Procedia in vaccinology最新文献

The high incidence of Campylobacter jejuni-associated diarrhoea, the increase in the frequency of drug resistance, and the correlation between infection and Guillain-Barré syndrome, has heightened the need to develop effective anti-Campylobacter vaccines. Due to the risk of auto-immunity, vaccinations using whole-cells or attenuated cells are not clinical candidates. Subunit vaccines are viable alternatives and have been shown to be effective against other enteric pathogens. This research tested the efficacy of the catalase (KatA) from C. jejuni as a potential vaccine candidate against the pathogen. The protein was found to be immunogenic following an intramuscular murine immunization. A balanced IgG1/IgG2a response was generated when KatA was co-administered with monophosphoryl lipid A and alum. The antibodies elicited reduced the adhesion and invasion of C. jejuni to human epithelial cells (IECs) in vitro. The next phase of testing will be in combination with a proteoliposome (PL) derived from the outer membrane of V. cholerae. PL nano-vesicles were generated with an average size of ≈70 nm and had a zeta potential of ≈-40 mV.

Background

Guidelines for protecting young infants from pertussis now recommend maternal pertussis booster vaccination (dTpa) during pregnancy (3^rd trimester) over postpartum maternal vaccination.

Methods

We undertook a cross-sectional survey of 723 postpartum women on the postnatal ward of a private hospital in Sydney, Australia. We excluded 47% of women who were ‘up to date’ with their pertussis booster prior to pregnancy. We surveyed the remaining 53% of women who were eligible for the pertussis booster vaccine during their pregnancy (no dTpa < 5years).

Results

In our study, pertussis booster vaccine uptake during pregnancy was only 8.7%. We confirmed that vaccination mostly occurred at the family doctor's practice (25/33; 75.8%), at an average of 34 weeks gestation (±5wks). Women vaccinated during pregnancy were more likely to report that they received a pregnancy-specific pertussis vaccine recommendation (<0.001), and had no vaccine safety concerns (0.004) or transport difficulties in accessing an immunization provider (0.032). They also had twice the odds of receiving an influenza vaccine during pregnancy (0.002). Additionally, 70% of vaccinated women reported that their partner had also been recently vaccinated against pertussis. Amongst unvaccinated women we found that 80% intended to be vaccinated, yet 33% would only do so if the vaccine was free (publically funded). Additionally, 40% of unvaccinated women would have agreed to pertussis vaccination during pregnancy had their doctor recommended it.

Conclusion

Providers should highlight pertussis vaccine safety and recommend vaccination during late pregnancy.

A safe, effective, and inexpensive vaccine against typhoid and other Salmonella diseases is urgently needed. In order to address this need, we are developing a novel vaccine platform employing buoyant, self-adjuvanting gas vesicle nanoparticles (GVNPs) from the halophilic archaeon Halobacterium sp. NRC-1, bioengineered to display highly conserved Salmonella enterica antigens. As the initial antigen for testing, we selected SopB, a secreted inosine phosphate effector protein injected by pathogenic S. enterica bacteria during infection into the host cells. Two highly conserved sopB gene segments near the 3’- region, named sopB4 and sopB5, were each fused to the gvpC gene, and resulting SopB-GVNPs were purified by centrifugally accelerated flotation. Display of SopB4 and SopB5 antigenic epitopes on GVNPs was established by Western blotting analysis using antisera raised against short synthetic peptides of SopB. Immunostimulatory activities of the SopB4 and B5 nanoparticles were tested by intraperitoneal administration of SopB-GVNPs to BALB/c mice which had been immunized with S. enterica serovar Typhimurium 14028 ΔpmrG-HM-D (DV-STM-07), a live attenuated vaccine strain. Proinflammatory cytokines IFN-γ, IL-2, and IL-9 were significantly induced in mice boosted with SopB5-GVNPs, consistent with a robust Th1 response. After challenge with virulent S. enterica serovar Typhimurium 14028, bacterial burden was found to be diminished in spleen of mice boosted with SopB4-GVNPs and absent or significantly diminished in liver, mesenteric lymph node, and spleen of mice boosted with SopB5-GVNPs, indicating that the C-terminal portions of SopB displayed on GVNPs elicit a protective response to Salmonella infection in mice. SopB antigen-GVNPs were also found to be stable at elevated temperatures for extended periods without refrigeration. The results show that bioengineered GVNPs are likely to represent a valuable platform for antigen delivery and development of improved vaccines against Salmonella and other diseases.

