The development of the neurokinin-1 receptor-deficient (NK1R(-/-)) mouse permitted inquiry into the regulation of secretory immunoglobulin A (S-IgA) responses by substance P (SP) after oral immunization with a Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium vector expressing colonization factor antigen I (CFA/I) from enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli. In NK1R(-/-) mice, mucosal and serum IgA anti-CFA/I ...

Capsular polysaccharide-protein conjugate vaccines protect individuals from invasive disease and decrease carriage, which reduces spread of the organism in the population. In contrast, antibodies elicited by plain polysaccharide or protein antigen-based meningococcal (Men) vaccines have little or no effect on decreasing carriage. In this study, we investigated the mechanism by which vaccine-ind...

The mouse progenitor T lymphocyte (pro-T) cell line FTF1 binds in vitro to thymus blood vessels, the thymic capsule, and liver from newborn mice. A mAb, EA-1, raised against an embryonic mouse endothelial cell line, blocked adhesion. The antibody also interfered with pro-T cell adhesion to a thymus-derived mouse endothelial cell line; it had no effect on the adhesion of mature T lymphocytes and...

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is a major virulence factor of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium and is composed of lipid A, core oligosaccharide (C-OS), and O-antigen polysaccharide (O-PS). While the functions of the gene products involved in synthesis of core and O-antigen have been elucidated, the effect of removing O-antigen and core sugars on the virulence and immunogenicity of Salmonella e...

Background: H pylori is a human gastric pathogen. Chemotaxis is an essential factor in colonization of H pylori, but very little is known about its chemotactic responses at different pH conditions, especially in acidic environment of stomach as its natural habitant. Methods: We first determined survival of H pylori under various pH conditions in the presence and absence of urea.  Chemotaxis was...

Appreciation of the role of the gut microbiome in regulating vertebrate metabolism has exploded recently. However, the effects of gut microbiota on skeletal growth and homeostasis have only recently begun to be explored. Here, we report that colonization of sexually mature germ-free (GF) mice with conventional specific pathogen-free (SPF) gut microbiota increases both bone formation and resorpt...

Abbreviations: APC: Antigen-Presenting Cell; DCs: Dendritic Cells; RECIST: Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors; HLA: Human Leukocyte Antigen; MDSCs: Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells; CTLs: Cytotoxic T Cells; GM-CSF: Granulocyte-Macrophage ColonyStimulating Factor; TGF: Transforming Growth Factor; IL: Interleukin ; VEGF: Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor; PGE2: Prostaglandin E2; PD-L1:...

Skin is a unique target for vaccination. Targeting keratinocytes to produce proinflammatory mediators improve immunity rational approach vaccine design. Keratinocytes genetically engineered overexpress the stress response related transcription factor x-box binding protein 1 (XBP1) increased production of and co-delivered antigen. Keratinocyte-specific overexpression XBP1 through cutaneous genet...