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N6‐methyladenosine (m6A) is the most abundant modification of RNA in eukaryotic cells. Previous studies have shown that m6A is pivotal in diverse diseases especially cancer. m6A corelates with the initiation, progression, resistance, invasion, and metastasis of cancer. However, despite these insights, a comprehensive understanding of its specific roles and mechanisms within the complex landscape of cancer is still elusive. This review begins by outlining the key regulatory proteins of m6A modification and their posttranslational modifications (PTMs), as well as the role in chromatin accessibility and transcriptional activity within cancer cells. Additionally, it highlights that m6A modifications impact cancer progression by modulating programmed cell death mechanisms and affecting the tumor microenvironment through various cancer‐associated immune cells. Furthermore, the review discusses how microorganisms can induce enduring epigenetic changes and oncogenic effect in microorganism‐associated cancers by altering m6A modifications. Last, it delves into the role of m6A modification in cancer immunotherapy, encompassing RNA therapy, immune checkpoint blockade, cytokine therapy, adoptive cell transfer therapy, and direct targeting of m6A regulators. Overall, this review clarifies the multifaceted role of m6A modification in cancer and explores targeted therapies aimed at manipulating m6A modification, aiming to advance cancer research and improve patient outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lipid nanoparticles and polymeric nanoparticles are promising biomaterial platforms for robust intracellular DNA and mRNA delivery, highlighted by the widespread use of nanoparticle‐ (NP) based mRNA vaccines to help end the COVID‐19 pandemic. Recent research has sought to adapt this nanotechnology to transfect and engineer immune cells in vivo. The immune system is an especially appealing target due to its involvement in many different diseases, and ex vivo‐engineered immune cell therapies like chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T therapy have already demonstrated remarkable clinical success in certain blood cancers. Although gene delivery can potentially address some of the cost and manufacturing concerns associated with current autologous immune cell therapies, transfecting immune cells in vivo is challenging. Not only is extrahepatic NP delivery to lymphoid organs difficult, but immune cells like T cells have demonstrated particular resistance to transfection. Despite these challenges, the modular nature of NPs allows researchers to examine critical structure–function relationships between a particle's properties and its ability to specifically engineer immune cells in vivo. Herein, several nanomaterial components are outlined, including targeting ligands, nucleic acid cargo, chemical properties, physical properties, and the route of administration to specifically target NPs to immune cells for optimal in vivo transfection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examines the limitations of the H-index as a research metric for evaluating the impact of experimental scientists. It presents a case study of six scientists in the biomolecular sciences, comparing their H-index and average citations per year. The study finds that a scientist without major awards, referred to as Scientist X, has a higher H-index and average citations per year than prize-winning scientists, primarily due to publishing review and perspective articles instead of conducting original experimental research. The article proposes a new metric, the EH-index, which would weigh citation counts based on the type of research contribution, specifically focusing on citations from experimental work. The author argues that the H-index fails to distinguish between original research studies and literature-based ones, and suggests further investigation into the impact of overpublishing secondary source articles on research metrics. [Extracted from the article]

The inception of recombinant DNA technology and live cell genomic alteration have paved the path for the excellence of cell and gene therapies and often provided the first curative treatment for many indications. The approval of the first Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy was one of the breakthrough innovations that became the headline in 2017. Currently, the therapy is primarily restricted to a few nations, and the market is growing at a CAGR (current annual growth rate) of 11.6% (2022–2032), as opposed to the established bio-therapeutic market at a CAGR of 15.9% (2023–2030). The limited technology democratization is attributed to its autologous nature, lack of awareness, therapy inclusion criteria, high infrastructure cost, trained personnel, complex manufacturing processes, regulatory challenges, recurrence of the disease, and long-term follow-ups. This review discusses the vision and strategies focusing on the CAR T-cell therapy democratization with mitigation plans. Further, it also covers the strategies to leverage the mRNA-based CAR T platform for building an ecosystem to ensure availability, accessibility, and affordability to the community. mRNA-guided CAR T cell therapy is a rapidly growing area wherein a collaborative approach among the stakeholders is needed for its success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tumor related angiogenesis is an attractive target in cancer therapeutic research due to its crucial role in tumor growth, invasion, and metastasis. Different agents were developed aiming to inhibit this