Browsing by Author "Simon, Valeska"

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    A First in Human Trial Implanting Microalgae Shows Safety of Photosynthetic Therapy for the Effective Treatment of Full Thickness Skin Wounds
    (FRONTIERS MEDIA SA, 2021) Obaid, Miguel Luis; Camacho, Juan Pablo; Brenet, Marianne; Corrales Orovio, Rocio; Carvajal Diaz, Felipe Alonso; Martorell, Ximena; Werner, Consuelo; Simon, Valeska; Varas, Juan; Calderon, Wilfredo; Guzman, Christian Dani; Bono, Maria Rosa; San Martin, Sebastián; Eblen Zajjur, Antonio Alejandro; Egaña Erazo, José Tomás
    Insufficient oxygen supply represents a relevant issue in several fields of human physiology and medicine. It has been suggested that the implantation of photosynthetic cells can provide oxygen to tissues in the absence of a vascular supply. This approach has been demonstrated to be successful in several in vitro and in vivo models; however, no data is available about their safety in human patients. Here, an early phase-1 clinical trial ( identifier: NCT03960164, ) is presented to evaluate the safety and feasibility of implanting photosynthetic scaffolds for dermal regeneration in eight patients with full-thickness skin wounds. Overall, this trial shows that the presence of the photosynthetic microalgae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii in the implanted scaffolds did not trigger any deleterious local or systemic immune responses in a 90 days follow-up, allowing full tissue regeneration in humans. The results presented here represent the first attempt to treat patients with photosynthetic cells, supporting the translation of photosynthetic therapies into clinics.
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    Highly Differentiated, Resting Gn-Specific Memory CD8(+) T Cells Persist Years after Infection by Andes Hantavirus
    (PUBLIC LIBRARY SCIENCE, 2010) Manigold, Tobias; Mori, Andres; Graumann, Rebecca; Llop, Elena; Simon, Valeska; Ferres, Marcela; Valdivieso, Francisca; Castillo, Constanza; Hjelle, Brian; Vial, Pablo
    In man, infection with South American Andes virus (ANDV) causes hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (HCPS). HCPS due to ANDV is endemic in Southern Chile and much of Argentina and increasing numbers of cases are reported all over South America. A case-fatality rate of about 36% together with the absence of successful antiviral therapies urge the development of a vaccine. Although T-cell responses were shown to be critically involved in immunity to hantaviruses in mouse models, no data are available on the magnitude, specificity and longevity of ANDV-specific memory T-cell responses in patients. Using sets of overlapping peptides in IFN-gamma ELISPOT assays, we herein show in 78 Chilean convalescent patients that Gn-derived epitopes were immunodominant as compared to those from the N- and Gc-proteins. Furthermore, while the relative contribution of the N-specific response significantly declined over time, Gn-specific responses remained readily detectable ex vivo up to 13 years after the acute infection. Tetramer analysis further showed that up to 16.8% of all circulating CD3(+)CD8(+) T cells were specific for the single HLA-B*3501-restricted epitope Gn(465-473) years after the acute infection. Remarkably, Gn(465-473)-specific cells readily secreted IFN-gamma, granzyme B and TNF-alpha but not IL-2 upon stimulation and showed a 'revertant' CD45RA(+)CD27(-)CD28(-)CCR7(-)CD127(-) effector memory phenotype, thereby resembling a phenotype seen in other latent virus infections. Most intriguingly, titers of neutralizing antibodies increased over time in 10/17 individuals months to years after the acute infection and independently of whether they were residents of endemic areas or not. Thus, our data suggest intrinsic, latent antigenic stimulation of Gn-specific T-cells. However, it remains a major task for future studies to proof this hypothesis by determination of viral antigen in convalescent patients. Furthermore, it remains to be seen whether Gn-specific T cells are critical for viral control and protective immunity. If so, Gn-derived immunodominant epitopes could be of high value for future ANDV vaccines.
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    Replenishment of type VII collagen and re-epithelialization of chronically ulcerated skin after intradermal administration of allogeneic mesenchymal stromal cells in two patients with recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa
    (INFORMA HEALTHCARE, 2010) Conget, Paulette; Rodriguez, Fernando; Kramer, Susanne; Allers, Carolina; Simon, Valeska; Palisson, Francis; Gonzalez, Sergio; Yubero, Maria J.
    In animal models it has been shown that mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) contribute to skin regeneration and accelerate wound healing. We evaluated whether allogeneic MSC administration resulted in an improvement in the skin of two patients with recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB; OMIM 226600). Patients had absent type VII collagen immunohistofluorescence and since birth had suffered severe blistering and wounds that heal with scarring. Vehicle or 0.5x10