (p < 0.0001) and respiratory failure (p < 0.0001). Univariate and multivariate analyses found that an undetectable HIV VL was associated with a lower rate of hospitalization (p < 0.0001), respiratory failure (p < 0.0001), ICU admission or death (p < 0.0001), and with a higher chance of full recovery (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: We can conclude that detectable HIV viral load was an independent risk factor for severe COVID-19 illness and can be used as a prognostic indicator in this cohort.
- MeSH
- COVID-19 * epidemiologie komplikace MeSH
- HIV infekce * komplikace farmakoterapie epidemiologie MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- počet CD4 lymfocytů MeSH
- respirační insuficience * MeSH
- retrospektivní studie MeSH
- SARS-CoV-2 MeSH
- testování na COVID-19 MeSH
- virová nálož MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- pozorovací studie MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- východní Evropa MeSH
The infection of Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV) is one of the main causes of economic losses in sericulture. Thus, it is essential to establish rapid and effective method for BmNPV detection. In the present study, we have developed a recombinase-aided amplification (RAA) to amplify the BmNPV genomic DNA at 37 °C within 30 min, and achieved a rapid detection method by coupling with a lateral flow dipstick (LFD). The RAA-LFD method had a satisfactory detection limit of 6 copies/μL of recombinant plasmid pMD19-T-IE1, and BmNPV infection of silkworm can be detected 12 h post-infection. This method was highly specific for BmNPV, and without cross-reactivity to other silkworm pathogens. In contrast to conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR), the RAA-LFD assay showed higher sensitivity, cost-saving, and especially is apt to on-site detection of BmNPV infection in the sericulture production.
- MeSH
- bourec * virologie MeSH
- DNA virů genetika MeSH
- limita detekce MeSH
- nukleopolyhedroviry * genetika izolace a purifikace MeSH
- rekombinasy * metabolismus genetika MeSH
- senzitivita a specificita MeSH
- techniky amplifikace nukleových kyselin * metody MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- hodnotící studie MeSH
BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a life-threatening disease with a heterogeneous course. Even some young patients are at increased risk of severe course or death, as they can face severe complications. It would be very useful to have a cheap and easily available marker to predict COVID-19 course in the early stages of the disease. The COVID-19 prognostic score could be a very useful clinical indicator available at the time of primary contact with the patient. METHODS: The COVID-19 prognostic score and the clinical condition together with selected laboratory parameters were evaluated in patients with respiratory tract infection and a positive PCR test for the SARS-CoV-2 during the first contact with the patient. Prognostic significance was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic curves (ROC) and area under the curve (AUC). Selected parameters of the blood count and hemostasis, as well as selected biochemical indicators, were examined too. RESULTS: Thirty-seven of 164 patients developed serious symptoms. The COVID-19 score had one of the highest AUC values (0.855) of all markers. The highest combination of sensitivity (91.9%) and specificity (71.7%) for identifying patients with a subsequent moderate and severe course of the disease was achieved at the threshold 1.5. The predictive value of a negative test is beneficial too (0.968). CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19 prognostic score is a promising indicator stratifying patients with COVID-19 into prognostic groups at the time of the first contact, thus allowing the timely provision of increased care in patients at high risk of severe development.
- MeSH
- COVID-19 * diagnóza MeSH
- infekce dýchací soustavy * MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- prognóza MeSH
- retrospektivní studie MeSH
- ROC křivka MeSH
- SARS-CoV-2 MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
Viral infection may represent a stress condition to the host cell. Cells react to it by triggering the defence programme to restore homeostasis and these events may in turn impact the viral replication. The knowledge about tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) infection-associated stress is limited. Here we investigated the interplay between TBEV infection and stress pathways in PMJ2-R mouse macrophage cell line, as macrophages are the target cells in early phases of TBEV infection. First, to determine how stress influences TBEV replication, the effect of stress inducers H2O2 and tunicamycin (TM) was tested. Viral multiplication was decreased in the presence of both stress inducers suggesting that the stress and cellular stress responses restrict the virus replication. Second, we investigated the induction of oxidative stress and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress upon TBEV infection. The level of oxidative stress was interrogated by measuring the reactive oxygen species (ROS). ROS were intermittently increased in infected cells at 12 hpi and at 72 hpi. As mitochondrial dysfunction may result in increased ROS level, we evaluated the mitochondrial homeostasis by measuring the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and found that TBEV infection induced the hyperpolarization of MMP. Moreover, a transient increase of gene expression of stress-induced antioxidative enzymes, like p62, Gclm and Hmox1, was detected. Next, we evaluated the ER stress upon TBEV infection by analysing unfolded protein responses (UPR). We found that infection induced gene expression of two general sensors BiP and CHOP and activated the IRE1 pathway of UPR. Finally, since the natural transmission route of TBEV from its tick vector to the host is mediated via tick saliva, the impact of tick saliva from Ixodes ricinus on stress pathways in TBEV-infected cells was tested. We observed only marginal potentiation of UPR pathway. In conclusion, we found that TBEV infection of PMJ2-R cells elicits the changes in redox balance and triggers cellular stress defences, including antioxidant responses and the IRE1 pathway of UPR. Importantly, our results revealed the negative effect of stress-evoked events on TBEV replication and only marginal impact of tick saliva on stress cellular pathways.