process; however they had limited success. Cancer vaccines could be a promising tool in anti-cancer/anti-angiogenic therapy. Cancer vaccines aim to initiate an immune response against cancer cells upon presentation of tumor antigens which hopefully will result in the eradication of disease and prevention of its recurrence by inducing an efficient and long-lasting immune response. Different vaccine constructs have been developed to achieve this and they could include either protein-based or nucleic acid-based vaccines. Nucleic acid vaccines are simple and relatively easy to produce, with high efficiency and safety, thus prompting a high interest in the field. Different DNA vaccines have been developed to target crucial regulators of tumor angiogenesis. Most of them were successful in pre-clinical studies, mostly when used in combination with other therapeutics, but had limited success in the clinic. Apparently, different tumor evasion mechanisms and reduced immunogenicity still limit the potential of these vaccines and there is plenty of room for improvement. Nowadays, mRNA cancer vaccines are making remarkable progress due to improvements in the manufacturing technology and represent a powerful potential alternative. Apart from their efficiency, mRNA vaccines are simple and cheap to produce, can encompass multiple targets simultaneously, and can be quickly transferred from bench to bedside. mRNA vaccines have already accomplished amazing results in cancer clinical trials, thus ensuring a bright future in the field, although no anti-angiogenic mRNA vaccines have been described yet. This review aims to describe recent advances in anti-angiogenic DNA vaccine therapy and to provide perspectives for use of revolutionary approaches such are mRNA vaccines for anti-angiogenic treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Vlaams Diergeneeskundig Tijdschrift is the property of Ghent University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The article discusses the significant contribution of Lady Mary Wortley Montagu in introducing inoculation for smallpox from Turkey to the Western world, which laid the foundation for subsequent vaccination strategies. Lady Mary's work, often overshadowed by Edward Jenner, was crucial in making inoculation safer and more effective. The article highlights the importance of recognizing and appreciating Lady Mary's pioneering role in medical technology, especially in the context of global pandemics. It also emphasizes the need for a more comprehensive understanding of her contributions to science and medicine, particularly in the face of historical biases against women's achievements. [Extracted from the article]

The 2023 Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine was awarded to Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman for their discoveries in using modified RNA for therapeutic treatments. This breakthrough enabled the development of COVID-19 RNA vaccines by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna. RNA is a versatile molecule that plays a central role in gene expression and regulation. Synthetic messenger RNAs (mRNAs) can be used as a template to program protein expression in human cells, making them ideal for vaccination. However, therapeutic RNAs lack the RNA-modification imprint of human cells, making them immunogenic. Karikó and Weissman discovered that introducing base modifications into mRNA during synthesis can suppress the immune response and improve translational capacity. These discoveries were crucial for the development of efficient mRNA-based vaccines for COVID-19 and mark a new era in vaccine development. [Extracted from the article]

A critical debate has blossomed within the field of research policy, science and technology studies, and philosophy of science regarding the possible benefits and limitations of allocating extramural grants using a lottery system. The most common view among those supporting the lottery idea is that some form of modified lottery is acceptable, if properly combined with peer review. This means that partial randomization can be applied only after experts have screened the pursuit-worthiness of all submitted proposals and sorted out those of lowest quality. In the present paper, I will argue against the use of partial lotteries or partial randomization and instead promote use of a pure lottery in combination with a radical increase in block funding. The main reason for holding this position is that a partial lottery cannot solve the problems inherent in the current funding system, which is based on grant competitions and peer review. A partial lottery cannot decrease the enormous time-waste, reduce the uneven distribution of time between researchers, neutralize expert biases or mitigate academic power asymmetries. Instead, we need a stronger focus on improving general time management in academia by implementing a more holistic model for organizing research opportunities in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current mRNA vaccines are mainly administered via intramuscular injection, which induces good systemic immunity but limited mucosal immunity. Achieving mucosal immunity through mRNA vaccination could diminish pathogen replication at the entry site and reduce interhuman transmission. However, delivering mRNA vaccines to mucosae faces challenges like mRNA degradation, poor entry into cells, and reactogenicity. Encapsulating mRNA in extracellular vesicles may protect the mRNA and reduce reactogenicity, making mucosal mRNA vaccines possible. Plant-derived extracellular vesicles from edible fruits have been investigated as mRNA