• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.230-235
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• 2005

For the acellular pertussis vaccine with a high immunogenicity, the concentration, composition and characteristics of acellular pertussis antigens are the crucial points to be considered. Nevertheless, it has not been proved yet whether or not the polymerization degree, one of the characteristics of formalin-detoxified acellular pertussis antigens, has an influence on vaccine potency. Thus, in the present study, the correlations among detoxification conditions of acellular pertussis bulks, their polymerization degrees and their immunogenicities were examined. In addition, the relative importance of pertussis toxoid in vaccine immunogenicity was also investigated. Results show that a lower lysine concentration during detoxification induces highly-polymerized antigens, the immunogenicity has a great dependency on the polymerization degree of antigens, and also pertussis toxoid has a relatively stronger influence on the immunogenicity than other antigens. Accordingly, in the aspect of the potency of detoxified acellular pertussis vaccine, it can be demonstrated that the polymerization of antigens and its degree are the major factors affecting the immunogenicity along with a relatively high content of pertussis toxoid

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.813-819
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• 2019

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) induces severe respiratory impairment with a reported mortality rate of ~36% in humans. The absence of clinically available MERS-CoV vaccines and treatments to date has resulted in uncontrolled incidence and propagation of the virus. In vaccine design, fusion with the IgG Fc domain is reported to increase the immunogenicity of various vaccine antigens. However, limited reports have documented the potential negative effects of Fc fusion on vaccine antigens. To determine whether Fc fusion affects the immunogenicity of MERS-CoV antigen, we constructed a Fcassociated MERS-CoV spike protein (eS770-Fc, 110 kDa), whereby human IgG4 Fc domain was fused to MERS-CoV spike protein (eS770) via a Gly/Pro linker using baculovirus as the expression system. For comparative analyses, two eS770 proteins lacking the IgG4 Fc domain were generated using the IdeS protease ($eS770-{\Delta}Fc$) or His tag attachment (eS770-His) and the immunogenicity of the above constructs were examined following intramuscular immunization in mice. Contrary to expectations, non-Fc spike proteins ($eS770-{\Delta}Fc$, eS770-His; 90 kDa) showed higher immunogenicity than the Fc fusion protein (eS770-Fc). Moreover, unlike non-Fc spike proteins, eS770-Fc immunization did not elicit neutralizing antibodies against MERS-CoV. The lower immunogenicity of Fc-fused eS770 was related to alterations in the structural conformation of the spike protein. Taken together, our results indicate that IgG Fc fusion reduces the immunogenicity of eS770 by interfering with the proper folding structure.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.787-792
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• 2002

When developing a combined DTaP-HepB vaccine, toxicity and HBsAg immunogenicity are both important considerations. Thus, for a combined DTaP-HepB vaccine with a low toxicity, the effect of the DTaP content and $Al(OH)_3$, gel concentration on the vaccine toxicity was investigated. Within the range studied, the higher the concentrations, the higher the vaccine toxicity. The importance of the tetanus toxoid content in the combined DTaP-HepB vaccine was also revealed. A higher concentration of the tetanus toxoid was found to have a negative effect on the stability of the HBsAg immunogenicity in the combined vaccine. Accordingly, considering the factors affecting toxicity and HBsAg immunogenicity, a novel DTaP-HepB vaccine (30 Lf/ml of diphtheria toxoid, 5 Lf/ml of tetanus toxoid, 10 $\mu\textrm{g}$ PN/ml of acellular pertussis, 24 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml of HBsAg, and 500 $\mu\textrm{g}$ Al/ml of $Al(OH)_3$ gel) was developed. It has a low toxicity and a stable HBsAg immunogenicity and also satisfies the potency criteria of K-FDA for a combined DTaP vaccine.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.54 no.2
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• pp.75-79
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• 2014

