MedWorm: Influenza Vaccine

Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Reminders for Children with High-Risk Conditions

ICMCC: The International Council on Medical and Care Compunetics — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 09:08:10 +0100

Source: Dombkowski KJ et al, American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 42(1) Content: Background Children with chronic conditions have an increased risk of complications from influenza and have low influenza vaccination rates. Purpose To assess the feasibility and effectiveness of using a statewide immunization information system (IIS) for seasonal influenza vaccine reminders from local health departments (LHDs) targeting children [...] (Source: ICMCC: The International Council on Medical and Care Compunetics)

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National Influenza Vaccination Disparities Partnership, February Newsletter, PDF

CDC Flu updates — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 18:34:00 +0100

(Source: CDC Flu updates)

Immunogenicity and Tolerability of Recombinant Serogroup B Meningococcal Vaccine Administered With or Without Routine Infant Vaccinations According to Different Immunization Schedules: A Randomized Controlled Trial [Original Contribution]

JAMA — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusion A 4CMenB vaccine is immunogenic against reference strains when administered with routine vaccines at 2, 4, and 6 or at 2, 3, and 4 months of age, producing minimal interference with the response to routine infant vaccinations. Trial Registration clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00721396 (Source: JAMA)

Scientists call for curbs on own research on deadly bird flu virus

Guardian Unlimited Science — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:06:00 +0100

Virus experts in the US say outbreak of genetically engineered bird flu could be worst influenza pandemic in historyA group of the leading virus experts in the US has called for new, permanent restrictions on research in the face of a new genetically engineered flu virus that could kill half the population of the world.Scientists are currently observing a 60-day moratorium on research into the bird flu virus, after two groups found a way to make it infectious through airborne transmission.An outbreak of this virus could be worse than the 1918 Spanish flu that killed tens of millions of people, warned Michael Osterholm – who has led research into previous dangerous outbreaks – at a public meeting on censorship in science in New York on Thursday night."Frankly, I don't want a virus out t...

Highlights from this issue

Gut — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Luminal GIH1N1 influenza vaccination and IBD The global pandemic of novel influenza A (H1N1) affected 70 countries in 2009. There was particular concern for infection in immunocompromised patients, including those with IBD. The 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine produced seroprotection rates of >85% in the general population but there are no data on the immunogenicity of the vaccine in patients with IBD. In this issue of Gut, Cullen et al report their observational prospective open-label study which examined the immunogenicity of the 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine in IBD patients. Patients with IBD vaccinated with the 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine had a low rate of seroprotection, particularly those who were immunosuppressed or received combination immunosuppression (see table 1). An assay of T lym...

Serological response to the 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccination in patients with inflammatory bowel disease

Gut — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusions Patients with IBD vaccinated with the 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine had a low rate of seroprotection, particularly among those who were immunosuppressed. Although there is a need for studies of the clinical benefit of vaccines in this population, patients with IBD need to be aware of this reduced immunogenicity. (Source: Gut)

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Vaccination against influenza a virus (H1N1) among Spanish healthcare workers.

European Journal of Internal Medicine — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:24:32 +0100

Authors: Olalla J, de Ory F, Casas I, Benítez N PMID: 22284261 [PubMed - in process] (Source: European Journal of Internal Medicine)

Influenza virus vaccine: Palmoplantar keratoderma and ichthyosis: case report

Reactions — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 18:34:27 +0100

(Source: Reactions)

Key Peptides Identified That Could Lead To A Universal Vaccine For Influenza

Health News from Medical News Today — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 08:00:00 +0100

Researchers at the University of Southampton, University of Oxford and Retroscreeen Virology Ltd have discovered a series of peptides, found on the internal structures of influenza viruses that could lead to the development of a universal vaccine for influenza, one that gives people immunity against all strains of the disease, including seasonal, avian, and swine flu. Influenza, an acute viral infection, affects hundreds of thousands of people a year and puts an enormous strain on healthcare providers globally... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Improved serological response to H1N1 monovalent vaccine associated with viral suppression among HIV‐1‐infected patients during the 2009 influenza (H1N1) pandemic in the Southern Hemisphere

HIV Medicine — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

ConclusionsA high prevalence of HI H1N1 antibodies was found before vaccination in the cohort, consistent with previous exposure to H1N1 influenza virus. The response to vaccination was considered adequate, as more than two‐thirds of patients achieved a fourfold or more increase in antibody titre after vaccination. The response to vaccination was significantly greater in those patients who were aviraemic for HIV, suggesting that antiretroviral therapy improves the humoral response, which is important in optimizing vaccine effectiveness. (Source: HIV Medicine)

Neurologic adverse events following influenza A (H1N1) vaccinations in children

Pediatrics International — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: Post‐vaccine NAEs were mainly motor weakness due to poly‐neuropathy, which had a good prognosis of complete improvement within a few months without sequelae.© 2012 The Authors. Pediatrics International © 2012 Japan Pediatric Society (Source: Pediatrics International)

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Carriage of encapsulated bacteria in Gabonese children with sickle cell anemia

Clinical Microbiology and Infection — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

In conclusion, carriage and resistance rates are similar in children with and without SCA. Our data provide the basis to guide empiric therapy of invasive diseases caused by S. pneumoniae, S. aureus and H. influenza in children in Gabon. (Source: Clinical Microbiology and Infection)

Influenza vaccination of healthcare workers in acute-care hospitals: a case-control study of its effect on hospital-acquired influenza among patients

BMC Infectious Diseases — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: Our observational study indicates a shielding effect of more than 35% of vaccinated HCW on HAI among patients in acute-care units. Investigations, such as controlled clinical trials, are needed to validate the benefits of HCW vaccination on HAI incidence in patients. (Source: BMC Infectious Diseases)

Improving the Quality of Immunization Delivery to an At-Risk Population: A Comprehensive Approach

PEDIATRICS — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

CONCLUSION: We were able to implement a comprehensive immunization QI program that was sustainable over time. (Source: PEDIATRICS)

[National Survey of Vaccination Coverage (Influenza, pneumococcus and tetanus) in Mexican population of 60 years of age and older].

