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Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences
Assessing The Durability Of The Immune Response Induced By Rivax®, A Ricin Subunit Vaccine, Hayley Lynn Novak
Assessing The Durability Of The Immune Response Induced By Rivax®, A Ricin Subunit Vaccine, Hayley Lynn Novak
Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)
Assessing the performance and durability of the antibody response in animal models can assist in the development of biodefense vaccines. Ricin is one of the most toxic biological agents known and has been a public health issue for years. Since ricin is easily manufactured and a deadly toxin, rational vaccine design and immunotherapeutic optimization have been explored. RiVax® is a candidate subunit vaccine with a modified A-chain of ricin toxin that was formulated to remove ricin's biological activity. It is thought that RiVax® could serve as a prophylactic that would induce humoral- and cell-mediated immunological responses that elicit protective antigens …
Regulation Of Immune Response Genes By Vitamin D In Mammary Epithelial Cells With An Emphasis On Cd14, Katrina Marie Simmons
Regulation Of Immune Response Genes By Vitamin D In Mammary Epithelial Cells With An Emphasis On Cd14, Katrina Marie Simmons
Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)
Vitamin D is primarily known for its role in bone health, however recently vitamin D has been identified as a potent immunomodulator. Most research studying the effects of vitamin D on immune properties have focused on immune cells. Few have evaluated how vitamin D affects the immune functions of barrier epithelial cells, such as human mammary epithelial (HME) cells, that are exposed to pathogens both locally and systemically. The goals of the studies described in this thesis were to comprehensively and mechanistically evaluate the immune effects of vitamin D metabolites, 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25D) and 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25D), on HME cells. …
The Immune Response In The Central Nervous System During West Nile Virus Persistence, Barbara Sharon Stewart
The Immune Response In The Central Nervous System During West Nile Virus Persistence, Barbara Sharon Stewart
Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)
West Nile virus (WNV) persists in a wide array of hosts ranging from mice to humans. In convalescent humans, WNV RNA persists in urine for up to 6.7 years, and IgM antibody against WNV persists in serum for up to 12 months post-inoculation (p.i.). Previous work using the mouse model demonstrated that WNV persists in central nervous system (CNS) tissues as infectious virus and as RNA for up to 4 months and 6 months p.i., respectively. In this study, we sought to elucidate the mechanism for viral persistence in the CNS using the mouse model. Characterization of the leukocyte infiltrate …