Combination Of Alum Research Articles

Improvement of RBD-FC Immunogenicity by Using Alum-Sodium Alginate Adjuvant Against SARS-COV-2.

Adjuvants use several mechanisms to boost immunogenicity and to modulate immune response. The strength of adsorption of antigen by adjuvants can be a determinant factor for significant improvement of immunopotentiation. We expressed recombinant RBD-FC in PichiaPink Strain 4 and examined the vaccination of mice by vaccine formulation with different adjuvants (sodium alginate and aluminum hydroxide, alone and together). Sodium alginate significantly increased the immunogenicity and stability of RBD-FC antigen, so RBD-FC formulated with combined alginate and alum (AlSa) and sodium alginate alone showed higher antibody titer and stability. Immunogenicity of RBD-FC:AlSa was determined by serological assays including direct enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and surrogate virus neutralization test (sVNT). High levels of IgGs and neutralizing antibodies were measured in serum of mice immunized with the RBD-FC:AlSa formulation. On the other hand, cytokines IL-10 and INF-γ were severely accumulated in response to RBD-FC:AlSa, and after 10 days, their accumulation was significantly declined, whereas IL-4 showed the highest and the lowest accumulation in response to alum and alginate, respectively. Our data may suggest that combination of alum and sodium alginate has a better compatibility with RBD-FC in vaccine formulation.

Immunogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 Trimeric Spike Protein Associated to Poly(I:C) Plus Alum.

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has had a social and economic impact worldwide, and vaccination is an efficient strategy for diminishing those damages. New adjuvant formulations are required for the high vaccine demands, especially adjuvant formulations that induce a Th1 phenotype. Herein we assess a vaccination strategy using a combination of Alum and polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid [Poly(I:C)] adjuvants plus the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein in a prefusion trimeric conformation by an intradermal (ID) route. We found high levels of IgG anti-spike antibodies in the serum by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and high neutralizing titers against SARS-CoV-2 in vitro by neutralization assay, after two or three immunizations. By evaluating the production of IgG subtypes, as expected, we found that formulations containing Poly(I:C) induced IgG2a whereas Alum did not. The combination of these two adjuvants induced high levels of both IgG1 and IgG2a. In addition, cellular immune responses of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells producing interferon-gamma were equivalent, demonstrating that the Alum + Poly(I:C) combination supported a Th1 profile. Based on the high neutralizing titers, we evaluated B cells in the germinal centers, which are specific for receptor-binding domain (RBD) and spike, and observed that more positive B cells were induced upon the Alum + Poly(I:C) combination. Moreover, these B cells produced antibodies against both RBD and non-RBD sites. We also studied the impact of this vaccination preparation [spike protein with Alum + Poly(I:C)] in the lungs of mice challenged with inactivated SARS-CoV-2 virus. We found a production of IgG, but not IgA, and a reduction in neutrophil recruitment in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of mice, suggesting that our immunization scheme reduced lung inflammation. Altogether, our data suggest that Alum and Poly(I:C) together is a possible adjuvant combination for vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 by the intradermal route.

Application of Self - Cleaning Filters in the Removal of Turbidity from River Water: Pilot Study

Enhanced treatment of river water was investigated by the modified coagulation-flocculation process for the application of self-cleaning filters (SCF’s) in the removal of turbidity using a combination of Alum and Sudfloc 3880. This study is aimed to improve the removal of iron and turbidity concentrations from river water and reduce water loss. This is achieved by piloting innovative water treatment technologies such as the SCF’s Plant. The new technology further assessed the effectiveness, efficiency, and operability of the SCF’s Plant by varying certain operational parameters such as water flow, differential pressures, coagulant, and flocculent dosages. The results established in this study critically analyze the feasibility of deploying water treatment technologies such as the SCF Plant in areas with similar environmental conditions and/or facing similar water treatment challenges. The removal efficiencies of turbidity were about 40 % and further optimization will be continued until 90 % to 100 % is achieved. The average removal efficiency of turbidity was 40 % and achieved at a 250 m3/h flow rate. The average removal across all flow rates was over 20 %. Further optimization of the RF14 will be carried out using other chemical combinations and formulations at various process settings while bypassing the PLF filters. The PLF elements will be brought into service to further reduce the turbidity after the optimization of the RF14. Keywords: Water, Treatment, Coagulation, Flocculation, Processes, Technologies, Filters *

Population-level variation in parasite resistance due to differences in immune initiation and rate of response.

