Biology subjects

Tang, W.-H.

Publications and source records attributed to Tang, W.-H..

5 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2024

Centella asiatica Tissue Culture-Derived Extracellular Vesicles: A Multifaceted Approach to Skincare Applications

BackgroundCentella asiatica has long been used as a medicinal herb in traditional Asian medicine. Its wound healing, skin improvement, and neuroprotective properties have been widely studied. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are secreted by cells and contain bioactive components with therapeutic properties. ObjectivesThis study aims to characterize EVs isolated from C. asiatica tissue culture and investigate their therapeutic properties using in vitro assays and a UVB-induced damage mouse model. MethodsEVs were isolated from C. asiatica tissue culture and characterized by nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Cytotoxicity, anti-oxidation, anti-melanin, and anti-inflammation of the EVs were evaluated by MTT assay, tyrosinase assay and RT-qPCR in chemical or in vitro assays. A UVB-induced photodamage mouse model was established to assess the anti-inflammation effect of EVs in vivo. Gels with or without EVs were applied to the damaged site and skin appearance was observed daily and skin histopathology was analyzed on day 7 by H&E and immunohistochemical staining. ResultsC. asiatica EVs were found to contain high levels of polyphenols and mitigate hydrogen peroxide-induced intracellular ROS. The EVs were further able to reduce intracellular melanin content and tyrosinase activity, and exhibited anti-inflammatory effects by downregulating the expression of pro-inflammatory genes COX2 as well as nitric oxide production. In mice with UVB-induced skin damage, daily application of C. asiatica EV gel reduced skin epidermis thickness and inflammation compared to UVB-only or blank gel at seven days after UV irradiation. ConclusionsThe beneficial effects of C. asiatica EVs on skin quality warrant further studies as promising agents in skin care applications.

pharmacology and toxicology↗

bioRxiv2024

Single-Cell Transcriptomic Analysis Highlights Specific Cell Types of Wheat Manipulated by Fusarium graminearum Leading to Susceptibility

Phytopathogenic fungi can be recognized by the plant immune system and trigger host defenses, but adapted pathogens cause susceptibility. How different cell types cooperate and orchestrate biological processes in response to heterogeneous colonization of organs by adapted and non-adapted pathogens remains largely unknown. Here we employed single-cell RNA sequencing to dissect the responses of wheat coleoptiles to infection by the adapted fungal pathogen Fusarium graminearum (Fgr) and the non-adapted fungal pathogen Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (Foc) at 1-, 2-, and 3-days post-inoculation. We profiled the transcriptomes of over 90,000 cells and identified eight major cell types in coleoptiles: stomata, epidermis, chlorenchyma, parenchyma, outer sheath, inner sheath, phloem, and procambium. Differential expression analyses showed that the capacity of different cell types to respond to fungal infection varied. The upregulation of immune pathways was compartmentalized in nonhost resistance to Foc, but widespread in susceptible interaction with Fgr. Pseudotime analyses revealed continuous cell state transitions in the disease progression of infected cell types. Our work indicates that the phloem and outer sheath are specific cell types that collaborate for the rapid onset of nonhost resistance. Fgr induces a state of low transcriptional activity in the chlorenchyma. Cell trajectory analysis suggests that the competition between immune and susceptible processes in parenchyma results in specific cell states that are favored by the adapted pathogen Fgr. Overall, this work explains how cell types collaborate and are manipulated during fungal infections, providing insight into the intercellular mechanisms of plant immunity.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2022

Neutralization of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.4/BA.5 subvariant by a booster dose of bivalent adjuvanted subunit vaccine containing Omicron BA.4/BA.5 and BA.1 subvariants

The dominance of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VoC), such as the Omicron subvariants, is a threat to the current vaccination scheme due to increased resistance to immune neutralization and greater transmissibility. To develop the next generation of prefusion SARS-CoV-2 spike protein (S-2P) subunit vaccine adjuvanted with CpG1018 and aluminum hydroxide, mice immunized with two doses of the adjuvanted ancestral Wuhan strain (W) followed by the third dose of the W or Omicron variants (BA.1 or BA.4/BA.5) S-2P, or a combination of the above bivalent S-2Ps. Antisera from mice were tested against pseudovirus neutralization assay of ancestral SARS-CoV-2 (WT) and Omicron BA.4/BA.5 subvariant. Boosting with bivalent mixture of Omicron BA.4/BA.5 and W S-2P achieved the highest neutralizing antibody titers against BA.4/BA.5 subvariant pseudovirus compared to other types of S-2P as boosters.

immunology↗

bioRxiv2021

Protection of Hamsters Challenged with SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern by Two Doses of MVC-COV1901 Vaccine Followed by a Single Dose of Beta Variant Version of MVC-COV1901

The current fight against COVID-19 is compounded by the Variants of Concern (VoCs), which can diminish the effectiveness of vaccines and potentially increase viral transmission and severity of disease. MVC-COV1901 is a protein subunit vaccine based on the prefusion SARS-CoV-2 spike protein (S-2P) and is adjuvanted with CpG 1018 and aluminum hydroxide. In this study, we used the Delta variant to challenge hamsters inoculated with S-2P from the Wuhan wildtype and the Beta variant in two-dose or three-dose regimens. Two doses of wildtype S-2P followed by the third dose of Beta variant was shown to induce the highest neutralizing antibody titer against live SARS-CoV-2 of the wildtype and all current VoCs, as well as improved neutralization against Omicron variant pseudovirus compared to three doses of wildtype S-P. All regimens of vaccination were able to protect hamsters from SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant challenge and resulted in reduced lung live virus titer and pathology. Three doses of vaccination also significantly reduced lung viral RNA titer, regardless of whether the wildtype or Beta variant S-2P was used as the third dose. Based on the immunogenicity and viral challenge data, two doses of wildtype S-2P followed by the third dose of Beta variant S-2P induced potent antibody immune responses against the VoCs.

immunology↗

bioRxiv2020

Development of CpG-adjuvanted stable prefusion SARS-CoV-2 spike antigen as a subunit vaccine against COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 is a worldwide health emergency. The immense damage done to public health and economies has prompted a global race for cures and vaccines. In developing a COVID-19 vaccine, we applied technology previously used for MERS-CoV to produce a prefusion-stabilized SARS-CoV-2 spike protein by adding two proline substitutions at the top of the central helix (S-2P). To enhance immunogenicity and mitigate the potential vaccine-induced immunopathology, CpG 1018, a Th1-biasing synthetic toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) agonist was selected as an adjuvant candidate. S-2P was combined with various adjuvants, including CpG 1018, and administered to mice to test its effectiveness in eliciting anti-SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies. S-2P in combination with CpG 1018 and aluminum hydroxide (alum) was found to be the most potent immunogen and induced high titer of spike-specific antibodies in sera of immunized mice. The neutralizing abilities in pseudotyped lentivirus reporter or live wild-type SARS-CoV-2 were measured with reciprocal inhibiting dilution (ID50) titers of 5120 and 2560, respectively. In addition, the antibodies elicited were able to cross-neutralize pseudovirus containing the spike protein of the D614G variant, indicating the potential for broad spectrum protection. A marked Th-1 dominant response was noted from cytokines secreted by splenocytes of mice immunized with CpG 1018 and alum. No vaccine-related serious adverse effects were found in the dose-ranging study in rats administered single- or two-dose regimens with up to 50 g of S-2P combined with CpG 1018 alone or CpG 1018 with alum. These data support continued development of CHO-derived S-2P formulated with CpG 1018/alum as a candidate vaccine to prevent COVID-19 disease.

immunology↗