The safety of BCG vaccination in cattle: results from good laboratory practice safety studies in calves and lactating cows

Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is a global disease of livestock that has damaging economic, animal health and public health consequences. Conventional bTB disease control strategies, based around the testing and slaughter of cattle infected with bTB, are typically used to help limit or reduce the transmission of this disease but in many low- and middle-income countries such strategies may often be economically unviable, culturally unacceptable or logistically impracticable. The use of vaccination to protect cattle against bTB could provide a potentially more affordable, ethically acceptable and practical additional disease control measure. The protective efficacy of the commercially produced and readily available human vaccine against tuberculosis (Mycobacterium bovis Bacille Calmette-Guérin; BCG) in cattle has been demonstrated in many experimental laboratory and field studies. However, Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) studies assessing the safety of BCG vaccination in cattle have not previously been reported. We describe here the results of two GLP safety studies in which calves and lactating cows were vaccinated with BCG (Danish 1331 strain). From an animal health and welfare perspective, the results of these studies indicate that BCG vaccine is well tolerated in these categories of cattle with only transient and minor local or systemic reactions. Furthermore, there was no evidence that BCG was shed in raw milk, saliva or faeces collected from vaccinates and vaccination did not have a detrimental effect on milk yields in lactating cattle. These data, underpinned by GLP principles, further support the existing data on the safety of BCG vaccine in cattle and complement the abundant available cattle efficacy data for this potential cattle bTB vaccine.

Implementing OECD GLP principles for the evaluation of novel vector control tools: a case study with two novel LLINs, SafeNet® and SafeNet NF®

BACKGROUND

To sustain high universal Long-Lasting Insecticidal Nets (LLINs) coverage, affordable nets that provide equivalent or better protection than standard LLINs, are required. Test facilities evaluating new LLINs require compliance to Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) standards to ensure the quality and integrity of test data. Following GLP principles allows for the reconstruction of activities during the conduct of a study and minimizes duplication of efficacy testing. This case study evaluated the efficacy of two LLINs: SafeNet NF^® and SafeNet^® LLIN.

METHODS

The study was conducted according to GLP principles and followed World Health Organization guidelines for evaluating LLINs. The LLINs were assessed in experimental huts against wild, pyrethroid-resistant Anopheles arabiensis mosquitoes. Nets were either unwashed or washed 20 times and artificially holed to simulate a used torn net. Blood-feeding inhibition and mortality were compared with a positive control (Interceptor^® LLIN) and an untreated net.

RESULTS

Mosquito entry in the huts was reduced compared to negative control for the unwashed SafeNet NF, washed Safenet LLIN and the positive control arms. Similar exiting rates were found for all the treatment arms. Significant blood-feeding inhibition was only found for the positive control, both when washed and unwashed. All insecticide treatments induced significantly higher mortality compared to an untreated net. Compared to the positive control, the washed and unwashed SafeNet NF^® resulted in similar mortality. For the SafeNet^® LLINs the unwashed net had an equivalent performance, but the mortality for the washed net was significantly lower than the positive control. Internal audits of the study confirmed that all critical phases complied with Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and the study plan. The external audit confirmed that the study complied with GLP standards.

CONCLUSIONS

SafeNet NF^® and SafeNet^® LLIN offered equivalent protection to the positive control (Interceptor^® LLIN). However, further research is needed to investigate the durability, acceptability, and residual efficacy of these nets in the community. This study demonstrated that GLP-compliant evaluation of LLINs can be successfully conducted by African research institutions.

Acute and subacute repeated oral toxicity study of fragmented microplastics in Sprague-Dawley rats

Polypropylene (PP) is the second most highly produced plastic worldwide, and its microplastic forms are found in water and food matrices. However, the effects of PP microplastics on human health remain largely unknown. Here, we prepared 85.2 µm-sized weathered PP (w-PP) microplastics by sieving the microplastic particles after fragmentation and accelerated weathering processes. The prepared particles are irregular in shape and no chemical additives including phthalates and bisphenol A were not released in simulated body fluids. Then, the w-PP samples were gavaged to rats for acute and subacute toxicity testing in accordance to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) test guidelines under good laboratory practice regulations. The highest dose for gavaging to rats was 25 mg/kg bw/day, which was the maximum feasible dose based on the dispersibility of microplastics. Both toxicity testings for w-PP microplastics showed no adverse effects and mutagenicity. Thus, the no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) of w-PP microplastics is higher than 25 mg/kg bw/day. Furthermore, the w-PP microplastics did not show any skin or eye irritation potentials in the 3-dimensional reconstructed human skin or corneal culture model. The dose of 25 mg/kg of w-PP microplastics is roughly equal to 2.82 × 105 particles/kg, which suggests that human exposure to w-PP microplastics in a real-life situation may not have any adverse effects.