Bordetella (B.) bronchiseptica is a causative agent of swine atrophic rhinitis that promotes colonization of the mucous membrane of the swine nasal cavity by Pasteurella (P.) multocida. Mixed infection with B. bronchiseptica and P. multocida leads to growth inhibition of pigs, resulting in significant economic loss. There are many commercial vaccines for atrophic rhinitis, including B. bronchiseptica as a killed vaccine antigen (Ag). However, the immunogenicity of killed B. bronchiseptica Ag has not yet been elucidated; therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the immunogenicity of killed B. bronchiseptica Ag and the type of immune response it induces. In vitro assays using mouse spleen cells and flow cytometry revealed that B. bronchiseptica Ag induced high proliferation capability of lymphocytes, especially B lymphocytes, and the proliferating cells showed a significant response to interleukin (IL)-2. B. bronchiseptica Ag also enhanced the production of IL-12, a representative cytokine for cell-mediated immunity. In vivo experiments using mice showed that the injection of B. bronchiseptica Ag markedly induced Ag-specific antibody. Taken together, these results indicate that B. bronchiseptica Ag has high immunogenicity by itself.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.338-343
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• 2003

Various factors, such as the adsorption pH, adjuvant dose, and adjuvant age, which affect the adsorption degree and immunogenicity of an antigen, were investigated. In addition, the effect of pH, antigen content, and adjuvant content on immunogenicity was also studied through animal experiments. Within the ranges studied, a low pH for adsorption, freshly preformed gel, and low pH formulation for the combined DTwP-HepB vaccine were preferrable for the adsorption of the antigens. In addition, a higher DT content was found to have a positive effect on the HBsAg immunogenicity in the combined vaccine. Accordingly, considering the factors affecting the adsorption rate and immunogenicity of the antigens, a novel DTwP-HepB vaccine (40 Lf/ml of diphtheria toxoid, 15 Lf/ml of tetanus toxoid, 20 OU/ml of detoxified whole cell pertussis, $24\;\mu\textrm{g}$ of HBsAg, $24\;\mu\textrm{g}\;Al/ml\;of \;Al(OH)_3\;gel,\;776\;\mu\textrm{g}\; Al/ml\;of\;AIPO_4\;gel$, and pH 7.1) was developed, whose immunogenicity was comparable to the case of administrating, separately and simultaneously, a combined DTwP vaccine (40 Lf/ml of diphtheria toxoid, 15 Lf/ml of tetanus toxoid, 20 OU/ml of detoxified whole cell pertussis, $300\;\mu\textrm{g}\;Al/ml\;of\; AIPO_4\;gel$, and pH 7.1) and mono HepB vaccine [$Hepavax^{\circledR},\;24\;\mu\textrm{g}/ml$ of HBsAg and $500\;\mu\textrm{g}\;Al/ml\;of\;Al(OH)_3\;gel$], which satisfies the potency criteria of the K-FDA for a combined DTwP vaccine and mono HepB vaccine.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.526-536
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• 2015

Leptospirosis is a worldwide zoonotic disease caused by pathogenic Leptospira, a genus of which more than 250 serovars have been identified. Commercial bacterin vaccines are limited in that they lack both cross-protection against heterologous serovars and long-term protection. This study investigated in mice the immunogenicity of an anti-leptospirosis vaccine, using the outer membrane proteins LipL32 and Loa22 as antigens. The immunogenicity of this vaccine formulation was compared with those induced by vaccines based on LipL32 or Loa22 alone. A DNA-encapsulated chitosan nanoparticle was used for in vivo DNA delivery. Using a unique DNA plasmid expressing both lipL32 and loa22 for vaccination, higher antibody responses were induced than when combining plasmids harboring each gene separately. Therefore, this formulation was used to test the immunogenicity when administered by a heterologous prime (DNA)-boost (protein) immunization regimen. The specific antibody responses against LipL32 (total IgG and IgG1) and Loa22 (IgG1) were higher in mice receiving two antigens in combination than in those vaccinated with a single antigen alone. Although no significant difference in splenic CD4⁺ T cell proliferation was observed among all groups of vaccinated mice, splenocytes from mice vaccinated with two antigens exhibited higher interferon-γ and IL-2 production than when using single antigens alone upon in vitro restimulation. Taken together, the immunogenicity induced by LipL32 and Loa22 antigens in a heterologous primeboost immunization regimen using chitosan as a DNA delivery system induces higher immune response, and may be useful for developing a better vaccine for leptospirosis.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.219-225
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• 2014

