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Chau ECT, Kwong TC, Pang CK, Chan LT, Chan AML, Yao X, Tam JSL, Chan SW, Leung GPH, Tai WCS, Kwan YW. A Novel Probiotic-Based Oral Vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant B.1.1.529. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:13931. [PMID: 37762235 PMCID: PMC10530581 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241813931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Revised: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
COVID-19 pandemic, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, is still affecting the entire world via the rapid emergence of new contagious variants. Vaccination remains the most effective prevention strategy for viral infection, yet not all countries have sufficient access to vaccines due to limitations in manufacturing and transportation. Thus, there is an urgent need to develop an easy-to-use, safe, and low-cost vaccination approach. Genetically modified microorganisms, especially probiotics, are now commonly recognized as attractive vehicles for delivering bioactive molecules via oral and mucosal routes. In this study, Lactobacillus casei has been selected as the oral vaccine candidate based on its' natural immunoadjuvant properties and the ability to resist acidic gastric environment, to express antigens of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant B.1.1.529 with B-cell and T-cell epitopes. This newly developed vaccine, OMGVac, was shown to elicit a robust IgG systemic immune response against the spike protein of Omicron variant B.1.1.529 in Golden Syrian hamsters. No adverse effects were found throughout this study, and the overall safety was evaluated in terms of physiological and histopathological examinations of different organs harvested. In addition, this study illustrated the use of the recombinant probiotic as a live delivery vector in the initiation of systemic immunity, which shed light on the future development of next-generation vaccines to combat emerging infectious diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eddie Chung Ting Chau
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; (E.C.T.C.); (T.C.K.); (C.K.P.); (L.T.C.); (A.M.L.C.); (X.Y.)
| | - Tsz Ching Kwong
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; (E.C.T.C.); (T.C.K.); (C.K.P.); (L.T.C.); (A.M.L.C.); (X.Y.)
| | - Chun Keung Pang
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; (E.C.T.C.); (T.C.K.); (C.K.P.); (L.T.C.); (A.M.L.C.); (X.Y.)
| | - Lee Tung Chan
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; (E.C.T.C.); (T.C.K.); (C.K.P.); (L.T.C.); (A.M.L.C.); (X.Y.)
| | - Andrew Man Lok Chan
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; (E.C.T.C.); (T.C.K.); (C.K.P.); (L.T.C.); (A.M.L.C.); (X.Y.)
| | - Xiaoqiang Yao
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; (E.C.T.C.); (T.C.K.); (C.K.P.); (L.T.C.); (A.M.L.C.); (X.Y.)
| | - John Siu Lun Tam
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China; (J.S.L.T.); (W.C.S.T.)
| | - Shun Wan Chan
- Department of Food and Health Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China;
| | - George Pak Heng Leung
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China;
| | - William Chi Shing Tai
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China; (J.S.L.T.); (W.C.S.T.)
| | - Yiu Wa Kwan
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; (E.C.T.C.); (T.C.K.); (C.K.P.); (L.T.C.); (A.M.L.C.); (X.Y.)
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Kwong TC, Chau ECT, Mak MCH, Choy CT, Chan LT, Pang CK, Zhou J, Poon PHC, Guan Y, Tsui SKW, Chan SW, Leung GPH, Tai WCS, Kwan YW. Characterization of the Gut Microbiome in Healthy Dogs and Dogs with Diabetes Mellitus. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:2479. [PMID: 37570288 PMCID: PMC10417117 DOI: 10.3390/ani13152479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Revised: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
With a close pathogenetic resemblance to human diabetes, canine Diabetes Mellitus, a chronic metabolic disease featuring abnormally high blood sugar levels, is increasing in prevalence worldwide. Unlike humans, canine glycemic control requires life-long insulin injections and dietary control in most cases, thereby jeopardizing diabetic dogs' quality of life and increasing the difficulty of disease control. While many research studies have focused on elucidating the relationship between the canine gut microbiome and diseases, there is currently no research on the subject of diabetes mellitus in dogs. We hypothesized that the gut microbiome of canines with diabetes mellitus is different from that of healthy controls. Thus, we performed targeted 16S rRNA sequencing and comprehensive bioinformatic analysis to compare the gut microbiome profiles of 16 diabetic dogs with those of 32 healthy dogs. Clostridioides difficile, Phocaeicola plebeius, Lacrimispora indolis, and Butyricicoccus pullicaecorum were found to be enriched in diabetic dogs. A distinct shift towards carbohydrate degradation metabolic pathways was found to be differentially abundant in the diabetic subjects. Alteration of the co-occurrence network was also evident in the diabetic group. In conclusion, our study suggests that the gut microbial landscape differs in diabetic canines at the genera, species, functional, and network levels. These findings have significant implications for disease management, and thus warrant further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tsz Ching Kwong
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; (E.C.T.C.); (L.T.C.); (C.K.P.); (P.H.C.P.); (Y.G.); (S.K.W.T.)
