Journal Description
Vaccines
Vaccines
is an international, peer-reviewed, open access journal published monthly online by MDPI. The American Society for Virology (ASV) is affiliated with Vaccines and their members receive a discount on the article processing charges.
- Open Access— free for readers, with article processing charges (APC) paid by authors or their institutions.
- High Visibility: indexed within Scopus, SCIE (Web of Science), PubMed, PMC, Embase, CAPlus / SciFinder, and other databases.
- Journal Rank: JCR - Q1 (Immunology) / CiteScore - Q1 (Pharmacology (medical))
- Rapid Publication: manuscripts are peer-reviewed and a first decision is provided to authors approximately 19.2 days after submission; acceptance to publication is undertaken in 2.9 days (median values for papers published in this journal in the second half of 2023).
- Recognition of Reviewers: reviewers who provide timely, thorough peer-review reports receive vouchers entitling them to a discount on the APC of their next publication in any MDPI journal, in appreciation of the work done.
Impact Factor:
7.8 (2022);
5-Year Impact Factor:
7.4 (2022)
Latest Articles
Eosinophils Play a Surprising Leading Role in Recurrent Urticaria in Horses
Vaccines 2024, 12(6), 562; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines12060562 - 21 May 2024
Abstract
Urticaria, independent of or associated with allergies, is commonly seen in horses and often shows a high reoccurrence rate. Managing these horses is discouraging, and efficient treatment options are lacking. Due to an incidental finding in a study on horses affected by insect
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Urticaria, independent of or associated with allergies, is commonly seen in horses and often shows a high reoccurrence rate. Managing these horses is discouraging, and efficient treatment options are lacking. Due to an incidental finding in a study on horses affected by insect bite hypersensitivity using the eosinophil-targeting eIL-5-CuMV-TT vaccine, we observed the prevention of reoccurring seasonal urticaria in four subsequent years with re-vaccination. In an exploratory case series of horses affected with non-seasonal urticaria, we aimed to investigate the role of eosinophils in urticaria. Skin punch biopsies for histology and qPCR of eosinophil associated genes were performed. Further, two severe, non-seasonal, recurrent urticaria-affected horses were vaccinated using eIL-5-CuMV-TT, and urticaria flare-up was followed up with re-vaccination for several years. Eotaxin-2, eotaxin-3, IL-5, CCR5, and CXCL10 showed high sensitivity and specificity for urticarial lesions, while eosinophils were present in 50% of histological tissue sections. The eIL-5-CuMV-TT vaccine reduced eosinophil counts in blood, cleared clinical signs of urticaria, and even prevented new episodes of urticaria in horses with non-seasonal recurrent urticaria. This indicates that eosinophils play a leading role in urticaria in horses, and targeting eosinophils offers an attractive new treatment option, replacing the use of corticosteroids.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vaccines and Animal Health)
Open AccessArticle
Rapid and Scalable Production of Functional SARS-CoV-2 Virus-like Particles (VLPs) by a Stable HEK293 Cell Pool
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Sitthiphol Puarattana-aroonkorn, Kannan Tharakaraman, Disapan Suriyawipada, Mathuros Ruchirawat, Mayuree Fuangthong, Ram Sasisekharan and Charlermchai Artpradit
Vaccines 2024, 12(6), 561; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines12060561 - 21 May 2024
Abstract
At times of pandemics, such as the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, the situation demands rapid development and production timelines of safe and effective vaccines for delivering life-saving medications quickly to patients. Typical biologics production relies on using the lengthy
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At times of pandemics, such as the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, the situation demands rapid development and production timelines of safe and effective vaccines for delivering life-saving medications quickly to patients. Typical biologics production relies on using the lengthy and arduous approach of stable single-cell clones. Here, we used an alternative approach, a stable cell pool that takes only weeks to generate compared to a stable single-cell clone that needs several months to complete. We employed the membrane, envelope, and highly immunogenic spike proteins of SARS-CoV-2 to produce virus-like particles (VLPs) using the HEK293-F cell line as a host system with an economical transfection reagent. The cell pool showed the stability of protein expression for more than one month. We demonstrated that the production of SARS-CoV-2 VLPs using this cell pool was scalable up to a stirred-tank 2 L bioreactor in fed-batch mode. The purified VLPs were properly assembled, and their size was consistent with the authentic virus. Our particles were functional as they specifically entered the cell that naturally expresses ACE-2. Notably, this work reports a practical and cost-effective manufacturing platform for scalable SARS-CoV-2 VLPs production and chromatographic purification.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Host–Virus Interactions and Vaccine Development)
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Open AccessArticle
Healthcare Providers’ and Pregnant People’s Preferences for a Preventive to Protect Infants from Serious Illness Due to Respiratory Syncytial Virus
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Kathleen M. Beusterien, Amy W. Law, Martine C. Maculaitis, Oliver Will, Lewis Kopenhafer, Patrick Olsen, Brett Hauber, Jeffrey T. Vietri, Joseph C. Cappelleri, Joshua R. Coulter and Kimberly M. Shea
Vaccines 2024, 12(5), 560; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines12050560 - 20 May 2024
Abstract
We assessed the impact of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) preventive characteristics on the intentions of pregnant people and healthcare providers (HCPs) to protect infants with a maternal vaccine or monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). Pregnant people and HCPs who treated pregnant people and/or infants were