Staphylococcus aureus is the most important pathogen found in sea foods. Food poisoning in human may happen due to the consumption of aqua products contaminated with this bacteria and its enterotoxin. The procedures carried out to maintain and preserve the quality of these products, from the time they are fished and transported to stores until they are consumed, can play a major role in the generation and growth of pathogenic bacteria and toxins. A total of 300 samples were collected, including (fresh and frozen, farm and marine). Consistent with the Iran National Standards, a number of phenotypical and molecular assays were utilized for screening S. aureus in order to detect Staphylococcus aureus. They study was conducted from September 2013 to March 2014. Baird Parker agar containing egg-yolk and tellurite emulsion were used for isolation. Isolates were identified using the following criteria: production of coagulase, DNase, catalase, mannitol fermentation, hemolytic zone on 5% sheep blood agar, VP test and Gramstaining A total of 74 samples (24.6%), were contaminated with Staphylococcus aureus. Due to the presence of Staphylococcus aureus in shrimps, it is necessary to enforce quality control standards by the fisheries and carefully monitor fishing, farming, preparation, freezing, and transporting marine products, and ensure the health of workers. The results of this study also showed it is necessary to produce and develop a vaccine to prevent the disease and sea-food poisoning caused by Staphylococcus aureus.

Introduction

Many vaccines require a storage temperature between 2-8 °C throughout thesupply cold chain. Multiple studies conducted at healthcare facilities worldwide document an endemicfailure to properly store vaccines, risking the efficacy of local vaccination programs.This “weak link” at the end of the cold chainis largely due to both the widespread use of inadequate domestic refrigerators for vaccine storage, and electrical power interruptions. The required specialized refrigeration equipment and backup power systemareboth prohibitively expensive for smaller facilities. Prompted by this finding, the authors sought an affordable solution for small-scale vaccine storage applications.

Methods

The solution presented is an aftermarketappliance designed toaccompany a wide range of domestic refrigerators.After undergoing an initial calibration step, the device effectively overridesthe refrigerator's native thermostat(s) and assumes thermoregulatory control. All interfaces between the device and the refrigerator are strictly external, allowing for installation by a layperson. Wireless temperature sensor measurements are frequently logged to a removable USB thumb drive to provide vaccine temperature traceability. The device is further equipped to charge an external battery while grid power is available, and upon grid failure automatically source refrigeration power froman attached external inverter.

Results

The regulator device successfullymaintained a 2-8 °C environment for all properly stored vaccine vials. Furthermore, it successfully adapted to and compensated for the individual operational characteristics of various refrigerators, and flagged those unsuitable for vaccine storage. Back-up power outage resiliency is recorded at16-25 hours for 18-28ft³sized household refrigerators using a 160Ah battery.The cost of manufacturing the device is estimated at $250 per unit.

Discussion

The Baylor/Rice regulator device provides an affordable refrigeration control and temperature monitoring system suitable for converting household refrigerators into effective vaccine refrigerators. The device will also be useful in areas subject to electrical grid failure.

Currently, application of new technological solutions for the implementation of strategies for improving influenza vaccines are up to date and modern. In this study, we present data obtained in the evaluation of the safety and immunogenicity of the new Russian (national) split seasonal inactivated influenza vaccine ULTRIKS in comparison with a commercial vaccine VAXIGRIP in various age groups.

