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Welcome to DNAvaccine.com |
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DNAvaccine.com is a resource for everything related to DNA-mediated immunization with the latest news & articles, a discussion forum, list of events and conferences, and informative emails & free conference pass offerings to registered users. Register to take advantage of the all of the features. You can click the pencil on the top bar or email me directly (victoria@dnavaccine.com). We will be making changes to the DNAvaccine.com website and appreciate your patience and ideas for improvement.
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Protective efficacy of a Treponema pallidum Gpd DNA vaccine vectored by chitosan nanoparticles and fused with interleukin-2. |
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| Authors: Zhao F, Wang S, Zhang X, Gu W, Yu J, Liu S, Zeng T, Zhang Y, Wu Y.
Source
a Pathogenic Biology Institute, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, People's Republic of China.
Abstract:
In the present study, immunomodulatory responses of a DNA vaccine constructed by fusing Treponema pallidum (Tp) glycerophosphodiester phosphodiesterase (Gpd) to interleukin-2 (IL-2) and using chitosan (CS) nanoparticles as vectors were investigated. New Zealand white rabbits were immunized by intramuscular inoculation of control DNAs, Tp Gpd DNA vaccine, or Gpd-IL-2 fusion DNA vaccine, which were vectored by CS nanoparticles. Levels of the anti-Gpd antibodies and levels of IL-2 and interferon-γ in rabbits were increased upon inoculation of Gpd-IL-2 fusion DNA vaccine, when compared with the inoculation with Gpd DNA vaccine, with CS vectoring increasing the effects. The Gpd-IL-2 fusion DNA vaccine efficiently enhanced the antigen-specific lymphocyte proliferative response. When the rabbits were challenged intradermally with 10(5) Tp (Nichols) spirochetes, the Gpd-IL-2 fusion DNA vaccine conferred better protection than the Gpd DNA vaccine (P < 0.05), as characterized by lower detectable amounts of dark field positive lesions (17.5%), lower ulcerative lesion scores (15%), and faster recovery. Individuals treated with the Tp Gpd-IL-2 fusion DNA vaccine vectored by CS nanoparticles had the lowest amounts of dark field positive lesions (10%) and ulcerations (5%) observed and the fastest recovery (42 days). These results indicate that the Gpd-IL-2 fusion DNA vaccine vectored by CS nanoparticles can efficiently induce Th1-dominant immune responses, improve protective efficacy against Tp spirochete infection, and effectively attenuate development of syphilitic lesions.
Source Pub Med |
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Next-gen nanoparticles deliver cancer drugs at just the right moment Read more: Next-gen nanoparticles deliver cancer drugs at just the right moment |
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| Nanoparticles often deliver cancer drugs prematurely, releasing their cargo at the slightest trigger, missing their target. Researchers concocted a new version that appears able to last longer, holding onto the treatment until it reaches its goal.
University of California-Davis scientists produced the novel class of nanoparticles and the latest issue of the international chemistry journal Angewandte Chemie holds details of their research.
Those new particles have a name--"dual responsive boronate cross-linked micelles." A micelle, for those who don't know, is really tiny--about 25-50 nanometers, and is designed to carry and deliver a drug. The boronate cross-linked micelles created by the scientists are considered unusual because in the lab, they delay the drug's release until hitting chemical triggers such as the tumor environment itself, or in response to an intravenous chemical injection.
Source Fierce Biotech |
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Nanoparticle trick 'boosts body's vaccine response' |
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| Tiny capsules engineered to mimic part of the body's immune system could strengthen its response to vaccines, say researchers.
The nanoparticles, described in the journal Nature Materials, are a message sent from cells in the skin to warn of a threat.
Scientists from Duke University in the US said mice given them as part of a vaccine coped with otherwise lethal infections.
They could soon be suitable for humans.
Vaccination involves priming the immune system to recognise particular bacteria or viruses, so that it is ready to counter-attack quickly in the event of a genuine infection.
As well as a deactivated or weakened version of the bacteria or virus in question, many vaccines contain "adjuvants" - extra ingredients designed to enhance this priming process.
The Duke University team aimed to hijack a natural immune response involving cells called mast cells found in the skin.
Source BBC Health News |
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DNA Vaccine Pioneer, Terry Hamblin, Dies at 68 |
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| Terry Hamblin
Professor Terry Hamblin, who has died aged 68, was a haematologist who delivered the “world’s first cancer vaccine”.
Hamblin injected Catherine Nosrati, a lymphoma patient who was then 42, with the so-called DNA “vaccine” at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital in 1999. In theory, the “vaccine” works by combining genetic material from a cancer cell with a harmless part of a toxin, thus stimulating the body’s immune system to destroy the toxin – and the cancer cell along with it. More than a decade after the first “vaccination”, trial programmes are still under way. According to an article in the International Journal of Medical Microbiology, “genetic immunisation with [DNA vaccines] has proven to be a promising tool in conferring protective immunity against tumours in various animal experiments”. Its effectiveness for humans, however, remains to be established.
