scholarly journals Radiation-attenuated schistosome vaccination – a brief historical perspective

Parasitology ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 136 (12) ◽  
pp. 1621-1632 ◽  
Author(s):  
Q. D. BICKLE

SUMMARYThe high level of protection which can be induced by vaccination of a range of hosts, from rodents to primates, with live radiation-attenuated schistosome larvae offers great promise for development of a human schistosome vaccine. Studies of the irradiated vaccine models benefitted from significant funding during the 1970–90s and much was learned concerning the inducers, targets and mechanisms of immunity. Less progress was made in definition of the protective antigens involved. The application of new techniques for identifying membrane and secreted antigens has recently provided new vaccine candidates and a new impetus for schistosome vaccine development. This article is intended as an overview of some of the main lessons learned from the studies of the irradiated vaccines as a backdrop to renewed interest in schistosome vaccine development.

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pobitra Borah ◽  
Pran Kishore Deb ◽  
Nizar A. Al-Shar’i ◽  
Lina A. Dahabiyeh ◽  
Katharigatta N. Venugopala ◽  
...  

With the current outbreak caused by SARS-CoV-2, vaccination is acclaimed as a public health care priority. Rapid genetic sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 has triggered the scientific community to search for effective vaccines. Collaborative approaches from research institutes and biotech companies have acknowledged the use of viral proteins as potential vaccine candidates against COVID-19. Nucleic acid (DNA or RNA) vaccines are considered the next generation vaccines as they can be rapidly designed to encode any desirable viral sequence including the highly conserved antigen sequences. RNA vaccines being less prone to host genome integration (cons of DNA vaccines) and anti-vector immunity (a compromising factor of viral vectors) offer great potential as front-runners for universal COVID-19 vaccine. The proof of concept for RNA-based vaccines has already been proven in humans, and the prospects for commercialization are very encouraging as well. With the emergence of COVID-19, mRNA-1273, an mRNA vaccine developed by Moderna, Inc. was the first to enter human trials, with the first volunteer receiving the dose within 10 weeks after SARS-CoV-2 genetic sequencing. The recent interest in mRNA vaccines has been fueled by the state of the art technologies that enhance mRNA stability and improve vaccine delivery. Interestingly, as per the “Draft landscape of COVID-19 candidate vaccines” published by the World Health Organization (WHO) on December 29, 2020, seven potential RNA based COVID-19 vaccines are in different stages of clinical trials; of them, two candidates already received emergency use authorization, and another 22 potential candidates are undergoing pre-clinical investigations. This review will shed light on the rationality of RNA as a platform for vaccine development against COVID-19, highlighting the possible pros and cons, lessons learned from the past, and the future prospects.


2001 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 66-71
Author(s):  
William J Dawson

Upper extremity problems related to overuse continue to plague instrumentalists and remain a staple of performing arts medicine practices. The author reports his 15-year experience with these problems, both music-related and from other causes. The criteria for inclusion include adherence to a specific definition of overuse. The 329 patients reviewed for this series ranged in age from 9 to 89 years and included 48.6% males. Keyboard instruments and strings were the primary instruments of 79.6%. There were 63.7% who were professionals, conservatory or collegiate music students, or dedicated amateurs; these were described as high-level performers. Strains of the muscle–tendon unit and inflammatory conditions were the most common diagnoses made, each comprising about 43% of the total series. Neurologic diagnoses were made in only 6.8% of patients. Music was the cause of problems in 44.7% of the entire group; prevalence rates were higher in females, especially those from ages 10 to 13 years. Making music also was implicated in causing 62.9% of muscle strains, but only 26.3% of inflammatory diagnoses. Treatment generally followed conservative principles; only 10.3% of all overuse-related problems necessitated surgical care, mostly for release of inflamed tendons or compressed nerves in the hand and wrist. The demographics of this group reflect those of a typical hand surgical practice.