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We assessed the impact of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) preventive characteristics on the intentions of pregnant people and healthcare providers (HCPs) to protect infants with a maternal vaccine or monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). Pregnant people and HCPs who treated pregnant people and/or infants were recruited via convenience sample from a general research panel to complete a cross-sectional, web-based survey, including a discrete choice experiment (DCE) wherein respondents chose between hypothetical RSV preventive profiles varying on five attributes (effectiveness, preventive type [maternal vaccine vs. mAb], injection recipient/timing, type of medical visit required to receive the injection, and duration of protection during RSV season) and a no-preventive option. A best–worst scaling (BWS) exercise was included to explore the impact of additional attributes on preventive preferences. Data were collected between October and November 2022. Attribute-level preference weights and relative importance (RI) were estimated. Overall, 992 pregnant people and 310 HCPs participated. A preventive (vs. none) was chosen 89.2% (pregnant people) and 96.0% (HCPs) of the time (DCE). Effectiveness was most important to preventive choice for pregnant people (RI = 48.0%) and HCPs (RI = 41.7%); all else equal, pregnant people (RI = 5.5%) and HCPs (RI = 7.2%) preferred the maternal vaccine over mAbs, although preventive type had limited influence on choice. Longer protection, protection starting at birth or the beginning of RSV season, and use for both pre-term and full-term babies were ranked highest in importance (BWS). Pregnant people and HCPs strongly preferred a preventive to protect infants against RSV (vs. none), underscoring the need to incorporate RSV preventives into routine care.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Public Psychobehavioral Responses towards Vaccination)
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Open AccessArticle
The Biodistribution of the Spike Protein after Ad26.COV2.S Vaccination Is Unlikely to Play a Role in Vaccine-Induced Immune Thrombotic Thrombocytopenia
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Sonia Marquez-Martinez, Selina Khan, Joan van der Lubbe, Laura Solforosi, Lea M. M. Costes, Ying Choi, Satish Boedhoe, Mieke Verslegers, Marjolein van Heerden, Wendy Roosen, Sandra De Jonghe, Hendy Kristyanto, Veronica Rezelj, Jenny Hendriks, Jan Serroyen, Jeroen Tolboom, Frank Wegmann and Roland C. Zahn
Vaccines 2024, 12(5), 559; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines12050559 - 20 May 2024
Abstract
Ad26.COV2.S vaccination can lead to vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT), a rare but severe adverse effect, characterized by thrombocytopenia and thrombosis. The mechanism of VITT induction is unclear and likely multifactorial, potentially including the activation of platelets and endothelial cells mediated by the
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Ad26.COV2.S vaccination can lead to vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT), a rare but severe adverse effect, characterized by thrombocytopenia and thrombosis. The mechanism of VITT induction is unclear and likely multifactorial, potentially including the activation of platelets and endothelial cells mediated by the vaccine-encoded spike protein (S protein). Here, we investigated the biodistribution of the S protein after Ad26.COV2.S dosing in three animal models and in human serum samples. The S protein was transiently present in draining lymph nodes of rabbits after Ad26.COV2.S dosing. The S protein was detected in the serum in all species from 1 day to 21 days after vaccination with Ad26.COV2.S, but it was not detected in platelets, the endothelium lining the blood vessels, or other organs. The S protein S1 and S2 subunits were detected at different ratios and magnitudes after Ad26.COV2.S or COVID-19 mRNA vaccine immunization. However, the S1/S2 ratio did not depend on the Ad26 platform, but on mutation of the furin cleavage site, suggesting that the S1/S2 ratio is not VITT related. Overall, our data suggest that the S-protein biodistribution and kinetics after Ad26.COV2.S dosing are likely not main contributors to the development of VITT, but other S-protein-specific parameters require further investigation.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Prevention of SARS-CoV-2 Infection and COVID-19: Safety, Immunogenicity and Effectiveness of Available Vaccines)
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Open AccessArticle
Accuracy of Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Antibody in Comparison with Surrogate Viral Neutralization Test in Persons Living with HIV, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, and Chronic Kidney Disease
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Marita Restie Tiara, Chrisan Bimo Prayuda, Tara Titian Maulidya, Hofiya Djauhari, Dadang Suhendar, Rudi Wisaksana, Laniyati Hamijoyo, Rudi Supriyadi, Agnes Rengga Indrati and Bachti Alisjahbana
Vaccines 2024, 12(5), 558; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines12050558 - 20 May 2024
Abstract
The presence of the anti-SARS-CoV-2-RBD antibody (anti-RBD) prevents severe COVID-19. We aimed to determine the accuracy of a point-of-care anti-RBD testing implemented in persons living with HIV (PLWH), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and chronic kidney disease (CKD). We enrolled 182 non-comorbid subjects and
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The presence of the anti-SARS-CoV-2-RBD antibody (anti-RBD) prevents severe COVID-19. We aimed to determine the accuracy of a point-of-care anti-RBD testing implemented in persons living with HIV (PLWH), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and chronic kidney disease (CKD). We enrolled 182 non-comorbid subjects and 335 comorbid subjects (PLWH, SLE, CKD) to test the anti-RBD assay compared to the surrogate viral neutralization test (sVNT) as the reference test. We performed linear correlation analysis between anti-RBD and sVNT, along with an ROC analysis to ascertain the anti-RBD cutoff at 30%, 60%, and 90% inhibition of sVNT, to calculate accuracy. The correlations between anti-RBD and sVNT among all groups were excellent, with R = 0.7903, R = 0.7843, and R = 0.8153 among the non-comorbid, SLE, and CKD groups, respectively, and with significantly higher correlation among the PLWH group (R = 0.8877; p-value = 0.0072) compared to the non-comorbid group. The accuracy of the anti-RBD test among the PLWH and CKD groups was similar to that among the non-comorbid group but showed lower sensitivity in the SLE group (p = 0.000014). The specificity of the test remained high in all groups. In conclusion, the anti-RBD test had excellent correlation with the sVNT. The persistently high specificity in all groups suggests that this test can be reliably utilized to detect the presence of low neutralization capacity, prompting additional vaccination.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Immune Response of SARS-CoV-2 Infection and Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination)
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Open AccessReview
Developing Next-Generation Live Attenuated Vaccines for Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Using Reverse Genetic Techniques
by
Ruisong Yu, Shijuan Dong, Bingqing Chen, Fusheng Si and Chunhua Li