Salud Publica de Mexico — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

CONCLUSIONS: Important improvements are shown in vaccination coverage among elderly in Mexico. Differentials suggest the need to intensify information campaigns and actions that could improve the accessibility to vaccines for this population. PMID: 22286827 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Salud Publica de Mexico)

New influenza vaccines: Promises, perils, and pitfalls.

Vaccine — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Poland GA, Tosh PK PMID: 22289205 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Vaccine)

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A DNA vaccine expressing PB1 protein of influenza A virus protects mice against virus infection

Archives of Virology — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 16:44:28 +0100

Abstract Although influenza DNA vaccine research has focused mainly on viral hemagglutinin and has led to promising results, other virion proteins have also shown some protective potential. In this work, we explored the potential of a DNA vaccine based on the PB1 protein to protect BALB/c mice against lethal influenza A virus infection. The DNA vaccine consisted of pTriEx4 plasmid expressing PB1. As a positive control, a pTriEx4 plasmid expressing influenza A virus HA was used. Two weeks after three subcutaneous doses of DNA vaccine, the mice were challenged intranasally with 1 LD50 of A/Puerto Rico/8/34 (H1N1) virus, and PB1- and HA-specific antibodies, survival rate, body weight change, viral mRNA load, infectious virus titer in the lungs, cytokines IL-2, IL-4 and IL-10, ...

New Information In The Fight Against Flu

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 08:00:00 +0100

Influenza virus can rapidly evolve from one form to another, complicating the effectiveness of vaccines and anti-viral drugs used to treat it. By first understanding the complex host cell pathways that the flu uses for replication, University of Georgia researchers are finding new strategies for therapies and vaccines, according to a study published in the January issue of the Journal of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology. The researchers studied RNA interference to determine the host genes influenza uses for virus replication... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Researchers identify key peptides that could lead to a universal vaccine for influenza

EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

(University of Southampton) Researchers at the University of Southampton, University of Oxford and Retroscreen Virology Ltd have discovered a series of peptides, found on the internal structures of influenza viruses that could lead to the development of a universal vaccine for influenza, one that gives people immunity against all strains of the disease, including seasonal, avian, and swine flu. (Source: EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science)

Targeted DNA vaccine using an electric pulse

ScienceDaily Headlines — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 14:36:36 +0100

The vaccines of the future against infections, influenza and cancer can be administered using an electrical pulse and a specially-produced DNA code, new research suggests. The DNA code programs the body’s own cells to produce a super-fast missile defense against the disease, researchers say. (Source: ScienceDaily Headlines)

Characteristics, Services, and Infection Control Practices of New York City Assisted Living Facilities, 2010

Journal of the American Geriatrics Society — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

ConclusionNYC ALFs were varied in terms of nursing services offered, characteristics, and residents’ needs; therefore, public health agencies may need to be flexible in their assistance. Public health agencies should consider strengthening relationships with ALFs to identify unmet needs and gaps in services. (Source: Journal of the American Geriatrics Society)

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Vaccination coverage among medical residents in Paris, France

Clinical Microbiology and Infection — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

AbstractMedical residents are particularly exposed to the risk of occupational infection. We aimed to determine the vaccination coverage in residents with an anonymous self‐reporting electronic questionnaire. A total of 250 residents entered this survey. Vaccination rates were particularly high for mandatory vaccinations (diphtheria, tetanus, poliomyelitis, hepatitis B virus and tuberculosis). Regarding recommended vaccinations (influenza 45.6%, pertussis 65.2%, measles 62.8%, varicella 62.8%), rates were insufficient to prevent hospital epidemics, but higher than those reported in other healthcare workers. Further immunization programmes should target residents, and not only senior healthcare workers, with a critical role for occupational medicine departments. (Source: Clinical Microbio...

Barriers to and facilitators of child influenza vaccine - Perspectives from parents, teens, marketing and healthcare professionals.

Vaccine — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

CONCLUSION: To improve influenza vaccination rates for children using practice-based interventions, participants suggested campaigns that provide better information regarding the vaccine, the disease and its implications, and convenient access to vaccination. Strategies targeting adolescents should use web-based social marketing technologies and campaigns based in schools. PMID: 22300721 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Vaccine)

Influenza Vaccination in the Face of Immune Exhaustion: Is Herd Immunity Effective for Protecting the Elderly?

Clinical and Developmental Immunology — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 11:22:18 +0100

At the start of the 21st century, seasonal influenza virus infection is still a major public health concern across the world. The recent body of evidence confirms that trivalent inactivated influenza vaccines (TIVs) are not optimal within the population who account for approximately 90% of all influenza-related death: elderly and chronically ill individuals regardless of age. With the ever increasing aging of the world population and the recent fears of any pandemic influenza rife, great efforts and resources have been dedicated to developing more immunogenic vaccines and strategies for enhancing protection in these higher-risk groups. This paper describes the mechanisms that shape immune response at the extreme ages of life and how they have been taken into account to design more effe...

New information for flu fight: Researchers study RNA interference to determine host genes used by influenza for virus replication

ScienceDaily Headlines — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 21:27:27 +0100

The role of nuclear technologies in the diagnosis and control of livestock diseases—a review

Tropical Animal Health and Production — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 17:54:44 +0100

Abstract Nuclear and nuclear-related technologies have played an important role in animal health, particularly in relation to disease diagnosis and characterization of pathogenic organisms. This review focuses primarily on how and where nuclear technologies, both non-isotopic and isotopic methods, have made their impact in the past and where it might be expected they could have an impact in the future. The review outlines the extensive use of radiation attenuation in attempts to create vaccines for a multiplicity of pathogenic organisms and how the technology is being re-examined in the light of recent advances in irradiation techniques and cryopreservation/lyophilization that might obviate some of the problems of maintenance of viable, attenuate vaccines and their transpo...

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The influenza vaccine market is projected to reach $US4 billion by 2015, despite a decline in 2011

PharmacoEconomics and Outcomes News — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 15:13:30 +0100

(Source: PharmacoEconomics and Outcomes News)

Study offers new information for flu fight

EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

(University of Georgia) Influenza virus can rapidly evolve from one form to another, complicating the effectiveness of vaccines and anti-viral drugs used to treat it. By first understanding the complex host cell pathways that the flu uses for replication, University of Georgia researchers are finding new strategies for therapies and vaccines, according to a study published in the January issue of the Journal of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology. (Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health)

Immune response to an adjuvanted influenza A H1N1 vaccine (Pandemrix(R)) in renal transplant recipients

Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusions. These data suggest that Pandemrix® does not provide a protective immune response in the majority of kidney transplant recipients. Therefore, for new vaccines, efficacy as well as safety profiles should be evaluated in this subgroup of patients. (Source: Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation)

The unmet need in the elderly: How immunosenescence, CMV infection, co-morbidities and frailty are a challenge for the development of more effective influenza vaccines.

