Antibody-dependent Enhancement Research Articles

Seaweed extracts: enhancing plant resilience to biotic and abiotic stresses

Seaweeds are a natural marine resource containing many bioactive compounds such as amino acids, lipids, carbohydrates, proteins, phytohormones, and antimicrobial compounds. Since ancient times, seaweeds have been used in various sectors, including medicine, food, and the cosmetic industry. Currently, seaweeds are a promising alternative to reduce the application of harmful chemicals in agriculture. Seaweed and its derived products have been utilized for plant growth promotion, immunity enhancement, and the reduction of biotic and abiotic stresses. In the current global scenario, synthetic fertilizers and chemical pesticides are commonly used to increase agricultural crop production to meet the growing demands of the world population. However, these chemicals pose significant threats to the health of people, livestock, plants, soil, and the entire environment. In contrast, seaweed-based products are emerging as a newer option for stress mitigation and reduction, offering an alternative to synthetic chemicals. This article explains the use of seaweed extracts to increase the tolerance of plants to biotic and abiotic stresses. We also address the functions of various bioactive compounds present in seaweed extracts and the mechanisms by which they promote plant growth and induce defense against different stresses.

Combination application of Pickering emulsion and BLS protein nanoparticles enhances vaccine efficacy.

The deficiency of recombinant protein immune response could be compensated for by using nanoparticle platforms or adding immune enhancers, however existing vaccines or adjuvants struggle to elicit durable cellular immune responses. In this work, a protein nanoscaffold, lumazine synthase isolated from Brucella (BLS) was optimally designed that could facilitate cellular uptake of displayed antigens and the maturation of bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs), and enhancing humoral immune responses. To enhance cellular immune response, chitosan hydrochloride-stabilized Pickering emulsion (CHSPE) was evaluated as an adjuvant for the BLS nanoscaffold-based vaccine. CHSPE could enhance the recruitment and activation of DCs at the injection site and the uptake of antigen and activation of DCs in the draining lymph nodes (dLNs), compared with commercial adjuvant ISA 206. In addition, CHSPE induced antigen-specific antibody levels comparable to those of ISA 206 and increased the ratio of central memory T cells (TCM) and effector memory T cells (TEM), and promoted the secretion of Th1-type cytokines. Moreover, CHSPE-formulated vaccine provided a similar level of protection to the live attenuated vaccine and was superior to that of ISA 206. Taken together, the combination of the BLS nanoscaffold and CHSPE provides a feasible strategy for recombinant protein subunit vaccine development.

An engineered Japanese encephalitis virus mRNA-lipid nanoparticle immunization induces protective immunity in mice

IntroductionJapanese encephalitis virus (JEV) and Zika virus (ZIKV) pose a severe threat to human health. Our previous research results, as well as those of other research groups, indicated that antibodies (Abs) induced by JEV infection or JEV vaccine vaccination could enhance ZIKV infection in vitro and exacerbate the mortality of ZIKV-infected mice, vice versa, which is known as antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE). Although studies on other flaviviruses revealed that altering the amino acid residues located in the fusion loop (FL) of envelope (E) protein can reduce the level of flavivirus-cross-reactive Abs, thereby abating the ADE of heterologous flavivirus infection, it is unclear whether this strategy is equally applicable to JEV.MethodsIn this study, we constructed recombinant adenoviruses and nucleotide-modified mRNA-lipid nanoparticle (LNP) encoding JEV wild-type E protein or E protein mutant (designated as Ad5-JEV-EWT and Ad5-JEV-Emut; JEV-EWT mRNA-LNP, and JEV-Emut mRNA-LNP). We evaluated the immunogenicity of these vaccine candidates in mice and the capacity of vaccine-immune mouse sera to neutralize JEV infection or mediate ADE of ZIKV infection in vitro and in vivo.ResultsAd5-JEV-Emut or JEV-Emut mRNA-LNP immunization induced ZIKV-cross-reactive Ab response which is dramatically lower than that induced by Ad5-JEV-EWT and JEV-EWT mRNA-LNP, respectively. The levels of JEV-neutralizing Abs induced by Ad5-JEV-Emut or JEV-Emut mRNA-LNP are comparable to that induced by Ad5-JEV-EWT and JEV-EWT mRNA-LNP, respectively. The ability of Abs induced by Ad5-JEV-Emut to enhance ZIKV infection in vitro is attenuated as compared with that induced by Ad5-JEV-EWT. Moreover, JEV-Emut mRNA-LNP immunization elicited potent T cell response similar to JEV-EWT mRNA-LNP in mice. Mice immunized with each mRNA-LNP exhibited lower level of serum viral load than the mock-immunized mice post JEV challenge. Mice receiving JEV-EWT mRNA-LNP-immune mouse sera exhibited ADE post ZIKV challenge whereas passively transferred JEV-Emut mRNA-LNP-immune mouse sera did not lead to obvious ADE of ZIKV infection in recipient mice. Most importantly, maternally acquired Abs did not enhance the mortality of 1-day-old neonates born to JEV-Emut mRNA-LNP-immunized mice post ZIKV challenge.DiscussionThese results suggest that optimizing the FL sequence of JEV could significantly reduce the level of JEV/ZIKV-cross-reactive Abs and abrogate the ADE of ZIKV infection, providing a promising strategy to develop effective and safety JEV vaccine.