Vaccines 2024, 12(5), 557; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines12050557 - 19 May 2024
Abstract
Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) is the etiology of porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED), a highly contagious digestive disease in pigs and especially in neonatal piglets, in which a mortality rate of up to 100% will be induced. Immunizing pregnant sows remains the most
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Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) is the etiology of porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED), a highly contagious digestive disease in pigs and especially in neonatal piglets, in which a mortality rate of up to 100% will be induced. Immunizing pregnant sows remains the most promising and effective strategy for protecting their neonatal offspring from PEDV. Although half a century has passed since its first report in Europe and several prophylactic vaccines (inactivated or live attenuated) have been developed, PED still poses a significant economic concern to the swine industry worldwide. Hence, there is an urgent need for novel vaccines in clinical practice, especially live attenuated vaccines (LAVs) that can induce a strong protective lactogenic immune response in pregnant sows. Reverse genetic techniques provide a robust tool for virological research from the function of viral proteins to the generation of rationally designed vaccines. In this review, after systematically summarizing the research progress on virulence-related viral proteins, we reviewed reverse genetics techniques for PEDV and their application in the development of PED LAVs. Then, we probed into the potential methods for generating safe, effective, and genetically stable PED LAV candidates, aiming to provide new ideas for the rational design of PED LAVs.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Porcine Virus and Vaccines)
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Open AccessBrief Report
Analysis of Acute Phase Response Using Acute Phase Proteins Following Simultaneous Vaccination of Lumpy Skin Disease and Foot-and-Mouth Disease
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Jiyeon Kim, Danil Kim, Hyoeun Noh, Leegon Hong, Eunwoo Chun, Eunkyung Kim, Younghye Ro and Woojae Choi
Vaccines 2024, 12(5), 556; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines12050556 - 19 May 2024
Abstract
Since 2011, South Korea has implemented biannual vaccinations against foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) and recently, lumpy skin disease (LSD), to mitigate the spread of transboundary animal diseases. However, due to past adverse reactions, potentially linked to acute phase responses from FMD vaccinations, there is
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Since 2011, South Korea has implemented biannual vaccinations against foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) and recently, lumpy skin disease (LSD), to mitigate the spread of transboundary animal diseases. However, due to past adverse reactions, potentially linked to acute phase responses from FMD vaccinations, there is hesitancy among Korean livestock farmers regarding new strategies for simultaneous vaccinations against both FMD and LSD. This study was conducted to assess possible adverse reactions to the LSD vaccination by analyzing acute phase proteins (APPs) in three groups: cows vaccinated against FMD (G1-FMDV), LSD (G2-LSDV), and both (G3-FMDV/LSDV). In G1-FMDV, APP levels peaked on day 3 post-vaccination (p < 0.001) and returned to baseline. In G2-LSDV, APP levels increased gradually, peaking on day 10 post-vaccination. In G3-FMDV/LSDV, APP levels peaked on day 3 post-vaccination and remained high until day 10 (p < 0.001). These results indicate that LSD vaccines trigger a later immune response compared to FMD vaccines, possibly due to different adjuvants. Therefore, a longer follow-up period for monitoring adverse reactions to LSD vaccinations may be required to understand and mitigate potential risks.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vaccines and Animal Health)
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Open AccessOpinion
Importance of Examining Incidentality in Vaccine Safety Assessment
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Yasusi Suzumura
Vaccines 2024, 12(5), 555; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines12050555 - 18 May 2024
Abstract
The author believes that the principles of statistical methods for vaccine safety can be divided into three categories: comparison of adverse event incidence rates between vaccinated and unvaccinated groups, analysis of incidentality in the vaccinated group, and a combination of both. The first
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The author believes that the principles of statistical methods for vaccine safety can be divided into three categories: comparison of adverse event incidence rates between vaccinated and unvaccinated groups, analysis of incidentality in the vaccinated group, and a combination of both. The first category includes the cohort study; the second, the self-controlled risk interval design (SCRI); and the third, the self-controlled case series method. A single p-value alone should not determine a scientific conclusion, and analysis should be performed using multiple statistical methods with different principles. The author believes that using both the cohort study and the SCRI for analysis is the best method to assess vaccine safety. When the cohort study may not detect a significant difference owing to a low incidence rate of an adverse event in the vaccinated group or a high one in the unvaccinated group, the SCRI may detect it. Because vaccines must have a higher level of safety than the pharmaceuticals used for treatment, vaccine safety is advisable to be assessed using methods that can detect a significant difference even for any value of the incidence rate of an adverse event. The author believes that the analyses of COVID-19 vaccine safety have areas for improvement because the proportion of papers that used the cohort study and the SCRI was negligible.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Vaccine Efficacy and Safety)
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Open AccessReview
SARS-CoV-2 Neutralization Assays Used in Clinical Trials: A Narrative Review
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Yeqing Sun, Weijin Huang, Hongyu Xiang and Jianhui Nie
Vaccines 2024, 12(5), 554; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines12050554 - 18 May 2024
Abstract
Since the emergence of COVID-19, extensive research efforts have been undertaken to accelerate the development of multiple types of vaccines to combat the pandemic. These include inactivated, recombinant subunit, viral vector, and nucleic acid vaccines. In the development of these diverse vaccines, appropriate
