Browsing by Subject "vaccines"
Now showing 1 - 6 of 6
- Results Per Page
- Sort Options
Item Attitudes, Beliefs and Behaviors of Parents towards Childhood Immunizations(2009-05-01) Shurtleff, Anna E.; Coggin, ClaudiaObjectives-The purpose of this literature review is to identify the health and illness attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors that are unique to parents who refuse to vaccinate their children. Methods-Twelve published studies conducted in the United States between 1998 and 2008 were accumulated from three major database sources: PubMed, EBSCOhost, and Science Direct. Studies were evaluated based on common attitudes, beliefs and behaviors observed in the course of the studies. Results: A total of ten studies were identified between 1998 and 2008 based on the inclusive criteria provided. Studies included one qualitative study, two case control studies, and seven cross-section studies. Parental concerns with vaccine safety ranged from 6.7%-93.4%, with the highest percentages of concern from parent with unvaccinated children. Conclusion: Parental trust in vaccinations and their mandating is diminishing in the United States. Various measures are needed to be enforced in order to regain confidence in vaccination safety.Item Clinical Internship with the Pediatric Clinic's Clinical Research at the Patient Care Center of the University of North Texas Health Science Center/Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine: Literature Review of Meningococcal Meningitis(2002-07-01) Puckett, Fredric Clark; Harold Sheedlo; Robin Newman; John FlingEpidemic meningococcal meningitis and meningococcemia disease is caused by the bacterial pathogen Neisseria meningitidis. Once infected with meningococci, onset of the disease is rapid with a high rate or morbidity and mortality. Without medical intervention the mortality rate is over 50%. Medical treatment is over 50%. Medical treatment of an outbreak of the disease with antibiotics can reduce the death rate to 10-15%. However, 10-20% of survivors will suffer from neurological damage that may include loss of hearing, paralysis or mental retardation. Recent concerns have been noted regarding the emergence of Neisseria meningitidis strains resistant to antibiotics. Vaccines have been developed in an effort to reduce epidemic outbreaks of meningococcal meningitis and meningococcemia. The first generation polysaccharide vaccines have shown to be safe and possess some degree of effectiveness but have shortcomings of limited length of immune protection and evidence of hyporesponsiveness to subsequent vaccinations. The second generation conjugated polysaccharide vaccines have been able to overcome these problems and show great promise in reducing the sale of epidemic meningococcal outbreaks with implementation of effective mass vaccination campaigns. In addition, reducing the number of infections will limit the exposure of Neisseria meningitidis to antibiotics and, in theory, slow the development of resistance to antibiotics.Item COVID-19 clinical trial participation and awareness in Texas(Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group, 2024-04-25) Luningham, Justin M.; Akpan, Idara N.; Alkhatib, Sarah; Taskin, Tanjila; Desai, Palak; Vishwanatha, Jamboor K.; Thompson, Erika L.The COVID-19 pandemic required the rapid development of COVID-19 vaccines and treatments, necessitating quick yet representative clinical trial enrollment to evaluate these preventive measures. However, misinformation around the COVID-19 pandemic and general concerns about clinical trial participation in the U.S. hindered clinical trial enrollment. This study assessed awareness of, willingness to participate in, and enrollment in COVID-19 vaccine and treatment clinical trials in Texas. A quota sample of 1,089 Texas residents was collected online from June - July 2022. Respondents were asked if they were aware of, willing to participate in, and had enrolled in clinical trials for COVID-19 vaccines or treatments. Overall, 45.8% of respondents reported being aware of clinical trials for COVID-19 treatments or vaccines, but only 21.7% knew how to enroll and only 13.2% had enrolled in a COVID-19 clinical trial. Respondents with bachelor's or graduate degrees were more likely to be