University of Oulu

3 ARTICLES PUBLISHED IN JoVE

Immunology and Infection

Immunization of Adult Zebrafish for the Preclinical Screening of DNA-based Vaccines

Henna Myllymäki^*1, Mirja Niskanen^*1, Kaisa Oksanen^1,2, Mika Rämet^1,3,4,5

¹BioMediTech Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Tampere, ²MedEngine Oy, ³Department of Pediatrics, Tampere University Hospital, ⁴Department of Children and Adolescents, Oulu University Hospital, ⁵PEDEGO Research Unit, Medical Research Center, University of Oulu

Here we describe a protocol for the immunization of the adult zebrafish (Danio rerio) with a DNA-based vaccine and demonstrate the validation of a successful vaccination event. This method is suitable for the preclinical screening of vaccine candidates in various infection models.

Cancer Research

Fully Human Tumor-based Matrix in Three-dimensional Spheroid Invasion Assay

Erika Naakka¹, Katja Tuomainen¹, Henrik Wistrand^*1, Miila Palkama^*1, Ilida Suleymanova¹, Ahmed Al-Samadi¹, Tuula Salo^1,2,3,4

¹Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Diseases, Clinicum, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, ²Cancer and Translational Medicine Research Unit, University of Oulu, ³Medical Research Center, Oulu University Horspital, ⁴Helsinki University Hospital

Tumor microenvironment is an essential part of cancer growth and invasion. To mimic carcinoma progression, a biologically relevant human matrix is needed. This protocol introduces an improvement for the in vitro three-dimensional spheroid invasion assay by applying a human leiomyoma-based matrix. The protocol also introduces a computer-based cell invasion analysis.

Developmental Biology

Optimization of Renal Organoid and Organotypic Culture for Vascularization, Extended Development, and Improved Microscopy Imaging

Susanna Kaisto¹, Ulla Saarela¹, Laura Dönges¹, Irina Raykhel¹, Ilya Skovorodkin^*1, Seppo J. Vainio^*1,2,3

¹Biocenter Oulu and Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Oulu, ²InfoTech Oulu, University of Oulu, ³Biobank Borealis of Northern Finland, Oulu University Hospital

This work describes two methods for studying organ development, an improved xenotransplantation setup on chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) from avian embryos that allows for vascularization of cultured embryonic organs and organoids and a novel fixed z-direction organ culture method with modified experimental conditions that allows for high-resolution time-lapse confocal imaging.