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Since the emergence of COVID-19, extensive research efforts have been undertaken to accelerate the development of multiple types of vaccines to combat the pandemic. These include inactivated, recombinant subunit, viral vector, and nucleic acid vaccines. In the development of these diverse vaccines, appropriate methods to assess vaccine immunogenicity are essential in both preclinical and clinical studies. Among the biomarkers used in vaccine evaluation, the neutralizing antibody level serves as a pivotal indicator for assessing vaccine efficacy. Neutralizing antibody detection methods can mainly be classified into three types: the conventional virus neutralization test, pseudovirus neutralization test, and surrogate virus neutralization test. Importantly, standardization of these assays is critical for their application to yield results that are comparable across different laboratories. The development and use of international or regional standards would facilitate assay standardization and facilitate comparisons of the immune responses induced by different vaccines. In this comprehensive review, we discuss the principles, advantages, limitations, and application of different SARS-CoV-2 neutralization assays in vaccine clinical trials. This will provide guidance for the development and evaluation of COVID-19 vaccines.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Detection of SARS-CoV-2 Neutralizing Antibodies and Vaccine Development)
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Open AccessArticle
A Low Number of Baselines γδ T Cells Increases the Risk of SARS-CoV-2 Post-Vaccination Infection
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Juan Carlos Andreu-Ballester, Lorena Galindo-Regal, Carmen Cuéllar, Francisca López-Chuliá, Carlos García-Ballesteros, Leonor Fernández-Murga, Antonio Llombart-Cussac and María Victoria Domínguez-Márquez
Vaccines 2024, 12(5), 553; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines12050553 - 18 May 2024
Abstract
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic is the biggest global health problem in the last hundred years. The efficacy of the vaccine to protect against severe disease is estimated to be 70–95% according to the studies carried out, although there are aspects of the immune
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Background: The COVID-19 pandemic is the biggest global health problem in the last hundred years. The efficacy of the vaccine to protect against severe disease is estimated to be 70–95% according to the studies carried out, although there are aspects of the immune response to the vaccine that remain unclear. Methods: Humoral and cellular immunity after the administration of three doses of the Pfizer–BioNTech and Oxford AstraZeneca vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 over one year and the appearance of post-vaccination COVID-19 were studied. SARS-CoV-2 IgG and IgA antibodies, αβ and γδ T-cell subsets, and their differentiation stages and apoptosis were analyzed. Results: Anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG and IgA antibodies showed a progressive increase throughout the duration of the study. This increase was the greatest after the third dose. The highest levels were observed in subjects who had anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies prior to vaccination. There was an increase in CD4+ αβ, CD8+ γδ and TEM CD8+ γδ T cells, and a decrease in apoptosis in CD4+ CD8+ and CD56+ αβ and γδ T cells. Post-vaccination SARS-CoV-2 infection was greater than 60%. The symptoms of COVID-19 were very mild and were related to a γδ T cell deficit, specifically CD8+ TEMRA and CD56+ γδ TEM, as well as lower pre-vaccine apoptosis levels. Conclusions: The results unveil the important role of γδ T cells in SARS-CoV-2-vaccine-mediated protection from the disease.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Immune Responses to Viruses)
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Open AccessArticle
Confronting Inequalities and Bridging the Divide: A Retrospective Study Assessment of Country-Level COVID-19 Vaccine Equality with a Cox Regression Model
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Lan Cheng, W. K. Chan, Lijie Zhu, Melody H. Chao and Yang Wang
Vaccines 2024, 12(5), 552; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines12050552 - 18 May 2024
Abstract
COVID-19 vaccination is vital in reducing illness, hospitalization, and mortality in the face of this global pandemic. However, COVID-19 vaccination rates worldwide remain below WHO public health targets, and persistent structural inequities reduce vaccine uptake likelihood among populations of low socioeconomic status. We
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COVID-19 vaccination is vital in reducing illness, hospitalization, and mortality in the face of this global pandemic. However, COVID-19 vaccination rates worldwide remain below WHO public health targets, and persistent structural inequities reduce vaccine uptake likelihood among populations of low socioeconomic status. We conducted a cross-sectional study based on publicly available data from the Our World in Data project. We included all 124 countries with available open epidemic data and a population of more than 5 million. We used a Cox Regression Model, with population, population density, median age, human development index, GDP per capita, gender inequality index, healthcare access and quality index, hospital beds per thousand people, completion rate of primary education, infection cases of COVID-19 by the end of 2022, and death rate due to COVID-19 by the end of 2022 as predictors for model hazard rates of completion of 50% population vaccination. According to our study, countries with higher populations, higher population density, higher human development index, lower gender inequality index, and lower hospital beds per 1000 people had a higher hazard rate, which means they were more likely to achieve 50% population vaccination faster. By utilizing the time to achieve vaccination rate goals as our primary endpoint, we evaluated inequity from a dual perspective, considering both the differences in vaccination rates and the duration required to attain them. Consequently, this study employed survival analysis approaches to gain a comprehensive understanding of vaccine drivers and population-level trends nationally and inform all communities from a statistical perspective to prepare for health emergencies. Development-level standing modified the effects of equal access to COVID-19 vaccination on cumulative cases and mortality, for which countries of low or medium human development tended to fare worse in outcomes than high human development countries. As COVID-19 vaccination efforts evolve, healthcare professionals, scholars, and policymakers need to identify the structural impediments to equitable vaccination awareness, access, and uptake so that future vaccination campaigns are not impeded by these barriers to immunization. Recognizing the complex nature of this significant barrier, it is evident that no single statistical analysis method can comprehensively address all intricacies.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vaccination and Global Health)