Closely related populations often differ in resistance to a given parasite, as measured by infection success or failure. Yet, the immunological mechanisms of these evolved differences are rarely specified. Does resistance evolve via changes to the host's ability to recognize that an infection exists, actuate an effective immune response, or attenuate that response? We tested whether each of these phases of the host response contributed to threespine sticklebacks’ recently evolved resistance to their tapeworm Schistocephalus solidus. Although marine stickleback and some susceptible lake fish permit fast‐growing tapeworms, other lake populations are resistant and suppress tapeworm growth via a fibrosis response. We subjected lab‐raised fish from three populations (susceptible marine “ancestors,” a susceptible lake population, and a resistant lake population) to a novel immune challenge using an injection of (1) a saline control, (2) alum, a generalized pro‐inflammatory adjuvant that causes fibrosis, (3) a tapeworm protein extract, or (4) a combination of alum and tapeworm protein. With enough time, all three populations generated a robust fibrosis response to the alum treatments. Yet, only the resistant population exhibited a fibrosis response to the tapeworm protein alone. Thus, these populations differed in their ability to respond to the tapeworm protein but shared an intact fibrosis pathway. The resistant population also initiated fibrosis faster in response to alum, and was able to attenuate fibrosis, unlike the susceptible populations’ slow but longer lasting response to alum. As fibrosis has pathological side effects that reduce fecundity, the faster recovery by the resistant population may reflect an adaptation to mitigate the costs of immunity. Broadly, our results confirm that parasite detection and immune initiation, activation speed, and immune attenuation simultaneously contribute to the evolution of parasite resistance and adaptations to infection in natural populations.

A Novel Bacterial Protease Inhibitor Adjuvant in RBD-Based COVID-19 Vaccine Formulations Containing Alum Increases Neutralizing Antibodies, Specific Germinal Center B Cells and Confers Protection Against SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Mice

In this work, we evaluated recombinant receptor binding domain (RBD)-based vaccine formulation prototypes with potential for further clinical development. We assessed different formulations containing RBD plus alum, AddaS03, AddaVax, or the combination of alum and U-Omp19: a novel Brucella spp. protease inhibitor vaccine adjuvant. Results show that the vaccine formulation composed of U-Omp19 and alum as adjuvants has a better performance: it significantly increased mucosal and systemic neutralizing antibodies in comparison to antigen plus alum, AddaVax, or AddaS03. Antibodies induced with the formulation containing U-Omp19 and alum not only increased their neutralization capacity against the ancestral virus but also cross-neutralized alpha, lambda, and gamma variants with similar potency. Furthermore, the addition of U-Omp19 to alum vaccine formulation increased the frequency of RBD-specific geminal center B cells and plasmablasts. Additionally, U-Omp19+alum formulation induced RBD-specific Th1 and CD8+ T-cell responses in spleens and lungs. Finally, this vaccine formulation conferred protection against an intranasal severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) challenge of K18-hACE2 mice.

Effect of fixator on color performance of bark extract from three tropical wetland species for fabric dye

Fixation is a stage in dyeing fabric or batik fabric with natural dyes to obtain the desired color and bind the color so that it does not fade quickly due to sweat, washing, sunray, and rubbing. Three fixators used as color binders were alum (Al2[SO4]3), lime (CaCO3), and tunjung (FeSO4). Each material showed a different color on each extract. This activity aimed to observe the color performance of bark extracts from three wetland species applied to batik fabric with 1 or 2 combinations of fixators. The results showed the color performance of batik fabric depended on the bark of tree species and the kind of fixator. The performance of bark extract with fixators produced darker and sharper colors than without the use of fixators. The application of lime on Rhizophora apiculata Bl. bark extract produced dark moderate orange color, while the combination of lime and tunjung produced very dark orange (Brown tone). The combination of lime and tunjung on Acacia mangium Willd and the Terminalia catappa L. barks gave a dark moderate orange color with different intensities. In contrast, the combination of alum and tunjung on Terminalia catappa L. bark extract produced a very dark greyish orange color.

Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate as a Novel Vaccine Adjuvant.

Vaccine adjuvants from natural resources have been utilized for enhancing vaccine efficacy against infectious diseases. This study examined the potential use of catechins, polyphenolic materials derived from green tea, as adjuvants for subunit and inactivated vaccines. Previously, catechins have been documented to have irreversible virucidal function, with the possible applicability in the inactivated viral vaccine platform. In a mouse model, the coadministration of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) with influenza hemagglutinin (HA) antigens induced high levels of neutralizing antibodies, comparable to that induced by alum, providing complete protection against the lethal challenge. Adjuvant effects were observed for all types of HA antigens, including recombinant full-length HA and HA1 globular domain, and egg-derived inactivated split influenza vaccines. The combination of alum and EGCG further increased neutralizing (NT) antibody titers with the corresponding hemagglutination inhibition (HI) titers, demonstrating a dose-sparing effect. Remarkably, EGCG induced immunoglobulin isotype switching from IgG1 to IgG2a (approximately >64–700 fold increase), exerting a more balanced TH1/TH2 response compared to alum. The upregulation of IgG2a correlated with significant enhancement of antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) function (approximately 14 fold increase), providing a potent effector-mediated protection in addition to NT and HI. As the first report on a novel class of vaccine adjuvants with built-in virucidal activities, the results of this study will help improve the efficacy and safety of vaccines for pandemic preparedness.

Alum and metoclopramide synergistically enhance cellular and humoral immunity after immunization with heat-killed Salmonella typhimurium vaccine

Typically, the killed form of microorganisms in combination with alum does not produce strong cellular immune responses. A recent investigation has indicated the role of dopamine D2 receptor antagonists like metoclopramide in reducing the polarization of immune responses toward Th2 immunity. This study was performed to evaluate the effects of a combination of alum and metoclopramide on the induction of cellular and humoral immunity in response to a heat-killed preparation ofSalmonella typhimurium(HKST). Wistar rats were immunized with the HKST vaccine alone or in combination with alum, metoclopramide, or the alum-metoclopramide mixture twice with a two-week interval. Fourteen days after the last vaccination, immune responses against S. typhimurium and the protective potential of the vaccines were assessed. The combination of alum and metoclopramide as an adjuvant augmented the potential of the HKST vaccine to enhance lymphocyte proliferation, delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction, and antibody titer. These results were concurrent with the polarization of immune response towards the Th1 response and improving protective immunity against S. typhimurium. Overall, the combination of alum and metoclopramide as an adjuvant synergistically enhanced cellular and humoral immunity after immunization with the HKST vaccine.

Assess the performance of chemical coagulation process for microplastics removal from stormwater

Microplastic (MP) is considered as one of the emerging pollutants in marine environments. Because of low density and small particle size (<5 mm), MPs are easily discharged into open waterways by stormwater runoff. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of coagulation process for the removal of different types of MPs such as low-density polyethylene (LDPE), high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and polypropylene (PP) from synthetic stormwater. The effect of different types of a coagulant such as alum and polyacrylamide (PAM), dosages of coagulants, solution pH and weathering conditions was investigated for the removal of MPs. Results found that a combination of alum and PAM performed better than standalone coagulant for MPs removal. The removal of all three types of MPs was high at low pH (3–5). It is also found that the removal efficiency of LDPE, HDPE and PP was 92 %, 84 % and 96 %, respectively under the weathering conditions. The mechanisms for MP removal were charge neutralization and hydrophobic interaction between MP and coagulant flocs. Overall, this study has confirmed that the coagulation process was very effective for removing MP particles under weathering conditions.