carriers. Studies in animals show that mRNA vehiculated in orange-derived extracellular vesicles can elicit both systemic and mucosal immune responses when administered by the oral, nasal, or intramuscular routes. Once lyophilized, these products show remarkable stability. The optimization of mRNA to improve translation efficiency, immunogenicity, reactogenicity, and stability can be obtained through adjustments of the 5′cap region, poly-A tail, codons selection, and the use of nucleoside analogues. Recent studies have also proposed self-amplifying RNA vaccines containing an RNA polymerase as well as circular mRNA constructs. Data from parenterally primed animals demonstrate the efficacy of nasal immunization with non-adjuvanted protein, and studies in humans indicate that the combination of a parenteral vaccine with the natural exposure of mucosae to the same antigen provides protection and reduces transmission. Hence, mucosal mRNA vaccination would be beneficial at least in organisms pre-treated with parenteral vaccines. This practice could have wide applications for the treatment of infectious diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tools for predicting COVID-19 outcomes enable personalized healthcare, potentially easing the disease burden. This collaborative study by 15 institutions across Europe aimed to develop a machine learning model for predicting the risk of in-hospital mortality post-SARS-CoV-2 infection. Blood samples and clinical data from 1286 COVID-19 patients collected from 2020 to 2023 across four cohorts in Europe and Canada were analyzed, with 2906 long non-coding RNAs profiled using targeted sequencing. From a discovery cohort combining three European cohorts and 804 patients, age and the long non-coding RNA LEF1-AS1 were identified as predictive features, yielding an AUC of 0.83 (95% CI 0.82–0.84) and a balanced accuracy of 0.78 (95% CI 0.77–0.79) with a feedforward neural network classifier. Validation in an independent Canadian cohort of 482 patients showed consistent performance. Cox regression analysis indicated that higher levels of LEF1-AS1 correlated with reduced mortality risk (age-adjusted hazard ratio 0.54, 95% CI 0.40–0.74). Quantitative PCR validated LEF1-AS1’s adaptability to be measured in hospital settings. Here, we demonstrate a promising predictive model for enhancing COVID-19 patient management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This paper is one of a collection on challenges facing health systems in the future. One obvious challenge is how to transform to meet changing health needs and take advantage of emerging treatment opportunities. However, we argue that effective transformations are only possible if there is trust in the health system. Main body: We focus on three of the many relationships that require trust in health systems, trust by patients and the public, by health workers, and by politicians. Unfortunately, we are seeing a concerning loss of trust in these relationships and, for too long, the importance of trust to health policymaking and health system functioning has been overlooked and under-valued. We contend that trust must be given the attention, time, and resources it warrants as an indispensable element of any health system and, in this paper, we review why trust is so important in health systems, how trust has been thought about by scholars from different disciplines, what we know about its place in health systems, and how we can give it greater prominence in research and policy. Conclusion: Trust is essential if health systems are to meet the challenges of the 21st century but it is too often overlooked or, in some cases, undermined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While the doctors' role in immunization is essential, their lack of knowledge or vaccine hesitancy may affect their ability to communicate effectively and educate patients about vaccination, vaccine hesitancy, and vaccine conspiracy theories. This, in turn, may hinder health policy aimed at fighting infectious diseases. Vaccine hesitancy is prevalent not only among the general population but also among healthcare workers; thus, this study is aimed at assessing future doctors' attitudes towards anti-vax conspiracy theories. A total of 441 medical students at Poznan University of Medical Sciences completed a web-based survey designed to explore their attitudes toward the six most prevalent anti-vaccine conspiracy theories. The survey showed that although over 97% of future doctors support vaccinations as an effective form of fighting infectious diseases, and 80% did not believe in any anti-vax conspiracy theory, a significant fraction of 20% of medical students either believed in at least one such theory or were unsure. It has also shown that male and younger students who had not received a flu vaccination and defined themselves as politically right-wing or conservative and religious were more likely to believe in anti-vax conspiracy theories. Our data suggest that, in order to overcome medical students' ambivalent attitudes towards anti-vax conspiracy theories, they should receive more education about the importance of vaccination in preventing disease and about effective ways to combat vaccine hesitancy and anti-vax conspiracy theories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Glioblastoma (GBM) poses a formidable challenge as a central nervous system tumor with extremely limited responsiveness to conventional treatments. While immunotherapeutic approaches have shown success in treating other solid tumors, their effectiveness against GBM is limited. Our review systematically addresses the