Vaccine — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: McElhaney JE, Zhou X, Talbot HK, Soethout E, Bleackley RC, Granville D, Pawelec G Abstract Influenza remains the single most important cause of excess disability and mortality during the winter months. In spite of widespread influenza vaccination programs leading to demonstrated cost-savings in the over 65 population, hospitalization and death rates for acute respiratory illnesses continue to rise. As a person ages, increased serum levels of inflammatory cytokines are commonly recorded (TNF-α, IL-1, IL-6). Termed "inflammaging", this has been linked to persistent cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection and immune senescence, while increased anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-10, TGF-β) are possibly associated with more healthy aging. Paradoxically, a shift with aging toward an anti...

Effect of a best-practice alert on the rate of influenza vaccination of pregnant women.

Obstetrics and Gynecology — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 20:42:46 +0100

CONCLUSION: : Both our rate of vaccination of pregnant women against influenza and the rate of a documented discussion regarding vaccination increased after implementation of the best-practice alert. We recommend that users of electronic medical records add a best-practice alert to improve influenza vaccination rates. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: : II. PMID: 22270281 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Obstetrics and Gynecology)

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Cost-benefit analysis of in-hospital influenza vaccination of postpartum women.

Obstetrics and Gynecology — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 20:42:35 +0100

CONCLUSION: : Our model suggests that postpartum influenza vaccination is a cost-beneficial approach for prevention of maternal and infantile influenza from a societal perspective. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: : III. PMID: 22270282 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Obstetrics and Gynecology)

Influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 antibodies after pandemic and trivalent seasonal influenza vaccination as well as natural infection in November 2010 in Hamburg, Germany.

Euro Surveill — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 03:06:03 +0100

Authors: Cramer J, Mac T, Hogan B, Stauga S, Eberhardt S, Wichmann O, Mertens T, Burchard G PMID: 22264864 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Euro Surveill)

Cross-reactive antibody to swine influenza A(H3N2) subtype virus in children and adults before and after immunisation with 2010/11 trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine in Canada, August to November 2010

Eurosurveillance latest news — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0100

(Source: Eurosurveillance latest news)

Influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 vaccination policies and coverage in Europe

Eurosurveillance latest news — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0100

(Source: Eurosurveillance latest news)

Influenza Vaccine in Young Children

New England Journal of Medicine — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 22:00:11 +0100

New England Journal of Medicine, Volume 366, Issue 4, Page 383-384, January 2012. (Source: New England Journal of Medicine)

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Full-length characterization and phylogenetic analysis of hemagglutinin gene of H9N2 virus isolated from broilers in Iran during 1998–2007

Comparative Clinical Pathology — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 07:26:50 +0100

Abstract H9N2 avian influenza A viruses (AIV) have become panzootic in Eurasia over the last decade and are endemic in Iran since 1998, and inactivated vaccine has been used in chickens to control the disease. The hemagglutinin (HA), one of eight protein-coding genes, plays an important role during the early stage of infection. To study their evolution and zoonotic potential, we conducted an in silico analysis of H9N2 viruses that have infected broiler in Tehran Province, Iran between 1998 and 2007. The complete coding region of HA genes from nine H9N2 subtypes isolated from chicken flocks in Tehran Province during 1998–2007 was amplified and sequenced. Sequence analysis and phylogenetic studies of H9N2 subtype viruses on the basis of data of 9 viruses in this study and ...

Axillary lymph node accumulation on FDG-PET/CT after influenza vaccination

Annals of Nuclear Medicine — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 07:21:06 +0100

Conclusions Recent influenza vaccination before FDG-PET/CT examination may cause ipsilateral axillary lymph node accumulations, especially within several days after vaccination. Questionnaires about vaccination can help to avoid false interpretation of FDG avid axillary lymph nodes. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Original articlePages 1-5DOI 10.1007/s12149-011-0568-xAuthors Norihisa Shirone, Department of Radiology, Takai Hospital, 461-2 Kuranosho-cho, Tenri, Nara 632-0006, JapanTakayuki Shinkai, Department of Radiation Oncology, Nara Medical University, 840 Shijo-cho, Kashihara, Nara 634-8522, JapanTomohiko Yamane, Division of Molecular Imaging, Institute of Biomedical Research and Innovation, 2-2, Minatojima Minamimachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo 650-0047, JapanF...

Immunogenicity and safety of the influenza A H1N1v 2009 vaccine in cancer patients treated with cytotoxic chemotherapy and/or targeted therapy: the VACANCE study

Annals of Oncology — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: A single dose of AS03-adjuvanted A/H1N1 vaccine triggered a low immune response in cancer patients on chemotherapy depending on their treatment type and frequency. Two doses are needed for these cancer patients. (Source: Annals of Oncology)

Notice to Readers: Revised Estimates of the Public Health Impact of 2009 Pandemic Influenza A (H1N1) Vaccination [From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention]

JAMA — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

(Source: JAMA)

Measurement of antibodies to pneumococcal, meningococcal and haemophilus polysaccharides, and tetanus and diphtheria toxoids using a 19-plexed assay.

Journal of Immunological Methods — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Whitelegg AM, Birtwistle J, Richter A, Campbell JP, Turner JE, Ahmed TM, Giles LJ, Fellows M, Plant T, Ferraro AJ, Cobbold M, Drayson MT, Maclennan CA Abstract The measurement of antibody responses to vaccination is useful in the assessment of immune status in suspected immune deficiency. Previous reliance on enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assays (ELISA) has been cumbersome, time-consuming and expensive. The availability of flow cytometry systems has led to the development of multiplexed assays enabling simultaneous measurement of antibodies to several antigens. We optimized a flow cytometric bead-based assay to measure IgG and IgM concentrations in serum to 19 antigens contained in groups of bacterial subunit vaccines: pneumococcal vaccines, meningococcal vaccines, Haemoph...

