scholarly journals Meningococcal Vaccines of New Generations – the First 20 Years of Use

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 103-113
Author(s):  
N. N. Kostyukova ◽  
V. A. Bekhalo

Relevance. Meningococcal vaccine refers to any of the vaccines used to prevent infection by Neisseria meningitidis. Therefore, there is a great scientific and practical interest in the existing and developed menicococcal vaccines.Aims the review is to provide an analysis: literature data on the effectiveness of meningococcal vaccines of new generations - conjugated polysaccharide serogroups A, C, W and Y and protein serogroup B.Conclusions. With regard to conjugated vaccines, there are a large number of reliable observations confirming the high immunological and epidemiological effectiveness of these vaccine preparations, including the prevention of bacterial carriage and the development of herd immunity. These vaccines are weakly reactogenic, and in many countries, they are introduced into national immunization programs and in some countries are used as mandatory (UK) or in connection with the existing epidemic indications. The protein «vesicle» vaccine based on serogroup B meningococcal outer membrane proteins, showed high efficacy only in those cases when the protein composition of the strain that caused the morbidity corresponded to the composition (mainly in terms of the PorA subtype antigen) of the vaccine. Genetic-engineered vaccines containing only a few serogroup B meningococcal protein antigens with or without the addition of «vesicle» proteins are difficult to evaluate due to the small number of observations associated with low serogroup В prevalence, but in Great Britain, such vaccine was also introduced as mandatory in the national immunization schedule for babies. At the same time, new vaccines of serogroup B induce immune protection against some strains of meningococcus of other serogroups C, W, and Y, and even against other species of Neisseria, in particular - gonococcus. This circumstance gives rise to hope for the development of protein meningococcal vaccines with a wider spectrum of specificity than the group, and even than the species.

Vaccines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 256
Author(s):  
Pedro Plans-Rubió

In 2012, the World Health Organization (WHO) established the Global Vaccine Action Plan with the objective to promote essential vaccinations in all countries and achieve at least 90% vaccination coverage for all routine vaccines by 2020. The study assessed the mean percentages of vaccination coverage in 2019 for 13 routine vaccines, vaccination coverage variation from 2015 to 2019, and herd immunity levels against measles and pertussis in 2019 in countries and regions of WHO. In 2019, the mean percentages of vaccination coverage were lower than 90% for 10 (78.9%) routine vaccines. The mean percentages of vaccination coverage also decreased from 2015 to 2019 for six (46.2%) routine vaccines. The prevalence of individuals with vaccine-induced measles immunity in the target measles vaccination population was 88.1%, and the prevalence of individuals with vaccine-induced pertussis immunity in the target pertussis vaccination population was 81.1%. Herd immunity against measles viruses with Ro = 18 was established in 63 (32.5%) countries but not established in any region. Herd immunity against pertussis agents was not established in any country and in any region of WHO. National immunization programs must be improved to achieve ≥90% vaccination coverage in all countries and regions. Likewise, it is necessary to achieve ≥95% vaccination coverage with two doses of measles vaccines and three doses of pertussis vaccines in all countries and regions.


2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 85-89
Author(s):  
A.A. Girina ◽  
◽  
A.L. Zaplatnikov ◽  
F.I. Petrovskiy ◽  
L.P. Tandalova ◽  
...  