Reusable rainwater quality at the Ikorodu area of Lagos, Nigeria: impact of first-flush and household treatment techniques

Abstract Water scarcity is a huge problem in Africa, and hence rainwater becomes a crucial water source for fulfilling basic human needs. However, less attention has been given by African countries to the effectiveness of common rainwater treatments to ensure the population's health. This study investigates the impact of different household treatment techniques (HHTTs), i.e. treatments by chlorine, boiling, alum, and a combination of alum and chlorine, on its storage system using a case study at the Ikorodu area of Lagos state, which is a rural area in Nigeria. The first-flush quality has been particularly studied here, where the microbial reduction through its practice has been examined from five different roofs. One of the investigated roofs was from a residential building, and four were constructed for the purpose of this study. In this study, the physical parameters (i.e. total suspended solids and turbidity) and the microbial parameters (i.e. total coliform and Escherichia coli) of the collected rainwater have been investigated. From the results, it has been observed that: (1) the water quality at the free phase zone is better than that at the tank's bottom; (2) the combination of chlorine and alum gives the best rainwater quality after comparing the application of different HHTTs; and (3) a reduction of about 40% from the original contaminant load occurs in every 1 mm diversion.

Combinations of alum and synthetic toll-like receptor agonists as adjuvants for CoVID-19 vaccines

Abstract Aluminum-based adjuvants (“alum”) are the most widely-used adjuvants for human vaccines, with an extensive history of safety and efficacy. Alum is known to elicit high antibody titers by driving a Th2-based immune response, which may not be optimal for many viral infections, such as SARS-CoV-2. Therefore, combining the strong safety and efficacy attributes of alum with a Th1-polarizing adjuvant could improve immunity against viral antigens. Here we test the combination of alum with synthetic TLR4- and TLR7/8 -ligands in vaccines against SARS-CoV-2. The combination of alum and TLR agonists resulted in efficient adjuvantation of both humoral and cell-mediated immunity. Alum adsorption studies showed low association between the small, positively-charged receptor binding domain (RBD) antigen and aluminum hydroxide (Alhydrogel) and high adsorption to negatively charged aluminum phosphate (Adju-phos). However, Adju-phos and Alhydrogel both enhanced immunity to the SARS-CoV-2 RBD antigen, suggesting antigen adsorption may not be required for the immune enhancing effects of alum. These data demonstrated that adjuvants combining alum with a TLR agonist result in an improved anti-viral immune response. However, the ability of alum to adsorb to an antigen may not predict its ability to effectively adjuvant.

Assessing strategies to improve the efficacy and efficiency of direct filtration plants facing changes in source water quality from anthropogenic and climatic pressures

Lake recovery from acidification and climatic drivers are causing increasing concentrations of natural organic matter (NOM) in surface waters across North American and Europe. These shifts in source water quality have caused challenges in the drinking water treatment industry, particularly in direct filtration plants, which are sensitive to changes in influent water quality. There is a need for immediate treatment strategies to address the increasing organic load while sustainable solutions are developed. The presented research investigated the impacts of partially substituting aluminum sulphate (alum) with a high charge density cationic polyelectrolyte on NOM removal and unit filter run volume (UFRV) in a direct filtration pilot plant. Various combinations of alum (10–12 mg/L) and polyelectrolyte (0–1 mg/L) were compared to the current full-scale plant dose of 12 mg/L of alum. The impacts of increasing the effective size of the filter media from 0.9 mm to 1.3 mm on NOM removal and UFRV were also studied. The partial substitution of alum with polyelectrolyte did not significantly impact total organic carbon (TOC) removal, which was consistent around 35–40 %, or TOC residual concentrations, which were approximately 2.1–2.3 mg/L. The UFRV was not impacted by the partial substitution of alum with polyelectrolyte, but increasing the effective size did improve the UFRV by 3 to 16 m3/m2 without impacting the effluent water quality. Additionally, the research highlighted the importance of understanding projected trends in the concentration and character of source water NOM for sustainable drinking water treatment design.