EXTH-55. ANTI-TUMOR ACTIVITY OF A NEW ONCOLYTIC ADENOVIRUS DELTA-24-RGDOX-IL15 CO-EXPRESSING OX40L AND IL-15

Abstract Accumulating evidence show that the interaction between oncolytic viruses (OVs) and host immune system plays an essential role in cancer virotherapy. Compared to lytic potency of OVs, enhancement of OV-mediated anti-tumor immunity has become a more attractive strategy to improve OV efficacy. To this end, we have reported that the third-generation oncolytic adenovirus (OA), Delta-24-RGDOX, which expresses the immune co-stimulator OX40 ligand (OX40L), is more potent to elicit anti-tumor immunity than the second-generation OA Delta-24-RGD. Since IL-15 activates T and NK cells and promotes persistence of CD8+ memory T cells, we hypothesize that co-expression of OX40L and IL-15 by OAs will further potentiate their efficacy. For this purpose, we constructed the next generation OA Delta-24-RGDOX-IL15. In cultured human and murine tumor cell lines, this new virus effectively expressed the two molecules and displayed comparable potency in viral replication and oncolysis as OAs expressing either of the two (Delta-24-RGDOX, Delta-24-RGD-IL15). Then, we tested the anti-tumor activity of Delta-24-RGDOX-IL15 (two doses, intratumorally, one week interval) in two syngeneic tumor models in C57BL/6 mice: 1) intracranial (i.c.) gliomas from GL261-5 cells; 2) subcutaneous (s.c.)/i.c. melanomas from B16 cells (virus injected into s.c. tumors only). We found Delta-24-RGDOX-IL15 was more efficacious than the other two OAs to inhibit tumor growth of both treated tumor and the untreated i.c. tumors in the second model, leading to long-term survivors (p < 0.05). Different from adoptive cell therapies with cells engineered to express IL-15, we haven’t observed any obvious toxicity with this new virus when it was injected intratumorally into either the i.c. or s.c. tumors. Further studies are in progress to analyze the modifications of the tumor microenvironment induced by the addition of IL-15 to Delta-24-RGDOX. We expect this virus to be a good candidate to be combined with CAR T cell therapies.

A Mucous Permeable Local Delivery Strategy Based on Manganese-Enhanced Bacterial Cuproptosis-like Death for Bacterial Pneumonia Treatment.

Bacterial pneumonia is one of the most challenging global infectious diseases with high morbidity and mortality. Considering the antibiotic abuse and resistance of bacterial biofilms, a variety of metal-based materials have been developed. However, due to the high oxygen environment of the lungs, some aerobic infection bacteria have high tolerance to oxygen and ROS, and most of the metal-based materials based on ROS may not achieve good therapeutic effects. Inspired by the sensitivity of cuproptosis to aerobic respiratory cells, we designed a copper composite antibacterial nanoparticle and found that it can effectively induce cuproptosis-like death in the aerobic bacteria of the lungs. To address the challenge of in vivo application of cuproptosis, manganese dioxide was first incorporated to deplete protective glutathione, which can interact with copper and thus hinder the interaction of copper with proteins and assist in antibacterial action through immune enhancement. Cuproptosis-like death also requires a large number of copper ions. To meet this demand, we deliver positively hydrophilic modified composite nanoparticles that effectively penetrate the lung mucus layer directly to the lungs through local administration, and the copper ions are further released rapidly by the acidic environment at the infected site, which can further destroy bacterial biofilms in synergy with manganese. This drug-delivery system can effectively treat pneumonia caused by aerobic bacteria and avoid systemic toxicity that can be caused by large doses of copper.

