Serological survey on canine coronavirus antibodies in giant pandas by virus neutralization test

In order to survey the infectious situation of canine coronavirus (CCV) in giant panda population, a virus neutralization test detecting specific antibodies against CCV in giant panda抯 sera was established by using two-fold dilutions of serum and 100 TCID50 of the virus. The 62 sera samples of giant pandas, which were gathered from zoos and reserve region of Sichuan Province, China were detected. The neutralization antibody titer of 1:4 was recognized as the positive criterion, 8 sera samples were detected to be positive, and the positive rate was 12.9%. The titers of neutralizing antibody ranged from 1:8 to 1:32. It was the first comprehensive investigation on neutralization antibodies against CCV in giant panda population in China. The results of study showed that the infection of CCV in giant panda population was universal, which has posed a threat to the health of giant panda. Therefore, it is incumbent on us to study safe and effective vaccines to protect giant panda against CCV infection.

Effect of Leukemia Vaccine on the Macrophage of Mice

Objective: To evaluate the e?ect of the prepared leukemia vaccine on the cytotoxicity of macrophage of C57BL/6 mice. Methods: The model of mice bearing leukemia was established and three types of leukemia vaccine were prepared before they were administered on the mice respectively. The cy- totxicity of M? derived from the mice was measured after the active immunotherapy or prevention for 2–4 weeks later by using MTT colorimetric method and compared with the control group. Results: (1) With the growth of leukemia cells in the mice, the cytotoxicity of M? was seriously depressed; (2) The administration of leukemia vaccine prepared from inactivated leukemic cells, incomplete Freund’s adjuvant (IFA) and cytokines, such as rGM-CSF, rIL-2 and rIL-6, promoted the cellular immunity of mice bearing leukemia, more e?cient than leukemia vaccine from either inactivated leukemic cells and IFA or inactive leukemic cells per se. Conclusion: The leukemia vaccine prepared with inactive leukemic cells, IFA and cytokines could activate the non-speci?c cellular immunity such as M?, as well as, antigen present, immune surveillance and so on, and this activation constructed a base for further activate T lymphocyte. Naturally, this will certainly have a promising future in the therapy against hematopietic tumor.

Safety and tolerability of intradermal influenza vaccination in patients with cardiovascular disease

Background It is well-established that influenza vaccination reduces adverse cardiovascular outcomes in patients with cardiovascular diseases （CVD）, however, the vaccine coverage rate in most countries remains low. The concern about the local adverse effects of intramus-cular injection, particularly in CVD patients receiving antithrombotic therapy, is one of the important impediments. This study was con-ducted to assess the safety, side effects and tolerability of intradermal influenza vaccine in CVD patients. Methods This was an observa-tional study in adult CVD patients who had undergone vaccination against seasonal influenza by intradermal vaccination between May 16th and May 30th, 2012 at Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital. The medical history, patients＇ acceptability and adverse effects were collected using a written questionnaire completed by the patient immediately following vaccination and by a telephone survey eight days later. Results Among 169 patients, 52.1%were women and the mean age was 63 ＆#177; 12 years. Coronary artery disease, valvular heart disease and dilated cardiomyopathy were present in 121 （71.6%）, 40 （23.7%） and 8 （4.7%）, respectively. Antithrombotics were used in 89.3%. After vaccination, the pain score was 0, 1 or 2 （out of 10） in 44.4%, 15.1%, and 27.6%of the patients, respectively. Eight days after vaccination, the common adverse reactions were itching 19 （11.9%）, swelling 9 （5.7%） and fatigue （4.7%）. No hematoma or bruising was reported. Conclusions The intradermal influenza vaccination is safe and well tolerates with high rates of satisfaction in CVD patients. This technique should be useful in expanding influenza vaccine coverage.

Efficacy of seasonal pandemic influenza hemagglutinin DNA vaccines delivered by electroporation against aseasonal H1N1 virus challenge in mice

Prophylactic DNA vaccines against the influenza virus are promising alternatives to conventional vaccines. In this study, we generated two candidate gene-based influenza vaccines encoding either the seasonal or pandemic hemagglutinin antigen （HA） from the strains A/New Caledonia/20/99 （HIN1） （pV1AS） and A/Califorrtia/04/2009 （H1N1） （pVEH1）, respectively. After verifying antigen expression, the immunogenicity of the vaccines delivered intramuscularly with electroporation was tested in a mouse model. Sera of immunized animals were tested in hemagglutination inhibition assays and by ELISA for the presence of HA-specific antibodies. HA-specific T-cells were also measured in IFN-γ ELISpot assays. The protective efficacy of the candidate influenza vaccines was evaluated by measuring mortality rates and body weight after a challenge with 100 LD50 of mouse-adapted A/New Caledonia/20/99 （H1N1）. Mice immunized with either one of the two vaccines showed significantly higher T cell and humoral immune responses （P〈0.05） than the pVAX1 control group. Additionally, the pV1A5 vaccine effec- tively protected the mice against a lethal homologous mouse-adapted virus challenge with a survival rate of 100% compared with a 40% survival rate in the pVEH1 vaccinated group （P〈0.05）. Our study indicates that the seasonal influenza DNA vac- cine completely protects against the homologous A/New Caledonia/20/99 virus （H1N1）, while the pandemic influenza DNA vaccine only partially protects against this virus.