Cr(VI) Removal Using the Combination of the Cr(VI)-Resistant and Cr(VI)-Reducing Biofilm and the Alum-Polyacrylamide

This paper describes the removal of Cr(VI) using the combination of bacterial reduction of Cr(VI) to Cr(III) by wood husk–packed column containing the Cr(VI)-reducing biofilm followed by Cr(III) removal using the coagulation-flocculation technique. The chromium removal process was carried out at the laboratory-scale for 90 days using different batches of Cr(VI) ranging from 35 to 231 mg L−1. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed a high coefficient of determination (R2) value of 0.9941, thus ensuring a satisfactory adjustment of the second-order regression model with the experimental data. The experimental observations were in reasonable agreement with the modeled values. The biofilm was able to completely reduce 100 mg L−1 Cr(VI) in 6 h while a longer contact time (18 h) was needed for higher Cr(VI) concentrations. In this study, ORP (oxidation-reduction potential) was used as the control parameter during the Cr(VI) reduction process. The coagulation/flocculation process using the combination of alum and polyacrylamide results in complete removal of color, 85% Cr(III), and 97% turbidity. The field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) analysis of the biofilm revealed the embedding of bacterial cells in extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). This study successfully demonstrated the potential application of a bacterial biofilm and chemical systems to remove chromium contamination from water systems.

Optimisation of using a blend of plant based natural and synthetic coagulants for water treatment: (Moringa Oleifera-Cactus Opuntia-alum blend)

The research presents a comparative study on the effectiveness of blending plant based natural coagulants (Cactus Opuntia and Moringa Oleifera extracts) and a synthetic coagulant (aluminium sulphate or alum) in treatment of raw water. The low production rates of natural coagulants has derailed their commercialization this has driven the idea of blending synthetic coagulants which is envisaged to be the more appropriate means of application in this study. To measure the effectiveness of the coagulant, the following parameters were measured; turbidity, pH, conductivity and total alkalinity. The simplex lattice experimental design was applied using Minitab Software to obtain the optimal coagulant blend. The models were validated by statistical analysis which showed that the model was sufficient and no further modelling was required. The optimization results showed that a combination of alum, Moringa Oleifera and Cactus Opuntia in proportions of 13%, 42.6% and 44.4%, respectively with a total coagulant dosage of 45 mg/L gave the best overall results with the resultant water having a turbidity, pH, conductivity and total alkalinity of 2.7 NTU, 6.99, 308 µS/cm and 137.7 mg/L respectively. These physiochemical parameters are within required limits for potable water as per WHO guidelines. From the results, it was concluded that aluminium sulphate (alum) can be successfully blended with natural plant-based coagulants for raw water treatment.

Coagulation- and Adsorption-Based Environmental Impact Assessment and Textile Effluent Treatment

Disposal of industrial effluents (especially the textile industry) into the drains without prior treatment is a common practice that affects aquatic life and pollutes the soil and groundwater quality. Textile effluents contain organic and inorganic pollutants in terms of high pH, suspended and dissolved solids, chemical oxygen demand, heavy metals, and many other contaminants. Therefore, it is obligatory to dispose off wastewater according to environmental standards. The present study is planned to determine textile wastewater characteristics and recommend efficient and economical treatment options. Wastewater samples from three different industries were collected and analyzed. Nine different treatments using different dosages of alum, activated carbon, and their mixture were used to investigate treatment performance. Analysis of variance and correlation was used to optimize the results. A highly significant correlation was found among the treatments ranging from 92 to 100% for observed parameters. pH, chemical oxygen demand, and total suspended solids were removed significantly. A combination of alum and activated carbon found to be the most efficient treatment. Based on the highly significant results among different parameters, a combined wastewater treatment plant is recommended for a cluster of industrial units.

