LabMedica

Download Mobile App
Recent News Expo Clinical Chem. Molecular Diagnostics Hematology Immunology Microbiology Pathology Technology Industry Focus

Vaccine Effectively Protects Mice against RSV Infection

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 26 Dec 2018
Image: This transmission electron micrograph (TEM) depicts the liberated, chain-like, ribonucleic acid (RNA) genome of the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) pathogen. RSV is a negative-sense, enveloped RNA virus. The virion is variable in shape and size, with a diameter ranging between 120 and 300 nanometers (Photo courtesy of the CDC).
Image: This transmission electron micrograph (TEM) depicts the liberated, chain-like, ribonucleic acid (RNA) genome of the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) pathogen. RSV is a negative-sense, enveloped RNA virus. The virion is variable in shape and size, with a diameter ranging between 120 and 300 nanometers (Photo courtesy of the CDC).
The potential of a microneedle skin patch for vaccination against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) has been demonstrated in a mouse model system.

RSV is a common respiratory disease, but it can be serious for young children, patients with compromised immune systems, and the elderly. Intramuscular (IM) vaccination with formalin-inactivated respiratory syncytial virus (FI-RSV) failed in clinical trials to protect against infection due to vaccine-enhanced respiratory disease.

In the current study, investigators at Georgia State University (Atlanta, USA) tested the efficacy of skin vaccination against RSV. They analyzed the immunogenicity, efficacy, and inflammatory disease after microneedle (MN) patch delivery of FI-RSV vaccine (FI-RSV MN) to the mouse skin with or without an adjuvant of monophosphoryl lipid A (MPL).

The investigators reported in the October 26, 2018, online edition of the journal PLOS ONE that compared to IM vaccination, MN patch delivery of FI-RSV was more effective in clearing lung viral loads and preventing weight loss, and in diminishing inflammation, infiltrating immune cells, and T-helper type 2 (Th2) CD4 T cell responses after RSV challenge. With MPL adjuvant, MN patch delivery of FI-RSV significantly increased the immunogenicity and efficacy as well as preventing RSV disease as evidenced by lung viral clearance and avoiding pulmonary histopathology.

The investigators suggested that delivery of RSV vaccines to the skin via a MN patch would be highly attractive for children who have needle-phobia of intramuscular (IM) needle injection. Also, MN patch vaccination would induce a different profile of immune responses that could be more effective in preventing RSV vaccine-enhanced disease due to targeted skin dendritic cells.

"Skin delivery of RSV vaccines with an appropriate adjuvant can be translational to the clinic," said senior author Dr. Sang-Moo Kang, professor of biomedical sciences at Georgia State University.

Related Links:
Georgia State University

Gold Member
Hematology Analyzer
Medonic M32B
POC Helicobacter Pylori Test Kit
Hepy Urease Test
HBV DNA Test
GENERIC HBV VIRAL LOAD VER 2.0
Silver Member
PCR Plates
Diamond Shell PCR Plates

Channels

Molecular Diagnostics

view channel
Image: The diagnostic device can tell how deadly brain tumors respond to treatment from a simple blood test (Photo courtesy of UQ)

Diagnostic Device Predicts Treatment Response for Brain Tumors Via Blood Test

Glioblastoma is one of the deadliest forms of brain cancer, largely because doctors have no reliable way to determine whether treatments are working in real time. Assessing therapeutic response currently... Read more

Immunology

view channel
Image: Circulating tumor cells isolated from blood samples could help guide immunotherapy decisions (Photo courtesy of Shutterstock)

Blood Test Identifies Lung Cancer Patients Who Can Benefit from Immunotherapy Drug

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is an aggressive disease with limited treatment options, and even newly approved immunotherapies do not benefit all patients. While immunotherapy can extend survival for some,... Read more

Microbiology

view channel
Image: New evidence suggests that imbalances in the gut microbiome may contribute to the onset and progression of MCI and Alzheimer’s disease (Photo courtesy of Adobe Stock)

Comprehensive Review Identifies Gut Microbiome Signatures Associated With Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease affects approximately 6.7 million people in the United States and nearly 50 million worldwide, yet early cognitive decline remains difficult to characterize. Increasing evidence suggests... Read more

Technology

view channel
Image: Vitestro has shared a detailed visual explanation of its Autonomous Robotic Phlebotomy Device (photo courtesy of Vitestro)

Robotic Technology Unveiled for Automated Diagnostic Blood Draws

Routine diagnostic blood collection is a high‑volume task that can strain staffing and introduce human‑dependent variability, with downstream implications for sample quality and patient experience.... Read more

Industry

view channel
Image: Roche’s cobas® Mass Spec solution enables fully automated mass spectrometry in routine clinical laboratories (Photo courtesy of Roche)

New Collaboration Brings Automated Mass Spectrometry to Routine Laboratory Testing

Mass spectrometry is a powerful analytical technique that identifies and quantifies molecules based on their mass and electrical charge. Its high selectivity, sensitivity, and accuracy make it indispensable... Read more