• IMMUNE NETWORK
• /
• v.20 no.4
• /
• pp.31.1-31.14
• /
• 2020

The effectiveness of current influenza vaccines is considered suboptimal, and 1 way to improve the vaccines is using adjuvants. However, the current pool of adjuvants used in influenza vaccination is limited due to safety concerns. Aloe vera, or aloe, has been shown to have immunomodulatory functions and to be safe for oral intake. In this study, we explored the potential of orally administered processed Aloe vera gel (PAG) as an adjuvant for influenza vaccines in C57BL/6 mice. We first evaluated its adjuvanticity with a split-type pandemic H1N1 (pH1N1) Ag by subjecting the mice to lethal homologous influenza challenge. Oral PAG administration with the pH1N1 Ag increased survival rates in mice to levels similar to those of alum and MF59, which are currently used as adjuvants in influenza vaccine formulations. Similarly, oral PAG administration improved the survival of mice immunized with a commercial trivalent influenza vaccine against lethal homologous and heterologous virus challenge. PAG also increased hemagglutination inhibition and virus neutralization Ab titers against homologous and heterologous influenza strains following immunization with the split-type pH1N1 Ag or the commercial trivalent vaccine. Therefore, this study demonstrates that PAG may potentially be used as an adjuvant for influenza vaccines.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.48 no.3
• /
• pp.260-265
• /
• 2005

Purpose : During epidemics, influenza induces a high mortality and morbidity, and when influenza is prevalent, it is revealed by increased pneumonia, hospitalization due to influenza-like illness, and mortality in community. We aimed at the isolation of influenza virus and prevalence period in Busan from 2000 to 2002. Methods : For 3 years from 2000 to 2002, we analyzed the patterns of influenza virus, the occurrence distribution of influenza by age and sex and the prevalence period after cultivating the examined materials from throat smears and snivel, collected from patients in St. Benedict Hospital Pediatrics Department, from 10 monitoring hospitals, and from 16 public health centers. Results : For three years, a total of 209 strains of influenza virus were isolated. In 2000, there were A/sydney/05/97(H3N2)-like, A/Beijing/262/95(H1N1)-like and B/Harbin/07/94-like. In 2001, there were A/Panama/2007/99(H3N2)-like and A/Newcaledonia/20/99(H1N1)-like. In 2002, there were A/Panama/2007/99(H3N2)-like, A/Newcaledonia/20/99(H1N1)-like, B/Beijing/243/97, B/Honkong/22/2001 and B/Sichuam/379/99. The occurrence distribution by sexes were 14 males and 25 females in 2000, 23 males and 33 females in 2001, 57 males and 57 females in 2002. As for the occurrence distribution by ages, 0-10 years made up 48.4 percent in 2000, 11-20 years 33.93 percent in 2001, and below 10 years was 64.91 percent in 2002. As for the occurrence distribution by month, the rate was once high in January and somewhat high in April and by June, when there happened to be various viruses, though there was a low rate in 2000. On the other hand, the virus was concentrated in February and March in 2001. And in 2002, it happened high twice, in March and November. Conclusion : Influenza virus revealed frequent antigenic changes and infect children, especially those below 10 years of age from late fall to early spring. So we should consider appropriate prevention in children.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
• /
• v.59 no.1
• /
• pp.1-5
• /
• 2015

Cordyceps militaris has shown to have various pharmacological activities including an immune-modulatory effect. Previously, we reported that anti-influenza effect of C. militaris in DBA/2 mice was mediated by increased IL-12 and the activation of NK cells. In this study, we investigated the effect of C. militaris on adaptive immune responses using DBA2 mice immunized with influenza vaccine. To determine the effect of C. militaris on antigen presentation capability, we treated RAW 264.7 cells with various concentrations of ethanol extract of C. militaris, which showed a significant upregulation of CD86 (B7.2), CD284 (TLR4), CD40, H-2k (MHC I) and I-Ad (MHC II). To examine the direct effect of C. militaris on adaptive immune responses, we immunized DBA2 mice with influenza vaccine in presence or absence of C. militaris. After 2 or 4 weeks, influenza-specific T cell proliferation, HAI titers and IFN-${\gamma}$ production were measured in plasma or PBMCs isolated from animals. Influenza-specific T cell proliferation and HAI titers were not considerably increased in immunized mice in presence of C. militaris. However, the production of IFN-${\gamma}$ was much greater in immunized mice with C. militaris as adjuvant than only immunized mice.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
• /
• v.24 no.1
• /
• pp.16-22
• /
• 2017