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Influenza virus vaccine: Giant cell arteritis with polymyalgia rheumatica in an elderly patient: case report

Reactions — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 18:35:21 +0100

(Source: Reactions)

Influenza immunisation program at three tertiary paediatric hospitals in NSW in 2010.

New South Wales Public Health Bulletin — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 04:06:49 +0100

Authors: Wood NJ, Cashman PM Abstract This is a report of an innovative influenza immunisation program in three tertiary paediatric hospitals in NSW. A targeted once-off program of influenza immunisation funded by NSW Health was offered during 2010 at the Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney Children's Hospital and the John Hunter Children's Hospital. Authorised immunisers offered influenza immunisation to paediatric patients, outpatients and relatives of children with chronic illnesses. Influenza immunisation was administered to 3458 people, 1251 (36%) of whom were children with chronic conditions. In 2009 before the program, 420 influenza vaccines were prescribed for children in two of these hospitals. This number increased to 949 in 2010, the year of the program. Dedicated va...

Bird flu scientists suspend work amid epidemic fears

Guardian Unlimited Science — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 22:07:42 +0100

Researchers announce 60-day suspension to allow debate about security of their attempts to prevent spread of virusScientists trying to prevent bird flu from killing millions of people have suspended their work because of fears they might accidentally cause the epidemic they hope to stop, according to a letter published on Friday in scientific journals.Researchers from around the world signed a letter in the Nature and Science journals in which they announced a 60-day suspension to allow a public debate about the security of their work.The letter comes after developments in the study of bird flu in which scientists have created a similar virus that can be passed between mammals.Bird flu can only be caught by humans from birds such as chickens but it is usually lethal. Scientists fear that b...

Safety, immunogenicity, and efficacy of an alphavirus replicon-based swine influenza virus hemagglutinin vaccine.

Vaccine — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Veen RL, Loynachan AT, Mogler MA, Russell BJ, Harris HD, Kamrud KI Abstract A single-cycle, propagation-defective replicon particle (RP) vaccine expressing a swine influenza virus hemagglutinin (HA) gene was constructed and evaluated in several different animal studies. Studies done in both the intended host (pigs) and non-host (mice) species demonstrated that the RP vaccine is not shed or spread by vaccinated animals to comingled cohorts, nor does it revert to virulence following vaccination. In addition, vaccinated pigs develop both specific humoral and IFN-γ immune responses, and young pigs are protected against homologous influenza virus challenge. PMID: 22269873 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Vaccine)

A case of minimal change nephrotic syndrome with immunoglobulin A nephropathy transitioned to focal segmental glomerulosclerosis

Clinical and Experimental Nephrology — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 06:58:11 +0100

Abstract A 50-year-old woman with a 1-month history of lower extremity edema and a 5 kg weight increase was admitted to our hospital with suspected nephrotic syndrome in October 1999. Urine protein level was 3.5 g per day, 10−15 erythrocytes in urine per high-power field, and serum albumin level 2.5 g/dl. Furthermore, an accumulation of pleural effusion was confirmed by chest X-ray. The results of a renal biopsy indicated slight mesangial proliferation in the glomeruli by light microscopy, and an immunofluorescence study confirmed the deposition of immunoglobulin (Ig) A and C3 in the mesangial area. Diffuse attenuation of foot processes and dense deposits in the mesangial area were observed by electron microscopy. Treatment with 40 mg/day of prednisolone w...

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Guillain-Barré syndrome in temporal association with influenza A vaccine

Revista Paulista de Pediatria — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 06:37:28 +0100

OBJETIVO:Descrever um caso de síndrome de Guillain-Barré em associação temporal com a vacina influenza A (H1N1) 2009. DESCRIÇAO DO CASO: Menino de quatro anos com queixa inicial de dor em coxa direita e perda de força muscular ascendente 15 dias após a segunda dose da vacina influenza A (H1N1) 2009. Ao exame neurológico apresentava tetraparesia e arreflexia, com predomínio em membros inferiores. A eletroneuromiografia evidenciou redução da velocidade e bloqueio de condução neuronal, com discreta perda axonal secundária. Foi tratado com imunoglobulina por via intravenosa, atingiu platô no quarto dia de evolução da doença e, depois, houve melhora progressiva da força muscular. COMENTÁRIOS: Com o emprego em larga escala da vacina influenza A (H1N1) 2009 em nosso meio e os ...

Protective efficacy of an H1N1 cold-adapted live vaccine against the 2009 pandemic H1N1, seasonal H1N1, and H5N1 influenza viruses in mice.

Antiviral Research — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Shi J, Wen Z, Guo J, Zhang Y, Deng G, Shu Y, Wang D, Jiang Y, Kawaoka Y, Bu Z, Chen H Abstract Vaccination is a key strategy for preventing influenza virus infections. Here, we generated a reassortant virus (SC/AAca) containing the hemagglutinin and neuraminidase genes from a 2009 pandemic influenza virus A/Sichuan/1/2009 (H1N1) (SC/09) and six internal genes from the cold-adapted virus A/Ann Arbor/6/60 (H2N2) (AAca). The SC/AAca reassortant induced a sound humoral immune response and complete protection against homologous SC/09 virus challenge in mice after intranasal administration of an at least 10(6) 50% egg infectious dose (EID(50)) of SC/AAca. SC/AAca inoculation also induced significant CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses and provided solid protection against heterologou...

Influenza A virus vaccine-H1N1: Narcolepsy with cataplexy: 2 case reports

Reactions — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 19:08:18 +0100

(Source: Reactions)

Influenza A virus vaccine-H1N1: Encephalitis in an elderly patient: case report

Reactions — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 19:08:18 +0100

(Source: Reactions)

Influenza Virus Resistance to Neuraminidase Inhibitors: Implications for Treatment

Current Infectious Disease Reports — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 07:14:02 +0100

Abstract Oseltamivir and Zanamivir are the two main Neuraminidase inhibitors used for the treatment of Influenza. Oseltamivir resistance has been identified in non-pandemic influenza viruses, as well as H1N1 pandemic Influenza A viruses. Resistance is associated with increased morbidity, and poorer outcomes in severely immunocompromised hosts. Newer neuraminidase inhibitors, increased vaccination and combination therapy may be alternatives for the treatment of Influenza in this setting. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Upper Respiratory, Head, and Neck Infections ( I. Brook, Section Editor)Pages 1-6DOI 10.1007/s11908-012-0236-xAuthors Shivanjali Shankaran, Hunter Holmes McGuire VA Medical Center, 1201 Broad rock Boulevard, Richmond, VA 23249, USAGonzalo M. L. Bearm...