IFN-γ derived from activated human CD4+ T cells inhibits the replication of SARS-CoV-2 depending on cell-type and viral strain

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and vaccination elicit both T cell and B cell immune responses in immunocompetent individuals. However, the mechanisms underlying the antiviral effects mediated by CD4+ T cells are not fully understood. In this study, we analyzed the culture supernatant (SN) from polyclonally stimulated human CD4+ T cells as a model for soluble mediators derived from SARS-CoV-2-stimulated CD4+ T cells. Interestingly, this SN inhibited SARS-CoV-2 propagation in a viral strain- and host cell type-dependent manner. The original wild-type showed the highest susceptibility, whereas the Delta variant exhibited resistance in the human monocyte cell line. In addition, antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) of infection with the original strain was also abolished in the presence of the SN. The findings showed that the inhibitory effect on viral propagation by the SN was mostly attributed to interferon-γ (IFN-γ) that was present in the SN. These results highlight the potential role of IFN-γ as an anti-SARS-CoV-2 mediator derived from CD4+ T cells, and suggest that we need to understand the SARS-CoV-2 strain-dependent sensitivity to IFN-γ in controlling clinical outcomes. In addition, characterization of new SARS-CoV-2 variants in terms of IFN-γ-sensitivity will have important implications for selecting therapeutic strategies.

Enterovirus Antibodies: Friends and Foes.

Enteroviruses (EV) initiate replication by binding to their cellular receptors, leading to the uncoating and release of the viral genome into the cytosol of the host cell. Neutralising antibodies (NAbs) binding to epitopes on enteroviral capsid proteins can inhibit this infectious process through several mechanisms of neutralisation in vitro. Fc-mediated antibody effector functions such as antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity and antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis have also been described for some EV. However, antibody binding to virions does not always result in viral neutralisation. Non-neutralising antibodies, or sub-neutralising concentrations of antibodies, can enhance infection of viruses, leading to more severe pathologies. This phenomenon, known as antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) of infection, has been described in vitro and/or in vivo for EV including poliovirus, coxsackievirus B and EV-A71. It has been shown that ADE of EV infection is mediated by FcγRs expressed by monocytes, macrophages, B lymphocytes and granulocytes. Antibodies play a crucial role in the diagnosis and monitoring of infections. They are valuable markers that have been used to establish a link between enteroviral infection and chronic diseases such as type 1 diabetes. Monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies targeting enteroviral proteins have been developed and shown to be effective to prevent or combat EV infections in vitro and in vivo. In addition, vaccines are under development, and clinical trials of vaccines are underway or have been completed, providing hope for the prevention of diseases due to EV. However, the ADE of the infection should be considered in the development of anti-EV antibodies or safe vaccines.

Multiple fingerprinting and chromatography-immunoreactivity relationship of polysaccharides from Dioscorea opposite Thunb

The quality evaluation of Dioscorea opposite Thunb. mainly focuses on determining water-soluble contents. Polysaccharides are now recognized as the significant constituents of yam with activities such as immune enhancement, and it is necessary to use polysaccharides as an indicator for quality control of yam in this study. Sixty batches of yam polysaccharides were obtained by conventional hot water extraction and analysis for their physicochemical properties and structure. The results showed the functional groups (four shared peaks including 3500–3300 cm−1) and molecular weights (2.06 × 103 Da-2.28 × 103 Da). The PMP-HPLC fingerprints calibrated 5 familiar peaks, and the relative retention times of each characteristic peak to the Glc peak (S peak) were 0.47 (Man), 0.86 (GalA), 1.00 (Glc), 1.13 (Gal), 1.24 (Ara), Glc and Gal, which were the main differentiated monosaccharide components in the HPLC fingerprinting of YPs. This study provided a preliminary data reference for quality control of YPs.

A novel antimicrobial peptide CpAMP identified from Chinese horseshoe crab, Tachypleus tridentatus.