Aim: to compare monthly implementation of immunization plan as a part of the National Immunization Schedule in 2019 and 2020 in children aged 0–18 years. Patients and Methods: monthly and annual form No. 5 “Information on prophylactic immunization” (from January 2019 to December 2020) was analyzed. Monthly implementation of immunization plan for each vaccine-preventable disease (whooping cough, poliomyelitis, mumps, rubella, measles, diphtheria tetanus and other) were analyzed separately. Results: in the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, a significant (8.8-fold) reduction in the coverage of children with immunization against vaccine-preventable diseases was reported compared to 2019 (р<0.0001). The reduction in the implementation of immunization schedule required urgent solutions to maintain a high level of herd immunity. The recovery of the required implementation of immunization plan against whooping cough and poliomyelitis was achieved by the end of 2020. The recovery of the required implementation of immunization plan against diphtheria and tetanus, measles, rubella, and mumps will be achieved in September 2020 (considering the National Immunization Schedule that includes revaccinations in preschool and school years). Conclusions: timely identification of the drawbacks of the organization of immunization and the prompt development of effective measures and implementation into clinical practice allowed for full implementation of immunization plan in children in 2020, despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. KEYWORDS: vaccination, children, National Immunization Schedule, revaccination, COVID-19 pandemic. FOR CITATION: Girina A.A., Zaplatnikov A.L., Petrovskiy F.I., Tandalova L.P. Childhood vaccination as a part of the National Immunization Schedule during the COVID-19: problems and potential solutions. Russian Journal of Woman and Child Health. 2021;4(1):85–89. DOI: 10.32364/2618-8430-2021-4-1-85-89.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Siobhan Botwright ◽  
Birgitte K. Giersing ◽  
Martin I. Meltzer ◽  
Anna-Lea Kahn ◽  
Mark Jit ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
A. Çigdem Simsek ◽  
Elif Arabulan ◽  
Nilufer Tavukçu ◽  
Sertaç Çankaya ◽  
Belgin Gulhan ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kamel A. Samara ◽  
Hiba J. Barqawi ◽  
Basant H. Aboelsoud ◽  
Moza A. AlZaabi ◽  
Fay T. Alraddawi ◽  
...  

AbstractAnnually, 1.5 million cases of hepatitis A infection occur worldwide. The United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.) has seen a decrease in infection rates and seroprevalence coupled with an increase in the average age of infection. This study aimed to assess the U.A.E. society’s hepatitis A knowledge, and attitudes and vaccination practices, with the applicability of its introduction into the local immunization schedule. A self-administered, 50-item questionnaire was used to collect data from the four most populous cities in the U.A.E., between January and March 2020. A total of 458 responses were collected and analysed using IBM-SPSS-26, R-4.0.0 and Matplotlib-v3.2.1. Females had better attitudes (P = 0.036), practices (P < 0.0005), immunization schedule knowledge (AOR = 3.019; CI 1.482–6.678), and appreciation of the immunization schedule (AOR = 2.141; CI 1.310–3.499). A higher level of perceived knowledge was associated with an actual better knowledge (P < 0.0005), better practices (P = 0.011), and increased willingness to get vaccinated (AOR = 1.988; CI 1.032–3.828). Respondents were more likely to vaccinate their children against HAV if the vaccine were introduced into the National Immunization Program (P < 0.0005). Overall, disease knowledge was lacking but with positive attitudes and poor practices. There is high trust in the National Immunization Program and a potential for improving poor practices through local awareness campaigns.


2019 ◽  
pp. 459-467
Author(s):  
Beata Smok ◽  
Justyna Franczak ◽  
Krzysztof Domagalski ◽  
Małgorzata Pawłowska

OBJECTIVES. The aim of this study was to describe the epidemiology of chickenpox complications in children, based on a 19-year long survey. METHODS. This publication constitutes a review of medical records of 761 patients under the age of 18 who were hospitalized at the T. Browicz Provincial Hospital for Infectious Diseases in Bydgoszcz, Poland from the 1st of January 1999 to the 31st of December 2017. RESULTS. Over the study period, 761 children diagnosed with varicella complications were hospitalized. The mean number of hospitalizations in each year amounted to 40. The median age of admitted patients was 4 years. The median length of hospitalization was 5 days (ranged from 1 to 30 days). The most frequent varicella complications included respiratory tract infections – 229/761 (30.1%), bacterial skin infections – 189/761 (24.8%) and gastrointestinal tract disorders – 142/761 (18.6%). Pneumonia, bronchitis and gastrointestinal tract disturbances, were reported most often in children under 2 years of age, while neurological complications occurred most frequently in children at 3-6 years of age. No significant differences in the number of varicella complications between immunocompromised and immunocompetent children were reported. CONCLUSIONS. Varicella complications mainly affect the youngest immunocompetent children. Population-wide vaccination and herd immunity appears to be the best way to reduce the incidence of chickenpox and the rate of varicella complications. This study gives support for inclusion of universal varicella vaccine in the National Immunization Program in Poland.