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Open AccessArticle
Vaccine Acceptance in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Lessons Learned from the COVID-19 Pandemic
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Giada Mastrangeli, Filippo Vernia, Stefano Necozione, Mario Muselli, Sara Frassino, Nicola Cesaro, Giovanni Latella and Leila Fabiani
Vaccines 2024, 12(5), 551; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines12050551 - 18 May 2024
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Background: Immunomodulating therapies, which are commonly used in patients with Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), have been linked to an increased risk of contracting opportunistic infectious diseases, the majority of which are preventable through vaccination. Nonetheless, vaccination rates in these patients
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Background: Immunomodulating therapies, which are commonly used in patients with Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), have been linked to an increased risk of contracting opportunistic infectious diseases, the majority of which are preventable through vaccination. Nonetheless, vaccination rates in these patients are suboptimal, and frequently lower than in the general population. The COVID-19 immunization schedule provided a new scenario for investigating vaccine acceptance in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), with uncertainty and concerns emerging and the number of subjects receiving the third and fourth doses of the vaccine gradually decreasing. This study investigated IBD patients’ attitudes towards previous COVID-19 vaccine programs and identified the factors that influence their adherence. It considered demographic and disease-related factors as well as the role of gastroenterologists and primary care physicians (PCPs). Methods: Data were collected through a self-completed questionnaire administered to all adult IBD patients (age > 18) who visited the Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition division at the University of L’Aquila (Italy) for a regular follow-up between November 2021 and December 2022. Non-IBD gastroenterological outpatients who visited during the same period were included as a control group. Results: A total of 178 patients were included in the analysis. The IBD group consisted of 77 patients, 48.1% with CD and 51.9% with UC; the mean age was 49.5 years and 51.9% were female. Overall, 94.8% of IBD patients had undergone at least one vaccine dose and 79.2% had received two doses, versus 8% of the control group (p < 0.0001). A total of 84.4% of IBD patients reported their propensity towards COVID-19 vaccination, with an average agreement score significantly higher than the controls (p = 0.0044). The trust of IBD patients in the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccine (p < 0.0001) and its role in hastening pandemic resolution (p < 0.0001) is strongly related to motivation and propensity. Concerns about the safety of the COVID-19 vaccine in IBD (p = 0.0202) and fear of vaccine-induced flare-ups (p = 0.0192) were reported as the main barriers. No correlation was found between COVID-19 vaccine propensity and clinical features like the type of IBD, years of disease, activity, and ongoing treatment. Regarding the recommendations received from physicians to get vaccinated against COVID-19, IBD patients relied heavily on their gastroenterologists for advice, while the control group relied mainly on their PCPs. Conclusions: The overall positive attitude towards vaccinations reported in our study was better than that observed for other vaccines. The relationship of trust with the gastroenterologist should be used to boost vaccination against other preventable diseases in IBD patients. Our findings add information on the factors influencing vaccine propensity, which can be used to improve current vaccination strategies.
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Open AccessArticle
Design of a New Vaccine Prototype against Porcine Circovirus Type 2 (PCV2), M. hyopneumoniae and M. hyorhinis Based on Multiple Antigens Microencapsulation with Sulfated Chitosan
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Darwuin Arrieta-Mendoza, Bruno Garces, Alejandro A. Hidalgo, Victor Neira, Galia Ramirez, Andrónico Neira-Carrillo and Sergio A. Bucarey
Vaccines 2024, 12(5), 550; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines12050550 - 17 May 2024
Abstract
This work evaluated in vivo an experimental-multivalent-vaccine (EMV) based on three Porcine Respiratory Complex (PRC)-associated antigens: Porcine Circovirus Type 2 (PCV2), M. hyopneumoniae (Mhyop) and M. hyorhinis (Mhyor), microencapsulated with sulfated chitosan (M- ChS + PRC-antigens), postulating chitosan sulphate (ChS) as a mimetic
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This work evaluated in vivo an experimental-multivalent-vaccine (EMV) based on three Porcine Respiratory Complex (PRC)-associated antigens: Porcine Circovirus Type 2 (PCV2), M. hyopneumoniae (Mhyop) and M. hyorhinis (Mhyor), microencapsulated with sulfated chitosan (M- ChS + PRC-antigens), postulating chitosan sulphate (ChS) as a mimetic of the heparan sulfate receptor used by these pathogens for cell invasion. The EMV was evaluated physicochemically by SEM (Scanning-Electron-Microscopy), EDS (Energy-Dispersive-Spectroscopy), Pdi (Polydispersity-Index) and zeta potential. Twenty weaned pigs, distributed in four groups, were evaluated for 12 weeks. The groups 1 through 4 were as follows: 1-EMV intramuscular-route (IM), 2-EMV oral-nasal-route (O/N), 3-Placebo O/N (M-ChS without antigens), 4-Commercial-vaccine PCV2-Mhyop. qPCR was used to evaluate viral/bacterial load from serum, nasal and bronchial swab and from inguinal lymphoid samples. Specific humoral immunity was evaluated by ELISA. M-ChS + PRC-antigens measured between 1.3–10 μm and presented low Pdi and negative zeta potential, probably due to S (4.26%). Importantly, the 1-EMV protected 90% of challenged animals against PCV2 and Mhyop and 100% against Mhyor. A significant increase in antibody was observed for Mhyor (1-EMV and 2-EMV) and Mhyop (2-EMV), compared with 4-Commercial-vaccine. No difference in antibody levels between 1-EMV and 4-Commercial-vaccine for PCV2-Mhyop was observed. Conclusion: The results demonstrated the effectiveness of the first EMV with M-ChS + PRC-antigens in pigs, which were challenged with Mhyor, PCV2 and Mhyop, evidencing high protection for Mhyor, which has no commercial vaccine available.