Antibacterial peptide (AMP) is a crucial component of the innate immune system in most organism, play an important role in host defense processes. Many of these peptides have broad antimicrobial activity against Gram-negative, -positive bacteria and fungi. In the present study, a novel AMP named CpAMP was identified using transcriptome analysis in Chinese horseshoe crab. The preprotein of CpAMP consists of a signal peptide (21 aa) and a mature peptide (47 aa) enriched by cysteine. And the putative mature peptide CpAMP was 4.95 kDa with a theoretical isoelectric point (pI) of 8.73. The mature CpAMP showed α-helix and irregularly curled structure in the cys-stabilized region. CpAMP exhibited a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity against Gram-negative, -positive bacteria and antibiotic-resistant strains. In addition, CpAMP can significantly increase the survival rate of zebrafish infected with bacteria. Due to its broad-spectrum antibacterial activity and the sensitivity of drug-resistant strains, CpAMP could be used as a new type of drug for inhibition of pathogenic microorganisms or as an immune enhancer in animals.

Antioxidant anthocyanin synergistic immune enhancer nanopeptide C-I20 remarkably enhances the protective effect of largemouth bass against largemouth bass ranavirus

Largemouth bass ranavirus (LMBV) infection results in huge economic losses in largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) industry. Nanopeptide C-I20 and anthocyanins have a positive effect on promoting immune responses and antioxidant mechanisms in several aquatic organisms, and are therefore used to inhibit LMBV infection. In this study, we developed an LMBV immersion challenge model using three different viral concentrations (1×104 copies/mL, 1×105 copies/mL, and 1×106 copies/mL) to infect largemouth bass, and LMBV-MCP mRNA expression was detected in infected fish. Following infection, the fish exhibited severe external ulceration, redness swelling, and darkening of the skin. Histopathological examination revealed significant necrosis and inflammation in muscle tissue, epithelial cell shedding in renal tubules, macrophage aggregation centers and cellular vacuolization in spleen and head kidney, and cellular hypertrophy in liver. To mitigate LMBV infection, we explored the protective effects of a combined treatment strategy involving C-I20 and anthocyanin. Overall, the combination of anthocyanin and C-I20 demonstrated the highest protective efficacy, significantly reducing viral loads in muscle, liver, spleen, and head kidney. Moreover, this treatment regimen enhanced antioxidant enzyme activities (T-AOC, TSOD, GSH-Px, CAT) and modulated important immune genes (IL-1, IL-8, TNF-α, IL-10, Mx, and IgM) expression. In conclusion, the synergistic application of anthocyanin and C-I20 demonstrates significant efficacy in mitigating LMBV infection. This research introduces a novel and promising approach to managing infectious diseases in aquaculture settings.

B cell receptor dependent enhancement of dengue virus infection.

Dengue virus (DENV) is the causative agent of dengue, a mosquito-borne disease that represents a significant and growing public health burden around the world. A unique pathophysiological feature of dengue is immune-mediated enhancement, wherein preexisting immunity elicited by a primary infection can enhance the severity of a subsequent infection by a heterologous DENV serotype. A leading mechanistic explanation for this phenomenon is antibody dependent enhancement (ADE), where sub-neutralizing concentrations of DENV-specific IgG antibodies facilitate entry of DENV into FcγR expressing cells such as monocytes, macrophages, and dendritic cells. Accordingly, this model posits that phagocytic mononuclear cells are the primary reservoir of DENV. However, analysis of samples from individuals experiencing acute DENV infection reveals that B cells are the largest reservoir of infected circulating cells, representing a disconnect in our understanding of immune-mediated DENV tropism. In this study, we demonstrate that the expression of a DENV-specific B cell receptor (BCR) renders cells highly susceptible to DENV infection, with the infection-enhancing activity of the membrane-restricted BCR correlating with the ADE potential of the IgG version of the antibody. In addition, we observed that the frequency of DENV-infectible B cells increases in previously flavivirus-naïve volunteers after a primary DENV infection. These findings suggest that BCR-dependent infection of B cells is a novel mechanism immune-mediated enhancement of DENV-infection.

The Rhizome of Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz.: A Comprehensive Review on the Traditional Uses, Phytochemistry and Pharmacology.

Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz. (A. macrocephala) is a perennial herb of the genus Atractylodes. The rhizome of A. macrocephala (AMR) is its medicinal part. It primarily grows in Southeast Asia and function to invigorate the spleen and qi, drying dampness and removing water. It has long been used for cancer treatment, relieving inflammation, and improving gastrointestinal function, highlighting its remarkable medicinal value. This paper focuses on recent advancements in the traditional uses, phytochemistry, and pharmacology of AMR from 2018 to the present, while exploring its therapeutic and scientific potential. In recent years, more than 120 compounds have been identified in AMR. The primary active components have been identified as sesquiterpenoids, polysaccharides and polyacetylenes. Modern pharmacological studies have demonstrated that AMR has anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, immunity enhancement, gastrointestinal function improvement, and other pharmacological effects. It is mainly employed in the clinical treatment of tumors and gastrointestinal diseases, showing promising developmental potential. Its mechanism may be related to reducing oxidative stress, inhibiting the expression of inflammatory mediators and factors, and alleviating apoptosis through related signaling pathways. It is hoped that this review can provide a theoretical reference and scientific basis for further systematic research and extensive clinical application of AMR.

A novel oral vaccine delivery system for enhancing stability and immune protection: bacterium-like particle with functional coating.

Bacterium-like particles (BLPs) have gained significant attention in vaccine development due to their potential as effective immune enhancers and antigen delivery systems. BLPs are generated by boiling lactic acid bacteria in an acidic solution and are devoid of proteins and nucleic acids, offering advantages in terms of ease of preparation, high safety, and good stability. Furthermore, by employing protein anchor (PA), heterogeneous antigens can be efficiently displayed on the surface of BLPs, resulting in enhanced delivery effectiveness. Despite these benefits, most BLP-based vaccines are currently administered via injection or intranasal delivery, with oral delivery remaining limited. This limitation is primarily due to the harsh environment of the gastrointestinal tract, which degrades the antigens displayed on the surface of these particles. To enhance the efficacy of oral immunization with subunit vaccines, we developed a simple and rapid method for self-assembling a lipid membrane onto the surface of BLPs vaccines, achieving an encapsulation efficiency of up to 99%, and the combination has good biosafety. The novel oral delivery system not only preserves the adjuvant activity of BLPs but also efficiently protects antigens from adverse gastrointestinal environments, increasing the absorption of the vaccine in intestinal Peyer's patches (PPs). Oral immunization was required only once, and protection after the challenge was up to 100%. Furthermore, we observed rapid immunity and cross-protection. Transcriptome analysis of the small intestine suggested that immune enhancement probably be exerted by promoting the absorption and transport of antigens. Therefore, we posit that the design of this new oral delivery system presents a novel approach to advancing the development of oral subunit vaccines.

A novel method for quality evaluation of Radix Angelica sinensis based on molecularly imprinted electrochemical sensor

Rapid and sensitive detection of n-butylidenephthalide (NBP) is crucial for quality control of Radix Angelica Sinensis (RAS) and its related pharmaceuticals due to their shared pharmacological effects, such as immune enhancement and anti-tumor properties. Current detection methods struggle to quantify NBP quickly and accurately. A molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP)-based electrochemical sensor has been developed, forming a film on PCN-222(Fe) via electropolymerization for the rapid and selective detection of NBP. o-Phenylenediamine (o-PD) was polymerized onto PCN-222(Fe), utilizing its high surface area and porous structure to create a high-performance MIP (MIP/PCN-222(Fe)) sensor. This sensor detects NBP binding at the molecularly imprinted sites through a redox probe, with current changes reflecting the NBP content in the sample. This sensor exhibits a strong affinity for NBP, with a linear detection range from 200 nM to 1 mM, a detection limit of 76 nM, and high specificity towards similar phthalide compounds. Experimental results show that the MIP/PCN-222(Fe) sensor can accurately quantify NBP in real samples, offering a simplified method with promising applications for RAS quality evaluation.

Advances in Lycium Barbarum Polysaccharide in the Prevention and Treatment of Ophthalmic Diseases

Lycium barbarum is the dried mature fruit of Ningxia wolfberry, family Solanaceae. Chinese medicine believes that wolfberry has the effect of nourishing the liver and kidney, benefiting the essence and brightening the eyes. Lycium barbarum polysaccharide (LBP) is a proteoglycan isolated from Chinese medicine goji berry, which is the most important active ingredient in goji berry extract, with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-aging, anti-tumor, protection of the nervous system, protection of the retina, hypoglycemia, hypolipidemia, enhancement of immunity and other effects. In recent years, research results about LBP in the prevention and treatment of ophthalmic diseases have been emerging, such as cataract, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration has a certain preventive and therapeutic effects. This paper analyzes and reviews the relevant literature on LBP in the prevention and treatment of ophthalmic diseases.

