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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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Risk of Pneumonitis and Outcomes After Mediastinal Proton Therapy for Relapsed/Refractory Lymphoma: A PTCOG and PCG Collaboration

Despite high response rates, there has been reluctance to use radiation therapy for patients with relapsed/refractory (r/r) Hodgkin (HL) or aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) given concerns for subacute and late toxicities. Symptomatic pneumonitis, a subacute toxicity, has an incidence of 17% to 24% (≥grade 2) even with intensity modulated radiation therapy. Proton therapy (PT), which has no exit radiation dose, is associated with a lower dose to lung compared with other radiation techniques. As risk of radiation pneumonitis is associated with lung dose, we evaluated whether pneumonitis rates are lower with PT.

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE↗

The Plasma Levels and Polymorphisms of Vitronectin Predict Radiation Pneumonitis in Patients With Lung Cancer Receiving Thoracic Radiation Therapy

Our previous findings have identified vitronectin (VTN) as a potential biomarker for radiation pneumonitis (RP) through proteomics and molecular mechanism studies. In a recent study, we further explored associations of plasma level and single nucleotide polymorphisms of VTN with the risk of RP in patients with lung cancer receiving radiation therapy.

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE↗

Results of a Multi-institutional Phase 2 Clinical Trial for 4DCT-ventilation Functional Avoidance Thoracic Radiation Therapy

Radiation pneumonitis remains a major limitation in the radiation therapy treatment of patients with lung cancer. Functional avoidance radiation therapy uses functional imaging to reduce pulmonary toxic effects by designing radiation therapy plans that reduce doses to functional regions of the lung. Lung functional imaging has been developed that uses 4-dimensional computed tomography (4DCT) imaging to calculate 4DCT-based lung ventilation (4DCT-ventilation). A phase 2 multicenter study was initiated to evaluate 4DCT-ventilation functional avoidance radiation therapy. The study hypothesis was that functional avoidance radiation therapy could reduce the rate of grade ≥2 radiation pneumonitis to 12% compared with a 25% historical rate, with the trial being positive if ≤16.4% of patients experienced grade ≥2 pneumonitis.

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE↗

Identification of an Attenuated Substrain of Francisella tularensis SCHU S4 by Phenotypic and Genotypic Analyses

Pneumonic tularemia is a highly debilitating and potentially fatal disease caused by inhalation of Francisella tularensis. Most of our current understanding of its pathogenesis is based on the highly virulent F. tularensis subsp. tularensis strain SCHU S4. However, multiple sources of SCHU S4 have been maintained and propagated independently over the years, potentially generating genetic variants with altered virulence. In this study, the virulence of four SCHU S4 stocks (NR-10492, NR-28534, NR-643 from BEI Resources and FTS-635 from Battelle Memorial Institute) along with another virulent subsp. tularensis strain, MA00-2987, were assessed in parallel. In the Fischer 344 rat model of pneumonic tularemia, NR-643 and FTS-635 were found to be highly attenuated compared to NR-10492, NR-28534, and MA00-2987. In the NZW rabbit model of pneumonic tularemia, NR-643 caused morbidity but not mortality even at a dose equivalent to 500x the LD 50 for NR-10492. Genetic analyses revealed that NR-10492 and NR-28534 were identical to each other, and nearly identical to the reference SCHU S4 sequence. NR-643 and FTS-635 were identical to each other but were found to have nine regions of difference in the genomic sequence when compared to the published reference SCHU S4 sequence. Given the genetic differences and decreased virulence, NR-643/FTS-635 should be clearly designated as a separate SCHU S4 substrain and no longer utilized in efficacy studies to evaluate potential vaccines and therapeutics against tularemia. View Full-Text

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Characterization of two affinity matured Anti-Yersinia pestis F1 human antibodies with medical countermeasure potential