Targeted interleukin-10 plasmid DNA therapy in the treatment of osteoarthritis: Toxicology and pain efficacy assessments

Osteoarthritis results in chronic pain and loss of function. Proinflammatory cytokines create both osteoarthritis pathology and pain. Current treatments are poorly effective, have significant side effects, and have not targeted the cytokines central to osteoarthritis development and maintenance. Interleukin-10 is an anti-inflammatory cytokine that potently and broadly suppresses proinflammatory cytokine activity. However, interleukin-10 protein has a short half-life in vivo and poor joint permeability. For sustained IL-10 activity, we developed a plasmid DNA-based therapy that expresses a long-acting human interleukin-10 variant (hIL-10var). Here, we describe the 6-month GLP toxicology study of this therapy. Intra-articular injections of hIL-10var pDNA into canine stifle joints up to 1.5 mg bilaterally were well-tolerated and without pathologic findings. This represents the first long-term toxicologic assessment of intra-articular pDNA therapy. We also report results of a small double-blind, placebo-controlled study of the effect of intra-articular hIL-10var pDNA on pain measures in companion (pet) dogs with naturally occurring osteoarthritis. This human IL-10-based targeted therapy reduced pain measures in the dogs, based on veterinary and owner ratings, without any adverse findings. These results with hIL-10var pDNA therapy, well-tolerated and without toxicologic effects, establish the basis for clinical trials of a new class of safe and effective therapies for OA.

A Cross-Disciplinary Training Program for the Advancement of Medical Countermeasures

In September 2012, the United States Department of Health and Human Services Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Office of Counterterrorism and Emerging Threats and the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston entered into a collaborative educational partnership for the academic development of a robust training program for good laboratory practices in high-biocontainment environments. The implementation of problem-based learning techniques encouraged researchers and regulators to cross-educate each other on the challenges related to the conduct of regulated studies in biological safety level 4 (BSL-4) laboratories and identified solutions that were acceptable from scientific and regulatory perspectives. The result was the development of a face-to-face course entitled Achieving Data Quality and Integrity in Maximum Containment Laboratories and an additional online companion course covering the FDA regulation, Good Laboratory Practice for Nonclinical Laboratory Studies (21 CFR Part 58). The course offers a unique opportunity for members of the regulatory and scientific communities to solve complex issues in an interactive educational environment, especially for the advancement of medical countermeasures (MCMs) via the FDA Animal Rule (21 CFR Parts 314 and 601 (2002)). The program occurs annually and is expanding in 2019 to include a course addressing data quality and integrity in clinical trials involving the evaluation of MCMs for high-consequence pathogens. To date, 311 individuals have attended the course. Based on attendance numbers, diversity of participation (by affiliation and area of expertise), and self-reported evaluation results, course attendees indicate that the training program addresses a knowledge gap and that they will implement knowledge gained.

Cell Processing for 3D Bioprinting: Quality Requirements for Quality Assurance in Fundamental Research and Translation

Bioprinting is an additive manufacturing process where biomaterials-based inks are printed layer-by-layer to create three-dimensional (3D) structures that mimic natural tissues. Quality assurance for 3D bioprinting is paramount to undertaking fundamental research and preclinical and clinical product development. It forms part of quality management and is vital to reproducible and safe tissue fabrication, function, and regulatory approval for translational application. This chapter seeks to place the implementation of quality practices in 3D bioprinting front-of-mind, with emphasis on cell processing, although important to all components and procedures of the printing pipeline.

Drug Safety Evaluation in China

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This review aimed to introduce the regulations management and current situations of drug safety evaluation in China.

RECENT FINDINGS

The nationwide implementation of good laboratory practice and good clinical practice guarantees the quality of pre-marketing drug safety evaluation. In recent years, post-marketing drug safety monitoring is changing from passive mode to the combination of active and passive monitoring. A national adverse drug reaction monitoring sentinel alliance has been created to actively identify, report, and evaluate adverse reactions, with more than 1.4 million cases reported in 2017. But the quality of the reports is not optimal, with few reports from drug manufacturers, low rate of severe reports, and trend of lag reporting. Drug safety evaluation in China is transitioning from passive monitoring to a combination mode. Drug pharmacovigilance is a powerful tool for active monitoring, but participation by drug manufacturers would be essential to an effective drug safety evaluation system.

