A5024516045- Immunotherapy and Immune Responses
- Virus-based gene therapy research
- RNA Interference and Gene Delivery
- CAR-T cell therapy research
- Immune Cell Function and Interaction
- SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research
- T-cell and B-cell Immunology
- Immune Response and Inflammation
- Cancer Immunotherapy and Biomarkers
- interferon and immune responses
- Viral gastroenteritis research and epidemiology
- Viral Infectious Diseases and Gene Expression in Insects
- Influenza Virus Research Studies
- Advancements in Transdermal Drug Delivery
- COVID-19 Clinical Research Studies
- Animal Virus Infections Studies
- vaccines and immunoinformatics approaches
- Cell death mechanisms and regulation
- Diabetes and associated disorders
- Respiratory viral infections research
- Pancreatic function and diabetes
- NF-κB Signaling Pathways
- Monoclonal and Polyclonal Antibodies Research
- Viral Infections and Immunology Research
- Organ Transplantation Techniques and Outcomes
University of Pittsburgh
2016-2025
UPMC Hillman Cancer Center
1999-2025
Pittsburg State University
2022-2024
UPMC Health System
2022
University of Minnesota System
2018
Office of Infectious Diseases
2010
National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases
2010
National Center for Infectious Diseases
2010
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
2010
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
1999-2006
BackgroundCoronaviruses pose a serious threat to global health as evidenced by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), Middle East (MERS), and COVID-19. SARS Coronavirus (SARS-CoV), MERS (MERS-CoV), the novel coronavirus, previously dubbed 2019-nCoV, now officially named SARS-CoV-2, are causative agents of SARS, MERS, COVID-19 disease outbreaks, respectively. Safe vaccines that rapidly induce potent long-lasting virus-specific immune responses against these infectious urgently needed. The...
We have demonstrated previously that local, adenoviral-mediated gene transfer of viral IL-10 to a single joint rabbits and mice with experimental arthritis can suppress disease in both the treated untreated contralateral joints. This effect is mediated part by APCs able traffic from lymph nodes as well Moreover, injection dendritic cells (DC) genetically modified express IL-4 or Fas ligand was reverse established murine arthritis. To examine ability exosomes derived immunosuppressive DCs...
Abstract Dendritic cells (DC) can readily capture Ag from dead and dying for presentation to MHC class I-restricted CTL. We now show by using a primate model that DC also acquire healthy cells, including other DC. Coculture assays showed fluorescently labeled plasma membrane was rapidly efficiently transferred between DC, transfer of intracellular proteins observed lesser extent. Acquisition protein cell contact-dependent primarily function immature whereas both CD40L-matured could serve as...
ABSTRACT The recent emergence of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAI) strains in poultry and their subsequent transmission to humans Southeast Asia have raised concerns about the potential pandemic spread lethal disease. In this paper we describe development testing an adenovirus-based A vaccine directed against hemagglutinin (HA) protein A/Vietnam/1203/2004 (H5N1) (VN/1203/04) strain isolated during human outbreak Vietnam from 2003 2005. We expressed different portions HA a...
ABSTRACT One of the major limitations use adenoviruses as gene therapy vectors is existence preformed immunity in various populations. Recent studies have linked failure adenoviral trials to presence antiadenoviral neutralizing antibodies (NAb). Understanding distribution and specificity such will assist design successful recombinant therapies vaccines. To assess prevalence NAb adenovirus serotypes 5 35 (Ad5 Ad35), we analyzed serum samples from adult immunocompetent individuals living The...
The liver is an important site of host-microbe interaction. Although hepatocytes have been reported to be responsive lipopolysaccharide (LPS), the global gene expression changes by LPS and mechanism(s) which stimulates cultured remain uncertain. Cultures primary mouse were incubated with assess its effects on expression, hepatic transcription factors, mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase activation. DNA microarray analysis indicated that modulates selective more than 80 genes expressed...
Since it emerged in Brazil May 2015, the mosquito-borne Zika virus (ZIKV) has raised global concern due to its association with a significant rise number of infants born microcephaly and neurological disorders such as Guillain-Barré syndrome. We developed prototype subunit adenoviral-based vaccines encoding extracellular portion ZIKV envelope gene (E) fused T4 fibritin foldon trimerization domain (Efl). The vaccine was delivered intradermally through carboxymethyl cellulose microneedle array...
The beta-cells in the pancreatic islets of Langerhans are targets autoreactive T-cells and destroyed type 1 diabetes. Macrophage-derived interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) is important eliciting beta-cell dysfunction initiating damage response to microenvironmental changes within islets. In particular, IL-1beta can impair glucose-stimulated insulin production vitro sensitize them Fas (CD95)/FasL-triggered apoptosis. this report, we have examined ability block detrimental effects by genetically...
Abstract IL-10, a cytokine produced primarily by macrophages, B lymphocytes, and Th2 cells, has both immunostimulatory immunosuppressive properties. A homologue of IL-10 encoded EBV, known as viral (vIL-10), is also able to suppress the immune response, but may lack some properties IL-10. To evaluate potential vIL-10 block progression rheumatoid arthritis, we have utilized replication-defective adenovirus vector deliver gene encoding knee joints rabbits with Ag-induced arthritis....
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignant tumors worldwide. Despite significantly improved diagnosis and treatment in recent years, long-term therapeutic effect compromised by frequent recurrence metastasis, which molecular mechanisms are not fully understood. Our initial studies established HCC cell lines with different metastatic capabilities indicated a correlation metastasis resistance to apoptosis therefore ability survive stressed conditions. Subsequent...
Autophagosomes and their precursors are best defined by electron microscopy but may also be traced in living cells based on the distribution of specific autophagy molecules. LC3, most commonly examined marker mammalian cells, labels structures that frequently manifested as dots or rings using light microscopy; however, nature these is not entirely clear. We reported here a novel approach to examine LC3-positive compartment cell-free lysates, which revealed they were actually tubulovesicular...
Optimal vaccines are needed for sustained suppression of SARS-CoV-2 and other novel coronaviruses. Here, we developed a recombinant type 5 adenovirus vector encoding the gene S1 subunit antigen (Ad5.SARS-CoV-2-S1) COVID-19 immunization evaluated its immunogenicity in mice. A single with Ad5.SARS-CoV-2-S1 via S.C. injection or I.N delivery induced robust antibody cellular immune responses. Vaccination elicited significant S1-specific IgG, IgG1, IgG2a endpoint titers as early 2 weeks,...
In the present study a clonal Jurkat cell line deficient in expression of Bak was used to analyze role cytochrome c release from mitochondria. The Bak-deficient T leukemic cells were resistant apoptosis induced by UV, staurosporin, VP-16, bleomycin, or cisplatin. contrast wild type cells, these did not respond UV treatment with anticancer drugs membranous phosphatidylserine exposure, DNA breaks, activation caspases, mitochondrial c. block apoptotic cascade mechanism for because purified...
Abstract Although DNA codon optimization is a standard molecular biology strategy to overcome poor gene expression, date no public software exists facilitate this process. Among the uses of optimization, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) vaccine development represents one most difficult challenges. A key obstacle an effective DNA‐based low‐level expression HIV genes in mammalian cells, which due primarily instability mRNAs resulting from AU‐rich elements and rare usage. In report we...