intrinsic features of GBM that hinder the success of both standard therapies and immunotherapies. Furthermore, we comprehensively analyze all the immune-based approaches currently undergoing clinical evaluation for GBM, both as standalone treatments and in combination with standard therapy or other immunotherapies. Despite decades of research and the best up-to-date treatments, grade 4 Glioblastoma (GBM) remains uniformly fatal with a patient median overall survival of less than 2 years. Recent advances in immunotherapy have reignited interest in utilizing immunological approaches to fight cancer. However, current immunotherapies have so far not met the anticipated expectations, achieving modest results in their journey from bench to bedside for the treatment of GBM. Understanding the intrinsic features of GBM is of crucial importance for the development of effective antitumoral strategies to improve patient life expectancy and conditions. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of the distinctive characteristics of GBM that significantly influence current conventional therapies and immune-based approaches. Moreover, we present an overview of the immunotherapeutic strategies currently undergoing clinical evaluation for GBM treatment, with a specific emphasis on those advancing to phase 3 clinical studies. These encompass immune checkpoint inhibitors, adoptive T cell therapies, vaccination strategies (i.e., RNA-, DNA-, and peptide-based vaccines), and virus-based approaches. Finally, we explore novel innovative strategies and future prospects in the field of immunotherapy for GBM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article, titled "Editorial: Women in cancer immunity and immunotherapy," discusses the contributions and challenges faced by women scientists in the field of cancer immunity and immunotherapy. It highlights the achievements of women scientists throughout history and acknowledges the gender gap that still exists in the field. The article also presents several original research articles and reviews that focus on various aspects of cancer immunity and immunotherapy. Overall, the article aims to encourage more women to pursue careers in scientific research and contribute to the advancement of the field. [Extracted from the article]

The article focuses on the release of the NMC's ebook "Professional Conduct Review: Lessons from Case Archives, Volume I, 2023," which highlights the importance of compassion and ethical practice in medical interactions.

The article focuses on doctor R. Ravi Kannan being awarded the 65th Ramon Magsaysay Award for his exceptional contributions to holistic healthcare.

Elucidating the intricate interactions between viral pathogens and host cellular machinery during infection is paramount for understanding pathogenic mechanisms and identifying potential therapeutic targets. The RNA modification N6-methyladenosine (m6A) has emerged as a significant factor influencing the trajectory of viral infections. Hence, the precise and quantitative mapping of m6A modifications in both host and viral RNA is pivotal to understanding its role during viral infection. With the rapid advancement of sequencing technologies, scientists are able to detect m6A modifications with various quantitative, high-resolution, transcriptome approaches. These technological strides have reignited research interest in m6A, underscoring its significance and prompting a deeper investigation into its dynamics during viral infections. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the historical evolution of m6A epitranscriptome sequencing technologies, highlights the latest developments in transcriptome-wide m6A mapping, and emphasizes the innovative technologies for detecting m6A modification. We further discuss the implications of these technologies for future research into the role of m6A in viral infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Novel functional biomaterials are expected to bring about breakthroughs in developing immunotherapy and regenerative medicine through their application as drug delivery systems and scaffolds. Nanogels are defined as nanoparticles with a particle size of 100 nm or less and as having a gel structure. Nanogels have a three-dimensional network structure of cross-linked polymer chains, which have a high water content, a volume phase transition much faster than that of a macrogel, and a quick response to external stimuli. As it is possible to transmit substances according to the three-dimensional mesh size of the gel, a major feature is that relatively large substances, such as proteins and nucleic acids, can be taken into the gel. Furthermore, by organizing nanogels as a building block, they can be applied as a scaffold material for tissue regeneration. This review provides a brief overview of the current developments in nanogels in general, especially drug delivery, therapeutic applications, and tissue engineering. In particular, polysaccharide-based nanogels are interesting because they have excellent complexation properties and are highly biocompatible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SARS-CoV-2 virus, the causative agent of COVID-19, has produced the largest pandemic in the 21st century, becoming a very serious health problem worldwide. To prevent COVID-19 disease and infection, a large number of vaccines have been developed and approved in record time, including new vaccines based on mRNA encapsulated in lipid nanoparticles. While mRNA-based vaccines have proven to be safe and effective, they are more expensive to produce compared to conventional vaccines. A special