2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 354-362 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. A Basov ◽  
O. V Tsvirkun ◽  
A. G Gerasimova ◽  
A. K Zekoreeva

Pertussis infection remains a high-priority issue both for Russian health care and abroad. A rise of pertussis incidence in various human age groups instigates a search for new ways to fight this infection and improve methods for its laboratory diagnostics. By taking into consideration a short-term effect induced by acellular and whole-cell vaccines, a feasibility of introducing the second or even the third pertussis revaccination is vigorously debated. Objective of the study was to analyze the experience and effectiveness of acellular pertussis vaccines in countries, which use the second and third pertussis revaccination in the National Immunization Schedule in order to have an insight into adjusting strategy and tactics of pertussis immunization In Russia. Analyzing pertussis prevalence demonstrated that despite a wide immunization coverage pertussis incidence in the last years (2008–2015) was increased in a large number of countries in the European region, as well as inAustralia,CanadaandUSA. However, the reasons for elevated pertussis incidence have not been clarified yet. On one hand, it may be accounted for by low vaccination coverage in adolescents and adults; weakened immune protection after vaccination; genetic changes in Bordetella pertussis; shortened durability of protective immunity in children vaccinated with acellular vs. whole-cell vaccine; improved monitoring and morbidity reporting, as well as improved laboratory diagnostics due to shifting from serological and bacteriological to molecular genetic assays. In an attempt to solve this issue, researchers from several countries collaborate to discuss and develop a strategy to reduce pertussis incidence. ForRussia, the most important is to empower and/or improve existing infant immunization strategy in order to provide wide coverage with the four dose pertussis vaccine for decreasing the risk of pertussis morbidity and mortality. It is worth noting the “cocoon” strategy given the high risk of pertussis infection in children of the first months of life. We believe that forRussiait is worth investigating an opportunity of using children 2–3 months of life an acellular vaccine as the first vaccination, which is expected to increase the coverage of this cohort and allow to increase proportion of children who might complete vaccination by 5 months of age. At the same time, more reasonable might be to preserve a number of age groups for pertussis vaccination in the current National Immunization Schedule, as expanding age limits for vaccination might put a risk at increasing pertussis morbidity in older individuals, which could be hard to diagnose. 


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aline Teixeira ◽  
Alexandria Gillespie ◽  
Alehegne Yirsaw ◽  
Emily Britton ◽  
Janice Telfer ◽  
...  

Pathogenic Leptospira species cause leptospirosis, a neglected zoonotic disease recognized as a global public health problem. It is also the cause of the most common cattle infection that results in major economic losses due to reproductive problems. γδ T cells play a role in the protective immune response in livestock species against Leptospira while human γδ T cells also respond to Leptospira. Thus, activation of γδ T cells has emerged as a potential component for optimization of vaccine strategies. Bovine γδ T cells proliferate and produce IFN-γ in response to vaccination with inactivated leptospires and this response is mediated by a specific subpopulation of the WC1-bearing γδ T cells. WC1 molecules are members of the group B scavenger receptor cysteine rich (SRCR) superfamily and are composed of multiple SRCR domains, of which particular extracellular domains act as ligands for Leptospira. Since WC1 molecules function as both pattern recognition receptors and γδ TCR coreceptors, the WC1 system has been proposed as a novel target to engage γδ T cells. Here, we demonstrate the involvement of leptospiral protein antigens in the activation of WC1+ γδ T cells and identified two leptospiral outer membrane proteins able to interact directly with them. Interestingly, we show that the protein-specific γδ T cell response is composed of WC1.1+ and WC1.2+ subsets, although a greater number of WC1.1+ γδ T cells respond. Identification of protein antigens will enhance our understanding of the role γδ T cells play in the leptospiral immune response and in recombinant vaccine development.