aware of clinical trials, more likely to have enrolled in trials, and more willing to participate in treatment trials. Women were less willing to participate and less likely to have enrolled in COVID-19 clinical trials than men. Respondents aged 55 years and older were more willing to participate, but less likely to have enrolled in COVID-19 clinical trials than 18-to-24-year-olds. Common reasons given for not participating in clinical trials included concerns that COVID-19 treatments may not be safe, government distrust, and uncertainty about what clinical trial participation would entail. Substantial progress is needed to build community awareness and increase enrollment in clinical trials.Item Formulation, characterization and validation of CpG functionalized PLGA bacteriomimetic nanoparticles for breast cancer immunotherapy(2015-05-01) Kokate, Rutika A.; Harlan P. JonesTargeted Immunotherapy represents a potential and innovative means to combat cancer. Cancer vaccines designed against a specific tumor antigen have been efficiently utilized to trigger immune responses against tumor cells. Despite the preliminary evidence in animal models, low immunogenicity is one of the major hurdles in the development of vaccines in humans. Several approaches including the use of an “ideal” tumor antigen, appropriate delivery techniques, immune boosting strategies with co-stimulatory molecules are being explored to surmount this obstacle. The goal of this dissertation project was to utilize polymeric nanoparticles (NPs) as a vehicle to deliver Tumor Associated Antigen (TAA) that would elicit a strong antitumor immune response. In the present study, we successfully formulated CpG surface functionalized Tag encapsulating PLGA nanoparticles (CpG-NP-Tag) and tested their efficacy using in vivo and ex vivo experimental models. Specifically, we developed and characterized NPs for physicochemical properties including particle size, surface charge, surface morphology, Polydispersity index (PDI), encapsulation efficiency and CpG ligand binding efficiency. CpGNP-Tag NPs were found be of desired size (220-230 nm) and surface charge (negative zeta potential). Particles were non agglomerated, spherical in shape and uniform in size with PDI in the range of 0.03-0.1. Due to the hydrophobic nature of the encapsulated entity (Tag), the encapsulation efficiency was limited to 30-40%. CpG ligand conjugation on the surface of NPs was confirmed using Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy (FCS). CpG ligand binding efficiency was found to be around 10-14%. We also found that CpG-NP-Tag NP formulation had desired properties (size, charge and morphology) for efficient uptake by phagocytic antigen presenting cells (APCs) such as dendritic cells (DCs). The major aim of our studies was to test the antitumor efficacy of NPs. Using a prophylactic syngenic Balb/c mice model, we demonstrated that CpG-NP-Tag can serve as an efficient tool to bolster antitumor immunity and thus could be used as a platform for the development of NP based immunotherapeutic interventions in future. We found that CpG-NPTag NP immunization attenuated tumor growth, proliferation, angiogenesis and induced apoptotic tumor cell death. These NPs indicated immunostimulatory potential by enhancing tumor CD4+ and CD8+ T cell infiltration as well as local IFN-γ production. Overall, from these in vivo studies we concluded that CpG-NP-Tag promotes IFN-γ secretion which possibly mediates the inhibited tumor growth, angiogenesis and enhanced T cell mediated immunity which facilitates tumor cell death via apoptosis. To understand the mechanism by which CpG-NP-Tag imparts antitumor effects we used ex vivo model of APCs. Studies were conducting using Bone Marrow Derived Dendritic Cells (BMDCs) isolated from female Balb/c mice. We demonstrated enhanced NP uptake, preferential Endosomal localization, and increased population of CD80/86 expressing BMDCs in case of CpG-NP-Tag pulsed BMDCs indicating these NPs could serve as candidates for DC based vaccines in future. In summary, both ex vivo and in vivo studies conducted with CpG-NP-Tag NPs provide insight in the development of particulate vaccines in cancer immunotherapy.Item MIMICKING INFECTION FOR IMMUNOTHERAPY AGAINST BREAST CANCER-FOOLING THE