Source The Telegraph |
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New Vaccine Approach Gives Hope to Those Living with HIV |
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| ......
Currently, the best way to treat HIV is with antiretroviral therapy — drugs that aim at keeping the levels of virus in a person's blood low. These drugs have extended life spans, allowing for normal lives and reducing the chances of transmitting the virus. However, the side effects can negatively affect health, bringing liver problems and nausea.
There is also the problem of sticking to the drug regimen. "Adherence is a challenging thing," said Frank Oldham, chief executive officer of the National Association of People With AIDS.
Enter: new HIV vaccines
There are several therapeutic vaccines in development. Approaching HIV in slightly different ways, all are designed to allow the body's immune system to at least fight the virus to a standstill, and perhaps even keep it at undetectable levels. Common to all treatments is giving the immune system some way to recognize HIV. The vaccines differ in the markers (called antigens) they use to flag HIV particles, and in how they are delivered to the body.
Vacc-4x trains a person's immune system to recognize and fight a key protein that HIV relies on, called gp24. It also stimulates the production of white blood cells, which normally are killed by the virus. Early results show patients' viral loads coming down by a factor of three.
Genetic Immunity, a U.S.-Hungarian company, is testing a vaccine called DermaVir. Rather than focusing on a single protein, DermaVir uses a tiny bit of HIV DNA (called plasmid DNA) to generate a set of 15 chemical markers that the body's T-cells can recognize. The idea is to maximize the number of ways the immune cells can "see" the virus. The vaccine is administered by rubbing the skin enough to irritate it. Cells called dendritic cells will pick up a nanoparticle containing the DNA and deliver it to the lymph nodes, where the infection-fighting T-cells are generated.
The vaccine has been tested on about 70 patients so far and showed a 70 percent reduction in viral load, according to Genetic Immunity’s president, Dr. Julianna Lisziewicz. Another set of trials on patients is currently under way. [AIDS: A 'Winnable' Public Health
Battle?]
Source Live Science |
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Bioject Retains Financial Advisor to Explore Strategic Alternatives Read more: Bioject Retains Financial Advisor to Explore Strategic Alternatives |
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| PORTLAND, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Bioject Medical Technologies Inc. (OCTBB: BJCT), a leading developer of needle-free drug delivery systems, today announced that it has retained the services of Mr. Snehal Patel, an experienced life science professional and financial advisor, to assist the company as it explores strategic alternatives, including the sale of the company. A sale of the company may not result in proceeds to the common shareholders, given the liquidation preferences of the preferred shareholders. Inquiries should be made to Mr. Patel at spatel@bioject.com or 203-434-3290.
In addition, the holders of the company's $225,000 convertible notes due December 29, 2011, have unilaterally extended the maturity date of the notes until February 28, 2012. The note holders include certain members of the Board of Directors and former President and CEO. The notes will continue to accrue interest.
Read more:
FierceBiotech |
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Paragon Bioservices Awarded Multi-Million Dollar DoD Contract for Filovirus Vaccine Development and Manufacturing |
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| Paragon Bioservices, Inc., a Baltimore-based CMO focused on the process development and manufacturing of biologics, announced today that it has been awarded a JVAP-CBMS contract from the Department of Defense (DoD) for the vaccine development and subsequent GMP manufacturing of the "VEE Replicon Particle Trivalent Filovirus Vaccine."
The initial phase of the contract is valued at ~$15 million—with future optional CLINs that, if exercised, would more than double that amount.
According to Marco Chacon, PhD, CEO of Paragon, "My colleagues and I are honored to be selected for this contract—one that includes the application of great science and bioprocess toward better public health and National Preparedness. It doesn't get any better than this for a CMO." Paragon's extensive expertise in virus and vaccine (VLP) production and purification will be enhanced through a collaboration with world-recognized virologists and vaccine experts from the University of Maryland School of Medicine (Baltimore, MD) and Harrisvaccines (Ames, IA).
Read More
Source Paragon |
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· Phacilitate Washington 2012
Washington, DC
30th January-1st February 2012
· Molecular Med Tri-Con 2012
San Francisco, CA
19-23 February 2012
· 2nd Annual Global Vaccines Forum
Vienna
1-2 March 2012
· Vaccine World Summit(IMAPAC)
Hyderabad, India
12-16 March 2012
· ISBioTech 2nd Annual Meeting
Rosslyn, VA
2-4 April 2012
· World Vaccine Congress 2012
Washington, DC
10-13 April 2012
· TB Vaccines for the World-TB 2012
Orlando, FL
23-25 May 2012
· Vaccipharma 2012
Barceló Cayo Santa María Hotel, Cuba
16-20 June 2012
· Modern Vaccines Adjuvants & Delivery Systems (MVADS 2012)
Copenhagen, Denmark
4-6 July 2012
· Influenza Vaccines for the World (IVW 2012)
Albufeira, Southern Portugal
9-12 October 2012
· Human Antibodies & Hybridomas (HAH 2012)
Orlando, FL
7-9 November 2012
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