Yersinia pestis , the causative agent of plague and a biological threat agent, presents an urgent need for novel medical countermeasures due to documented cases of naturally acquired antibiotic resistance and potential person-to-person spread during a pneumonic infection. Immunotherapy has been proposed as a way to circumvent current and future antibiotic resistance. Here, we describe the development and characterization of two affinity matured human antibodies (αF1Ig AM2 and αF1Ig AM8) that promote survival of mice after exposure to aerosolized Y . pestis . We share details of the error prone PCR and yeast display technology-based affinity maturation process that we used. The resultant matured antibodies have nanomolar affinity for Y . pestis F1 antigen, are produced in high yield, and are resilient to 37°C stress for up to 6 months. Importantly, in vitro assays using a murine macrophage cell line demonstrated that αF1Ig AM2 and αF1Ig AM8 are opsonic. Even more importantly, in vivo studies using pneumonic plague mouse models showed that 100% of the mice receiving 500 μg of IgGs αF1Ig AM2 and αF1Ig AM8 survived lethal challenge with aerosolized Y . pestis CO92. Combined, these results provide evidence of the quality and robustness of αF1Ig AM2 and αF1Ig AM8 and support their development as potential medical countermeasures against plague.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Nanolipoprotein particle (NLP) vaccine confers protection against Yersinia pestis aerosol challenge in a BALB/c mouse model

Introduction: Yersinia pestis is the etiological agent of plague, a disease that remains a concern as demonstrated by recent outbreaks in Madagascar. Infection with Y. pestis results in a rapidly progressing illness that can only be successfully treated with antibiotics given shortly after symptom onset. Live attenuated or whole cell inactivated vaccines confer protection against bubonic plague, but pneumonic plague has been more difficult to prevent. Novel effective subunit vaccine formulations may circumvent some of these shortfalls. Here, we compare the immunogenicity generated by an advanced subunit vaccine (F1V fusion protein) and a nanolipoprotein particle (NLP)-based vaccine. Methods: The NLP, a high-density lipoprotein mimetic, provides a nanoscale delivery platform for recombinant Y. pestis antigens LcrV (V) and F1. BALB/c mice were immunized via subcutaneous injection twice, three or four weeks apart. Four weeks later, splenocytes and sera were collected for immune profiling, and mice were challenged with aerosolized Y. pestis CO92. Results: Both formulations induced a strong IgG response against the F1 and V proteins, along with a robust memory B cell response and a balanced cell-mediated immune response as evidenced by both Th1- and Th2-related cytokines. The NLP-based vaccine induced a stronger cytokine response against F1, V, and F1V proteins relative to the F1V vaccine. As with F1V, the inclusion of Alhydrogel (Alu) in NLP vaccine formulations was critical for enhanced immunogenicity and protective efficacy. Mice that received two doses of F1:V:NLP + Alu and CpG were completely protected from a challenge with approximately eight median lethal doses of aerosolized Y. pestis CO92 and this protection confirmed the well-documented synergy between the F1 and V antigens in context of pneumonic plague. The NLPs have defined regions of polarity that facilitates the incorporation of a wide range of adjuvants and antigens with distinct physicochemical properties and are an excellent candidate platform for the development of multi-antigen vaccines.

F1↗

Organs at Risk Considerations for Thoracic Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy: What Is Safe for Lung Parenchyma?

Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) has become the standard of care for inoperable early-stage non-small cell lung cancer and is often used for recurrent lung cancer and pulmonary metastases. Radiation-induced lung toxicity (RILT), including radiation pneumonitis and pulmonary fibrosis, is a major concern for which it is important to understand dosimetric and clinical predictors.

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE↗

Integrating Multiomics Information in Deep Learning Architectures for Joint Actuarial Outcome Prediction in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients After Radiation Therapy

Novel actuarial deep learning neural network (ADNN) architectures are proposed for joint prediction of radiation therapy outcomes—radiation pneumonitis (RP) and local control (LC)—in stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. Unlike normal tissue complication probability/tumor control probability models that use dosimetric information solely, our proposed models consider complex interactions among multiomics information including positron emission tomography (PET) radiomics, cytokines, and miRNAs. Additional time-to-event information is also used in the actuarial prediction.