Prescottella equi (formerly Rhodococcus equi) is an intracellular pathogen that causes pyogranulomatous pneumonia in Thoroughbred foals. There is currently no vaccine available for the prevention of this disease in foals despite years of research. Cell mediated immunity is considered crucial for overcoming an infection caused by this pathogen. The virulence associated protein (VapA) is a well characterized immunogenic protein associated with this pathogen and was used to develop DNA and recombinant protein vaccines in this study. Vaccine candidates and live P. equi based vaccine were tested in BALB/c mice. Mice were challenged with virulent P.equi 2 weeks following the last boost and IgG subtypes and bacterial clearance from spleen and liver determined. The DNA vaccine elicited a significant IgG2a response indicating a Th1 biased immune response. The IFN gamma response from DNA and recombinant VapA vaccinated mice was moderate. The results of the challenge study showed that neither the recombinant VapA protein nor DNA vaccine enhanced clearance of P. equi in this model.

The concept of “fairness” is introduced and its position in the ethical systems of rights and virtues outlined. The application of such thinkings to the worlds of vaccines and vaccination is then examined in some detail. This domain stretches from the inception of the idea of a need for a prophylactic measure to counter a historic or modern disease, beit caused by an infectious or a non-infectious agent. At each stage of this process a view is taken as to the issues that arise from fair or unfair behaviours. This leads to conclusions that focus on the way we regulate the issuance of a licence to manufacture and sell a vaccine in addition to the emphasising the need to focus on immunogens that are both universal and cross-protective with regard to their being able to counter the disease causing properties of pathogens that can “change their outer surfaces”. A concluding look at the ethical principles that are engendered in this paper highlights the need to accept responsibilities to seek to improve the well-being of our societies both in kind and by adopting attitudes and behaviours that give a reality to the notions of the virtues of fairness and justice that is the theme of this work.

Cervical cancer is a major public health concern in Morocco where it represents the second most common and lethal cancer in women. Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines have been licensed in Morocco since 2008 but there is no available data on their acceptability. This study aimed to assess awareness of HPV and the vaccine, and to identify factors associated with acceptability of the vaccine among parents in Morocco. A questionnaire-based survey using face-to-face interviews was conducted in a sample of 852 parents (670 mothers and 182 fathers) with at least one unmarried daughter ≤26 years. The study took place within public and private health centres and clinics in four regions in Morocco between July and August 2012. The main outcome measure was willingness to consider vaccinating a daughter against HPV. Responses revealed very low awareness of HPV infection (5%) and the HPV vaccine (14%). None of the participants had vaccinated their daughters against HPV and only 35% (32% of mothers and 45% of fathers) were willing to consider doing so in the future. Higher education and income, previous awareness of the HPV vaccine and endorsement of the belief that a recommendation from the ministry of health or a doctor to have the vaccine would be encouraging, were associated with mothers’ HPV vaccine acceptance. Non-acceptance among mothers was associated with having more than two daughters, believing the vaccine was expensive and lack of information. The only factor associated with the fathers’ acceptance of the vaccine was the cost. Increasing HPV and HPV vaccine awareness through educational campaigns, along with active recommendation by physicians and a publically funded vaccination programme could increase parental acceptance of the vaccine in Morocco.

Burkholderia pseudomallei (Bps)is the causative agent of melioidosis and is endemic in regions of northern Australia and Southeast Asia. Bps is inherently resistant to multiple antibiotics and is considered a potential biological warfare agent by the U.S. DHHS. Therefore, effective vaccines are necessary to prevent natural infection and to safeguard against biological attack with this organism. In our previous work we have shown that immunization with naturally derived outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) from Bps provides significant protection against lethal aerosol and systemic infection in BALB/c mice. In this work, we evaluated the safety and immunogenicity of escalating doses of OMV vaccine in rhesus macaques. We show that immunization of rhesus macaques with Bps OMVs generates humoral immuneresponses to protective protein and polysaccharide antigens without any associated toxicity or reactogenicity. These results lay the groundwork for evaluation of protective efficacy of the OMV vaccine in the nonhuman primate model of melioidosis.