RESUMO
We herein present pioneering studies to reveal that excitation-wavelength-dependent photoluminescence properties of fluorescent silicon nanoparticles (SiNPs) can be realized by rationally designing surface ligands, i.e., several kinds of oxidized indole derivatives. The resultant ligand-decorated SiNPs exhibit strong fluorescence, with significant excitation-wavelength-dependent emissive shifting from â¼420 nm to â¼550 nm. Taking advantage of their unique optical merits, we further exploit the resultant ligand-decorated SiNPs as novel fluorescent labels for anti-counterfeiting and cell imaging.
RESUMO
PURPOSE: To preliminarily evaluate the immunogenicity and efficacy of the recombinant tuberculosis vaccine AEC/BC02 in which Ag85b and fusion protein ESAT6-CFP10 were combined with bacillus Calmette-Guérin CpG and an aluminum salt-based adjuvant system. METHODS: Groups of BALB/c mice were immunized intramuscularly three times at 10-day intervals with AEC/BC02 or the adjuvant alone and the vaccine-induced cell-mediated immune responses were evaluated. The efficacy of AEC/BC02 was evaluated in two guinea pig models, one a model of prevention and the other a model of latent infection. RESULTS: The AEC/BC02 vaccine induced strong cellular immune responses characterized by a high frequency of antigen-specific interferon-γ-secreting T cells in mice at different time points after the last vaccination. In the preventive model of guinea pig, AEC/BC02 did not protect against Mycobacterium tuberculosis as a pre-exposure vaccine. However, in a latent infection model of guinea pig, it effectively controlled the reactivation of M. tuberculosis and lowered the bacterial load in the lung and spleen. CONCLUSION: These results indicate AEC/BC02 can protect against reactivation of latent infection and may function as a therapeutic vaccine.