type of mRNA vaccine is based on self-amplifying RNA (saRNA) derived from the genome of RNA viruses, mainly alphaviruses. These saRNAs encode a viral replicase in addition to the antigen, usually the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. The replicase can amplify the saRNA in transfected cells, potentially reducing the amount of RNA needed for vaccination and promoting interferon I responses that can enhance adaptive immunity. Preclinical studies with saRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines in diverse animal models have demonstrated the induction of robust protective immune responses, similar to conventional mRNA but at lower doses. Initial clinical trials have confirmed the safety and immunogenicity of saRNA-based vaccines in individuals that had previously received authorized COVID-19 vaccines. These findings have led to the recent approval of two of these vaccines by the national drug agencies of India and Japan, underscoring the promising potential of this technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Since the global pandemic of COVID-19 has broken out, thousands of pieces of literature on COVID-19 RNA vaccines have been published in various journals. The overall measurement and analysis of RNA vaccines for COVID-19, with the help of sophisticated mathematical tools, could provide deep insights into global research performance and the collaborative architectural structure within the scientific community of COVID-19 mRNA vaccines. In this bibliometric analysis, we aim to determine the extent of the scientific output related to COVID-19 RNA vaccines between 2019 and 2023. Methods: We applied the Bibliometrix R package for comprehensive science mapping analysis of extensive bibliographic metadata retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection database. On January 11th, 2024, the Web of Science database was searched for COVID-19 RNA vaccine-related publications using predetermined search keywords with specific restrictions. Bradford's law was applied to evaluate the core journals in this field. The data was analyzed with various bibliometric indicators using the Bibliometrix R package. Results: The final analysis included 2962 publications published between 2020 and 2023 while there is no related publication in 2019. The most productive year was 2022. The most relevant leading authors in terms of publications were Ugur Sahin and Pei-Yong, Shi, who had the highest total citations in this field. The core journals were Vaccines, Frontiers in Immunology, and Viruses-Basel. The most frequently used author's keywords were COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, and vaccine. Recent COVID-19 RNA vaccine-related topics included mental health, COVID-19 vaccines in humans, people, and the pandemic. Harvard University was the top-ranked institution. The leading country in terms of publications, citations, corresponding author country, and international collaboration was the United States. The United States had the most robust collaboration with China. Conclusion: The research hotspots include COVID-19 vaccines and the pandemic in people. We identified international collaboration and research expenditure strongly associated with COVID-19 vaccine research productivity. Researchers' collaboration among developed countries should be extended to low-income countries to expand COVID-19 vaccine-related research and understanding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We conducted a monocentric observational study aimed at evaluating the vaccine safety and the pharmaceutical service provided at a community pharmacy (C.PHARM) in the Puglia Region in the period from 29 December 2021 to 12 March 2022 using data from 550 patients of various ages and sexes and with concomitant diseases. We collected anamnestic data, the number of hospitalizations, and any post-vaccination adverse reactions. Interviews using the integrated EQ5 method were also performed to evaluate the quality of the service offered and any therapy preference. As expected, the vaccines were reactogenic after the first dose in the patients with mild–moderate reactions, with younger age and female gender as risk factors. Immune-allergic reactions of a moderate–severe degree were observed in adult females. In the elderly, the vaccination was well tolerated. Comirnaty® showed a favorable O.R. < 1 vs. other vaccines. No cardiovascular events or hospitalizations were observed up to May 2023. Regional data indicate that all treatments during May 2023 were correlated with the viremia. PaxlovidTM was prescribed in 3% of the patients in our center and in 1.46% in the region, and distributed/dispensed on behalf of third parties in accordance with a novel distribution/dispensation protocol of the C.PHARM that resulted in a safe vaccination center providing appropriate patient inclusion during vaccination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On 30 January 2020, WHO declared COVID-19 a public health emergency of global concern. COVID-19 became pandemic on 11 March 2020, and spread unprecedently. No country was prepared to face its impact. Major fears started to be expressed for Africa, where dramatic consequences were expected, due to the weakness of health systems. In this review, we related major concerns, at that time but still present, regarding the limited resources in terms of qualified physicians and researchers, as well as the scarce funds to purchase essential medical equipment and improve hospital infrastructures. The difficulties to provide proper care became an undeniable mark of inequality, highlighting the need to