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Epidemiologic Parameters and Evaluation of Control Measure for 2009 Novel Influenza A (H1N1) in Xiamen, Fujian Province, China

Virology Journal — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusion: Our analysis indicated that the characteristics of this novel influenza virus were similar to those of seasonal influenza. The principle of "interception of imported cases" applied at Xiamen ports, and vaccination of students effectively limited the spread of the influenza pandemic and reduced the epidemic peak. (Source: Virology Journal)

Safety and immunogenicity of a monovalent MF59(®)-adjuvanted A/H1N1 vaccine in HIV-infected children and young adults.

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

CONCLUSION: One dose of MF59-adjuvanted vaccine was sufficient to provide adequate levels of seroprotection against A/H1N1 influenza disease in HIV-positive children. However, a two-dose vaccination schedule may be optimal for this population. PMID: 22261282 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Biologicals : Journal of the International Association of Biological Standardization)

Recombinant protein vaccines produced in insect cells.

Vaccine — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Cox MM Abstract The baculovirus-insect cell expression system is well known as tool for the production of complex proteins. The technology is also used for commercial manufacture of various veterinary and human vaccines. This review paper provides an overview of how this technology can be applied to produce a multitude of vaccine candidates. The key advantage of this recombinant protein manufacturing platform is that a universal "plug and play" process may be used for producing a broad range of protein-based prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines for both human and veterinary use while offering the potential for low manufacturing costs. Large scale mammalian cell culture facilities previously established for the manufacturing of monoclonal antibodies that have now become ob...

A cell-based backup to speed up pandemic influenza vaccine production.

Trends in Microbiology — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Lee MS, Hu AY Abstract Influenza vaccines are currently produced through egg-based methods, with one drawback being that this system is slow to respond to the surging global demand during an influenza pandemic. Alternative influenza vaccine production strategies, such as using a cell-based strategy, should be considered in pandemic situations. PMID: 22257962 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Trends in Microbiology)

Autoimmune response following influenza vaccination in patients with autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic disease.

Lupus — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 14:30:03 +0100

We report that after the administration of seasonal/H1N1 vaccine there were mostly transient changes in autoantibody production in AIRD patients and in healthy participants. However, a small subset of patients, especially ANA-positive patients, had a tendency towards anti-ENA development. Although no convincing differences between the seasonal and H1N1 vaccines were observed, our results imply that there might be a slight tendency of the H1N1 vaccine towards aCL induction. Although seasonal and H1N1 vaccines are safe and effective, they also have the potential to induce autoantibodies in selected AIRD patients and healthy adults. Follow-up of such individuals is proposed and further research is needed. PMID: 22235050 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Lupus)

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Influenza vaccination can induce new-onset anticardiolipins but not β2-glycoprotein-I antibodies among patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Lupus — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 14:30:03 +0100

Conclusions: This study shows transient increases in aCL, but not anti-β2GPI responses, after influenza vaccination. PMID: 22235049 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Lupus)

Immunization of patients with autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic diseases (the EULAR recommendations).

Lupus — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 14:30:03 +0100

Authors: van Assen S, Bijl M Abstract The European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) recommendations for vaccination in adult patients with autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic diseases (AIIRD) have been recently published. These evidence-based recommendations were based on existing literature in combination with expert opinion. Although patients with AIIRD are at increased risk of suffering from (complicated) infectious diseases - and vaccination seems a tool to reduce this risk - still many questions and controversies remain for the individual patient. In this overview, taking influenza as an example, the background of the recommendations, their clinical implications, and the direction of future research are discussed. The increase in knowledge on vaccine-preventable infections will...

Giant cell arteritis and polymyalgia rheumatica after influenza vaccination: report of 10 cases and review of the literature.

Lupus — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 14:30:03 +0100

Authors: Soriano A, Verrecchia E, Marinaro A, Giovinale M, Fonnesu C, Landolfi R, Manna R Abstract Giant cell arteritis (GCA) and polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) are inflammatory rheumatic diseases common in people over the age of 50 years. Herein, we report 10 cases of previously healthy subjects who developed GCA/PMR within 3 months of influenza vaccination (Inf-V). A Medline search uncovered additional 11 isolated cases of GCA/PMR occurring after Inf-V. We discuss the role of individual susceptibility, the potential function of immune adjuvants as triggers of autoimmunity post-vaccination, and the correlation of our observation with the 'ASIA' syndrome, i.e. autoimmune/inflammatory syndrome induced by adjuvants and including post-vaccination phenomena. PMID: 22235046 [PubMed - ...

Jet injectors for flu vaccines take a hit

Modern Medicine — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Although some retail pharmacy chains have purchased injector devices for influenza vaccines, they will not be able to use them, according to FDA guidance. (Source: Modern Medicine)

H1N1: overview and perspectives

Jornal Brasileiro de Patologia e Medicina Laboratorial — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 16:50:49 +0100

O vírus influenza de origem suína, A/California/04/2009 (H1N1), foi inicialmente detectado no México e determinou a pandemia de influenza de 2009. Em agosto de 2010, a Organização Mundial da Saúde (OMS) declarou o início da fase pós-pandêmica. As características dessa última pandemia foram marcadamente diferentes das anteriores. O vírus emergiu de rearranjos genéticos originários em hospedeiro mamífero não humano, demonstrou transmissibilidade interespécies e afetou a população humana de forma diferente dos vírus pandêmicos anteriores (1918, 1957 e 1968) com maior morbidade e mortalidade em crianças e adultos jovens. Atualmente, o vírus apresenta padrão sazonal da mesma forma que o influenza A H3N2 e o influenza B, mantendo, até o momento, o mesmo perfil de patogen...

