The recombinant truncated envelope protein of West Nile virus adjuvanted with Alum/CpG induces potent humoral and T cell immunity in mice

Sonodynamic activated nanoparticles with Glut1 inhibitor and cystine-containing polymer stimulate disulfidptosis for improved immunotherapy in bladder cancer

Disulfidptosis, a novel form of programmed cell death characterized by cystine accumulation and disulfide stress, primarily affects metabolically active tumors like bladder cancer, which is often considered to be a highly metabolic and energy-consuming tumor. However, translating disulfidptosis induction into clinical practice face substantial obstacles, including the limited solubility of key inducers, insufficient cystine buildup within cells, and cellular mechanisms regulating the NADP+/NADPH equilibrium. To fully unlock the therapeutic potential of disulfidptosis, a promising solution has emerged in the form of nanotechnology combined with sonodynamic therapy (SDT). This study reports a novel approach that enhances disulfidptosis through SDT, simultaneously promoting immunogenic cell death (ICD) and improving the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. The system, SPCP/CCP@Bay, comprises a degradable sonodynamic-pseudo-conjugate-polymer (SPCP) and a cystine-containing polymer (CCP), loaded with Bay-876. Following intravenous administration, SPCP/CCP@Bay effectively accumulates at tumor sites. Under ultrasound radiation, SPCP/CCP@Bay effectively releases Bay-876, disrupts the intracellular redox balance, releases cystine from CCP, and induces disulfidptosis. Moreover, SPCP/CCP@Bay induces ICD and synergizes with PD-1 monoclonal antibodies (α-PD-1) to suppress tumor growth. This integrated strategy holds significant promise in reshaping the tumor microenvironment, converting "cold tumors" to "hot tumors", and advancing the field of cancer immunotherapy.

West Nile virus - a re-emerging global threat: recent advances in vaccines and drug discovery

West Nile virus (WNV) is an emerging mosquito-borne pathogen and is posing significant global health challenge through climate change. WNV, transmitted between birds and Culex mosquitoes, has significantly expanded northward in recent years, leading to outbreaks across Europe and North America. This review explores the recent advancements and therapeutic strategies targeting WNV's structural and non-structural (NS) proteins, which play critical roles in viral replication and pathogenesis. Promising candidates include peptide-based inhibitors, monoclonal antibodies, and small molecules that disrupt protein-protein interactions. Most of current findings are derived from in silico methods or in vitro assays, with limited validation through in vivo studies. Although no vaccines are currently available for humans, several have been approved for horses, and development efforts are ongoing. The growing threat of WNV underscores the urgent need for validated antiviral therapies and scalable vaccines, especially considering its increasing geographic range and public health impact.