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(This article belongs to the Topic Advances in Vaccines and Antimicrobial Therapy)
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Open AccessArticle
Safety and Efficacy of Nirsevimab in a Universal Prevention Program of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Bronchiolitis in Newborns and Infants in the First Year of Life in the Valle d’Aosta Region, Italy, in the 2023–2024 Epidemic Season
by
Alessandra Consolati, Mariapaola Farinelli, Paolo Serravalle, Christine Rollandin, Laura Apprato, Susanna Esposito and Salvatore Bongiorno
Vaccines 2024, 12(5), 549; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines12050549 - 17 May 2024
Abstract
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) bronchiolitis remains a significant global health burden, particularly in newborns and infants during their first year of life. The quest for an effective preventive strategy against RSV has long been sought, and recent developments have shown promise in the
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Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) bronchiolitis remains a significant global health burden, particularly in newborns and infants during their first year of life. The quest for an effective preventive strategy against RSV has long been sought, and recent developments have shown promise in the form of nirsevimab, a monoclonal antibody specifically designed for RSV prophylaxis. Valle d’Aosta was the first Italian region to propose universal prophylaxis with nirsevimab for newborns and infants in their first epidemic season as early as 2023–2024. This study describes the effectiveness and safety of the universal prevention program of RSV bronchiolitis using the monoclonal antibody nirsevimab in children resident in Valle d’Aosta born during the 2023–2024 epidemic season. There were 556 neonates born from 1 May 2023 to 15 February 2024. The risk of hospitalization for RSV bronchiolitis in 2023–2024 was 3.2%, compared to 7% in the 2022–2023 epidemic season (p < 0.001). After the start of the prophylaxis campaign with nirsevimab, the risk of hospitalization was 8.3% in the sample of infants who did not adhere to the prophylaxis, while no child in the sample of those treated (p < 0.001) was hospitalized for bronchiolitis. Few mild transient side effects were reported. This study shows the efficacy and safety of universal prophylaxis with nirsevimab in neonates, making Valle d’Aosta the first Italian region to offer universal prophylaxis to newborns without risk factors for RSV complications. Future research could further explore its long-term impact and cost-effectiveness.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue SARS-CoV-2, Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses: Epidemiology, Burden of Disease, and Preventive Measures)
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Open AccessSystematic Review
Genital Warts in Women Vaccinated against HPV in Childhood: A Systematic Review
by
Renata Malheiro, César Magalhães, Cláudia Camila Dias, Acácio Gonçalves Rodrigues and Carmen Lisboa
Vaccines 2024, 12(5), 548; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines12050548 - 17 May 2024
Abstract
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most prevalent sexually transmitted infection among young women. Notably, more than ten years after the introduction of HPV vaccination programs in Europe, it is essential to review the real-world evidence of the incidence of anogenital warts (GWs) among
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Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most prevalent sexually transmitted infection among young women. Notably, more than ten years after the introduction of HPV vaccination programs in Europe, it is essential to review the real-world evidence of the incidence of anogenital warts (GWs) among women vaccinated during childhood. In this systematic review, three databases were searched for studies published between January 2008 and September 2023. Nine cohort studies were included. A total of 890,320 HPV-vaccinated women and 1,922,033 unvaccinated women were evaluated. All the studies but one investigated the 4vHPV vaccine. The incidence rate of GWs in vaccinated women ranged from 0.0 to 1650 per 100,000 person-years. The highest incidence rates were found in women vaccinated with one dose at the age of 17–19 years old and in fully vaccinated women only after 19 years of age. Similar incidence values were reported among unvaccinated women. The incidence of GWs was lower when the age at first dose was 9–11 years old. This systematic review reveals that the incidence of GWs among HPV-vaccinated women is related to the age of vaccination and the number of vaccine doses received. In the post-vaccination era, epidemiological surveillance of the incidence of GWs and their genotypes is crucial.