Purpose: We suspect there is a difference in the clinical manifestations and treatment response to antiviral drugs for influenza A and B. This study was conducted to investigate this difference. Methods: We collected information on pediatric patients, infected with the influenza virus, admitted to Dongguk University Ilsan Hospital from October 2013 to May 2015. We investigated the clinical manifestations of influenza and differences in treatment response to oseltamivir treatment for the two types of influenza. Results: A total of 138 patients were included. The mean age was $3.5{\pm}4.0$ years. When comparing the diseases associated with influenza A and B, croup (19.2% vs. 1.7%, P=0.001) was more common with influenza A infection. Myositis (0% vs. 6.7%, P=0.021) and gastroenteritis (29.5% vs. 46.7%, P=0.038) were more common with influenza B infection. When comparing the total fever duration from the start of oseltamivir administration, patients treated with oseltamivir within 2 days of fever had the shortest duration. Among the patients treated with oseltamivir, the duration of fever, after the start of oseltamivir treatment, for was shorter for influenza A infection than for influenza B infection ($16.0{\pm}19.1$ hours vs. $28.9{\pm}27.9$ hours, P=0.006). Conclusions: There appear to be differences in the accompanying diseases and antiviral medication responses between the two types of influenza. It is important to administer oseltamivir within 2 days of fever.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.33 no.12
• /
• pp.1576-1586
• /
• 2023

Vaccination is the most effective method for preventing the spread of the influenza virus. Cell-based influenza vaccines have been developed to overcome the disadvantages of egg-based vaccines and their production efficiency has been previously discussed. In this study, we investigated whether treatment with forskolin (FSK), an adenylyl cyclase activator, affected the output of a cell-based influenza vaccine. We found that FSK increased the propagation of three influenza virus subtypes (A/H1N1/California/4/09, A/H3N2/Mississippi/1/85, and B/Shandong/7/97) in Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells. Interestingly, FSK suppressed the growth of MDCK cells. This effect could be a result of protein kinase A (PKA)-Src axis activation, which downregulates extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)1/2 activity and delays cell cycle progression from G1 to S. This delay in cell growth might benefit the binding and entry of the influenza virus in the early stages of viral replication. In contrast, FSK dramatically upregulated ERK1/2 activity via the cAMP-PKA-Raf-1 axis at a late stage of viral replication. Thus, increased ERK1/2 activity might contribute to increased viral ribonucleoprotein export and influenza virus propagation. The increase in viral titer induced by FSK could be explained by the action of cAMP in assisting the entry and binding of the influenza virus. Therefore, FSK addition to cell culture systems could help increase the production efficiency of cell-based vaccines against the influenza virus.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
• /
• v.27 no.3
• /
• pp.171-179
• /
• 2020

Purpose: In Korea, seasonal influenza is an important respiratory illness afflicting children every year. We aimed to investigate the childhood epidemiology in Jeju during the 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 seasons. Methods: Children aged <13 years, who were tested for influenza at the Jeju National University Hospital during the 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 influenza seasons, were included. Demographics and the influenza test results were retrospectively reviewed from their medical records. Results: This study included 5,219 cases of influenza-like illness (ILI) (2017-2018: n=2,279; 2018-2019: n=2,940). The mean age of the eligible children was 2.85±2.79 years, and the most common age among ILI patients in each season was 1 year group. There were 902 (17.3%, 902/5,219) confirmed influenza cases during the 2 seasons. The rate of influenza confirmed by rapid influenza diagnostic test or polymerase chain reaction among ILI patients in the 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 seasons was 10.4% (236/2,279) and 10.3% (303/2,940) for influenza A, and 9.1% (208/2,279) and 5.3% (155/2,940) for influenza B, respectively. The mean age of influenza-confirmed cases was 4.09 years and 5.05 years in the 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 seasons, respectively (P<0.05). Weekly distribution of influenza was similar to that of ILI in the clinical sentinel surveillance system in both seasons. Conclusion: The difference in the influenza epidemic trend and age-group distribution between the 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 seasons was distinct in Jeju. Steady epidemiological studies on influenza in Jeju are needed for comparison with other regions of Korea.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
• /
• v.9 no.3
• /
• pp.165-171
• /
• 2018