1980 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 709-717
Author(s):  
Marilyn R. Loeb ◽  
David H. Smith

The outer membrane protein composition of 50 disease isolates of Haemophilus influenzae has been determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. All strains, including 28 strains of serotype b , one strain each of serotypes a, c, d, e , and f , and 17 untypable strains, had an outer membrane protein composition typical of gram-negative bacteria, i.e., these membranes contained two to three dozen proteins with four to six proteins accounting for most of their protein content. Variation in the mobility of these major outer membrane proteins from strain to strain was common but not universal; the observed patterns provided useful data and new insight into the epidemiology of type b disease. The basic findings can be summarized as follows: (i) All 50 strains possessed three proteins (one minor and two major) each having identical mobilities. The other proteins, both major and minor, varied in mobility. (ii) All type b strains possessed a fourth (major) protein of identical mobility. (iii) The 28 type b strains, on the basis of the mobility of the six major outer membrane proteins, could be divided into eight subtypes. Of all the other strains examined, both typable and untypable, only the serotype a strain belonged to one of these subtypes. (iv) The untypable strains showed considerable variation in the mobilities of their major outer membrane proteins. Of these 17 strains, 13 had an additional major outer membrane protein not present in encapsulated strains. (v) The outer membrane protein composition of a single strain remained unchanged after many passages on solid media, but varied with the growth phase. (vi) The outer membrane protein composition of isolates obtained from nine patients during an epidemic of type b meningitis varied, indicating that a single strain was not responsible for the epidemic. At least five different strains were responsible for these nine cases. (vii) Identical outer membrane protein compositions were observed in the following: in a type b strain and a mutant of this strain deficient in capsule production, indicating that the level of capsule synthesis is not obviously related to outer membrane protein composition; in type b strains isolated from different anatomic sites of patients acutely ill with meningitis, indicating that the strain associated with bacteremia is the same as that isolated from the cerebrospinal fluid; in type b strains isolated from siblings who contracted meningitis at about the same time, indicating infection with the same strain; and in type b strains isolated from the initial and repeat infection of a single patient, suggesting that reinfection was due to the same strain.


2013 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 530-539 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xueyan Xi ◽  
Xiqin Han ◽  
Liang Li ◽  
Zhendong Zhao

ABSTRACTThe immune protection initiated by γδ T cells plays an important role in mycobacterial infection. The γδ T cells activated byMycobacterium tuberculosis-derived nonpeptidic, phosphorylated biometabolites (phosphoantigens) provide only partial immune protection against mycobacterium, while evidence has suggested that protein antigen-activated γδ T cells elicit effective protective immune responses. To date, only a few distinct mycobacterial protein antigens have been identified. In the present study, we screened protein antigens recognized by γδ T cells using cells transfected with the predominant pulmonary tuberculosis γδ T cell receptor (TCR) CDR3 fragment. We identified two peptides, TP1 and TP2, which not only bind to the pulmonary tuberculosis predominant γδ TCR but also effectively activate γδ T cells isolated from pulmonary tuberculosis patients. Moreover, 1-deoxy-d-xylulose 5-phosphate synthase 2 (DXS2), the TP1-matched mycobacterial protein, was confirmed as a ligand for the γδ TCR and was found to activate γδ T cells from pulmonary tuberculosis patients. The extracellular region (extracellular peptide [EP]) of Rv2272, a TP2-matched mycobacterial transmembrane protein, was also shown to activate γδ T cells from pulmonary tuberculosis patients. Both DXS2- and EP-expanded γδ T cells from pulmonary tuberculosis patients could secrete gamma interferon (IFN-γ) and monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1), which play important roles in mediating cytotoxicity against mycobacterium and stimulating monocyte chemotaxis toward the site of infection. In conclusion, our study identified novel mycobacterial protein antigens recognized by γδ TCR cells that could be candidates for the development of vaccines or adjuvants against mycobacterium infection.


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