African swine fever caused by African swine fever virus (ASFV) is an acute, highly contagious swine disease with high mortality. To facilitate effective vaccine development and find more serodiagnostic targets, fully exploring the ASFV antigenic proteins is urgently needed. In this study, the MGF_110-13L was identified as an immunodominant antigen among the seven transmembrane proteins. The main outer-membrane domain of MGF_110-13L was expressed and purified. Two monoclonal antibodies (mAbs; 8C3, and 10E4) against MGF_110-13L were generated. The epitopes of two mAbs were preliminary mapped with the peptide fusion proteins after probing with mAbs by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blot. And the two target epitopes were fine-mapped using further truncated peptide fusion protein strategy. Finally, the core sequences of mAbs 8C3 and 10E4 were identified as 48WDCQDGICKNKITESRFIDS67, and 122GDHQQLSIKQ131, respectively. The peptides of epitopes were synthesized and probed with ASFV antibody positive pig sera by a dot blot assay, and the results showed that epitope 10E4 was an antigenic epitope. The epitope 10E4 peptide was further evaluated as a potential antigen for detecting ASFV antibodies. To our knowledge, this is the first report of antigenic epitope information on the antigenic MGF_110-13L protein of ASFV.

UNASSIGNED: The ongoing global epidemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has created a serious public health problem. The selection of safe and effective therapeutic agents is of paramount importance. This systematic review aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the combination of casirivimab and imdevimab in the treatment of global cases of COVID-19.
UNASSIGNED: To identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the combined administration of casirivimab and imdevimab for COVID-19 management, a comprehensive search was conducted across multiple databases including PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and the Cochrane Library from their inception to September 10, 2022. Data on the efficacy and safety of casirivimab and imdevimab were extracted. Subgroup analyses and sensitivity analyses were performed.
UNASSIGNED: A total of 851 articles were searched. Twelve studies were finally included in the meta-analysis, with 27,179 participants. Dichotomous and continuous variables were presented as odds ratios (ORs) and weighted mean differences (WMDs) with their 95% confidence intervals (CIs), respectively. Compared to placebo or alternative medications, the combination of casirivimab and imdevimab reduced viral load (WMD: -0.73, 95% CI: -1.09 to -0.38, P<0.01), all-cause mortality (OR =0.90, 95% CI: 0.82-0.99, P=0.03), the incidence of any serious adverse events (OR =0.80, 95% CI: 0.67-0.95, P=0.01), the incidence of Grade 3 or more severe adverse events (OR =0.76, 95% CI: 0.62-0.92, P=0.01), the likelihood of contracting COVID-19, the incidence of hospitalization, emergency room visits, and mortality (OR =0.54, 95% CI: 0.32-0.93, P=0.03).
UNASSIGNED: The monoclonal antibody combination of casirivimab and imdevimab is effective in treating patients infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), as they can reduce viral load, all-cause mortality, infection rates, and the incidence of clinical outcomes of special interest after treatment, while maintaining a favorable safety profile.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of monoclonal antibody therapies (MATs) for interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS).
METHODS: A systematic search was conducted across databases including PubMed, Embase, clinicalTrial.gov, and the Cochrane Library Central Register of Controlled Trials. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing MATs versus placebo were included. Primary outcomes comprised the Global Response Assessment (GRA) scale and the O\'Leary-Sant Interstitial Cystitis Symptom Index (ICSI). Additional analyses encompassed mean daily frequency of voids, the O\'Leary-Sant Interstitial Cystitis Problem Index, pain scores, and complications. Statistical analyses were performed using Review Manager 5.3.
RESULTS: Five high-quality RCTs, comprising 263 patients with IC/BPS, were ultimately selected. MATs were generally effective in treating IC/BPS. Patients receiving MATs exhibited a higher satisfaction rate (odds ratio [OR]: 2.7, confidence interval [CI]: 1.31-5.58, p = 0.007) and lower ICSI scores (mean difference [MD]: -1.44, CI: -2.36 to -0.52, p = 0.002). Moreover, MAT recipients experienced reduced pain (MD: -0.53, CI: -0.79 to -0.26, p < 0.0001) and decreased frequency of urination (MD: -1.91, CI: -2.55 to -1.27, p < 0.00001). Importantly, there were no disparities regarding complication incidence in the MAT and control groups.
CONCLUSIONS: The current findings indicate that MATs are effective and safe for treating IC/BPS. Nonetheless, future RCTs with larger sample sizes and long-term follow-up are warranted.

