PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

J R Simms

Publications and source records attributed to J R Simms.

8 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

Use of herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 1 ISCOMS 703 vaccine for prophylactic and therapeutic treatment of primary and recurrent HSV-2 infection in guinea pigs.

The effect of subunit vaccination on the incidence and severity of primary and recurrent genital herpes was investigated in the female guinea pig model of herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 2 genital infection. After prophylactic immunization with zwitterionic detergent-solubilized HSV-1 glycoproteins formulated with alhydrogel or as immunostimulating complex particles, significant reductions in the incidence and severity of primary herpetic illness were observed in both vaccinated groups compared with immunization-naive controls. There was a significant reduction in the incidence of spontaneous herpetic recurrences after administration of HSV-1 antigens formulated as immunostimulatory complexes to guinea pigs in a prophylactic mode (P<.01). Increased levels of both postimmunization and postchallenge ELISA and neutralizing antibodies were significant correlates of protection against primary herpetic disease in a prophylactic scenario. However, no correlation was observed between elevated ELISA or neutralizing antibody levels and protection against recurrent disease following prophylactic or therapeutic administration of HSV-1 subunit vaccines.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed1998

Adjuvants and delivery systems for viral vaccines--mechanisms and potential.

Of the vaccines against viral diseases of man currently available, several are less than satisfactory, and the present surge of interest in improving such vaccines, and in developing new vaccines against viral diseases as yet unchallenged, has led to major developments in three areas. The capacity to identify the nature and form of antigenic epitopes in proteins allows the specific design of molecular entities to promote relevant and protective immune responses. Such entities, although ideal in terms of specificity and purity, may not achieve their goals through failure to reach relevant cells of the immune system due to simple dilution, elimination by host enzymes or lack of specific targeting. Concomitant with the above there has been development of a plethora of adjuvants aimed at enhancing immune responses to these 'new' immunogens, paralleled by an almost equally rapid increase in understanding the complex nature of the immune response, particularly with respect to antigen processing, the nature and role of cytokines and the importance of T-cell subsets in infection. These developments allow exploration of matching the properties and mechanistic action of a given adjuvant to a defined immune response. Adjuvants can be grouped according to their physical characteristics and mode of action. They include particulate adjuvants, oil and emulsifier-based adjuvants, those providing controlled antigen delivery, adjuvants based on specific targeting of antigen, and gel-type adjuvants. They may act non-specifically in promoting an immune response to an antigen through depot formation, or very specifically as in a "delivery system" where an antigen is linked to a cellular protein, targeted to a specific cell receptor. As adjuvant technology develops it is becoming increasingly clear that these differing approaches may be combined, and an adjuvant/delivery system designed, to provide slow release of a targeted antigen. The role of adjuvants in modern viral vaccine technology and their influence on the immune system are the subject of this review.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed1998

Humoral response to HSV-1 subunit vaccines--a statistical analysis.

Following primary infection with HSV, the virus becomes latent in the local sensory ganglia for the lifetime of the host. In some cases, periodic reactivation may occur due to various stimuli and cause a recrudescent lesion at or near the initial site of infection. As yet there is no suitable vaccine to prevent its spread within the human population. We investigated the potential of a large number of commercial and experimental adjuvant preparations to enhance the immunogenicity of an HSV-1 glycoprotein subunit vaccine. Evaluation was based on toxicity, total antibody titre, neutralizing antibody production and protection against lethal challenge. All adjuvants tested increased the titre of antigen specific total and neutralizing lg when compared to subunit vaccine alone, although functional neutralising antibody was only detected in some cases. Following challenge, a broad range of protective responses was noted but no correlation between antibody levels and protection was observed. The results emphasize the requirement of adjuvants when using subunit preparations as vaccine formulations and demonstrate that the magnitude and effectiveness of the induced immune response varies greatly with the choice of adjuvant.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed1992

Integrated approach to surfactant environmental safety assessment: fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry and liquid scintillation counting to determine the mechanism and kinetics of surfactant biodegradation.

Fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry and liquid scintillation counting have been used to study the biodegradation of a novel cationic surfactant in live sludge. The rates of primary biodegradation and the extent of complete mineralization were determined. Furthermore, an intermediate degradation product was identified and its rates of formation and subsequent removal have been established. These data find utility in assessing the environmental safety of the surfactant and the accuracy of various environmental fate models.

Biodegradation, Environmental↗
PubMed1991

Measurement of the information associated with muscle behavior.

An invariant relationship between information and muscle behavior is identified, a methodology is developed for measuring this information in terms of muscle behavior, and an information measurement unit is established. This information measure has the same basic characteristics as other fundamental measures, such as length, time, mass, temperature, heat energy, and electrical charge. The information measure can be used to quantify, compare, analyze, and specify the behaviors associated with various information inputs, and provides the basis for making behavioral science as quantitative as the physical sciences.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Quantification of behavior.

Quantification of behavior starts with the observation of behavioral phenomena. These observations can be classified by fundamental types of behavior and the energies associated with these behaviors can be measured or calculated using known procedures. Behaviors can occur, if, and only if, energy is available for use in the behavior and the behaving system has the capacity to direct energy. A relationship is developed among behavior, available energy, and the capacity to direct energy that gives a coherent interpretation of behavioral phenomena and allows the quantification of behavior.

Animals↗