Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics最新文献

We conducted a randomized, Phase 2 trial to assess the safety and humoral immunogenicity of reduced doses/dose volume of the standard dose of Ad26.COV2.S COVID-19 vaccine (5 × 10¹⁰ viral particles [vp]) in healthy adolescents aged 12-17 years. Participants were randomly assigned to receive Ad26.COV2.S at reduced dose levels of 0.625 × 10¹⁰ (0.5 mL), 1.25 × 10¹⁰ (0.5 mL) or 2.5 × 10¹⁰ (0.5 mL or low volume 0.25 mL) vp in a 1- or 2-dose (56-day interval) primary schedule. Adolescents who received a 1-dose primary schedule received a 2.5 × 10¹⁰ vp booster dose 6 months later. Safety and humoral immunogenicity were assessed up to 6 months post-last vaccination. All regimens were well tolerated, with no safety concerns identified. Local and systemic solicited AEs in adolescents were consistent with the known safety profile in adults. All 1- and 2-dose Ad26.COV2.S primary schedules elicited robust peak Spike-binding antibody responses and virus neutralizing titers against the reference strain, in participants with and without preexisting SARS-CoV-2 immunity. Immune responses were durable for at least 6 months. Spike-binding antibody responses were comparable to those elicited in young adults aged 18-25 years who received a standard dose of Ad26.COV2.S in Phase 3 efficacy studies Reduced doses/dose volume of Ad26.COV2.S had an acceptable safety profile and elicited robust humoral immune responses in adolescents aged 12-17 years. All 1- and 2-dose schedules elicited Spike-binding antibody responses that were comparable to an adult population in whom efficacy has been demonstrated using a higher vaccine dose. (clinicaltrials.gov NCT05007080).

Invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) is a serious global public health problem and the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in children and adults in China. Thus, developing and administering pneumococcal vaccines are important for disease prevention. The PPV23 and PCV13 vaccines are available in the Chinese market and are primarily produced by domestic manufacturers. The potential risk of increased IPD caused by non-vaccine serotypes should be considered. Here, we review the current status of IPD, pneumococcal vaccines, and their quality control in China. We also address the challenges and future directions for making progress in controlling IPD, emphasizing the need for further evaluation of the disease burden and monitoring the effectiveness of vaccination efforts.

Circumsporozite protein (CSP), the most abundant surface protein in parasitic Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) sporozoite and an attractive target for malaria vaccine design, has been shown to induce protective humoral response in humans. In this work, we characterized and formulated a promising recombinant PfCSP immunogen (155) candidate consisting of two PfCSP epitopes (i.e. junction, NANP repeat) fused to H. pylori apoferritin forming a 24-mer nanoparticle. In addition, two N-linked glycans were engineered to mitigate possible anti-apoferritin immune responses, and a universal T-cell epitope was included to further enhance immunogenicity. Physicochemical characterization of the 155 antigen was performed including primary structure, post-translational modifications, conformational stability, and particle size. A competitive ELISA was developed to assess antigen binding to a PfCSP-specific mAb. The in vitro antigenicity of the 155 antigen was measured upon formulation with adjuvants, including aluminum-salts (i.e. Alhydrogel^TM, Adju-Phos^TM) and the TLR-9 agonist CpG 1018®, when freshly combined and after storage at different temperatures over 3 months. The in vivo immunological impact of various adjuvanted formulations of the 155 antigen was investigated in mice. The results support the formulation of 155 with Alhydrogel^TM + CpG 1018® adjuvants as a promising recombinant malaria vaccine candidate from both a pharmaceutical and immunological perspective.

Human papilloma virus (HPV) infections are widespread and affect a main part of the population. Long-term risks of such infections include the development of HPV-induced cancers. Although available, preventive measures are not utilized by the Austrian population to their fullest extent. Only 40% of all Austrians have completed the vaccination programme and only 46% are aware of HPV. This may be attributed to a lack of awareness or an ineffective approach in disseminating information to raise awareness about this health issue. Our aim was to determine which knowledge on HPV infections and vaccinations is present in the Austrian population and to identify the preferred mode of communication for receiving information on health-related issues, including HPV. This objective was implemented in the context of a participatory research project together with citizen scientists, whereby a target group-oriented survey was developed. Data from 889 survey participants, analyzed with descriptive statistics, demonstrated significant gender- and age-related differences in HPV knowledge and information-seeking behavior. Men and individuals under 18 were significantly less informed, especially regarding transmission routes and HPV-related diseases. Women were more aware of the vaccine's benefits and have higher vaccination rates. The use of clear, concise content and personal stories can foster engagement and address misperceptions. Customized HPV awareness campaigns and an integration of HPV education into school curricula should be implemented to facilitate early knowledge acquisition and vaccination uptake.

The introduction of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) into pediatric national immunization programs (NIP) has significantly reduced invasive pneumococcal diseases and pneumococcal pneumonia caused by PCV serotypes in adults due to herd immunity. However, diseases caused by PCV13 serotypes persist, mainly serotype 3, known for its severity. With the reduction in PCV13 serotypes, diseases caused by non-PCV13 serotypes increased. Residual and emerging serotypes vary regionally; serotype 8 in Europe and South Africa, and serotype 4 in the US and Canada. PCV20 and PCV21 were recently developed, which can prevent residual and emerging pneumococcal diseases where herd immunity is well-established. In countries that have not introduced PCV into pediatric NIP, the pneumococcal disease burden due to PCV serotypes is still marked. Given that serotype distribution varies by region and evolves over time, this review aimed to discuss serotype distribution and disease severity in adults across countries to support future pneumococcal vaccine strategies.