We examined the immunogenicity of H-2 class I-restricted and HLA-A2-restricted epitopes through peptide immunization of HLA-A2-transgenic mice that also express mouse H-2 class I molecules. All four of the tested epitopes restricted by H-2 class I robustly elicited T-cell responses, but four of seven epitopes restricted by HLA-A2 did not induce T-cell responses, showing that HLA-A2-restricted peptide epitopes tend to be poorly immunogenic in HLA-A2-transgenic mice. This finding was confirmed in HLA-A2-transgenic mice infected with a recombinant vaccinia virus expressing hepatitis C virus proteins. We examined the precursor frequency of epitope-specific naïve $CD8^+$ T cells in HLA-A2-transgenic and conventional C57BL/6 mice and found that the poor immunogenicity of HLA-A2-restricted peptide epitopes is related to the paucity of naïve $CD8^+$ T-cell precursors in HLA-A2-transgenic mice. These results provide direction for the improvement of mouse models to study epitope repertoires and the immunodominance of human T-cell responses.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.329-335
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• 2018

Loss of response to anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) agents in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a major consideration to maintain sustained response. Reversal of immunogenicity can re-establish response and increase the durability of these agents. Strategies to reverse immunogenicity include dose-intensification and/or the addition of an immunomodulator. However, there is a relative paucity of data on the efficacy of such interventions in pediatric IBD patients. Available reports have not strictly utilized homogenous mobility shift assay, which reports on anti-drug antibodies even in the presence of detectable drug, whereas prior studies have been confounded by the use of drug sensitive assays. We report four pediatric inflammatory bowel disease patients with successful reversal of immunogenicity on an anti-TNF agent using dose intensification and/or addition of an immunomodulator.

• The Journal of Korean Society of Virology
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.211-219
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• 1999

Most of the currently licensed viral and bacterial vaccines produced in the world are in state of antigen suspension and the immunogenicity of vaccines could be maintained for one or two years only by keeping in the refrigerator, but without refrigeration vaccines would easily lose their immunogenicites. In this study, as a step to develope the method of increasing the stability of vaccines and maintaining the immunogenicity of vaccines for a long time at room temperature or higher temperature, trehalose, glucose and lactose at different concentration were added into the Hantaan virus vaccines and then kept at $37^{\circ}C$ for 12, 24, 48 hours and at room temperature for seven days respectively. Treated vaccines were then inoculated respectively into ICR mice and the titers of antibody against the antigen of Hantaan virus from the mice sera were evaluated. Vaccine without sugar lost immunogenicity completely in 24 hour at $37^{\circ}C$, but the vaccines containing trehalose could maintain some of the immunogenicity even after exposure at $37^{\circ}C$ for 48 hours and the best concentration of trehalose for maintaining the immunogenicities of vaccines was $7.5{\sim}10$ percent. The results suggest that addition of trehalose could increase the stability of Hantaan virus vaccine.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.127-133
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• 2009

Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar gallinarum (S. gallinarum) is the agent of fowl typhoid, and the 9R vaccine is a commercial live vaccine for the prevention of fowl typhoid. The aim of this study was to assess the safety and immunogenicity of different brands of S. gallinarum 9R vaccine used in commercial laying chickens in Korea. All 9R strains originated from three different brands showed the same pattern in the biochemical and serological properties, and pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) profile. But, there was a difference in rhamnose fermentaion, agglutination with Salmonella group $D_1$ antiserum and PFGE pattern between 9R vaccine strain and field S. gallinarum isolates. In laboratory and field trials for assesment of safety and immunogenicity of 9R vaccine, all of the three 9R vaccines showed the same safety in commercial laying chickens. In addition, there was a significant difference between the vaccinated and unvaccinated control groups in mortality and the re-isolation rate of the challenge strain from the tissues (p < 0.05), and no difference by the brands of 9R vaccine. The results from this study indicated that all three different brands of S. gallinarum 9R vaccine showed highly protection against mortality and organ invasion in commercial laying chickens exposed to virulent strains of S. gallinarum.