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(This article belongs to the Section Human Papillomavirus Vaccines)
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Open AccessArticle
Safety and Efficacy of VIT against Wasp Venom in Ultra-Rush Protocols in Patients Older Than 60 Years
by
Andrzej Bożek, Janne Winterstein, Robert Pawłowicz, Ian Poians, Dominika Sadowska, Martyna Miodonska and Marita Nittner-Marszalska
Vaccines 2024, 12(5), 547; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines12050547 - 16 May 2024
Abstract
Background: Allergen immunotherapy remains a widely recognized and widely used method for the treatment of selected allergic diseases. Currently, according to the European Academy Of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) guidelines, venom immunotherapy (VIT) may be considered for patients over 60. Nevertheless, no
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Background: Allergen immunotherapy remains a widely recognized and widely used method for the treatment of selected allergic diseases. Currently, according to the European Academy Of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) guidelines, venom immunotherapy (VIT) may be considered for patients over 60. Nevertheless, no separate studies have confirmed the efficacy and safety of this therapy. This study aimed to evaluate the short-term effectiveness of VIT against wasp allergens in an ultra-rush protocol for older patients compared to young patients. Methods: Among the 113 patients included in this study, 51 were older than 60 years (Group A), and 62 formed the control “young group” (age range: 18–35 years). All patients were desensitized to wasp venom using the ultra-rush protocol according to Muller and aqueous solutions of vaccines containing wasp venom. A basophil activation test (Basotest, Orpegen Pharma, Germany) and intracutaneous tests with dilutions of wasp allergen and specific IgE to extract wasp venom were performed at the start and after six months of VIT. The safety of VIT was assessed on the basis of the international Mueller scale. Results: One hundred and eleven patients with confirmed wasp allergies completed six months of VIT: 51 participants over 60 years of age (Group A) and 60 young people (Group B). No systemic adverse reactions were observed during the VIT induction phase. However, large local reactions were noted in 17% of older patients and 20% of young patients at a similar level (p > 0.05). During maintenance VIT, two mild grade I systemic reactions were confirmed in young patients. These symptoms resolved spontaneously. There were no such reactions in older patients. The effectiveness of VIT was tested using BAT. There was a statistically significant reduction in CD63 reactivity in 86% of patients in Group A, and a comparable and substantial decrease in 84% of young patients in Group B. According to the BAT test, the mean reductions in the area under the curve (AUC) after six months of VIT were significant (p < 0.05) and comparable between Groups A and B: −6.52 vs. 7.21. Conclusions: VIT against wasp venom is safe and effective in short-term observation, and is comparable to that used for young patients.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Immunosenescence and Vaccine Immune Responses)
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Open AccessArticle
A Self-Assembling Pfs230D1-Ferritin Nanoparticle Vaccine Has Potent and Durable Malaria Transmission-Reducing Activity
by
Nichole D. Salinas, Rui Ma, Holly McAleese, Tarik Ouahes, Carole A. Long, Kazutoyo Miura, Lynn E. Lambert and Niraj H. Tolia
Vaccines 2024, 12(5), 546; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines12050546 - 16 May 2024
Abstract
Malaria is caused by eukaryotic protozoan parasites of the genus Plasmodium. There are 249 million new cases and 608,000 deaths annually, and new interventions are desperately needed. Malaria vaccines can be divided into three categories: liver stage, blood stage, or transmission-blocking vaccines.
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Malaria is caused by eukaryotic protozoan parasites of the genus Plasmodium. There are 249 million new cases and 608,000 deaths annually, and new interventions are desperately needed. Malaria vaccines can be divided into three categories: liver stage, blood stage, or transmission-blocking vaccines. Transmission-blocking vaccines prevent the transmission of disease by the mosquito vector from one human to another. Pfs230 is one of the leading transmission-blocking vaccine antigens for malaria. Here, we describe the development of a 24-copy self-assembling nanoparticle vaccine comprising domain 1 of Pfs230 genetically fused to H. pylori ferritin. The single-component Pfs230D1-ferritin construct forms a stable and homogenous 24-copy nanoparticle with good production yields. The nanoparticle is highly immunogenic, as two low-dose vaccinations of New Zealand White rabbits elicited a potent and durable antibody response with high transmission-reducing activity when formulated in two distinct adjuvants suitable for translation to human use. This single-component 24-copy Pfs230D1-ferritin nanoparticle vaccine has the potential to improve production pipelines and the cost of manufacturing a potent and durable transmission-blocking vaccine for malaria control.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vaccines against Arthropods and Arthropod-Borne Pathogens)
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Investigating the Spatial Accessibility and Coverage of the Pediatric COVID-19 Vaccine: An Ecologic Study of Regional Health Data
by
Amin Bemanian and Jonathan F. Mosser
Vaccines 2024, 12(5), 545; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines12050545 - 15 May 2024
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic presented the unique challenge of having to deliver novel vaccines during a public health crisis. For pediatric patients, it was further complicated by the delayed timeline for authorizing the vaccine and the differences in dosing/products depending on the patient’s age.
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The COVID-19 pandemic presented the unique challenge of having to deliver novel vaccines during a public health crisis. For pediatric patients, it was further complicated by the delayed timeline for authorizing the vaccine and the differences in dosing/products depending on the patient’s age. This paper investigates the relationship between the spatial accessibility and uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine in King County, WA, USA. Public data for COVID-19 vaccine sites were used to calculate spatial accessibility using an enhanced two-step floating catchment area (E2SFCA) technique. Spatial regression analyses were performed to look at the relationship between spatial accessibility and ZIP-code-level vaccination rates. The relationships of these data with other socioeconomic and demographic variables were calculated as well. Higher rates of vaccine accessibility and vaccine coverage were found in adolescent (12- to 17-year-old) individuals relative to school-age (5- to 11-year-old) individuals. Vaccine accessibility was positively associated with coverage in both age groups in the univariable analysis. This relationship was affected by neighborhood educational attainment. This paper demonstrates how measures such as E2SFCA can be used to calculate the accessibility of the COVID-19 vaccine in a region and provides insight into some of the ecological factors that affect COVID-19 vaccination rates.
