scholarly journals Individual vaccine efficacy variation with time since mRNA BNT162b2 vaccination estimated by rapid, quantitative antibody measurements from a finger-prick sample

Author(s):  
Matheus J. T. Vargas ◽  
Mithileshwari Chandrasekhar ◽  
Yong Je Kwon ◽  
Gerrit Sjoerd Deijs ◽  
Carsten Ma On Wong Corazza ◽  
...  

AbstractWe show that an individual’s immune status to Covid-19 can be monitored through quantitative antibody measurements using a method specifically designed for high throughput and accuracy from a finger-prick blood sample. The quality of the rapid test results is comparable to that from major commercial laboratory testing kits. Anti-Receptor Binding Domain (RBD) IgG concentration showed a log-normal distribution with mean decreasing with time following the second vaccination with mRNA BNT162b2 (Pfizer). Using a model for an individual’s antibody concentration-dependent vaccine efficacy allowed comparison with literature data on changing vaccine efficacy against symptomatic disease across a population. In this small trial (n = 100) estimated median vaccine efficacy was 90% (range 65-95%) < 90 days post vaccination, 75% (range 35 – 90%) 90 – 170 days and 65% (range 35-90%) 170 – 230 days. The results provide strong support for personalized booster programmes that, by targeting people in the tail of the distribution, should be more effective at diminishing breakthrough infection and optimising booster dose supply than a program that simply mandates a booster at a specific post-vaccination time point.

npj Vaccines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Carrie M. Long ◽  
Paul A. Beare ◽  
Diane C. Cockrell ◽  
Jonathan Fintzi ◽  
Mahelat Tesfamariam ◽  
...  

AbstractCoxiella burnetii is the bacterial causative agent of the zoonosis Q fever. The current human Q fever vaccine, Q-VAX®, is a fixed, whole cell vaccine (WCV) licensed solely for use in Australia. C. burnetii WCV administration is associated with a dermal hypersensitivity reaction in people with pre-existing immunity to C. burnetii, limiting wider use. Consequently, a less reactogenic vaccine is needed. Here, we investigated contributions of the C. burnetii Dot/Icm type IVB secretion system (T4BSS) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in protection and reactogenicity of fixed WCVs. A 32.5 kb region containing 23 dot/icm genes was deleted in the virulent Nine Mile phase I (NMI) strain and the resulting mutant was evaluated in guinea pig models of C. burnetii infection, vaccination-challenge, and post-vaccination hypersensitivity. The NMI ∆dot/icm strain was avirulent, protective as a WCV against a robust C. burnetii challenge, and displayed potentially altered reactogenicity compared to NMI. Nine Mile phase II (NMII) strains of C. burnetii that produce rough LPS, were similarly tested. NMI was significantly more protective than NMII as a WCV; however, both vaccines exhibited similar reactogenicity. Collectively, our results indicate that, like phase I LPS, the T4BSS is required for full virulence by C. burnetii. Conversely, unlike phase I LPS, the T4BSS is not required for vaccine-induced protection. LPS length does not appear to contribute to reactogenicity while the T4BSS may contribute to this response. NMI ∆dot/icm represents an avirulent phase I strain with full vaccine efficacy, illustrating the potential of genetically modified C. burnetii as improved WCVs.


Author(s):  
Ludger Klimek ◽  
William E. Berger ◽  
Jean Bousquet ◽  
Paul K. Keith ◽  
Peter Smith ◽  
...  