In this study, to analyze the detection of limit for sensitivity of the influenza rapid antigen test kit, the positive detection of limits were analyzed by serial dilution of influenza virus A and B type for five influenza rapid antigen test kits in Korea. As a result of analysis, visual measurement of type A were up to 1:8192 for the Wellsbio product and up to 1:4096 for the II product, up to 1:512 for the I and III products, and only 1:128 for the IV product, and type B were positive for up to 1:8192 for the Wellsbio product, up to 1: 4096 for the II product and up to 1:1024 for the I, III and IV products. For instrument readings with the same specimen, both A and B types were found to be positive for up to 1:8192 for the Wellsbio product, up to 1: 4096 for the II product, and up to 1:2048 for the I product. The sensitivity of the rapid antigen test for influenza differs greatly depending on the sampling area of the patient, infection period, specimen volume, etc. Therefore, it is necessary to observe exactly the collection timing and method of the specimen. And it is necessary further study to improve the sensitivity for influenza rapid antigen test.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
• /
• v.20 no.4
• /
• pp.32.1-32.15
• /
• 2020

Influenza virus is the major cause of seasonal and pandemic flu. Currently, oseltamivir, a potent and selective inhibitor of neuraminidase of influenza A and B viruses, is the drug of choice for treating patients with influenza virus infection. However, recent emergence of oseltamivir-resistant influenza viruses has limited its efficacy. Morin hydrate (3,5,7,2',4'-pentahydroxyflavone) is a flavonoid isolated from Morus alba L. It has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, and anticancer effects partly by the inhibition of the NF-κB signaling pathway. However, its effects on influenza virus have not been studied. We evaluated the antiviral activity of morin hydrate against influenza A/Puerto Rico/8/1934 (A/PR/8; H1N1) and oseltamivir-resistant A/PR/8 influenza viruses in vitro. To determine its mode of action, we carried out time course experiments, and time of addition, hemolysis inhibition, and hemagglutination assays. The effects of the co-administration of morin hydrate and oseltamivir were assessed using the murine model of A/PR/8 infection. We found that morin hydrate reduced hemagglutination by A/PR/8 in vitro. It alleviated the symptoms of A/PR/8-infection, and reduced the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, such as TNF-α and CCL2, in infected mice. Co-administration of morin hydrate and oseltamivir phosphate reduced the virus titers and attenuated pulmonary inflammation. Our results suggest that morin hydrate exhibits antiviral activity by inhibiting the entry of the virus.

• The Korean Journal of Medicine
• /
• v.91 no.1
• /
• pp.88-91
• /
• 2016

Influenza infection may be complicated by various infectious or non-infectious diseases. Among them, hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is an uncommon hyperinflammatory syndrome caused by uncontrolled proliferation and activation of macrophages and lymphocytes, and it is often life threatening. A previously healthy male patient was suspected to have HLH after influenza B infection. The diagnosis was established based on clinical diagnostic criteria suggested in the HLH-2004 trial. Despite prompt antiviral therapy, the patient expired on day 19 of hospitalization. Influenza can thus be complicated by HLH. Due to the non-specific manifestations of HLH, clinical suspicion and early diagnosis are important.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
• /
• v.23 no.2
• /
• pp.18.1-18.15
• /
• 2023

It has been reported that some exercise could enhance the anti-viral antibody titers after vaccination including influenza and coronavirus disease 2019 vaccines. We developed SAT-008, a novel digital device, consists of physical activities and activities related to the autonomic nervous system. We assessed the feasibility of SAT-008 to boost host immunity after an influenza vaccination by a randomized, open-label, and controlled study on adults administered influenza vaccines in the previous year. Among 32 participants, the SAT-008 showed a significant increase in the anti-influenza antibody titers assessed by hemagglutination-inhibition test against antigen subtype B Yamagata lineage after 4 wk of vaccination and subtype B Victoria lineage after 12 wk (p<0.05). There was no difference in the antibody titers against subtype "A." The SAT-008 also showed significant increase in the plasma cytokine levels of IL-10, IL-1β, and IL-6 at weeks 4 and 12 after the vaccination (p<0.05). A new approach using the digital device may boost host immunity against virus via vaccine adjuvant-like effects.