ABSTRACT
BackgroundNanovaccines have shown the promising potential in controlling and eradicating the threat of infectious diseases worldwide. There has been a great need in developing a versatile strategy to conveniently construct diverse types of nanovaccines and induce potent immune responses. To that end, it is critical for obtaining a potent self-adjuvant platform to assemble with different types of antigens into nanovaccines. ResultsIn this study, we identified a new natural polysaccharide from the rhizomes of Bletilla striata (PRBS), and used this polysaccharide as a platform to construct diverse types of nanovaccines with potent self-adjuvant property. In the construction process of SARS-CoV-2 nanovaccine, PRBS molecules and RBD protein antigens were assembled into ~300 nm nanoparticles by hydrogen bond. For HIV nanovaccine, hydrophobic effect dominantly drove the co-assembly between PRBS molecules and Env expression plasmid into ~350 nm nanospheres. Importantly, PRBS can potently activate the behaviors and functions of multiple immune cells such as macrophages, B cells and dendritic cells. Depending on PRBS-mediated immune activation, these self-adjuvant nanovaccines can elicit significantly stronger antigen-specific antibody and cellular responses in vivo, in comparison with their corresponding traditional vaccine forms. Moreover, we also revealed the construction models of PRBS-based nanovaccines by analyzing multiple assembly parameters such as bond energy, bond length and interaction sites. ConclusionsPRBS, a newly-identified natural polysaccharide which can co-assemble with different types of antigens and activate multiple critical immune cells, has presented a great potential as a versatile platform to develop potent self-adjuvant nanovaccines.
ABSTRACT
Background: The public health emergency has created challenges for the care of patients, particularly those with chronic diseases such as Duchenne muscular dystrophy. To elucidate the challenges faced by Chinese patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy during the public health emergency coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, we conducted an online cross-sectional survey, the responses of which were collected between March 27 and June 30, 2021. Results: : In total, valid questionnaire responses were obtained from 2,105 patients, of whom 49 lived in pandemic lockdown areas. Of the 2,056 responders from non-lockdown areas, 42.8% reduced their outside daily activities, 49.4% reduced their use of rehabilitation services, 39.7% postponed regular follow-up appointments, and 40.8% complained of accelerated declines in motor function over the previous year. The corresponding figures for the 49 participants from lockdown areas were almost all higher, with 67.3% reducing outside daily activities, 44.9% reducing their use of rehabilitation services, 79.6% postponing regular follow-up appointments, and 55.1% complaining of accelerated declines in motor function. When asked whether they expected more assistance from society than they had received before the pandemic, 60.8% of patients in non-lockdown areas and 87.8% of those in lockdown areas responded affirmatively. When asked whether they felt more anxious than they had before the pandemic and needed psychological counseling, 11.5% of respondents in non-lockdown areas and 18.4% of respondents in lockdown areas responded affirmatively. In non-lockdown areas, 76% of respondents had at least one telemedicine visit, and 71% of them thought that telemedicine was helpful. In lockdown areas, 91.8% had used telemedicine at least once, and 66.7% of them found it helpful. Conclusions: : These public health emergency control measures have affected the care of patients with chronic diseases worldwide, particularly pronounced in lockdown areas. It is imperative that healthcare workers assist patients and establish more robust chronic disease management systems. Telemedicine is an effective model for providing healthcare to such patients.