Influenza virus vaccine: Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis in an elderly patient: case report

Reactions — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 23:22:43 +0100

(Source: Reactions)

Influenza virus vaccine: Anaphylaxis in a child: case report

Reactions — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 23:22:43 +0100

(Source: Reactions)

Novel immune-modulator identified by a rapid, functional screen of the Parapoxvirus ovis (Orf virus) genome

Proteome Science — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusion: A streamlined, functional approach to genome-wide screening of a biological activity in vivo is presented. Its application to screening in mice for an immune activity elicited by the pathogen genome of Parapoxvirus ovis yielded a novel immunomodulator. In this inverted discovery method, it was possible to identify the adjuvant responsible for a function of interest prior to a mechanistic study of the adjuvant. The non-specific immune activity of this modulator, B2, is similar to that associated with administration of inactivated particles to a host or to a live viral infection. Administration of B2 may provide the opportunity to significantly impact host immunity while being itself only weakly recognized. The functional genomics method used to pinpoint B2 within an ORFeome may ...

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Adjuvanticity of compound polysaccharides on chickens against Newcastle disease and avian influenza vaccine.

International Journal of Biological Macromolecules — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

In conclusion, appropriate dose of APS-sEPS may be a safe and efficacious immune stimulator candidate suitable for vaccines. PMID: 22266329 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: International Journal of Biological Macromolecules)

A Novel Vaccine Using Nanoparticle Platform to Present Immunogenic M2e against Avian Influenza Infection

Computational Intelligence and Neuroscience — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 11:11:41 +0100

Using peptide nanoparticle technology, we have designed two novel vaccine constructs representing M2e in monomeric (Mono-M2e) and tetrameric (Tetra-M2e) forms. Groups of specific pathogen free (SPF) chickens were immunized intramuscularly with Mono-M2e or Tetra-M2e with and without an adjuvant. Two weeks after the second boost, chickens were challenged with 107.2 EID50 of H5N2 low pathogenicity avian influenza (LPAI) virus. M2e-specific antibody responses to each of the vaccine constructs were tested by ELISA. Vaccinated chickens exhibited increased M2e-specific IgG responses for each of the constructs as compared to a non-vaccinated group. However, the vaccine construct Tetra-M2e elicited a significantly higher antibody response when it was used with an adjuvant. On the other hand, virus ...

Epitope specificity of anti‐HA2 antibodies induced in humans during influenza infection

Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusions We observed that the antigenic site localized within N‐terminal HA2 residues 125–175 was more immunogenic than that within residues 1–38 (HA2 fusion protein), although both are weak natural immunogens. We suggest that new anti‐influenza vaccines should include HA2 (or specific epitopes localized within this glycopolypeptide) to enhance their cross‐protective efficacy. (Source: Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses)

Immunogenicity and safety of LBVH0101, a new Haemophilus influenzae type b tetanus toxoid conjugate vaccine, compared with Hiberix™ in Korean infants and children: A randomized trial.

Vaccine — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

CONCLUSIONS: LBVH0101 showed a good immunogenicity and safety profile in infants and children. The two-dose infant-priming schedule with a booster dose may suffice for Hib immunization in Korean infants (Clinical trial registration numbers: NCT01019772 and NCT01251133). PMID: 22245607 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Vaccine)

Influenza viruses and cross-reactivity in healthy adults: Humoral and cellular immunity induced by seasonal 2007/2008 influenza vaccination against vaccine antigens and 2009 A(H1N1) pandemic influenza virus.

Vaccine — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Iorio AM, Bistoni O, Galdiero M, Lepri E, Camilloni B, Russano AM, Neri M, Basileo M, Spinozzi F Abstract We analyzed humoral and cellular immune responses against vaccine antigens and the new A(H1N1) virus in healthy adults before and after immunization with the 2007/2008 commercially available trivalent subunit MF59-adjuvanted influenza vaccine during the Fall 2007, prior to the emergence of the new virus. Antibody titers were significantly boosted only against the three vaccine antigens. Seasonal vaccination boosted pre-existing cellular responses upon stimulation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells not only with the homologous three vaccine antigens, but also with the heterologous new 2009 A(H1N1) and with a highly conserved peptide present in the stalk region of hem...

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The proportion of influenza vaccination in Ontario, Canada in 2007/2008 compared with other provinces.

Vaccine — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Polisena J, Chen Y, Manuel D Abstract In 2000, Ontario, Canada introduced a universal influenza immunization program (UIIP) to provide free vaccines to its residents, whose ages are six months or older. The current study sought to measure the effect of the UIIP on influenza vaccination uptake in Ontario compared with other provinces combined. Data from the 2007/2008 Canadian Community Health Survey (cycle 4.1) were used in the analyses. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to estimate the odds ratios for influenza vaccination 2007/2008 associated with province of residence (Ontario versus other provinces combined) and other factors including chronic disease status, age, gender, household income, smoking status, having a medical doctor, and self-perceived health stat...

Immunogenicity of an Inactivated Monovalent 2009 Influenza A (H1N1) Vaccine in Patients Who Have Cancer.

The Oncologist — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusion. Cancer patients, whether taking myelosuppressive chemotherapy or not, are able to generate an immune response to the H1N1 vaccine similar to that of healthy controls. PMID: 22240540 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The Oncologist)

Influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 antibodies after pandemic and trivalent seasonal influenza vaccination as well as natural infection in November 2010 in Hamburg, Germany

Eurosurveillance latest news — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0100

(Source: Eurosurveillance latest news)

Hepatitis B in the United States: ongoing missed opportunities for hepatitis B vaccination, evidence from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey, 2007

Infection — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 17:53:02 +0100

Conclusions The findings of this study underscore the inadequacy of vaccination coverage in high-risk adults and highlight advantageous opportunities to bridge gaps in vaccination coverage. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Clinical and Epidemiological StudyPages 1-9DOI 10.1007/s15010-011-0241-2Authors F. Ladak, Program in Public Health, Division of Biomedicine, Brown University, 121 South Main Street, Box G, Providence, RI 02903, USAA. Gjelsvik, Program in Public Health, Center for Population Health and Clinical Epidemiology, Brown University, 121 South Main St. S121-2, Providence, RI 02912, USAE. Feller, Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Box G-S121, 121 South Main Street, Providence, RI 02912, USAS. Rosenthal, Division of Biomedicine, Brown Univers...

Application of deglycosylation to SDS PAGE analysis improves calibration of influenza antigen standards.

