Knowledge and access to sexual and reproductive health information among pupils in higher grades / 中国学校卫生

Objective@#To understand sexual and reproductive health (SRH) knowledge and access to sexual health information among pupils in higher grades, and to provide the scientific basis for conducting sexual education in family and school.@*Methods@#A total of 1 098 pupils in grade four and five from 4 primary schools in a county, Jiaxing City, Zhejiang Province were selected for an anonymous computer assisted self-interview to get the information, including sexual and reproductive information and its sources, the condition about getting sexual education from school and family, and so on.@*Results@#The percentage of correct answers about boy’s and girl’s puberty changes ranged from 15%~54%, and about reproduction and physiology ranges from 14%~70%. The awareness of private body parts ranged from 59%~98%. About 70%~95% could correctly identify sexual abuse scenes. The average score for knowledge on puberty changes, reproduction and physiology, identification of private body and identification of sexual abuse scenes was 31.89, 38.21, 77.03, and 85.72, with total average score of 58.21. In general, girls and students from urban areas or in grade five had higher knowledge level than boys and students from rural areas or in grade four did (P<0.05). Participants mainly obtained SRH knowledge from their mother(63.02%), father(40.53%) and teachers(27.50%). Girls and students from urban areas or in grade five reported higher proportion in access to information on human development, puberty development and health care, self-protection from parents and school teachers than boys and students from rural areas or in grade four(P<0.05).@*Conclusion@#Pupils in higher grades lacked SRH knowledge. It is necessary to raise awareness among school teachers and parents about the importance of providing sexuality education for pupils.

Construction and immunogenicity of fusion protein containing respiratory syncytial virus M2:81-95 and heat shock protein 70L1 / 中华传染病杂志

Objective To construct the recombinant plasmid of fusion protein containing respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) cytotoxicity T lymphocyte (CTL) epitope M2:81-95 and heat shock protein (HSP) 70L1, and to investigate its immunogenicity after prokaryotic expression. Methods HSP70L1 gone was cloned from SMMC7721 cells. The M2:81-95 gene fragment was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. Plasmid pET-HSP70L1-M2 : 81-95 (pET-HSP70L1-M2) was constructed, identified and transferred into E. coli BL21 (DE3). Expression of HSP70L1-M2 : 81-95(HSP70L1-M2) was induced by isopropy-β-D-thiogalaetosidc (IPTG). The expressed protein was purified by affinity chromatography and renatured by gradient dialysis. The BALB/c mice were immunized with this fusion protein. IgG antibodies and the subtypes were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and CTL responses were determined by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT). Results The recombinant plasmid pET-HSP70L1-M2 was successfully constructed. The fusion protein HSP70L1-M2 was expressed in E. coll. The purified protein induced strong RSV-and CTL epitope-specific CTL responses and high titer of protein specific lgG antibody 4.87±0.35. The subtypes were IgG1 (5.53±0.28) and lgG2a (4.40±0.21) and IgG1/ IgG2a ratio was balanced. The titers of lgG, IgG1 and IgG2a in PBS control group were 0.33±0.17, 0.51±0.21 and 0, respectively, which werc significantly lower than those in immunized group (t = 3.512, 3.681, 5.856; P<0.05). Conclusions The recombinant plasmid pET-HSP70L1-M2 is successfully constructed and the fusion protein is expressed and purified. HSP70L1-M2 induced strong RSV-and CTL epitope-specific CTL responses and mixed T helper cell (Th)1/Th2 response in BALB/c mice.

A CTL epitope of respiratory syncytial virus fused with G protein fragment regulates specific immunoresponses / 中国免疫学杂志

Objective: To investigate the regulation of respiratory syncytial virus CTL epitope fused with G protein antigen fragment G1 to the specific immunoresponses. Methods: The recombinant plasmid pET-DsbA-G1 or pET-DsbA-G1F/M2 was transferred into E.coli BL21(DE3) and the fusion protein DsbA-G1F/M2 or DsbA-G1 was expressed.The expressing product was induced and purified by affinity chromatography. The two proteins were used to immunized BALB/c mice i.p, respectively. Serum and spleen cells were collected regularly. RSV-specific CTL responses were measured by MTT, IgG and IgG1 and IgG2a antibodies by ELISA, neutralizing antibodies by plaque reduction assay. Results: The recombinant proteins were expressed successfully and the purity was over 90% after purified by affinity chromatography. The protein DsbA-G1F/M2 induced significant RSV-specific CTL responses, while DsbA-G1 without CTL epitope did not induce detctable CTL responses. Strong IgG antibody responses were elicited,indicated by both. IgG1 and IgG2a titers induced by DsbA-G1F/M2, while only IgG1 was induced by DsbA-G1.The ratio of IgG1/IgG2a was downregulated significantly. Both antigens induced high level of neutralizing antibodies, but the latter was a little lower. Conclusion: DsbA-G1F/M2, the fusion protein of a CTL epitope and G protein fragment G1 can induce both cellular immunity and humoral immunity. The activation of CTLs downregulates the ratio of IgG1/IgG2a.The more balanced immunoresponse is advantageous for improving safety of the candidate vaccine.