Safety, tolerability, and immunogenicity of a CpG/Alum adjuvanted SARS-CoV-2 recombinant protein vaccine (ZR202-CoV) in healthy adults: Preliminary report of a phase 1, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-escalation trial

This was a phase 1 dose-escalation study of ZR202-CoV, a recombinant protein vaccine candidate containing a pre-fusion format of the spike (S)-protein (S-trimer) combined with the dual-adjuvant system of Alum/CpG. A total of 230 participants were screened and 72 healthy adults aged 18-59 years were enrolled and randomized to receive two doses at a 28-day interval of three different ZR202-CoV formulations or normal saline. We assessed the safety for 28 days after each vaccination and collected blood samples for immunogenicity evaluation. All formulations of ZR202-CoV were well-tolerated, with no observed solicited adverse events ≥ Grade 3 within 7 days after vaccination. No unsolicited adverse events ≥ Grade 3, or serious adverse events related to vaccination occurred as determined by the investigator. After the first dose, detectable immune responses were observed in all subjects. All subjects that received ZR202-CoV seroconverted at 14 days after the second dose by S-binding IgG antibody, pseudovirus and live-virus based neutralizing antibody assays. S-binding response (GMCs: 2708.7 ~ 4050.0 BAU/mL) and neutralizing activity by pseudovirus (GMCs: 363.1 ~ 627.0 IU/mL) and live virus SARS-CoV-2 (GMT: 101.7 ~ 175.0) peaked at 14 days after the second dose of ZR202-CoV. The magnitudes of immune responses compared favorably with COVID-19 vaccines with reported protective efficacy.

Safety and immunogenicity of a bivalent HPV16/18 vaccine in Chinese females

As global supply is still inadequate to address the worldwide requirements for HPV vaccines, we assessed the safety and immunogenicity of a new bivalent HPV16/18 vaccine. In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 2 trial, healthy 9-45-year-old Chinese females in three age cohorts (600 aged 9-17 years; 240 aged 18-26 years; 360 aged 27-45 years) were randomized 1:1 to receive three doses (0,2,6 months) of HPV16/18 vaccine or placebo. We measured neutralizing antibodies against HPV 16 and 18 at 7 months and monitored safety to 12 months in all age cohorts; 9-17-year-old girls were monitored for safety and immunogenicity to 48 months. In vaccinees, 99.8% seroconverted for HPV 16 and 18 types at 7 months; respective GMTs of 5827 (95% CI: 5249, 6468) and 4223 (3785, 4713) were significantly (p < .001) higher than controls for all comparisons. GMTs in the 9-17-year-olds, which were significantly higher than in older women at 7 months, gradually declined to 48 months but remained higher than placebo with seropositivity rates maintained at 98.5% and 97.6% against HPV 16 and 18, respectively. Adverse events occurred at similar rates after vaccine and placebo (69.8% vs. 72.5%, p = .308), including solicited local reactions and systemic adverse events which were mainly mild-to-moderate. The bivalent HPV16/18 vaccine was well tolerated and induced high levels of neutralizing antibodies in all age groups which persisted at high levels to 48 months in the 9-17-year-old age group which would be the target for HPV vaccination campaigns.

Safety and immunogenicity of a pichia pastoris-expressed bivalent human papillomavirus (types 16 and 18) L1 virus-like particle vaccine in healthy Chinese women aged 9-45 years: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 1 clinical trial

BACKGROUND

We evaluated the safety and immunogenicity of high and low doses of a novel pichia pastoris-expressed bivalent (types 16 and 18) human papillomavirus (HPV) virus-like particle vaccine.

METHODS

In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 1 trial, we enrolled 160 healthy females aged 9-45 years in Guangxi, China who were randomized (1:1:2) to receive either low (0.5 mL) or high (1.0 mL) dosages of bivalent HPV vaccine, or placebo (aluminum adjuvant) in a 0, 2, 6 months schedule. Adverse events and other significant conditions that occurred within 30 days after each vaccination were recorded throughout the trial. Sera were collected at days 0, 60, 180 and 210 to measure anti-HPV 16/18 neutralizing antibodies.

RESULTS

A total of 160 participants received at least one dose of the HPV vaccine and 152 completed the three dose vaccination series. Reporting rates of adverse events in placebo, low dose (0.5 mL) and high dose (1.0 mL) groups were 47.5 %, 55.0 % and 55.0 %, respectively. No serious adverse events occurred during this trial. 100 % of the participants who received three doses of the HPV vaccine produced neutralizing antibodies against HPV 16/18 vaccine. For HPV 16 and HPV 18, the geometric mean titers (GMTs) were similar between the low dose group (GMT_{HPV 16} = 10816 [95 % CI: 7824-14953]), GMT_{HPV 18} = 3966 [95 % CI: 2693-5841]) and high dose group (GMT _{HPV 16} = 14482 [95 % CI: 10848-19333], GMT _{HPV 18} = 3428 [95 % CI: 2533-4639]).