This study aims to explore the willingness of individuals to be vaccinated against NTDs in Asian countries and China. Between June and December 2023, an anonymous cross-sectional survey was carried out in five Asian countries alongside China. Overall, 48.4% indicated being somewhat willing and 29.2% expressing extreme willingness to receive NTDs vaccination. High attitude scores (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.54, 95% confidence interval (CI): 11.35-1.75) was associated with higher willingness to be vaccinated against NTDs. The odds of accepting the NTDs vaccine increased among individuals without occupational exposure to NTDs (aOR = 1.46, 95% CI: 1.27-1.68). Those residing in very clean environments exhibited heightened odds of willingness (aOR = 2.94, 95% CI: 2.10-4.11), whereas individuals in somewhat dirty environments demonstrated reduced odds of willingness (aOR = 0.74, 95% CI: 0.56-0.98) compared to the baseline group (very dirty local environment). Moreover, a higher score in sanitation facilities also correlated with increased odds of willingness to receive the NTDs vaccine (aOR = 1.41, 95% CI: 1.21-1.64). The study highlighted key strategies for improving NTDs vaccine uptake in Asian countries, including China, such as fostering positive attitudes toward the vaccine and enhancing perception of infection risks.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a leading cause of acute respiratory infection and can lead to severe disease in older adults or those with comorbidities. This analysis aims to evaluate the demographic and clinical burden of RSV hospitalizations among older adults in Italy and inform potential preventative strategies. Adults aged ≥50 years with ≥1 hospitalization discharge diagnosis for RSV from 2010 to 2021 were included. Demographic characteristics before the first RSV hospitalization and clinical outcomes during this hospitalization and the 12 months following are described. Of the 243 patients, mean (SD) age was 73.7 (13.1) years, 40.7% were male, and the most common comorbidities were chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (37.9%), diabetes (21.8%), and heart failure (15.2%). Mean length of index hospitalization was 17.0 days, during which 9.1% of patients died. At index or during the 12-month follow-up, 5.8% had an intensive care unit admission, 61.3% were prescribed antibiotics, 8.2% had a stroke, and 3.3% had an acute myocardial infarction. During the 12-month follow-up, approximately, half of patients experienced worsening of preexisting comorbidities, with notable rates of re-hospitalization and mortality (44.4% and 29.6%). This study shows a high clinical burden of RSV among older adults in Italy, emphasizing a need for improved RSV surveillance, and may guide policymakers and healthcare providers in making informed recommendations for, and implementation of, RSV vaccination in Italy.

Vaccine hesitancy (VH) about routine childhood vaccinations drives falling vaccine uptake rates. This is a major public health challenge and therefore important to monitor uniformly. The challenge is that different methods are used to measure VH and that, in non-English language, there may not be an unequivocal translation of VH terminology. We aimed to develop and validate a method to assess VH in a simple and self-reported manner, with a mixed-methods study using a people-centered approach with a diverse group of parents and illustrated in Dutch. In the quantitative part, parents were asked to rate experienced vaccine hesitancy on a 10-point Likert scale, using five differently worded Dutch translations for VH. We analyzed internal consistency with Cronbach's alpha and correlation with the short parental attitudes about childhood vaccination (PACV-5) scale. A total of 532 parents participated in the survey. We found that the five worded alternatives measured the same construct, indicated by a Cronbach's alpha of 0.95. The wording resembling 'doubt' showed highest correlation with the PACV-5 score (coefficient -0.525, p < .001). In the qualitative part of this study, we conducted cognitive interviews with 12 lower educated parents to evaluate the comprehensibility and interpretation of the question and VH translations. The findings reinforced and added to the quantitative findings that 'doubt' is the preferred wording. Based on the integrated results, we developed the Vaccine Hesitancy Assessment (VHA) tool. We encourage its use for monitoring purposes at the time of decision-making as this may provide a window of opportunity for decision-support interventions.

The aim of this study was to ascertain the current status of healthcare workers' (HCWs) willingness to receive the influenza vaccination and to identify the influencing factors in Quzhou. A self-administered questionnaire was used to investigate the cognition and vaccination intention of in-service HCWs in 10 medical and health institutions in Quzhou from July to September in 2022, and the influencing factors of vaccination intention were analyzed by Logistic regression. A total of 228 questionnaires were returned, with the effective rate of 95.2%. The influenza vaccination coverage rate of HCWs in 2021-2022 season was 22.6%, and the willingness rate in 2022-2023 season was 56.7%. Logistic regression showed that township medical institutions, junior professional titles, people who thought vaccines were effective and people who had been vaccinated with influenza vaccine in the past increased their willingness to get influenza vaccine. The influenza vaccination coverage rate of HCWs in Quzhou is low, and the vaccination willingness is affected by many factors. Providing free vaccines for HCWs and targeted education are the key measures to reduce the vaccine hesitancy for HCWs.

Sleeping disorders negatively affect cancer patient management, quality of life, and recovery. Immunotherapy, a rising cancer treatment, shows potential to improve sleep quality by reducing inflammation. This study analyzed 255 publications (2000-2024) from the Web of Science Core Collection using bibliometric methods. The US and China dominate research output, with The Mayo Clinic as a key contributor. Core topics are "immunotherapy," "quality of life," and "antibodies." Emerging keywords like "cancer," "encephalitis," and "depression" highlight a shift toward clinical psychology in treating tumors and rare diseases. It is noteworthy that with the rapid expansion of immunotherapy in cancer treatment, clinical trials have shown that it can improve sleep quality in cancer patients by reducing inflammation. As its application in cancer treatment expands, immunotherapy's potential for treating sleep disorders is promising. Future development is expected to improve sleep quality and address clinical issues, offering broad prospects for patient outcomes.