Immunogenicity studies of recombinant RBD SARS-CoV-2 as a COVID-19 vaccine candidate produced in Escherichia coli

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 -related global COVID-19 pandemic has been impacting millions of people since its outbreak in 2020. COVID-19 vaccination has proven highly efficient in reducing illness severity and preventing infection-related fatalities. The World Health Organization has granted emergency use approval to multiple, including protein subunit technology-based, COVID-19 vaccines. Foreseeably, additional COVID-19 subunit vaccine development would be essential to meet the accessible and growing demand for effective vaccines, especially for Low-Middle-Income Countries (LMIC). The SARS-CoV-2 spike protein receptor binding domain (RBD), as the primary target for neutralizing antibodies, holds significant potential for future COVID-19 subunit vaccine development. In this study, we developed a recombinant Escherichia coli-expressed RBD (rRBD) as a vaccine candidate and evaluated its immunogenicity and preliminary toxicity in BALB/c mice. The rRBD induced humoral immune response from day 7 post-vaccination and, following the booster doses, the IgG levels increased dramatically in mice. Interestingly, our vaccine candidate also significantly induced cellular immune response, indicated by the incrased IFN-ɣ-producing cell numbers. We observed no adverse effect or local reactogenicity either in control or treated mice. Taken together, our discoveries could potentially support efficient and cost-effective vaccine antigen production, from which LMICs could particularly benefit.

Alpha-mangostin, piperine and beta-sitosterol as hepatitis C antivirus (HCV): In silico and in vitro studies

Hepatitis C is still a serious liver case of health. Up to now the development of anti-Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) drugs is challenging, especially the development of natural material compounds as anti-HCV. In the present study, we evaluated the probability of α-mangostin, piperine, and β-sitosterol as anti-HCV with the in silico and in vitro approaches. Molecular docking was performed between nonstructural protein 5B (NS5B, PDB ID 3FQL) with α-mangostin, piperine, and β-sitosterol by Autodock Tools® and BIOVIA Discovery Studio®. Subsequently, molecular dynamics simulations were conducted for 200 ns, evaluating the dynamic interaction between the ligands and the viral protein NS5B. Furthermore, compound characterization at the hepatocarcinoma cell line was employed. α-Mangostin with NS5B complex demonstrated the most negative binding free energy value based on MM-PBSA calculation with a value of -9.13 kcal/mol. In vitro test showed that IC50 of α -mangostin was 2.70 ± 0.92 μM, IC50 of piperine was 52.18 ± 3.21 μM, IC50 of β-sitosterol was >100 μM. α-Mangostin can serve as a valuable lead compound for further development of the anti-HCV.

Genetic Polymorphisms Associated with Cyclophosphamide Outcome and Risk of Toxicity in Patients with Lupus Nephritis

A 6-month cyclophosphamide induction therapy followed by maintenance therapy every three months is the first-line treatment for Class III, IV, and V lupus nephritis. Among the 139 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with cyclophosphamide, four SNPs, namely rs4244285, rs4802101, rs7254579 and rs3957356, are related to the response and risk of toxicity in patients with lupus nephritis. Although pharmacogenetic studies in patients with lupus nephritis (LN) have not been conducted previously in Indonesia, data on rs4244285 are available for several ethnic groups, including Papuans, Bataks, Balinese, Dayaks, Javanese, Bugis, Chinese, Timorese and Malays, even though direct evidence in LN patients is less detectable. However, this can be followed up prior to cyclophosphamide therapy based on the identification of genetic markers. Therefore, clinical studies in patients with lupus nephritis are deemed necessary to evaluate the potential of these markers.

The long and stumble way to find potential active compounds from plants for defeating hepatitis B and C: review

Hepatitis is a liver illness caused by virus such as hepatitis A virus, hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus. Hepatitis B and C are considerably more usual and induce more cirrhosis and dead worldwide than hepatitis A. Although drugs that are currently often used in the medication of hepatitis B and C, the finding of recent drug from various resources including herbal has been intensively developed. Therefore, the purpose of this review is to consider the possibility of plant’s compounds as anti-HBV and anti-HCV. From the results of a review of several articles, several plant’s compound have shown effectiveness againts HBV and HCV by in silico, in vitro and in vivo studies. In conclusion, several plant’s active compounds are possibility to be developed as anti-hepatitis B and C.

Relationship and structural diversity of bacterial manganese superoxide dismutases and the strategy for its application in therapy and cosmetics

Manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) from bacteria shares high amino acid sequence homology and nearly identical structure. Despite of that, their characteristics are diverse, which likely due to their bacterial origin and adaptation to the environment. Most importantly, their structural similarity extends to eukaryotic MnSOD, i.e. human. Therefore, structural study of bacterial MnSOD is relevant to its human SOD and henceforth for its use in human as a therapeutic agent or a cosmetic ingredient. Further, eukaryotic MnSOD occurs as a tetramer while almost all of the prokaryotic are dimeric. In this review, relationship between the amino acid sequences and structures of MnSOD as well as their origin and evolution is discussed. The structures of FeSOD and cambialistic SOD, which are MnSOD closest homologs, are visited as the comparison. This study provides an insight to potential safe application of bacterial MnSOD, including necessary modifications to obtain desired characteristics for applications in human.

Regulation of mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway and proinflammatory cytokines by ursolic acid in murine macrophages infected with Mycobacterium avium

Mycobacterium avium, one of the closest relatives of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB), offers an advantage in studying MTB because of its tuberculosis-like effect in humans and host immune tolerance. This study examined the antimycobacterial action of ursolic acid and its regulation in macrophages during infection. Colonyforming units of the bacteria were determined in the cell lysate of macrophages and in the supernatant. The effect of ursolic acid on macrophages during infection was determined by analyzing the phosphorylation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway and the concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, and nitrite. The colony-forming units analysis demonstrated that ursolic acid reduced the presence of Mycobacterium avium both intracellularly (in macrophages) and extracellularly. It decreased the levels of tumor necrosis factor- α and interleukin-6 but increased the concentrations of interleukin-1β and nitrite during infection. It also inhibited the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 but phosphorylated the C-Jun N-terminal kinase signaling pathway. The antimycobacterial effect of ursolic acid correlated with its ability to regulate the activation of macrophages. This dual ability made the ursolic acid-related elimination of the mycobacteria more effective.