UNASSIGNED: Orf, also known as contagious ecthyma (CE), is an acute, contagious zoonotic disease caused by the orf virus (ORFV). The F1L protein is a major immunodominant protein on the surface of ORFV and can induce the production of neutralizing antibodies.
UNASSIGNED: The prokaryotic expression system was used to produce the recombinant F1L protein of ORFV, which was subsequently purified and used to immunize mice. Positive hybridoma clones were screened using an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The reactivity and specificity of the monoclonal antibody (mAb) were verified through Western blot and indirect immunofluorescence (IFA). The linear antigenic epitope specific to the mAb was identified through Western blot, using truncated F1L proteins expressed in eukaryotic cells. A multiple sequence alignment of the ORFV reference strains was performed to evaluate the degree of conservation of the identified epitope.
UNASSIGNED: After three rounds of subcloning, a mAb named Ba-F1L was produced. Ba-F1L was found to react with both the exogenously expressed F1L protein and the native F1L protein from ORFV-infected cells, as confirmed by Western blot and IFA. The mAb recognized the core epitope 103CKSTCPKEM111, which is highly conserved among various ORFV strains, as shown by homologous sequence alignment.
UNASSIGNED: The mAb produced in the present study can be used as a diagnostic reagent for detecting ORFV and as a basic tool for exploring the mechanisms of orf pathogenesis. In addition, the identified linear epitope may be valuable for the development of epitope-based vaccines.

African swine fever virus (ASFV), which was first identified in northern China in 2018, causes high mortality in pigs. Since the I73R protein in ASFV is abundantly expressed during the early phase of virus replication, it can be used as a target protein for early diagnosis. In this study, the I73R protein of ASFV was expressed, and we successfully prepared a novel monoclonal antibody (mAb), 8G11D7, that recognizes this protein. Through both indirect immunofluorescence and Western blotting assays, we demonstrated that 8G11D7 can detect ASFV strains. By evaluating the binding of the antibody to a series of I73R-truncated peptides, the definitive epitope recognized by the monoclonal antibody 8G11D7 was determined to be 58 DKTNTIYPP 66. Bioinformatic analysis revealed that the antigenic epitope had a high antigenic index and conservatism. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of ASFV protein structure and function, helping establish ASFV-specific detection method.

Avian leukosis virus (ALV) is an avian oncogenic retrovirus that can impair immunological function, stunt growth and decrease egg production in avian flocks. The capsid protein (P27) is an attractive candidate for ALV diagnostics. In the present study, a new hybridoma cell (1F8) stably secreting an anti-P27 monoclonal antibody (mAb) was developed. The mAb exhibited a high affinity constant (Ka) of 8.65 × 106.0 L/mol, and it could be used for the detection of ALV-A/B/J/K strains. Moreover, a total of eight truncated recombinant proteins and five synthetic polypeptides were utilized for the identification of the B-cell epitopes present on P27. The results revealed that 218IIKYVLDRQK227 was the minimal epitope recognized by 1F8, which had never been reported before. Additionally, the epitopes could strongly react with different ALV subgroup\'s specific positive serum and had a complete homology among all the ALV subgroups strains. Finally, a new sandwich ELISA method was created for the detection of ALV antigens, demonstrating increased sensitivity compared to a commercially available ELISA kit. These results offer essential knowledge for further characterizing the antigenic composition of ALV P27 and will facilitate the development of diagnostic reagents for ALV.