empower local capacity and raise preparedness against infection outbreaks. The transmissibility of genetic variants affecting African nations, the immunopathology underlying comorbidities, sequelae, and pre-existing conditions, often related to changes in iron metabolism and enhancing COVID-19 severity, were described. The obstacles in adopting standardized prevention measures were highlighted, along with testing capacity biases and inequity of healthcare access and vaccine distribution. By providing a better understanding of the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa, we draw attention to the need for collaborative efforts to leverage the quality of healthcare and research in this continent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The discovery of the link between microRNAs (miRNAs) and a myriad of human diseases, particularly various cancer types, has generated significant interest in exploring their potential as a novel class of drugs. This has led to substantial investments in interdisciplinary research fields such as biology, chemistry, and medical science for the development of miRNA-based therapies. Furthermore, the recent global success of SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines against the COVID-19 pandemic has further revitalized interest in RNA-based immunotherapies, including miRNA-based approaches to cancer treatment. Consequently, RNA therapeutics have emerged as highly adaptable and modular options for cancer therapy. Moreover, advancements in RNA chemistry and delivery methods have been pivotal in shaping the landscape of RNA-based immunotherapy, including miRNA-based approaches. Consequently, the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry has witnessed a resurgence of interest in incorporating RNA-based immunotherapies and miRNA therapeutics into their development programs. Despite substantial progress in preclinical research, the field of miRNA-based therapeutics remains in its early stages, with only a few progressing to clinical development, none reaching phase III clinical trials or being approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and several facing termination due to toxicity issues. These setbacks highlight existing challenges that must be addressed for the broad clinical application of miRNA-based therapeutics. Key challenges include establishing miRNA sensitivity, specificity, and selectivity towards their intended targets, mitigating immunogenic reactions and off-target effects, developing enhanced methods for targeted delivery, and determining optimal dosing for therapeutic efficacy while minimizing side effects. Additionally, the limited understanding of the precise functions of miRNAs limits their clinical utilization. Moreover, for miRNAs to be viable for cancer treatment, they must be technically and economically feasible for the widespread adoption of RNA therapies. As a result, a thorough risk evaluation of miRNA therapeutics is crucial to minimize off-target effects, prevent overdosing, and address various other issues. Nevertheless, the therapeutic potential of miRNAs for various diseases is evident, and future investigations are essential to determine their applicability in clinical settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on international migration and innovation relies heavily on inventor and patent data, with "migrant inventors" attracting a great deal of attention, especially for what concerns their role in easing the international transfer of knowledge. This hides the fact that many of them move to their host country before starting their inventive career or even before completing their education. We discuss the conceptual and practical difficulties that stand in the way of investigating other likely channels of influence of inventor's migration on innovation, namely the easing of skill shortages and the increase of variety in inventive teams, firms, and location. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

mRNA-based vaccine technology has been significantly developed and enhanced, particularly highlighted by the authorization of mRNA vaccines for addressing the COVID-19 pandemic. Various biomaterials are developed in nano-scales and applied as mRNA vaccine delivery platforms. However, how these mRNA nanoplatforms influence immune responses has not been thoroughly studied. Hence, we have reviewed the current understanding of various mRNA vaccine platforms. We discussed the possible pathways through which these platforms moderate the host's innate immunity and contribute to the development of adaptive immunity. We shed light on their development in reducing biotoxicity and enhancing antigen delivery efficiency. Beyond the built-in adjuvanticity of mRNA vaccines, we propose that supplementary adjuvants may be required to fine-tune and precisely control innate immunity and subsequent adaptive immune responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 80+ existing autoimmune disorders (ADs) affect billions with little prevention or treatment options, except for temporary symptomatic management, leading to enormous human suffering and a monumental financial burden. The autoantibodies formed in most ADs have been identified, allowing the development of novel anti-idiotypic antibodies to mute the autoantibodies using vaccines. Nucleoside vaccines have been successfully tested as antigen-specific immunotherapies (ASI), with mRNA technology offering multi-epitope targeting to mute multiple autoantibodies. This paper proposes using mRNA technology to produce anti-idiotypic antibodies with broad effectiveness in preventing and