Turbidity, COD and Total Suspended Solid Removal: Application of Natural Coagulant Cassava Peel Starch

Considering techno-financial oblige, cassava peel (CP) that is effectively accessible mechanical waste is concentrated to assess its appropriateness to be chosen as coagulant help for the water treatment framework. The process called coagulation and flocculation is the generation of consumable water from most raw water sources generally incorporates. The most well-known coagulant used in water treatment are aluminium salts, ferric salts and synthetic polymers. These coagulants are frequently costly and can hardly afford the costs of imported chemicals. Considering techno-economic constrain, cassava peel (CP) that is effectively accessible industrial waste is concentrated to assess its appropriateness to be chosen as coagulant aid for water treatment system. This aim for characterize cassava peel and to optimize coagulation and flocculation process using alum, CPS and alum : CPS. There are two types of equipment analysis involve to characterization the cassava peel namely scanning electron microscope (SEM-EDX) equipped with energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDX) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometry. SEM-EDX micrograph had shown that the surface of the cassava peel samples was secured with smooth and globular in formed of bound a starch granule. The CP samples contain Fe2O3 and Al2O3 were analysis by XRF spectrometry indicated that which might contribute to its coagulation ability. The water samples used was collected at the water intake from Sembrong Dam. The raw water sample was characterized before the process of jar test. Jar test experiment was carried out by using alum, cassava peel starch and cassava peel + alum. The laboratory analysis was carried on turbidity, total suspended solid and COD removal. Recommended conditions (initial pH 9, 70 : 30 % of alum : CPS, and 60 min settling time) allowed Cassava peel and alum removed high turbidity, total suspended solid and chemical oxygen demand up to 90.32%, 89.86% and 18.87%, respectively. The effectiveness of cassava peel as coagulant aid was investigated from floc analysis. Besides that, based on the results with using SEM analysis, the images showed that the combination of alum +CPS was more compact and this can make denser because of the bridging of the particles that easy the floc to settle down. This study proved the use of natural coagulant from cassava peel as an alternative coagulant aid to reduce the usage of chemical coagulants.

Effects of Adjuvants on the Immunogenicity and Efficacy of a Zika Virus Envelope Domain III Subunit Vaccine.

Zika virus (ZIKV), a mosquito-borne flavivirus, has attracted global attention due to its close association with congenital Zika syndrome and neurological diseases, and transmission through additional routes, such as sexual contact. Currently there are no vaccines approved for ZIKV, and thus, there is an urgent need to develop an effective and safe ZIKV vaccine. Domain III (DIII) of the ZIKV envelope (E) protein is an important vaccine target, and a vaccine developed using a mutant DIII of E (EDIII) protein protects adult and pregnant mice, and unborn offspring, against ZIKV infection. Here, we have used immunocompetent BALB/c mice treated with anti-interferon-α/β receptor 1 (Ifnar1) antibodies to investigate whether three adjuvants (aluminum (Alum), monophosphoryl lipid A (MPL), and MF59), either alone or in combination, could improve the efficacy of this EDIII subunit vaccine. Our data show that, although vaccine formulated with a single adjuvant induced a specific antibody and cellular immune response, and reduced viral load in mice challenged with ZIKV, the combination of Alum and MPL adjuvants led to a more robust and balanced immune response, stronger neutralizing activity against three recent ZIKV human strains, and greater protection against a high-dose ZIKV challenge. Particularly, the combination of Alum with MPL significantly reduced viral titers and viral RNA copy numbers in sera and tissues, including the male reproductive organs. Overall, this study has identified the combination of Alum and MPL as the most effective adjuvant for ZIKV EDIII subunit vaccines, and it has important implications for subunit vaccines against other enveloped viruses, including non-ZIKV flaviviruses.

