DNA vaccine-encoded glycoprotein B of HSV-1 fails to protect chronic morphine-treated mice against HSV-1 challenge

The use of morphine has been demonstrated to increase susceptibility to infections. Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) is a highly successful pathogen among immunocompromised individuals. In the present study, due to the importance of HSV vaccination in morphine abusers, the effects of chronic morphine exposure on the host response to a HSV-1 gB DNA-based vaccine have been investigated. The study is addressing an important aspect of vaccine development among the susceptible (immunocompromised) hosts. BALB/c mice were exposed to morphine over 11 days. They were then vaccinated with DNA vaccine or KOS strain as a live vaccine. The findings showed that the morphine-treated animals failed to respond to DNA vaccination evaluated by the anti-HSV gB antibody titer, delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) and lethal HSV-1 challenge. Under the same conditions, the KOS vaccine showed a reduced Ab titer and DTH response in morphine-treated mice, but could protect mice against the lethal challenge and was safe for vaccination of morphine-treated animals.     

Induction of humoral and cellular immunity against latent HSV-1 infections by DNA immunization in BALB/c mice

Previously, we have reported that the injection of an expression vector containing Herpes simplex virus (HSV) Glycoprotein D-1 (gD-1) generated a significant antibody response in mice and protected them against HSV lethal challenge. We tested its potential to induce antibody and cell mediated immune responses in latently infected mice. Positive control group (KOS) and HSV gD-1 vaccinated mice demonstrated protection against a lethal ocularly challenge of 10(5.5) plaque-forming units (pfu)/eye of wild HSV-1 versus negative control groups. For neutralizing antibody titers, delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH), lymphocyte proliferation responses, clinical evaluation and survival following lethal challenge, no considerable difference was observed between mice vaccinated with DNA plasmid and those vaccinated with KOS. KOS-vaccinated mice demonstrated the ability to completely prevent latency whereas DNA vaccinated group showed some degree of protection and displayed less latency than negative control groups and had considerably high levels of IFN-gamma and strong CTL responses versus negative control groups. It can be concluded that although immunization with the DNA vaccine is more effective in both protecting mice and induction of immune response, however it could not completely block the latent infection in sensory nerves.     

Effect of seed and foliar application of nano-zinc oxide,zinc chelate,and zinc sulphate rates on yield and growth of pinto bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) cultivars

Nanofertilizers have received considerable attention due to their increased uptake by plants. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effect of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles and also different zinc (Zn) fertilizers (Zn sulfate, Zn chelate) on vegetative and yield traits of two pinto bean cultivars “KS21191” and “KS21193”. This experiment was a factorial based on completely randomized design with 24 treatments (three fertilizer applications and eight levels of Zn fertilizer). The results showed that twice foliar application compared to seed application and once foliar application improved growth and yield characteristics of both pinto bean cultivars. Also, compared to control treatment, zinc nanofertilizers improved vegetative characteristics (such as plant height, internode length, root and shoot dry, and fresh weight), yield (pods number and seed weight) and quality (zinc content in seed) of both pinto bean cultivars. Among the zinc fertilizer treatments, 0.10% and 0.15% of ZnO nanoparticles were as a superior treatment.     

Intercellular trafficking of VP22, a herpes simplex virus type 1 tegument protein

BACKGROUND: The herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) tegument protein, VP22 has been reported to have the property of intercellular transport. The previous studies have shown that following expression of a fusion protein containing VP22; it spreads to every cell in a monolayer and concentrates in the nucleus. In spite of these reports, some studies have shown that VP22 trafficking and its nucleus accumulation is an artifact and no improvement in translocation of proteins fused to VP22 has been detected. METHODS: To better understand about VP22 translocation, VP22-GFP (Green Fluorescent Protein) vector was constructed and its nuclear accumulation, transportation to the nomtransfected cells and translocation between different cell types were studied by fluorescent microscope. RESULTS: VP22-fusion protein was detected in nontransfected cells which in some of them the fusion protein was shown in nucleus. CONCLUSION: The results demonstrated that VP22 can easily transport between different cells but nuclear accumulation of the protein is not common in all of the recipient cells.