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is prevalent, and many patients present with moderate-to-severe symptomatic disease. The majority of patients are not satisfied with their AR treatment, despite the use of concurrent medications. These gaps underscore the need for treatment with more effective options for moderate-to-severe AR. The authors’ objective was to review systematically the efficacy and safety of MP-AzeFlu for the treatment of AR. The primary outcomes studied were nasal, ocular, and total symptoms. Other outcomes included time to onset and of AR control, quality of life, and safety. Searches of PubMed and Cochrane databases were conducted on May 14, 2020, with no date restrictions, to identify publications reporting data on MP-AzeFlu. Clinical studies of any phase were included. Studies were excluded if they were not in English, were review articles, did not discuss the safety and efficacy of MP-AzeFlu for AR symptoms. Treatment of AR with MP-AzeFlu results in effective, sustained relief of nasal and ocular symptoms, and faster onset and time to control compared with intranasal azelastine or fluticasone propionate. Long-term use of MP-AzeFlu was safe, with benefits in children, adults, and adults aged ≥65 years. Other treatment options, including fluticasone propionate and azelastine alone or the combination of intranasal corticosteroids and oral antihistamine, do not provide the same level of efficacy as MP-AzeFlu in terms of rapid and sustained relief of the entire AR symptom complex. Furthermore, MP-AzeFlu significantly improves patient quality of life. MP-AzeFlu is a currently available combination that may satisfy all these patient needs and expectations.


2021 ◽  
pp. 0192513X2110315
Author(s):  
Jessica L. McCaig ◽  
Heidi E. Stolz ◽  
Siera J. Reimnitz ◽  
Megan Baumgardner ◽  
Rebecca G. Renegar

Extant research highlights the importance of early paternal engagement for children and families. Thus, there is strong support for the exploration of predictors of low-income father engagement. Informed by Belsky’s process model of parenting, this study explores contextual determinants of father–infant engagement (i.e., verbal engagement, physical play, and caregiving) including the unique contributions of the child, the father, and the broader social context. We utilized survey data from a sample of 183 non-residential, cohabitating, and married low-income fathers of infants participating in a home-visiting intervention. Results demonstrated that infant age was associated with increased caregiving and verbal engagement, fathers’ total work hours were negatively correlated with verbal engagement, fathers’ depressive symptoms were linked to increased physical play, and the quality of the coparenting alliance was related to physical play and caregiving. Findings may inform programs designed to promote paternal engagement during infancy.


2018 ◽  
Vol 57 (5) ◽  
pp. 262
Author(s):  
Novilia Sjafri Bachtiar ◽  
Kusnandi Rusmil ◽  
Sunarjati Sudigdoadi ◽  
Hadyana Sukandar ◽  
Rini Mulia Sari ◽  
...  

Background A phase II study of DTwP-HB-Hib vaccine compared to Hib (monovalent) vaccine given simultaneously with DTwP-HB vaccine has been done following the success of phase I study in infants, where the new DTwP-HB-Hib has excellent safety profiles and antibody responses in infants.Objective To evaluate the titer (quantity), avidity, and bactericidal capacity (quality of anti-polyribosylribitol phosphate/anti-PRP), of a new combined Bio Farma DTwP-HB-Hib (pentavalent) vaccine, compared to the Hib monovalent vaccine given simultaneously with the DTwP-HB vaccine (DTwP-HB+Hib).Methods The study was a prospective, randomized, open label, phase II trial. Subjects aged 6-11 weeks were allocated according to the randomization list. The pentavalent group received the DTwP-HB-Hib vaccine, while the monovalent group received the Hib monovalent and DTwP-HB vaccines separately. Immunizations were given in three doses with 28-day intervals. Blood specimens were taken before the first dose and 28 days after the last dose. We evaluated anti-PRP titers quantity (geometric mean antibody concentration/GMC) and seroprotection), followed by avidity and bactericidal (quality) testing. Titer and avidity of anti-PRP were tested using a modified version of the improved Phipps ELISA. Bactericidal capacity was evaluated using a Hib killing assay. Immune responses against other antigens in the vaccine were reported separately.Results One hundred five subjects in the pentavalent group and 106 subjects in the Hib monovalent group were tested for anti-PRP titers. Only 102 specimens for each group were available for bactericidal testing, due to insufficient volume for testing. Both vaccines induced similar anti-PRP titers, for GMC and seroprotection. Avidity increases were 82.9% and 76.4% in the pentavalent and Hib monovalent groups, respectively. Bactericidal activities were 94.1% and 89.2%, respectively. Both avidity and bactericidal activity were not significantly different between groups.Conclusion DTwP-HB-Hib vaccine induced anti-PRP quantity and quality comparable to those of the Hib monovalent vaccine given simultaneously with the DTwP-HB vaccine.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy J. Schuh ◽  
Panayampalli S. Satheshkumar ◽  
Stephanie Dietz ◽  
Lara Bull-Otterson ◽  
Myrna Charles ◽  
...  