Production and quality control assessment of a GLP-grade immunotoxin, D2C7-(scdsFv)-PE38KDEL, for a phase I/II clinical trial

D2C7-(scdsFv)-PE38KDEL (D2C7-IT) is a novel recombinant Pseudomonas exotoxin A-based immunotoxin (IT), targeting both wild-type epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFRwt) and mutant EGFR variant III (EGFRvIII) proteins overexpressed in glioblastomas. Initial pre-clinical testing demonstrated the anti-tumor efficacy of D2C7-IT against orthotopic glioblastoma xenograft models expressing EGFRwt, EGFRvIII, or both EGFRwt and EGFRvIII. A good laboratory practice (GLP) manufacturing process was developed to produce sufficient material for a phase I/II clinical trial. D2C7-IT was expressed under the control of the T7 promoter in Escherichia coli BLR (λ DE3). D2C7-IT was produced by a 10-L batch fermentation process and was then purified from inclusion bodies using anion exchange, size exclusion, and an endotoxin removal process that achieved a yield of over 300 mg of purified protein. The final vialed batch of D2C7-IT for clinical testing was at a concentration of 0.12 ± 0.1 mg/mL, the pH was at 7.4 ± 0.4, and endotoxin levels were below the detection limit of 10 EU/mL (1.26 EU/mL). The stability of the vialed D2C7-IT has been monitored over a period of 42 months through protein concentration, sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), isoelectric focusing, size exclusion chromatography, cytotoxicity, sterility, and pH measurements. The vialed D2C7-IT is currently being tested in a phase I/II clinical trial by intratumoral convection-enhanced delivery for 72 h in patients with recurrent glioblastoma (NCT02303678, D2C7 for Adult Patients with Recurrent Malignant Glioma; clinicaltrials.gov ).

Pre-examination factors affecting molecular diagnostic test results and interpretation: A case-based approach

BACKGROUND

Multiple organizations produce guidance documents that provide opportunities to harmonize quality practices for diagnostic testing. The International Organization for Standardization ISO 15189 standard addresses requirements for quality in management and technical aspects of the clinical laboratory. One technical aspect addresses the complexities of the pre-examination phase prior to diagnostic testing.

METHODS

The Committee for Molecular Diagnostics of the International Federation for Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (also known as, IFCC C-MD) conducted a survey of international molecular laboratories and determined ISO 15189 to be the most referenced guidance document. In this review, the IFCC C-MD provides case-based examples illustrating the value of select pre-examination processes as these processes relate to molecular diagnostic testing. Case-based examples in infectious disease, oncology, inherited disease and pharmacogenomics address the utility of: 1) providing information to patients and users, 2) designing requisition forms, 3) obtaining informed consent and 4) maintaining sample integrity prior to testing.

CONCLUSIONS

The pre-examination phase requires extensive and consistent communication between the laboratory, the healthcare provider and the end user. The clinical vignettes presented in this paper illustrate the value of applying select ISO 15189 recommendations for general laboratory to the more specialized area of Molecular Diagnostics.

Lack of genotoxic potential of ZnO nanoparticles in in vitro and in vivo tests

The industrial application of nanotechnology, particularly using zinc oxide (ZnO), has grown rapidly, including products such as cosmetics, food, rubber, paints, and plastics. However, despite increasing population exposure to ZnO, its potential genotoxicity remains controversial. The biological effects of nanoparticles depend on their physicochemical properties. Preparations with well-defined physico-chemical properties and standardized test methods are required for assessing the genotoxicity of nanoparticles. In this study, we have evaluated the genotoxicity of four kinds of ZnO nanoparticles: 20nm and 70nm size, positively or negatively charged. Four different genotoxicity tests (bacterial mutagenicity assay, in vitro chromosomal aberration test, in vivo comet assay, and in vivo micronucleus test, were conducted, following Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) test guidelines with good laboratory practice (GLP) procedures. No statistically significant differences from the solvent controls were observed. These results suggest that surface-modified ZnO nanoparticles do not induce genotoxicity in in vitro or in vivo test systems.

In vivo Genotoxicity of Silver Nanoparticles after 90-day Silver Nanoparticle Inhalation Exposure

Objectives

The antimicrobial activity of silver nanoparticles has resulted in their widespread use in many consumer products. Yet, despite their many advantages, it is also important to determine whether silver nanoparticles may represent a hazard to the environment and human health.

Methods

Thus, to evaluate the genotoxic potential of silver nanoparticles, in vivo genotoxicity testing (OECD 474, in vivo micronuclei test) was conducted after exposing male and female Sprague-Dawley rats to silver nanoparticles by inhalation for 90 days according to OECD test guideline 413 (Subchronic Inhalation Toxicity: 90 Day Study) with a good laboratory practice system. The rats were exposed to silver nanoparticles (18 nm diameter) at concentrations of 0.7 × 10⁶ particles/cm³ (low dose), 1.4 × 10⁶ particles/cm³ (middle dose), and 2.9 × 10⁶ particles/cm³ (high dose) for 6 hr/day in an inhalation chamber for 90 days. The rats were killed 24 hr after the last administration, then the femurs were removed and the bone marrow collected and evaluated for micronucleus induction.

Results

There were no statistically significant differences in the micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes or in the ratio of polychromatic erythrocytes among the total erythrocytes after silver nanoparticle exposure when compared with the control.

Conclusion

The present results suggest that exposure to silver nanoparticles by inhalation for 90 days does not induce genetic toxicity in male and female rat bone marrow in vivo.