2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 104-121 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diletta Colette Invernizzi ◽  
Giorgio Locatelli ◽  
Naomi J. Brookes

Purpose The literature lacks a single and universally accepted definition of major and megaprojects: usually, these projects are described as projects with a budget above $1 billion and a high level of innovation, complexity, and uniqueness both in terms of physical infrastructure and stakeholder network. Moreover, they often provide fewer benefits than what were originally expected and are affected by delays and cost overruns. Despite this techno-economic magnitude, it is still extremely hard to gather lessons learned from these projects in a systematic way. The purpose of this paper is to present an innovative methodology based on benchmarking to investigate good and bad practices and learn from a portfolio of unique megaprojects. Design/methodology/approach The methodology combines quantitative and qualitative cross-comparison of case studies and statistical analysis into an iterative process. Findings Indeed, benchmarking offers significant potential to identify good and bad practices and improve the performance of project selection, planning, and delivery. Research limitations/implications The methodology is exemplified in this paper using the case of Nuclear Decommissioning Projects and Programmes (NDPs). Originality/value Indeed, due to their characteristics, NDPs can be addressed as megaprojects, and are a relevant example for the application of the methodology presented here that collects and investigates the characteristics that mostly impact the performance of (mega)projects, through a continuous learning process.


2017 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 152-160 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jason Walton

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to define the role non-governmental organizations (NGOs) play across the vaccine development and delivery spectrum within the vaccine enterprise. As demonstrated in this paper, NGOs can play a critical role in prioritizing and accelerating the development and introduction of new vaccines against diseases that disproportionally burden children, women, and communities in the poorest countries around the world. Design/methodology/approach The author has used case studies from decades of work by PATH, an international NGO, to help develop and implement vaccines, to illustrate the roles of NGOs can play during each of the stages along the development and delivery spectrum. Findings There are four key considerations that can help determine the ability of a given vaccine to be introduced and scaled within a health system: accessibility, affordability, acceptability, and availability. As more vaccine candidates are identified and move along the development and delivery pathway, there will be increased demand for NGOs to continue playing a pivotal role to address these considerations. Originality/value This paper aims to highlight a few of the lessons learned from PATH's four decades of experience in the hope they will contribute and be applied to the evolving environment of vaccine enterprise.


2010 ◽  
Vol 4 (5) ◽  
pp. 683-690
Author(s):  
Jean-Louis Excler

Abstract A safe and efficacious preventive HIV vaccine, as part of a comprehensive prevention program, remains among the highest public health priorities. It would be the best tool that could reduce the spread of HIV significantly in the long run. Current AIDS vaccine candidates are unable to induce neutralizing antibodies against primary HIV isolates or only to a very limited and narrow extent, representing a major obstacle in the development of an efficacious HIV vaccine. Clinical efforts have mainly focused on T-cell vaccines such as DNA and various recombinant vectors alone or in prime-boost regimens. The Merck Ad5 vaccine not only failed to show efficacy but also was associated with increased risk of HIV acquisition in vaccinees in a Phase IIb trial. While gp120 alone was not efficacious, the ALVAC prime and gp120 boost regimen showed 31% efficacy in a Phase III trial in Thailand. These contrasting results illustrate the limitations of available laboratory assays to assess the vaccine-induced immune responses and the lack of understanding of immune correlates of protection. Efforts should therefore focus on developing vaccine candidates inducing broadly neutralizing antibodies. Similarly, new vector strategies such as replicating vectors should be explored to induce strong and broad T-cell responses in the systemic and mucosal compartments. Innovation in immune assay development and testing algorithms is critically needed. The standardization of more relevant and predictive non-human primate models for immunogenicity and efficacy studies will contribute to better and faster vaccine assessment. HIV vaccine development requires innovative ideas and a sustained long-term commitment of the scientific community, civil society, politicians, and donors and participants for clinical research.


2013 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Carol Yeager ◽  
Betty Hurley-Dasgupta ◽  
Catherine A. Bliss

Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) continue to attract press coverage as they change almost daily in their format, number of registrations and potential for credentialing. An enticing aspect of the MOOC is its global reach. In this paper, we will focus on a type of MOOC called a cMOOC, because it is based on the theory of connectivism and fits the definition of an Open Educational Resource (OER) identified for this special edition of JALN. We begin with a definition of the cMOOC and a discussion of the connectivism on which it is based. Definitions and a research review are followed with a description of two MOOCs offered by two of the authors. Research on one of these MOOCs completed by a third author is presented as well. Student comments that demonstrate the intercultural connections are shared. We end with reflections, lessons learned and recommendations.