Previous vaccine efficacy (VE) studies have estimated neutralizing and binding antibody concentrations that correlate with protection from symptomatic infection; how these estimates compare to those generated in response to SARS-CoV-2 infection is unclear. Here, we assessed quantitative neutralizing and binding antibody concentrations using standardized SARS-CoV-2 assays on 3,067 serum specimens collected during July 27, 2020-August 27, 2020 from COVID-19 unvaccinated persons with detectable anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies using qualitative antibody assays. Quantitative neutralizing and binding antibody concentrations were strongly positively correlated (r=0.76, p<0.0001) and were noted to be several fold lower in the unvaccinated study population as compared to published data on concentrations noted 28 days post-vaccination. In this convenience sample, ~88% of neutralizing and ~63-86% of binding antibody concentrations met or exceeded concentrations associated with 70% COVID-19 VE against symptomatic infection from published VE studies; ~30% of neutralizing and 1-14% of binding antibody concentrations met or exceeded concentrations associated with 90% COVID-19 VE. These data support observations of infection-induced immunity and current recommendations for vaccination post infection to maximize protection against symptomatic COVID-19.


Vaccines ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 674
Author(s):  
Maíra Aguiar ◽  
Nico Stollenwerk

There is a growing public health need for effective preventive interventions against dengue, and a safe, effective and affordable dengue vaccine against the four serotypes would be a significant achievement for disease prevention and control. Two tetravalent dengue vaccines, Dengvaxia (CYD-TDV—Sanofi Pasteur) and DENVax (TAK 003—Takeda Pharmaceutical Company), have now completed phase 3 clinical trials. Although Dengvaxia resulted in serious adverse events and had to be restricted to individuals with prior dengue infections, DENVax has shown, at first glance, some encouraging results. Using the available data for the TAK 003 trial, we estimate, via the Bayesian approach, vaccine efficacy (VE) of the post-vaccination surveillance periods of 12 and 18 months. Although better measurement over a long time was expected for the second part of the post-vaccination surveillance, variation in serotype-specific efficacy needs careful consideration. Besides observing that individual serostatus prior to vaccination is determinant of DENVax vaccine efficacy, such as for Dengvaxia, we also noted, after comparing the VE estimations for 12- and 18-month periods, that vaccine efficacy is decreasing over time. The comparison of efficacies over time is informative and very important, and brings up the discussion of the role of temporary cross-immunity in dengue vaccine trials and the impact of serostatus prior to vaccination in the context of dengue fever epidemiology.


BDJ ◽  
1993 ◽  
Vol 174 (7) ◽  
pp. 235-240 ◽  
Author(s):  
P V Carrotte ◽  
R B Winstanley ◽  
J R Green

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-4
Author(s):  
Jeremy T. Larsen ◽  
Frederick D. Leonard

Hypoalbuminemia has been reported as common in patients with symptomatic Waldenström macroglobulinemia (WM), but it is not typically mentioned as a manifestation of the disease in review articles or articles discussing indications for treatment. We present the case of a patient with WM for whom symptomatic hypoalbuminemia was the primary reason for initiating treatment. Except in rare cases of WM with renal or gastrointestinal involvement, hypoalbuminemia is thought to be due to the effects of elevated levels of inflammation-associated cytokines, and it has been associated with greater likelihood of progression of asymptomatic to symptomatic disease, greater disease severity, and poorer prognosis. Hypoalbuminemia in WM may become symptomatic, and it may be a reason to initiate treatment if symptoms affect quality of life.


1976 ◽  
Vol 82 (3) ◽  
pp. 166-167 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. J. Allison ◽  
I. Cowe ◽  
R. McHale
Keyword(s):  

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document