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"Koji" is one of the most well-known probiotic microorganisms in Japan that contribute to the maintenance of human health. Although the beneficial effects of some probiotics on ulcer healing have been demonstrated, there have been no reports on the wound healing effects of koji to date. In the present study, we investigated the effects of "cha-koji", green tea leaves fermented with Aspergillus luchuensis, on cutaneous wound healing, using a linear incision wound mouse model. Topical application of autoclave-sterilized cha-koji suspension on the dorsal incision wound area healed the wound significantly faster and, notably, with less scarring than did the green tea or the control distilled water treatment. Further in vitro experiments revealed that the accelerated effects of cha-koji could be attributed to its increased anti-bacterial activity, enhanced epidermal cell proliferation and migration, augmented expression of the anti-inflammatory cytokine transforming growth factor-β1, reduced expression of inflammatory cytokine interleukin-6 in macrophages, and decreased endoplasmic reticulum stress. In addition, we conducted a skin sensitizing potential test, which revealed that cha-koji had no adverse effects that posed a sensitizing risk. Thus, cha-koji may have a potent therapeutic effect on cutaneous wound healing, opening up a new avenue for its clinical application as a medical aid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current success of mRNA vaccines against COVID‐19 has highlighted the effectiveness of mRNA and DNA vaccinations. Recently, we demonstrated that a novel needle‐free pyro‐drive jet injector (PJI) effectively delivers plasmid DNA into the skin, resulting in protein expression higher than that achieved with a needle syringe. Here, we used ovalbumin (OVA) as a model antigen to investigate the potential of the PJI for vaccination against cancers. Intradermal injection of OVA‐expression plasmid DNA into mice using the PJI, but not a needle syringe, rapidly and greatly augmented OVA‐specific CD8+ T‐cell expansion in lymph node cells. Increased mRNA expression of both interferon‐γ and interleukin‐4 and an enhanced proliferative response of OVA‐specific CD8+ T cells, with fewer CD4+ T cells, were also observed. OVA‐specific in vivo killing of the target cells and OVA‐specific antibody production of both the IgG2a and IgG1 antibody subclasses were greatly augmented. Intradermal injection of OVA‐expression plasmid DNA using the PJI showed stronger prophylactic and therapeutic effects against the progression of transplantable OVA‐expressing E.G7‐OVA tumor cells. Even compared with the most frequently used adjuvants, complete Freund's adjuvant and aluminum hydroxide with OVA protein, intradermal injection of OVA‐expression plasmid DNA using the PJI showed a stronger CTL‐dependent prophylactic effect. These results suggest that the novel needle‐free PJI is a promising tool for DNA vaccination, inducing both a prophylactic and a therapeutic effect against cancers, because of prompt and strong generation of OVA‐specific CTLs and subsequently enhanced production of both the IgG2a and IgG1 antibody subclasses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]