| | - Eddie Chung Ting Chau
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; (E.C.T.C.); (L.T.C.); (C.K.P.); (P.H.C.P.); (Y.G.); (S.K.W.T.)
| | - Mark Chi Ho Mak
- Non-Profit Making Veterinary Services Society Limited, Hong Kong, China;
| | - Chi Tung Choy
- Microbiome Research Centre, BioMed Laboratory Company Limited, Hong Kong, China; (C.T.C.); (J.Z.)
| | - Lee Tung Chan
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; (E.C.T.C.); (L.T.C.); (C.K.P.); (P.H.C.P.); (Y.G.); (S.K.W.T.)
| | - Chun Keung Pang
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; (E.C.T.C.); (L.T.C.); (C.K.P.); (P.H.C.P.); (Y.G.); (S.K.W.T.)
| | - Junwei Zhou
- Microbiome Research Centre, BioMed Laboratory Company Limited, Hong Kong, China; (C.T.C.); (J.Z.)
| | - Phoebe Hoi Ching Poon
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; (E.C.T.C.); (L.T.C.); (C.K.P.); (P.H.C.P.); (Y.G.); (S.K.W.T.)
| | - Yuqiong Guan
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; (E.C.T.C.); (L.T.C.); (C.K.P.); (P.H.C.P.); (Y.G.); (S.K.W.T.)
| | - Stephen Kwok Wing Tsui
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; (E.C.T.C.); (L.T.C.); (C.K.P.); (P.H.C.P.); (Y.G.); (S.K.W.T.)
| | - Shun Wan Chan
- Department of Food and Health Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China;
| | - George Pak Heng Leung
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China;
| | - William Chi Shing Tai
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China;
| | - Yiu Wa Kwan
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; (E.C.T.C.); (L.T.C.); (C.K.P.); (P.H.C.P.); (Y.G.); (S.K.W.T.)
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Abstract
This prospective randomized controlled trial examined the effect of an "alveolar recruitment strategy" (ARS) in healthy patients having laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Twenty-four consecutive ASA 1 or 2 patients were randomly allocated to an ARS or control group. All patients were manually ventilated to a maximal airway pressure of 25 to 30 cmH2O or a tidal volume of 10 ml/kg during induction of general anaesthesia. After intubation, the control group was ventilated with standardized mechanical ventilation settings. The ARS group was manually ventilated to an airway pressure of 40 cmH2O for 10 breaths over one minute, followed by mechanical ventilation with similar standardized settings plus 5 cmH2O positive end-expiratory pressure. Blood pressure, heart rate, arterial oxygen and carbon dioxide tension (PaO2 and PaCO2) was measured pre-induction, 20 minutes post induction but before abdominal insufflation, 20 minutes after abdominal insufflation, and 20 minutes after arrival in the recovery room. Demographic and operation data were similar. The ARS group pre-insufflation PaO2 [30.16 (9.43)] was higher than the control group [22.19 (9.08)] (P = 0.047). There was a significant difference in PaO2 between the ARS [23.94 (4.87)] and control [17.26 (3.93)] groups during the post-insufflation period (P = 0.001). There were no significant differences in PaO2 between the groups during baseline and recovery periods. No adverse effects were reported. ARS improved arterial oxygenation intraoperatively in healthy patients having laparoscopic cholecystectomy, without clinical cardiovascular compromise or respiratory complication. We conclude that this alveolar recruitment strategy is a useful method of increasing arterial oxygenation.
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Affiliation(s)
- C K Pang
- Department of Anaesthesiology, Intensive Care and Operating Service, Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital, Tai Po, Hong Kong, SAR
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