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Harvey R, Hamill M, Robertson JS, Minor PD, Vodeiko GM, Weir JP, Takahashi H, Harada Y, Itamura S, Bamford P, Dalla Pozza T, Engelhardt OG Abstract Each year the production of seasonal influenza vaccines requires antigen standards to be available for the potency assessment of vaccine batches. These are calibrated and assigned a value for haemagglutinin (HA) content. The calibration of an antigen standard is carried out in a collaborative study amongst a small number of national regulatory laboratories which are designated by WHO as Essential Regulatory Laboratories (ERLs) for the purposes of influenza vaccine standardisation. The calibration involves two steps; first the determination of HA protein in a primary liquid standard by measurement of total protein in a purified ...

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A comparison of immunoglobulin G (IgG) subclass concentrations in severe community-acquired pneumonia and severe Pandemic 2009 Influenza A (H1N1) infection.

Clinical and Vaccine Immunology — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Gordon CL, Holmes NE, Grayson ML, Torresi J, Johnson PD, Cheng AC, Charles PG Abstract We compared immunoglobulin G (IgG) subclasses in patients with severe non-influenza community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) to those with severe Pandemic 2009 influenza (H1N1) infection. Low IgG(1) and IgG(2) occurred often in the CAP group; however, H1N1 patients had lower IgG(1) and IgG(2) (5.4 vs. 3.3g/L, p=0.008; 2.5 vs. 1.2g/L, p<0.001, respectively). Low IgG(2) may be specifically linked to severe H1N1, however, it is not clear whether this association is related to H1N1 or to other features of severity. PMID: 22237894 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Clinical and Vaccine Immunology)

Evaluation of Biological Sample Preparation for Immunosignature Based Diagnostics.

Clinical and Vaccine Immunology — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Chase BA, Johnston SA, Legutki JB Abstract To address the need for a universal system to assess health status, we previously described a method termed immunosignaturing which splays the entire humoral antibody repertoire across a peptide microarray. Two important issues relative to the potential broad use of immunosignatures are sample preparation and stability. In the present study we compared the immunosignatures developed from serum, plasma, saliva and antibodies eluted from blood dried onto filter paper. We found serum and plasma provide identical immunosignatures. Dried blood also correlated well with non-dried serum from the same individual. Immunosignatures derived from dried blood were capable of distinguishing naïve mice from those infected with influenza. Saliva...

Two Decades of Experience With the Haemophilus influenzae Serotype b Conjugate Vaccine in the United Kingdom.

Clinical Therapeutics — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

CONCLUSIONS: Control of Hib disease is currently the best that has been achieved since the introduction of the routine Hib vaccination almost 20 years ago. PMID: 22244051 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Clinical Therapeutics)

Seasonal Influenza Vaccine Compliance among Hospital-Based and Nonhospital-Based Healthcare Workers

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol Latest Issue — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 20:46:11 +0100

Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology, Volume 0, Issue 0, Page 000, Ahead of Print. (Source: Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol Latest Issue)

National Influenza Vaccination Disparities Partnership, January Newsletter, PDF

CDC Flu updates — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 16:07:00 +0100

(Source: CDC Flu updates)

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Transmission of Influenza A Virus in Pigs

Transboundary and Emerging Diseases — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 10:23:55 +0100

SummaryInfluenza A virus infections cause respiratory disease in pigs and are a risk to public health. The pig plays an important role in influenza ecology because of its ability to support replication of influenza viruses from avian, swine and human species. Influenza A virus is widespread in pigs worldwide, and influenza A virus interspecies transmission has been documented in many events. Influenza A virus is mostly transmitted through direct pig‐to‐pig contact and aerosols although other indirect routes of transmission may also exist. Several factors contribute to differences in the transmission dynamics within populations including among others vaccination, pig flow, animal movement and animal introduction which highlights the complexity of influenza A transmission in pigs. In add...

Influenza in Solid Organ Transplant Recipients (February).

The Annals of Pharmacotherapy — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

CONCLUSIONS:The solid organ transplant population is at an increased risk of severe complications from influenza infection. Identifying risks, preventing illness, and appropriately treating active infection is essential in this patient population. PMID: 22234989 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The Annals of Pharmacotherapy)

Receipt of A(H1N1)pdm09 Vaccine by Prisons and Jails — United States, 2009–10 Influenza Season

CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 03:08:18 +0100

(Source: CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report)

Influenza vaccination of health care providers in long-term care: Letter from the Assistant Secretary for Health, PDF

CDC Flu updates — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 15:50:00 +0100

(Source: CDC Flu updates)

Receipt of A(H1N1)pdm09 Vaccine by Prisons and Jails - United States, 2009-10 Influenza Season.

MMWR Morb Mortal Wkl... — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

This report summarizes the results of that survey, which found that 55% of jails did not receive A(H1N1)pdm09 vaccine during the pandemic period, whereas only 14% of federal prisons and 11% of state prisons did not receive the vaccine. Greater inclusion of correctional facilities, especially smaller facilities, in pandemic preparedness planning might better protect correctional facility populations and the community as a whole in the event of future influenza pandemics. PMID: 22217623 [PubMed - in process] (Source: MMWR Morb Mortal Wkl...)

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Severe influenza among children and young adults with neurologic and neurodevelopmental conditions - ohio, 2011.

MMWR Morb Mortal Wkl... — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

This report summarizes the characteristics and clinical courses of 13 severely ill residents with suspected or confirmed influenza; 10 were hospitalized, and seven died. Diagnosis is challenging in this population, and clinicians should consider influenza in patients with neurologic and neurodevelopmental conditions who have respiratory illness or a decline in baseline medical status when influenza is circulating in the community. Prompt testing, early and aggressive antiviral treatment, and antiviral chemoprophylaxis are important for these patients. When influenza is suspected, antiviral treatment should be given as soon as possible after symptom onset, ideally within 48 hours. Treatment should not wait for laboratory confirmation of influenza. During outbreaks, antiviral chemoprophylaxi...

Impaired production of TNF-α by dendritic cells of older adults leads to a lower CD8+ T cell response against influenza.