Exploring the Contrasts and Similarities of Dengue and SARS-CoV-2 Infections During the COVID-19 Era.

Extensive research has been conducted on the SARS-CoV-2 virus in association with various infectious diseases to understand the pathophysiology of the infection and potential co-infections. In tropical countries, exposure to local viruses may alter the course of SARS-CoV-2 infection and coinfection. Notably, only a portion of the antibodies produced against SARS-CoV-2 proteins demonstrate neutralizing properties, and the immune response following natural infection tends to be temporary. In contrast, long-lasting IgG antibodies are common after dengue virus infections. In cases where preexisting antibodies from an initial dengue virus infection bind to a different dengue serotype during a subsequent infection, there is a potential for antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) and the formation of immune complexes associated with disease severity. Both SARS-CoV-2 and dengue infections can result in immunodeficiency. Viral proteins of both viruses interfere with the host's IFN-I signaling. Additionally, a cytokine storm can occur after viral infection, impairing a proper response, and autoantibodies against a wide array of proteins can appear during convalescence. Most of the reported autoantibodies are typically short-lived. Vaccines against both viruses alter the immune response, affecting the course of viral infection and enhancing clearance. A comprehensive analysis of both viral infections and pathogenicity is revisited to prevent infection, severity, and mortality.

Immunostimulation Signaling via Toll-like Receptor 2 Activation: A Molecular Mechanism of Lactococcus lactis OTG1204 In Vitro and In Vivo.

The immune system's defense against pathogens involves innate and adaptive responses, crucial in maintaining overall health. Immunosuppressed states render individuals more susceptible to potential diseases, indicating the need for effective strategies to bolster immune functions. Although the immunostimulatory effects of various probiotics have been studied, the specific effects and molecular mechanisms of Lactococcus lactis OTG1204 (OTG1204) remain unknown. In this study, the aim was to investigate the molecular mechanisms of OTG1204 in RAW 264.7 macrophages, the key effector cells of the innate immune system involved in host defense and inflammatory responses. Additionally, in this study, the effects of OTG1204 on cyclophosphamide (CTX)-induced immunosuppression states were investigated, thereby demonstrating its potential as an immune stimulant. To assess the macrophage activation ability and underlying mechanisms of OTG1204, RAW 264.7 cells were utilized with transfection, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and quantitative real-time PCR analyses. Furthermore, to evaluate the immunostimulatory effects under immunosuppressed conditions, CTX-induced immunosuppression mice model was employed, and analyses were performed using hematoxylin and eosin staining, flow cytometry, and microbiota examination. OTG1204 activated RAW 264.7 macrophages, leading to increased production of nitric oxide, prostaglandin E2, and cytokines. This immune activation was mediated through the upregulation of toll-like receptor 2, which subsequently activated the nuclear factor-κB (NF-kB) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/activator protein 1 (AP-1) pathways, thereby stimulating the immune response. In CTX-treated mice, OTG1204 recovered body weight, spleen, and mesenteric lymph node indices, and natural killer cell activity. It re-established populations of innate and adaptive immune cells and activated T cells to secrete cytokines. We also examined the gut barrier integrity and microbiota composition to assess OTG1204's impact on intestinal health, as these factors play a significant role in immune enhancement. OTG1204 enhanced gut barrier integrity by upregulating mucin 2 and tight junction proteins and modulated the gut microbiota by restoring the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes balance and reducing the abundance of Actinobacteria and Tenericutes. These results suggest that OTG1204 may serve as an effective probiotic for immune enhancement and gut health management by targeting the NF-κB and MAPK/AP-1 pathways, with minimal side effects.