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE↗

Clinicopathologic and Transcriptomic Analysis of Radiation-Induced Lung Injury in Nonhuman Primates

Radiation-induced lung injury (RILI) is a progressive condition with an early phase (radiation pneumonitis) and a late phase (lung fibrosis). RILI may occur after partial-body ionizing radiation exposures or internal radioisotope exposure, with wide individual variability in timing and extent of lung injury. This study aimed to provide new insights into the pathogenesis and progression of RILI in the nonhuman primate (NHP) rhesus macaque model.

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE↗

Influence of the irradiated pulmonary microenvironment on macrophage and T cell dynamics

The lung is sensitive to radiation, which increases the risk of normal tissue toxicity following radiation therapy. Adverse outcomes include pneumonitis and pulmonary fibrosis, which are thought to result from dysregulated intercellular communication within the pulmonary microenvironment. Macrophage accumulation in the lung following radiation exposure is implicated in these pathogenic outcomes. Here we investigate the role of the microenvironment in macrophage and T cell dynamics. Materials and methods C57Bl/6 mice received 6Gyx5 x-ray irradiation to the right lung. Macrophage and T cell dynamics were investigated in ipsilateral right lungs, contralateral left lungs and compared to those from non-irradiated control subjects at 4-26wk post exposure. Lungs were evaluated by flow cytometry, histology and proteomics. Results In uni-lung irradiated subjects, focal regions of macrophage accumulation were noted in both lungs by 8wk, however fibrotic lesions were observed only in ipsilateral lungs by 26wk. Both infiltrating and alveolar macrophages populations transiently expanded in both lungs, however a transitional CD11b+ alveolar macrophage population persisted only in ipsilateral lungs and expressed lower CD206. Concurrently, arginase-1+ macrophages were noted within areas of macrophage accumulation in ipsilateral but not contralateral lungs at 8 and 26wk post exposure, while CD206+ macrophages were absent from these accumulations. While CD8+ T cells were present in both lungs of irradiated subjects, T regulatory cells were only increased in ipsilateral lungs. Unbiased proteomics analysis of immune cells revealed a substantial number of differentially expressed proteins in ipsilateral lungs when compared to either contralateral or non-irradiated lungs, as well as between contralateral lungs from irradiated subjects and non-irradiated controls. Conclusions Pulmonary macrophage and T cell dynamics are impacted by the microenvironmental conditions that develop in the lung following radiation exposure, both locally and systemically. Our findings demonstrate that while macrophages and T cells infiltrate and expand in both lungs, they diverge phenotypically depending on their environment.

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE↗

Development of Anti- Yersinia pestis Human Antibodies with Features Required for Diagnostic and Therapeutic Applications

Yersinia pestis is a category A infective agent that causes bubonic, septicemic, and pneumonic plague. Notably, the acquisition of antimicrobial or multidrug resistance through natural or purposed means qualifies Y. pestis as a potential biothreat agent. Therefore, high-quality antibodies designed for accurate and sensitive Y. pestis diagnostics, and therapeutics potentiating or replacing traditional antibiotics are of utmost need for national security and public health preparedness. Here, we describe a set of human monoclonal immunoglobulins (IgG1s) targeting Y. pestis fraction 1 (F1) antigen, previously derived from in vitro evolution of a phage-display library of single-chain antibodies (scFv). We extensively characterized these antibodies and their effect on bacterial and mammalian cells via: ELISA, flow cytometry, mass spectrometry, spectroscopy, and various metabolic assays. Two of our anti-F1 IgG (αF1Ig 2 and αF1Ig 8) stood out for high production yield, specificity, and stability. These two antibodies were additionally attractive in that they displayed picomolar affinity, did not compete when binding Y. pestis, and retained immunoreactivity upon chemical derivatization. Most importantly, these antibodies detected < 1,000 Y. pestis cells in sandwich ELISA, did not harm respiratory epithelial cells, induced Y. pestis agglutination at low concentration (350 nM), and caused apparent reduction in cell growth when radiolabeled at a nonagglutinating concentration (34 nM). These antibodies are amenable to the development of accurate and sensitive diagnostics and immuno/radioimmunotherapeutics.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

Environmental health trends

Trends in environmental health listed include: specific health concerns, sources of organic dusts causing pneumonitis, toxic substances lists, criteria documents, and regulatory developments.

Proctor, G.↗