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy shows promise in treating malignant tumors. However, the use of human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2) CAR-T cells carries the risk of severe toxicity, including cytokine release syndrome, due to their \"on-target off-tumor\" recognition of HER2. Enhancing the quality and functionality of HER2 CARs could greatly improve the therapeutic potential of CAR-T cells. In this study, we developed a novel anti-HER2 monoclonal antibody, Ab8, which targets domain III of HER2, distinct from the domain IV recognition of trastuzumab. Although two anti-HER2 mAbs induced similar levels of antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity, trastuzumab-based CAR-T cells exhibited potent antitumor activity against HER2-positive cancer cells. In conclusion, our findings provide scientific evidence that antibody recognition of the membrane-proximal domain promotes the anti-tumor response of HER2-specific CAR-T cells.

The tumor microenvironment includes a complex network of immune T-cell subsets that play important roles in colorectal cancer (CRC) progression and are key elements of CRC immunotherapy. T cells develop and migrate within tumors, recognizing tumor-specific antigens to regulate immune surveillance. Current immunotherapies are divided into the following main categories based on the regulatory role of T-cell subsets in the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME): cytokines, monoclonal antibodies, peptide vaccines, CAR-T cells and more. This review describes the composition of the tumor immune microenvironment in colorectal cancer and the involvement of T cells in the pathogenesis and progression of CRC as well as current T-cell-related immunotherapies. Further studies on CRC-specific tumor antigens, the gene regulation of T cells, and the regulation of immune activity are needed.

Acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (AHPND) poses a significant threat to shrimp aquaculture worldwide, necessitating the accurate and rapid detection of the pathogens. However, the increasing number of Vibrio species that cause the disease makes diagnosis and control more difficult. This study focuses on developing a monoclonal antibody against the Photorhabdus insect-related (Pir) toxin B (PirB), a pivotal virulence factor in AHPND-causing Vibrio, and establishing a colloidal gold immunochromatographic assay for the enhanced early diagnosis and monitoring of AHPND. Monoclonal antibodies targeting PirB were developed and utilized in the preparation of colloidal-gold-labeled antibodies for the immunochromatographic assay. The specificity and sensitivity of the assay were evaluated through various tests, including antibody subclass detection, affinity detection, and optimal labeling efficiency assessment. The developed PirB immunochromatographic test strips exhibited a good specificity, as demonstrated by the positive detection of AHPND-causing Vibrio and negative results for non-AHPND-causing Vibrio. The study highlights the potential of the developed monoclonal antibody and immunochromatographic assay for the effective detection of AHPND-causing Vibrio. Further optimization is needed to enhance the sensitivity of the test strips for improved practical applications in disease prevention and control in shrimp aquaculture.

Akabane virus (AKAV) is characterized by abortion, stillbirth, premature birth, and congenital deformities in livestock and is widely distributed throughout Australia, Southeast Asia, East Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. Gc protein is the major neutralizing target of AKAV and is often considered as an immunogen to prepare neutralizing antibodies. In this study, we prepared and characterized three monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), 4D1, 4E6, and 4F12, against the Gc protein of AKAV (TJ2016 strain). Western blot (WB) and indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) analysis proved that the mAbs can react with both the truncated recombinant AKAV Gc protein and the natural Gc protein produced in the AKAV-infected cells. Further research demonstrated that these mAbs possess neutralizing activity. We next defined a neutralizing epitope 1134SVQSFDGKL1142 by screening a panel of overlapping peptides spanning the truncated Gc protein (aa991∼1232) using the generated neutralizing mAbs. Bioinformatic analysis shows that the neutralizing epitope is highly conserved across different genotypes of AKAV. The newly produced neutralizing mAbs and the identified neutralizing epitope in this study enrich the antigenic epitope information of the AKAV Gc protein and could have potential applications in the development of antigen and antibody detection systems that are specific to AKAV.