A Review of the Applications of Vitamin C to Treat Human Diseases

AbstractVitamin C, a ubiquitous water-soluble vitamin, has been demonstrated to have several biological activities, including the promotion of collagen production, enhancement of immunity, facilitation of iron absorption, and improvement of fat metabolism. Thus, it has a multitude of applications in the medical field, such as whitening, antioxidation, and the prevention of a wide range of diseases. Conversely, its lack of stability and low permeability limit its applicability. This review presents a summary of the physicochemical properties, delivery strategies, and biological activities of vitamin C. Additionally, this review provides an overview of its preventive and therapeutic effects on diseases such as cataracts, tumors, and cardiovascular conditions. Finally, this review explores the prospective applications of vitamin C as a pharmaceutical agent. A variety of vitamin C derivatives and delivery systems have been developed to overcome the instability and low permeability of vitamin C. However, several challenges persist, including the uncertain efficacy of derivatives and the complexities associated with the implementation of delivery systems. It is anticipated that future advancements will facilitate the development of delivery forms and the utilization of vitamin C in novel applications.

The enhancement of teacher immunity in a professional development course: Contributions from supervisory observation and the observer

Classroom observation has been reported to be stressful for language teachers since it can disrupt the equilibrium and push the teachers towards maladaptive language teacher immunity. The present study is an attempt to shed light on the way classroom observation and a professional development (PD) course on classroom observation contribute to language teacher immunity development through self-organization lens. To this end, the researchers in the current study designed an explanatory sequential mixed method study and 13 novice language teachers were invited to fill language teacher immunity scale before and after a professional development course. The qualitative data were collected through narrative frames and semi-structured interviews. The findings revealed that the immunity level of the students differed significantly before and after the intervention. The findings accentuate the importance of in-service programs in reforming the teachers’ narratives of classroom observations and enabling them to transform classroom observations from threats to opportunities.

Rapid Identification of Medicinal Polygonatum Species and Predictive of Polysaccharides Using ATR-FTIR Spectroscopy Combined With Multivariate Analysis.

Medicinal Polygonatum species is a widely used traditional Chinese medicine with high nutritional value, known for its anti-fatigue properties, enhancement of immunity, delays aging, improves sleep, and other health benefits. However, the efficacy of different species varies, making the quality control of medicinal Polygonatum species increasingly important. Polysaccharides are important in medicinal Polygonatum species because of their potential functional properties, such as antioxidation, hypoglycemia, protection of intestinal health, and minimal toxicological effects on human health, as well as high polysaccharide levels. This study developed a qualitative medicinal Polygonatum species model and a polysaccharides predictive model based on attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) combined with a multivariate analysis approach. ATR-FTIR spectral information of 334 medicinal Polygonatum species samples was collected and the spectral information of different modes was analyzed. The ATR-FTIR spectral differences of three medicinal Polygonatum species were studied by multivariate analysis combined with four spectral preprocessing and three variable selection methods. For the prediction of polysaccharides in Polygonatum kingianum Collett & Hemsl. (PK), we initially determined the actual content of 110 PK polysaccharide samples using the anthrone-sulfuric acid method, then established partial least squares regression (PLSR) and kernel PLSR models in conjunction with attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy. In the visualization analysis, the orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) model based on second-order derivative (SD) preprocessing was most suitable for medicinal Polygonatum species species binary classification, spectral differences between Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua (PC) and other species are evident; in the hard modeling, SD preprocessing improves the accuracy of non-deep learning models for the classification of three medicinal Polygonatum species. In contrast, residual neural network (ResNet) models were the best choice for species identification without preprocessing and variable selection. In addition, the partial least squares regression (PLSR) model and Kernel-PLSR model can quickly predict PK polysaccharides content, among them, the Kernel-PLSR model with SD pretreatment has the best prediction performance, residual prediction deviation (RPD) = 7.2870, Rp = 0.9905. In this study, we employed ATR-FTIR spectroscopy and various treatments to discern different medicinal Polygonatum species. We also evaluated the effects of preprocessing methods and variable selection on the prediction of PK polysaccharides by PLSR and Kernel-PLSR models. Among them, the ResNet model can achieve 100% correct classification of medicinal Polygonatum species without complex spectral preprocessing. Furthermore, the Kernel-PLSR model based on SD-ATR-FTIR spectra had the best performance in polysaccharides prediction. In summary, by integrating ATR-FTIR spectroscopy with multivariate analysis, this research accomplished the classification of medicinal Polygonatum species and the prediction of polysaccharides. The methodology offers the benefits of speed, environmental sustainability, and precision, highlighting its significant potential for practical applications. In future research, on the one hand, it can be further investigated using a portable infrared spectrometer, and on the other hand, infrared spectroscopy can also be applied to the prediction of other chemical components of medicinal Polygonatum species.