treating them. This paper delves into the state-of-the-art mRNA design strategies used to develop novel ASIs by selecting appropriate T cell and B cell epitopes to generate anti-idiotypic antibodies. The low cost and fast development of mRNA vaccines make this technology the most affordable for the global control of ADs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to analyse the social, demographic (and wealth) problems and sustainability issues of a small town in the Hungarian lowlands (Great Plain), Kisújszállás, in the 21st century, and to present the town's search for a place, especially its attempt to respond and renew itself based on culture. In identifying "lowland" and "Cumanian" characteristics, in addition to (and beyond) the geographical environment and the (still) strongly linked economy, the focus was primarily on the local (for decades declining and ageing) society. In the course of the research, we observed a particular mentality and identity that today increasingly bears the hallmarks of disharmony in the small town society of the lowlands and the region of Greater Cumania. In examining the resilience of the town, we found that while Kisújszállás has the right anchors, it is not enough to think in terms of point capabilities; we should plan for the future in processes. The town sees culture as a key breakout point and a possi ble response to the pressing socio-economic sustainability challenges. Respondents to our questionnaire survey of local opinion leaders were most concerned about the low level of cultural demand among locals, but also felt that PR and marketing activities related to culture were not satisfactory. In the case of municipal management, under-financing, a lack of decentralization, and networking were highlighted, while in the case of the economy, the lack of industrial parks and incubators and a low level of innovative local entrepreneurial mentality were highlighted. It can be seen that the town is facing the multifaceted problems of a shrinking, ageing society. The situation assessment underlines the social need for change in a (suffering) municipality stuck in an "old lowland" agricultural structure. In the case of Kisújszállás, renewal and identity building based on culture can be seen as a horizontal concept supporting existing development alternatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The mRNA vaccine technologies have progressed rapidly in recent years. The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the application of mRNA vaccines, with research and development and clinical trials underway for many vaccines. Application of the quality by design (QbD) framework to mRNA vaccine development and establishing standardized quality control protocols for mRNA vaccines are essential for the continued development of high-quality mRNA vaccines. Areas covered: mRNA vaccines include linear mRNA, self-amplifying mRNA, and circular RNA vaccines. This article summarizes the progress of research on quality control of these three types of vaccines and presents associated challenges and considerations. Expert opinion: Although there has been rapid progress in research on linear mRNA vaccines, their degradation patterns remain unclear. In addition, standardized assays for key impurities, such as residual dsRNA and T7 RNA polymerase, are still lacking. For self-amplifying mRNA vaccines, a key focus should be control of stability in vivo and in vitro. For circular RNA vaccines, standardized assays, and reference standards for determining degree of circularization should be established and optimized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, nucleic acids have emerged as powerful biomaterials, revolutionizing the field of biomedicine. This review explores the multifaceted applications of nucleic acids, focusing on their pivotal role in various biomedical applications. Nucleic acids, including deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA), possess unique properties such as molecular recognition ability, programmability, and ease of synthesis, making them versatile tools in biosensing and for gene regulation, drug delivery, and targeted therapy. Their compatibility with chemical modifications enhances their binding affinity and resistance to degradation, elevating their effectiveness in targeted applications. Additionally, nucleic acids have found utility as self-assembling building blocks, leading to the creation of nanostructures whose high order underpins their enhanced biological stability and affects the cellular uptake efficiency. Furthermore, this review delves into the significant role of oligonucleotides (ODNs) as indispensable tools for biological studies and biomarker discovery. ODNs, short sequences of nucleic acids, have been instrumental in unraveling complex biological mechanisms. They serve as probes for studying gene expression, protein interactions, and cellular pathways, providing invaluable insights into fundamental biological processes. By examining the synergistic interplay between nucleic acids as powerful biomaterials and ODNs as indispensable tools for biological studies and biomarkers, this review highlights the transformative impact of these molecules on biomedical research. Their versatile applications not only deepen our understanding of biological systems but also are the driving force for innovation in diagnostics and therapeutics, ultimately advancing the field of biomedicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Chinese Journal of Immunology is the property of Medical Periodical Society of Jilin and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)