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(This article belongs to the Section COVID-19 Vaccines and Vaccination)
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Immunogenicity and Protective Capacity of Sugar ABC Transporter Substrate-Binding Protein against Streptococcus suis Serotype 2, 7 and 9 Infection in Mice
by
Zujie Yan, Ruyi Pan, Junjie Zhang, Jianhe Sun, Xiaochun Ma, Nihua Dong, Xiaohui Yao, Jianchao Wei, Ke Liu, Yafeng Qiu, Katie Sealey, Hester Nichols, Michael A. Jarvis, Mathew Upton, Xiangdong Li, Zhiyong Ma, Juxiang Liu and Beibei Li
Vaccines 2024, 12(5), 544; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines12050544 - 15 May 2024
Abstract
Background: Streptococcus suis (S. suis) is a Gram-positive bacterium that causes substantial disease in pigs. S. suis is also an emerging zoonoses in humans, primarily in Asia, through the consumption of undercooked pork and the handling of infected pig meat
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Background: Streptococcus suis (S. suis) is a Gram-positive bacterium that causes substantial disease in pigs. S. suis is also an emerging zoonoses in humans, primarily in Asia, through the consumption of undercooked pork and the handling of infected pig meat as well as carcasses. The complexity of S. suis epidemiology, characterized by the presence of multiple bacterial serotypes and strains with diverse sequence types, identifies a critical need for a universal vaccine with the ability to confer cross-protective immunity. Highly conserved immunogenic proteins are generally considered good candidate antigens for subunit universal vaccines. Methods: In this study, the cross-protection of the sugar ABC transporter substrate-binding protein (S-ABC), a surface-associated immunogenic protein of S. suis, was examined in mice for evaluation as a universal vaccine candidate. Results: S-ABC was shown to be highly conserved, with 97% amino acid sequence identity across 31 S. suis strains deposited in GenBank. Recombinantly expressed S-ABC (rS-ABC) was recognized via rabbit sera specific to S. suis serotype 2. The immunization of mice with rS-ABC induced antigen-specific antibody responses, as well as IFN-γ and IL-4, in multiple organs, including the lungs. rS-ABC immunization conferred high (87.5% and 100%) protection against challenges with S. suis serotypes 2 and 9, demonstrating high cross-protection against these serotypes. Protection, albeit lower (50%), was also observed in mice challenged with S. suis serotype 7. Conclusions: These data identify S-ABC as a promising antigenic target within a universal subunit vaccine against S. suis.
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(This article belongs to the Section Veterinary Vaccines)
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Open AccessCommunication
Innate and Adaptive Immune Parameters following mRNA Vaccination in Mice
by
Srinivasa Reddy Bonam, Nicholas C. Hazell, Mano Joseph Mathew, Yuejin Liang, Xuxiang Zhang, Zhi Wei, Mohamad-Gabriel Alameh, Drew Weissman and Haitao Hu
Vaccines 2024, 12(5), 543; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines12050543 - 15 May 2024
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has raised the standard regarding the current vaccine development pace, as several messenger RNA (mRNA)-lipid nanoparticle (LNP) vaccines have proved their ability to induce strong immunogenicity and protective efficacy. We developed 1-methylpseudouridine-containing mRNA-LNP vaccines, expressing either the more conserved SARS-CoV-2
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The COVID-19 pandemic has raised the standard regarding the current vaccine development pace, as several messenger RNA (mRNA)-lipid nanoparticle (LNP) vaccines have proved their ability to induce strong immunogenicity and protective efficacy. We developed 1-methylpseudouridine-containing mRNA-LNP vaccines, expressing either the more conserved SARS-CoV-2 nucleoprotein (mRNA-N) or spike protein (mRNA-S), both based on the prototypic viral sequences. When combining both mRNA-S and mRNA-N together (mRNA-S+N), the vaccine showed high immunogenicity and broad protection against different SARS-CoV-2 variants, including wildtype, Delta, BA.1, BA.5, and BQ.1. To better understand the mechanisms behind this broad protection obtained by mRNA-S+N, we analyzed innate and adaptive immune parameters following vaccination in mice. Compared to either mRNA-S or mRNA-N alone, mice vaccinated with mRNA-S+N exhibited an increase in the innate immune response, as depicted by the higher cytokine (IL-6 and chemokine (MCP-1) levels. In addition, lymph node immunophenotyping showed the maturation and activation of dendritic cells and natural killer cells, respectively. To understand the adaptive immune response, RNA-Seq analyses of the lung and spleen samples of the vaccinated mice were performed in parallel and revealed a stronger immune gene-expression profile in the lung than that in the spleen. Compared to mRNA-S alone, mRNA-S+N vaccination elicited higher levels of expression for genes involved in multiple immune pathways, including T cells, cytokine signaling, antigen presentation, B cells, and innate immunity. Together, our studies provide immunological insights into the mechanisms of broad protection conferred by dual mRNA vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 variants.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Use of Nanoparticles for Vaccine Platform Development)
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