IMMUNE SYSTEM(2014-03) Kokate, Rutika; Thamake, Sanjay; Chaudhary, Pankaj; Mott, Brittney; Vishwanatha, Jamboor K.; Jones, Harlan P.Immunotherapy represents a potential and innovative means to combat cancer. It essentially harnesses the body’s immune system to fight against cancer. Previous literature suggests that cancer vaccines designed against a specific tumor antigen have been efficiently utilized to trigger immune responses against tumor cells. Despite the preliminary evidence in animal models, low immunogenicity is one of the major hurdles in the development of vaccines in humans. In order to surmount this obstacle, several approaches including the use of an “ideal” tumor antigen, appropriate delivery techniques, immune boosting strategies with co-stimulatory molecules are being explored. Purpose (a): The purpose of this study was to develop “bacteriomimetic nanoparticles” to enhance adaptive cell-mediated immune responses (CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses) against tumor antigen as a therapeutic option for cancer treatment. Methods (b): NPs were prepared by modified solid/oil/water solvent evaporation method using an ultrasonic processor UP200H system (Hielscher Ultrasonics GmbH, Germany). We used membrane preparations of the 4T1 mouse mammary cancer cell line as a tumor antigen and CpG ODN’s as a “bacteriomimetic” stimulant. Fourteen days before tumor challenge BALB/c female mice (6-8 weeks) were pre-immunized with CpG followed by secondary immunization using respective NPs encapsulated with the membrane antigen preparation. Subsequently, mice (n=4) were challenged with 105 tumor cells intravenously (IV). Mice were sacrificed and tumors were harvested at days 3, 7 and 14 respectively. CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses were measured in lower respiratory node and spleen using flow cytometry. In another experimental set, following the same immunization schedule as mentioned above, mice (n=5) were challenged subcutaneously (SC) with 105 tumor cells. Primary tumor size was monitored using vernier caliper and bioluminiscence imaging (Caliper Life Sciences Inc., MA, USA). Mice were sacrificed on day fourteen after tumor challenge; spleen cells were used for flow cytometric analysis and primary tumor tissue was used to evaluate CD4+ and CD8+ T cell via immunohistochemistry. Results (c): We found significant reduction in progression of tumor growth in mice immunized with CpG coated NPs containing tumor antigen (CpG-NP-Tag). Histological analysis confirmed that tumors in CpG-NP-Tag mice were relatively well differentiated and of lower grade in contrast to CpG-Blank tumors. Immunofluorescence (IF) data further revealed that CpG-NP-Tag tumors had lesser proliferation and higher apoptotic activity. Tumor CD4+ T cell infiltration as well as T cell response in spleen was found be higher in CpG-NP-Tag NP immunized mice as compared to the controls. Conclusions (d): Primary tumor size, IHC, IF and flow cytometry analysis indicate that CpG-NP-Tag NPs were successfully employed to boost the immune response against tumor cells.Item The Impact of the Mycoplasma pulmonis MALP-2 Homologue on Disease Progression(2008-04-01) Spear, Marcia G.; Simecka, Jerry W.; Hodge, Lisa M.; Mathew, Porunelloor A.Spear, Marcia. The Impact of Mycoplasma pulmonis MALP-2 Homologue on Disease Progression. Master of Science (Biomedical Sciences), April 2008. 64 pp., 3 tables, 8 illustrations. Using Mycoplasma pulmonis, this project looked at a possible critical component in mycoplasma disease, the MALP-2 homologue lipoprotein. Studies demonstrated other lipoproteins besides the MALP-2 homologue were critical for in vivo disease progression and in vitro macrophage IL-6, IL-12, and TNF-α cytokine production. This trend was also seen human endothelial kidney (HEK) cells transfected with toll-like receptor 1 (TLR2) and the heterodimer TLR2/6. An increase in IL-8 cytokine production seen in all stimulated HEK cell lines, indicating the lipoproteins involved in cell interactions are TLR2 mediated. This project suggests the M. pulmonis MALP-2 homologue is not the main lipoprotein involved in disease progression and cell interactions, indicating the MALP-2 homologue may not be an ideal target for vaccines or antibiotics.