2020 ◽  
Vol 35 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arina Alexandra Muresan

The Second High-Level United Nations (UN) Conference on South-South Cooperation (also known as BAPA+40), held in Buenos Aires, Argentina, from 20 to 22 March 2019, promised to reinvigorate efforts to further achieve and implement South-South cooperation (SSC). Forty years on, the Global South is shaping its image as a solutions provider. Immense strides have been made in improving access to allow a multitude of state and non-state actors to cooperate, while broadening and deepening modes of cooperation and facilitating the exchange of knowledge and transfer of technology, thus moving beyond the simplistic view that developing countries require aid to function and move forward. However, noting these symbolic strides, the Global South should move forward by building understanding of monitoring and evaluation (M&E) frameworks; integrating multi-stakeholder models; improving the visibility of peace and security in South-South programming; and building effective communications systems.


Think India ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 72-83
Author(s):  
Tushar Kadian

Actually, basic needs postulates securing of the elementary conditions of existence to every human being. Despite of the practical and theoretical importance of the subject the greatest irony is non- availability of any universal preliminary definition of the concept of basic needs. Moreover, this becomes the reason for unpredictability of various political programmes aiming at providing basic needs to the people. The shift is necessary for development of this or any other conception. No labour reforms could be made in history till labours were treated as objects. Its only after they were started being treating as subjects, labour unions were allowed to represent themselves in strategy formulations that labour reforms could become a reality. The present research paper highlights the basic needs of Human Rights in life.


2020 ◽  
Vol 17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anam Naz ◽  
Tahreem Zaheer ◽  
Hamza Arshad Dar ◽  
Faryal Mehwish Awan ◽  
Ayesha Obaid ◽  
...  

Background: Helicobacter pylori infection and its treatment still remains a challenge to human health worldwide. A variety of antibiotics and combination therapies are currently used to treat H. pylori induced ulcers and carcinoma; however, no effective treatment is available to eliminate the pathogen from the body. Additionally, antibiotic resistance is also one of the main reasons for prolonged and persistent infection. Aim of the study: Until new drugs are available for this infection, vaccinology seems the only alternative opportunity to exploit against H. pylori induced diseases. Methods: Multiple epitopes prioritized in our previous study have been tested for their possible antigenic combinations, and results in 169-mer and 183-mer peptide vaccines containing the amino acid sequences of 3 and 4 epitopes respectively, along with adjuvant (Cholera Toxin Subunit B adjuvant at 5’ end) and linkers (GPGPG and EAAAK). Results: Poly-epitope proteins proposed as potential vaccine candidates against H. pylori include SabAHP0289-Omp16-VacA (SHOV), VacA-Omp16-HP0289-FecA (VOHF), VacA-Omp16-HP0289-SabA (VOHS), VacA-Omp16-HP0289-BabA (VOHB), VacA-Omp16-HP0289-SabA-FecA (VOHSF), VacAOmp16-HP0289-SabA-BabA (VOHSB) and VacA-Omp16-HP0289-BabA-SabA (VOHBS). Structures of these poly-epitope peptide vaccines have been modelled and checked for their affinity with HLA alleles and receptors. These proposed poly-epitope vaccine candidates bind efficiently with A2, A3, B7 and DR1 superfamilies of HLA alleles. They can also form stable and significant interactions with Toll-like receptor 2 and Toll-like receptor 4. Conclusion: Results suggest that these multi-epitopic vaccines can elicit a significant immune response against H. pylori and can be tested further for efficient vaccine development.


Author(s):  
Дмитрий Рубвальтер ◽  
Dmitry Rubvalter ◽  
Александр Либкинд ◽  
Alexander Libkind ◽  
Валентина Маркусова ◽  
...  

A multidimensional analysis of the state of Russian studies on the education issues over 1993–2016 was carried out based on the materials of the data contained in the Web of Science (SSCI, A & HCI and SCI-E databases). There were determined the dynamics and trends of a number of relevant indicators, such as the number of Russian publications by year, the share of these publications in the global flow of publications on education issues, the dynamics of the share of publications made in co-authorship with foreign colleagues, etc. A number of distributions of Russian publications on educational issues was compiled and analyzed: by journals, by Russian regions and cities, by organizations and authors of the publications. It was found that most of these distributions were characterized by a high level of non-uniformity. A list of journals (125 titles) in which Russian works on education issues had been published was compiled. Russian organizations (308) and domestic researchers (about two thousand) engaged in studying the issues of education were identified. It was discovered that more than 200 organizations and about 400 academicians from 60 foreign countries had participated in Russian studies on the education issues.


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