CONCLUSION

The pichia pastoris-expressed bivalent HPV vaccine was safe and immunogenic in Chinese females aged 9-45 years. The low dosage (0.5 mL) was selected for further immunogenicity and efficacy study.

A novel alkaloid glycoside isolated from Atalantia buxifolia

From the dried root and rhizomes of Atalantia buxifolia afford 11 compounds, one new compound 1 and ten known compounds 2-11 were isolated and identified. The novel compound 1 was alkaloid glycoside. Its mother nuclear was the acridone, which was relatively rare. The structure of compound 1 was established identified by spectrum and elucidated as β-D-Glu-4,5-dimethoxy-1,6-dihydroxy-10-methyl-acridone. The compound 1 enriched the compound library and laid the material foundation for the subsequent study of pharmacological activities.

Four Pentasaccharide Resin Glycosides from Argyreia acuta

Four pentasaccharide resin glycosides, acutacoside F–I (1–4), were isolated from the aerial parts of Argyreia acuta. These compounds were characterized as a group of macrolactones of operculinic acid A, and their lactonization site of 11S-hydroxyhexadecanoic acid was esterified at the second saccharide moiety (Rhamnose) at C-2. The absolute configuration of the aglycone was S. Their structures were elucidated by established spectroscopic and chemical methods.

Trimer procyanidin oligomers contribute to the protective effects of cinnamon extracts on pancreatic β-cells in vitro

AIM

Cinnamon extracts rich in procyanidin oligomers have shown to improve pancreatic β-cell function in diabetic db/db mice. The aim of this study was to identify the active compounds in extracts from two species of cinnamon responsible for the pancreatic β-cell protection in vitro.

METHODS

Cinnamon extracts were prepared from Cinnamomum tamala (CT-E) and Cinnamomum cassia (CC-E). Six compounds procyanidin B2 (cpd1), (-)-epicatechin (cpd2), cinnamtannin B1 (cpd3), procyanidin C1 (cpd4), parameritannin A1 (cpd5) and cinnamtannin D1 (cpd6) were isolated from the extracts. INS-1 pancreatic β-cells were exposed to palmitic acid (PA) or H2O2 to induce lipotoxicity and oxidative stress. Cell viability and apoptosis as well as ROS levels were assessed. Glucose-stimulated insulin secretion was examined in PA-treated β-cells and murine islets.

RESULTS

CT-E, CC-E as well as the compounds, except cpd5, did not cause cytotoxicity in the β-cells up to the maximum dosage using in this experiment. CT-E and CC-E (12.5-50 μg/mL) dose-dependently increased cell viability in both PA- and H2O2-treated β-cells, and decreased ROS accumulation in H2O2-treated β-cells. CT-E caused more prominent β-cell protection than CC-E. Furthermore, CT-E (25 and 50 μg/mL) dose-dependently increased glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in PA-treated β-cells and murine islets, but CC-E had little effect. Among the 6 compounds, trimer procyanidins cpd3, cpd4 and cpd6 (12.5-50 μmol/L) dose-dependently increased the cell viability and decreased ROS accumulation in H2O2-treated β-cells. The trimer procyanidins also increased glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in PA-treated β-cells.

CONCLUSION

Trimer procyanidins in the cinnamon extracts contribute to the pancreatic β-cell protection, thus to the anti-diabetic activity.

Pentasaccharide resin glycosides from Ipomoea pes-caprae

Pescapreins XXI-XXX (1-10), pentasaccharide resin glycosides, together with the known pescapreins I-IV and stoloniferin III were isolated from the aerial parts of Ipomoea pes-caprae (beach morning-glory). The pescapreins are macrolactones of simonic acid B, partially esterified with different fatty acids. The lactonization site of the aglycone, jalapinolic acid, was located at C-2 or C-3 of the second saccharide moiety. Their structures were established by a combination of spectroscopic and chemical methods. Compounds 1-10 were evaluated for their potential to modulate multidrug resistance in the human breast cancer cell line MCF-7/ADR. The combined use of these new compounds at a concentration of 5 μg/mL increased the cytotoxicity of doxorubicin by 1.5-3.7-fold.

[A new anthraquinone from the root of Lasianthus acuminatissimus]

To study the constituents from the chloroform extract of the roots of Lasianthus acuminatissimus Merr., various chromatographic techniques were used to separate and purify the constituents. The structure was established on the basis of ID, 2D NMR and HRMS spectroscopic analysis. A new compound was isolated and identified, which was 3, 8-dihydroxy-1-methoxy-2-methoxymethyl-9,10-anthraquinone (I). Compound I is a new anthraquinone, namely lasianthurin.

Cytotoxic oxoisoaporphine alkaloids from Menispermum dauricum

Four new oxoisoaporphine alkaloids, daurioxoisoporphines A-D (1-4), were isolated from the rhizomes of Menispermum dauricum. The structures of these alkaloids were established by spectroscopic methods. The cytotoxic evaluation of 1 and 2 is reported against four cancer cell lines.

