We have recently shown that a cocktail containing two leishmanial recombinant antigens (LmSTI1 and TSA) and interleukin-12 (IL-12) as an adjuvant induces solid protection in both a murine and a nonhuman primate model of cutaneous leishmaniasis. However, because IL-12 is difficult to prepare, is expensive, and does not have the stability required for a vaccine product, we have investigated the p...

Abstract Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease with no known cure. Current therapies primarily rely on symptom control corticosteroids, however these carry many adverse effects. In recent decades, the gut microbiome has gained appreciation as major immunomodulator of disease. Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) to interact microbial DNA readily provided by microbiota. Polym...

Apurinic/apyrimidinic (AP) sites are frequently observed DNA lesions when cells are exposed to hydroxyl radicals. We developed a new method for measurement of the antioxidative activity of foods using the occurrence frequency of AP sites on DNA. Combined with the electron spin resonance (ESR) method as a standard method, we examined whether fish and soy sauces including puffer fish [Takifugu ru...

We have demonstrated that the DNA sequence between two triplex-forming polypurine.polypyrimidine (Pu.Py) tracts was protected from DNA modifying enzymes upon formation of triplex DNA structures with an oligodeoxyribonucleotide in which two triplex-forming Pu or Py tracts were placed at the termini (triplex-bridge formation). In model experiments, when two triplex structures were formed between ...

We previously reported that DNA vaccination was able to elicit cellular immune responses and partial protection against Chlamydia trachomatis infection. However, DNA immunization alone did not generate immune responses or protection as great as that induced by using live organisms. In this study, we evaluated the immunologic effects of a combinational vaccination approach using C. trachomatis m...

Immunization of mice with DNA vaccines encoding the full-length form and C and N termini of Plasmodium yoelii merozoite surface protein 1 provided partial protection against sporozoite challenge and resulted in boosting of antibody titers after challenge. In C57BL/6 mice, two DNA vaccines provided protection comparable to that of recombinant protein consisting of the C terminus in Freund's adju...