Flocculation and antibacterial performance of dual coagulant system of modified cassava peel starch and alum

The present study examined the synergistic effect of alum-modified cassava peel starch as dual coagulants in removing total suspended solids and Escherichia coli in dam water. The optimisation study was carried out to evaluate the effects of pH, coagulant dosage, and settling time on the flocculation performance of the coagulants. Alum as sole coagulant and combination of alum and native cassava peel starch were also studied for comparison purpose. Characterisations of the coagulants using scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy studies confirmed the successful modification of cassava peel starch. Characterization studies revealed changes in surface morphology, elemental distribution after the modification. Pores, rough surfaces and several new element including Cl and Ca were observed on the surface of the modified starch. The presence of important active groups such as citral that responsible for antimicrobial and flocculation function was also reflected in the modified starch coagulant. The optimisation study indicated distinct performance of alum-modified cassava peel starch compared to alum alone and alum-cassava peel starch in terms of both flocculation and antibacterial functionality. High removal of both TSS and E. coli was achieved with the treatment using the combination of alum-modified cassava peel starch with superior removal of 92.75% and 100%, respectively, within 10 min of settling time using the recommended working conditions of alum-modified cassava peel starch dosage of 7.5–50 mg/L at pH 7. Additionally, the characterisation of flocs indicated that the employment of alum as sole coagulant and alum combined with the modified starch possessed distinctive features. Scanning electron micrograph showed that the flocs formed using alum-modified cassava peel starch was highly compacted clusters with appearance of E.coli cells embedded in the floc matrix, whereas for alum as the sole coagulant, the flocs were irregular-shaped and aggregated. Besides, the difference in peak occurrence from analysis reflected different mechanisms of floc formation using alum alone and alum-modified cassava peel starch. From the floc analysis study, charge neutralisation, bridging and sweep flocculation were the mechanisms that are expected to govern the coagulation and flocculation process.

Cricket paralysis virus internal ribosome entry site-derived RNA promotes conventional vaccine efficacy by enhancing a balanced Th1/Th2 response

An ideal adjuvant should increase vaccine efficacy through balanced Th1/Th2 responses and be safe to use. Recombinant protein-based vaccines are usually formulated with aluminum (alum)-based adjuvants to ensure an adequate immune response. However, use of alum triggers a Th2-biased immune induction, and hence is not optimal. Although the adjuvanticity of RNA has been reported, a systematic and overall investigation on its efficacy is lacking. We found that single strand RNA (termed RNA adjuvant) derived from cricket paralysis virus intergenic region internal ribosome entry site induced the expression of various adjuvant-function-related genes, such as type 1 and 2 interferon (IFN) and toll-like receptor (TLR), T cell activation, and leukocyte chemotaxis in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells; furthermore, its innate and IFN transcriptome profile patterns were similar to those of a live-attenuated yellow fever vaccine. This suggests that protein-based vaccines formulated using RNA adjuvant function as live-attenuated vaccines. Application of the RNA adjuvant in mouse enhanced the efficacy of Middle East respiratory syndrome spike protein, a protein-subunit vaccine and human papillomavirus L1 protein, a virus-like particle vaccine, by activating innate immune response through TLR7 and enhancing pAPC chemotaxis, leading to a balanced Th1/Th2 responses. Moreover, the combination of alum and the RNA adjuvant synergistically induced humoral and cellular immune responses and endowed long-term immunity. Therefore, RNA adjuvants have broad applicability and can be used with all conventional vaccines to improve vaccine efficacy qualitatively and quantitively.

Reduction of Fluoride in Water Phase by Micro-Nano Bubble Pretreatment Process.

Fluoride is important to aquatic environment and health aspects, and the optimal fluoride concentration in water is below 1 mg/L. In this study, the micro-nano bubble pretreatment was applied to remove fluoride ions in the water phase. The pH control by calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)₂), and coagulation processes with poly aluminum chloride (PAC), aluminum sulfate (Alum), F900 and two kinds of polymer named as A-polymer and A430P polymer were applied for the pretreated wastewater. In results, the combination of PAC and A430P polymer with micro-nano bubble pretreated wastewater showed a higher fluoride removal than the case of other combinations. In chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal, the combination of Alum and A430P polymer with micro-nano bubble pretreated wastewater showed the best removal efficiency (64.6%) while the COD removal without pretreatment was 71.4% for fluoride and 57.2% for COD.