Multiple factors other than p53 influence colon cancer sensitivity to paclitaxel

PURPOSE

To determine factors which influence the sensitivity of human colorectal carcinoma cell lines to paclitaxel.

METHODS

The paclitaxel sensitivity of ten human colorectal carcinoma cell lines, and a panel of RKO colon carcinoma cell lines, isogenic except for p53 status, were studied. The inhibitory concentrations causing a 50% decrease in growth (IC50) were assayed after 3, 24, and 96 h after paclitaxel exposure. The doubling time (DT) and cell cycle parameters of cells were also measured. The expression of the multidrug resistance glycoprotein-1 (MDR-1), bcl-2 and bax was quantitatively assessed by immunoblotting.

RESULTS

Mean IC50 values at 24 and 96 h drug exposure were about 1.5 logs lower than the IC50 values at 3 h, regardless of the p53 status. No difference was found between the IC50 values of wild-type and mutant p53 cells, or among the RKO panel of cells. Correlation analysis showed that: (1) resistance was associated with longer DTs, but this was generally abated by a 96-h exposure; (2) with a 3-h exposure, the combination of MDR, bcl-2 and bax parameters with DT (DT + MDR + bcl-2 bax) best correlated with IC50 values (r = 0.77); (3) with a 96-h exposure, in spite of the generally decreased IC50 values, a combination of MDR-1, bcl-2 and bax parameters (MDR + bcl-2-bax) best correlated with the IC50 values (r = 0.71).

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that the exposure duration, DT, and expression of MDR-1, bcl-2 and bax each contribute to paclitaxel sensitivity of human colorectal carcinoma cells. In assessing paclitaxel drug resistance, multiple factors should always be considered. There may be a therapeutic window for taxanes in colon cancer by optimizing pharmacokinetics and modulating MDR-1 and bcl-2 resistance factors.

Modified miniprep method for the rapid recovery of episomes from transfected breast epithelial cells

Episomal vectors such as pCEP4 are useful in expression cloning because they can replicate in both prokaryotes and eukaryotic cells. We have found a rapid and efficient means of extracting them from transfected MCF-10A nonmalignant human breast epithelial cells. We show that a plasmid miniprep protocol, modified by the addition of an extraction that eliminates a DNase activity, can consistently harvest pCEP4 episomes from the transfected cells (516 +/- 112 pg/harvest, mean +/- standard deviation; n = 11). The quality of the episomal DNA obtained in this manner was verified by PCR, Southern blot and the retransformation of Escherichia coli. This simple method enables the efficient recovery of episomes and is applicable in the expression cloning of potential oncogenes using host MCF-10A cells.

Phosphorothioated antisense c-myc oligonucleotide inhibits the growth of human colon carcinoma cells

BACKGROUND

The functional significance of c-myc overexpression in human colon carcinoma is unclear.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Three human colon carcinoma cell lines, LS174T, SW1116 and SW48, were treated in vitro with phosphorothioate modified antisense oligonucleotides (ASO), complementary to the c-myc translation initiation site, or two control oligonucleotides. Growth was assayed by the methyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay and colony formation. C-myc, retinoblastoma (Rb), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), and alkaline phosphatase (AP) expression was assessed by immunoblotting.

RESULTS

The ASO specifically inhibited growth of all three human colon carcinoma cell lines. Further studies were conducted on LS174T because growth inhibition was associated with a more differentiated morphology. In LS174T cells, ASO caused a dose dependent decrease in c-myc and Rb protein expression, but an increase in CEA and AP expression.

CONCLUSIONS

The growth of human colon carcinoma cells is dependent on c-myc expression, and the inhibition of c-myc expression in LS174T is associated with a more differentiated phenotype.

Somatic mutations in c-myc intron I cluster in discrete domains that define protein binding sequences

The activated c-myc allele in Burkitt's lymphoma tumor cells is associated with a clustering of somatic mutations within intron I near the exon I boundary. We have identified several discrete protein binding sites within this region of c-myc intron I designated as myc intron factor-1 (MIF-1), MIF-2, and MIF-3. In addition to our previous characterization of a 20-nucleotide binding site for MIF-1, we now have identified adjacent 20-nucleotide and 34-nucleotide binding sites for MIF-2 and MIF-3, respectively. All three elements are protected from exonuclease digestion by nuclear protein extracts, and each gives rise to a distinct migration pattern on mobility shift assays. In addition, MIF-1, 2, and 3 share a 5-nucleotide (TTATG) internal sequence, which may account for cross-competition of these binding sites in the exonuclease protection experiment. Deletion mutant analyses showed that selective removal of the MIF-3 binding site alone was sufficient to enhance chloramphenicol acetyltransferase reporter activity similar to that observed with larger deletions of myc intron I. We have demonstrated that somatic mutations in activated c-myc alleles are frequently clustered in discrete domains that define protein recognition sequences.