- MeSH
- buněčné linie MeSH
- klíšťová encefalitida * MeSH
- myši MeSH
- peroxid vodíku metabolismus MeSH
- protein-serin-threoninkinasy metabolismus MeSH
- reaktivní formy kyslíku metabolismus MeSH
- replikace viru MeSH
- viry klíšťové encefalitidy * genetika MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- myši MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
OBJECTIVE: The substantial material and legislative investments in establishing and maintaining cytological screening in the Czech Republic represent barriers to a direct transition to primary HPV screening. Therefore, the LIBUSE project was implemented to test the efficacy of phasing in HPV DNA testing as a co-test to cytology in routine screening of women >30 years of age. METHODS: Women aged 30 to 60 years who underwent regular annual Pap smears were co-tested for HPV DNA with selective 16/18 genotyping at 3-year intervals. All HPV 16/18-positive cases and/or cases with a severe abnormality in cytology were sent for colposcopy; HPV non-16/18-positive cases and LSILs were graded using p16/Ki67 dual-stain cytology, and positive cases were sent for colposcopy. RESULTS: Overall, 2409 patients were included. After the first combined screening (year 'zero') visit, 7.4% of women were HPV-positive and 2.0% were HPV16/18-positive; only 8 women had severe Pap smear abnormalities. Triage by dual staining was positive in 21.9% of cases (28/128). Biopsy confirmed 34 high-grade precancer lesions. At the second combined visit (year 'three'), the frequency of HPV infection (5.3% vs. 7.4%) frequency of HPV16/18 (1.1% vs. 2.0%), referrals for colposcopy (35 vs. 83), and biopsy verified high-grade lesions (5 vs. 34) were significantly lower (all P ≤ 0.001). CONCLUSION: The addition of HPV DNA testing with selective genotyping of HPV16/18 to existing cytology screening significantly increased the safety of the program. The gradual introduction of HPV testing was well received by healthcare professionals and patients, and can facilitate transformation of the cytology-based screening. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05578833.
- MeSH
- barvení a značení MeSH
- časná detekce nádoru MeSH
- DNA MeSH
- dospělí MeSH
- dysplazie děložního hrdla * diagnóza MeSH
- infekce papilomavirem * MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- lidský papilomavirus 16 genetika MeSH
- lidský papilomavirus 18 genetika MeSH
- nádory děložního čípku * MeSH
- Papanicolaouův test MeSH
- plošný screening MeSH
- třídění pacientů MeSH
- vaginální stěr MeSH
- Check Tag
- dospělí MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
A growing proportion of head and neck cancer (HNC), especially oropharyngeal cancer (OPC), is caused by human papillomavirus (HPV). There are several markers for HPV-driven HNC, one being HPV early antigen serology. We aimed to investigate the diagnostic accuracy of HPV serology and its performance across patient characteristics. Data from the VOYAGER consortium was used, which comprises five studies on HNC from North America and Europe. Diagnostic accuracy, that is, sensitivity, specificity, Cohen's kappa and correctly classified proportions of HPV16 E6 serology, was assessed for OPC and other HNC using p16INK4a immunohistochemistry (p16), HPV in situ hybridization (ISH) and HPV PCR as reference methods. Stratified analyses were performed for variables including age, sex, smoking and alcohol use, to test the robustness of diagnostic accuracy. A risk-factor analysis based on serology was conducted, comparing HPV-driven to non-HPV-driven OPC. Overall, HPV serology had a sensitivity of 86.8% (95% CI 85.1-88.3) and specificity of 91.2% (95% CI 88.6-93.4) for HPV-driven OPC using p16 as a reference method. In stratified analyses, diagnostic accuracy remained consistent across sex and different age groups. Sensitivity was lower for heavy smokers (77.7%), OPC without lymph node involvement (74.4%) and the ARCAGE study (66.7%), while specificity decreased for cases with <10 pack-years (72.1%). The risk-factor model included study, year of diagnosis, age, sex, BMI, alcohol use, pack-years, TNM-T and TNM-N stage. HPV serology is a robust biomarker for HPV-driven OPC, and its diagnostic accuracy is independent of age and sex. Future research is suggested on the influence of smoking on HPV antibody levels.
- MeSH
- infekce papilomavirem * MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- lidské papilomaviry MeSH
- lidský papilomavirus 16 MeSH
- nádory hlavy a krku * diagnóza MeSH
- nádory orofaryngu * MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
The asymmetrical distribution of the cellular organelles inside the cell is maintained by a group of cell polarity proteins. The maintenance of polarity is one of the vital host defense mechanisms against pathogens, and the loss of it contributes to infection facilitation and cancer progression. Studies have suggested that infection of viruses and bacteria alters cell polarity. Helicobacter pylori and Epstein-Barr virus are group I carcinogens involved in the progression of multiple clinical conditions besides gastric cancer (GC) and Burkitt's lymphoma, respectively. Moreover, the coinfection of both these pathogens contributes to a highly aggressive form of GC. H. pylori and EBV target the host cell polarity complexes for their pathogenesis. H. pylori-associated proteins like CagA, VacA OipA, and urease were shown to imbalance the cellular homeostasis by altering the cell polarity. Similarly, EBV-associated genes LMP1, LMP2A, LMP2B, EBNA3C, and EBNA1 also contribute to altered cell asymmetry. This review summarized all the possible mechanisms involved in cell polarity deformation in H. pylori and EBV-infected epithelial cells. We have also discussed deregulated molecular pathways like NF-κB, TGF-β/SMAD, and β-catenin in H. pylori, EBV, and their coinfection that further modulate PAR, SCRIB, or CRB polarity complexes in epithelial cells.
- MeSH
- Helicobacter pylori * genetika MeSH
- infekce virem Epsteina-Barrové * mikrobiologie patologie MeSH
- infekce vyvolané Helicobacter pylori * mikrobiologie MeSH
- koinfekce * mikrobiologie MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- nádory žaludku * genetika mikrobiologie patologie MeSH
- polarita buněk MeSH
- virové proteiny MeSH
- virus Epsteinův-Barrové genetika MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- přehledy MeSH
