ABSTRACT
The burgeoning abilities of pathogens and tumor cells to evade immune responses underscore the urgent need for innovative vaccination platforms based on a variety of biological mechanisms. The current logistical challenges associated with cold-chain (i.e. low-temperature) transportation particularly impacts access to vaccines in the global south. We recently discovered organelles called migrasomes, and herein we investigate the potential of migrasomes as an alternative vaccination platform. Their inherent stability and their enrichment with immune-modulating molecules make migrasomes promising candidates, but their low yield presents a hurdle. We address this problem through our engineered migrasome-like vesicles (eMigrasomes), which emulate the biophysical attributes of natural migrasomes with substantially improved yield. We show that eMigrasomes loaded with a model antigen elicit potent antibody responses and maintain stability at room temperature. We demonstrate that eMigrasomes bearing the SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein induce robust humoral protection against the virus. Our study demonstrates the potential of eMigrasome-based vaccines as a unique, robust, and accessible alternative to traditional methods.
Subject(s)
Neoplasms , Severe Acute Respiratory SyndromeABSTRACT
Behçet’s syndrome (BS) is a chronic form of relapsing multisystem vasculitis, characterized by recurrent oral and genital ulcers. Intestinal BS is a special type of BS. Volcano-shaped ulcers in the ileocecum are a typical finding of intestinal BS, and punched-out ulcers can be observed in the intestine or esophagus. At present, there is no recognized radical treatment for intestinal BS. Glucocorticoids and immunosuppressants are currently the main drugs used to improve the condition. Although it has been reported that monoclonal anti-TNF antibodies may be effective for some refractory intestinal BS, further randomized, prospective trials are necessary to confirm these findings. Some patients are restricted from using biological agents because of serious allergic reactions of drugs, inconvenient drug injections or the impact of the novel coronavirus epidemic. If endoscopic remission (endoscopic healing) is not achieved for a prolonged period of time, serious complications, such as perforation, fistula formation, and gastrointestinal bleeding can be induced. Therefore, it is necessary to develop new treatment methods for controlling disease progression. We reviewed the relevant literature, combined with the analysis of the correlation between the pathogenesis of BS and the mechanism of Janus kinase (JAK) inhibition, and considered that tofacitinib (TOF) may be effective for managing refractory intestinal BS. We report for the first time that four patients with severe refractory intestinal BS were successfully treated with TOF. We hope to provide valuable information on JAK inhibitors as potential therapeutic targets for the treatment of severe refractory intestinal BS.
ABSTRACT
Our main aim is to estimate the end of the first wave epidemic of COVID-19 outbreak in mainland China. We developed mathematical models to predict reasonable bounds on the date of end of the COVID-19 epidemics in mainland China with strong quarantine and testing measures for a sufficiently long time. We used reported data in China from January 20, 2020 to April 9, 2020. We firstly used a deterministic approach to obtain a formula to compute the probability distribution of the extinction date by combining the models and continuous-time Markov processes. Then we present the individual based model (IMB) simulations to compare the result by deterministic approach and show the absolute difference between the estimated cumulative probability distribution computed by simulations and formula. We provide the predictions of the end of the first wave epidemic for different fractions $f$ of asymptomatic infectious that become reported symptomatic infectious.
Subject(s)
COVID-19ABSTRACT
Objective@#The research was aimed to discuss the role of science and technology research in the public health emergency response, and to provide theoretical support for building Healthy China, implementing the National Strategy of Innovation-Driven Development.@*Methods@#Take COVID-19 as an example, to sum up the characteristics and the function of science and technology research in the public health emergency prevention and control system.@*Results@#In order to make the scientific and technological research as the supporting system in public health emergency, we need to strengthen the basic research, to improve the research and development for controlling product with the independent intellectual property, to optimize the training system and evaluating system in public health technology, to deepen the international collaboration and to popularize the basic scientific knowledge.@*Conclusions@#Through systematically arrangement for disease controlling and prevention, for the industrial supporting, for the health improvement, for the talent training system and for the cooperation and the communication, we need to fasten the technological innovation for better preparation and responding to public health emergencies.
ABSTRACT
We model the COVID-19 coronavirus epidemics in China, South Korea, Italy, France, Germany and United Kingdom. We use early reported case data to predict the cumulative number of reported cases to a final size in each country. The key features of our model are the timing of implementation of major public policies restricting social movement, the identification and isolation of unreported cases, and the impact of asymptomatic infectious cases.
Subject(s)
COVID-19ABSTRACT
In this work, our team develops a differential equations model of COVID-19 epidemics. Our goal is to predict forward in time the future number of cases from early reported case data in regions throughout the world. Our model incorporates the following important elements of COVID-19 epidemics: (1) the number of asymptomatic infectious individuals (with very mild or no symptoms), (2) the number of symptomatic reported infectious individuals (with severe symptoms) and (3) the number of symptomatic unreported infectious individuals (with less severe symptoms). We apply our model to COVID-!9 epidemics in South Korea, Italy and Spain.
Subject(s)
COVID-19ABSTRACT
We model the COVID-19 coronavirus epidemic in China. We use early reported case data to predict the cumulative number of reported cases to a final size. The key features of our model are the timing of implementation of major public policies restricting social movement, the identification and isolation of unreported cases, and the impact of asymptomatic infectious cases.
Subject(s)
COVID-19ABSTRACT
We model the COVID-19 coronavirus epidemic in China. We use early reported case data to predict the cumulative number of reported cases to a final size. The key features of our model are the timing of implementation of major public policies restricting social movement, the identification and isolation of unreported cases, and the impact of asymptomatic infectious cases.
Subject(s)
COVID-19ABSTRACT
We model the COVID-19 coronavirus epidemic in China. We use early reported case data to predict the cumulative number of reported cases to a final size. The key features of our model are the timing of implementation of major public policies restricting social movement, the identification and isolation of unreported cases, and the impact of asymptomatic infectious cases.