Vaccine — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

In this study, we compared the capacity of dendritic cells (DCs) from healthy older adults (≥65years) with DCs from healthy young adults (20-40years) to initiate a T cell response against influenza. DCs from older adults were impaired in the induction of influenza-specific CD8+ T cells as compared to DCs from young adults, which was demonstrated by a decreased proliferation, an impaired production of IFN-γ and a reduced expression of the degranulation marker CD107a by CD8+ T cells. Importantly, DCs from older adults produced significantly less TNF-α, showed a decreased expression of HLA class I and had a lower maturation state after influenza virus infection. Supplementing TNF-α increased the expression of HLA class I and of maturation markers and enhanced the induction of the influen...

Measles control in Sub-Saharan Africa: South Africa as a case study.

Vaccine — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

CONCLUSIONS: The heterogeneity in measles vaccination coverage across SA districts challenges the goal of measles elimination in SA and SSA. The reduction in routine immunization coverage associated with the occurrence of SIAs raises the legitimate concern that SIAs may negatively impact health systems' functioning. PMID: 22230581 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Vaccine)

Antibody against Haemophilus influenzae protein D in patients with chronic conditions causing secondary immunodeficiency.

Vaccine — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Hawdon N, Biman B, McCready W, Brigden M, Malik S, Vergidis D, Kisselgoff O, Ulanova M Abstract Prevalence of non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) in the etiology of invasive infections in immunocompromised individuals is increasing. Serum IgG antibody levels to H. influenzae protein D (PD) were significantly lower in adults suffering from chronic conditions causing secondary immunodeficiency (COPD, cancer, chronic renal failure, and diabetes) compared to age-matched healthy controls. A lack of naturally acquired antibody against this highly conserved antigen may contribute to an increased susceptibility to invasive NTHi disease. As COPD patients frequently infected with NTHi during disease exacerbations were unable to develop antibody response to PD, such defect cou...

Cloned cDNA of A/swine/Iowa/15/1930 internal genes as a candidate backbone for reverse genetics vaccine against influenza A viruses.

Vaccine — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

In this report, the internal genes from rg1930 were used for construction of reverse genetics viruses carrying a cleavage site-modified hemagglutinin (HA) gene and neuraminidase (NA) gene from a highly pathogenic H5N1 virus. The resulting virus (rg1930H5N1) was low pathogenic in vivo. Inactivated rg1930H5N1 vaccine completely protected chickens from morbidity and mortality after challenge with highly pathogenic H5N1. Protective immunity was obtained when chickens were immunized with an inactivated vaccine consisting of at least 2(9) HA units of the rg1930H5N1 virus. In comparison to the PR8-based reverse genetics viruses carrying the same HA and NA genes from an H5N1 virus, rg1930 based viruses yielded higher viral titers in MDCK and Vero cells. In addition, the reverse genetics derived H3...

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Live Attenuated Influenza Virus (LAIV) induces different mucosal T cell function in nonsmokers and smokers.

Clinical Immunology — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Horvath KM, Brighton LE, Herbst M, Noah TL, Jaspers I Abstract Smokers are more susceptible to respiratory infections, including influenza. To explore the effect of smoking on influenza-induced responses within the nasal mucosa, we have developed a protocol using inoculation with live attenuated influenza virus (LAIV) vaccine followed by sampling of the nasal mucosa. Mucosal cell populations were harvested through superficial biopsy of the nasal inferior turbinate pre and post LAIV inoculation and analyzed using flow cytometry. The majority of nasal biopsy CD45+ immune cells at baseline were CD3+ T lymphocytes. Following LAIV, these lymphocytes increased in nonsmokers but not in smokers. A subset of individuals was negative for helper T cell marker CD4 and cytotoxic T cell...

Trials for Novel Influenza Vaccine Likely by SpringTrials for Novel Influenza Vaccine Likely by Spring

Medscape Today Headlines — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 20:04:48 +0100

HHS has asked 2 manufacturers to develop investigational lots of vaccine against the novel swine influenza virus that has surfaced in 5 states but has not yet shown signs of widespread transmission. Medscape Medical News (Source: Medscape Today Headlines)

Perspectives of Pulmonologists on the 2009-2010 H1N1 Vaccination Effort

Advances in Pharmacological Sciences — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 14:27:21 +0100

Persons with high-risk conditions such as asthma were a target group for H1N1 vaccine recommendations. We conducted a mailed survey of a national sample of pulmonologists to understand their participation in the 2009-2010 H1N1 vaccine campaign. The response rate was 59%. The majority of pulmonologists strongly recommended H1N1 vaccine for children (73%) and adults aged 25–64 years (51%). Only 60% of respondents administered H1N1 vaccine in their practice compared to 87% who offered seasonal influenza vaccine. Other than vaccine supply, respondents who provided H1N1 vaccine reported few logistical problems. Two-thirds of respondents would be very likely to vaccinate during a future influenza pandemic; this rate was higher among those who provided H1N1 vaccine...

Surveillance in Eastern India (2007-2009) Revealed Reassortment Event Involving NS and PB1-F2 Gene Segments among Co-circulating Influenza A Subtypes

Virology Journal — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusion: Overall the study highlights reassortment event involving gene segments other than HA and NA in the co-circulating A/H1N1 and A/H3N2 strains and their importance in complexity of influenza virus genetics. In contrast, NS and PB1-F2 genes of all A/H3N2 eastern India strains were highly conserved and homologous to the concurrent A/H3N2 vaccine strains suggesting that these gene segments of H3N2 viruses are evolutionarily more stable compared to H1N1 viruses. (Source: Virology Journal)

Colon Cancer and Influenza

About.com Colon Cancer — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Image © Vicente Barcelo Varona/Dreamstime The majority of corner clinics and drugstores stopped promoting influenza (flu) vaccines at the conclusion of 2011, but the season is just now gearing up. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's FluView....Read Full Post (Source: About.com Colon Cancer)

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Acute sleep deprivation has no lasting effects on the human antibody titer response following a novel influenza A H1N1 virus vaccination

BMC Immunology — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: These findings concur with the notion that sleep is a supportive influence in the very early stage of an adaptive immune response to a viral antigen. However, our results do not support the view that acute sleep deprivation has lasting effects on the human antibody titer response to influenza vaccination. (Source: BMC Immunology)

Universal vaccine against influenza virus: linking TLR signalling to anti‐viral protection

European Journal of Immunology — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

A vaccine protecting against all influenza strains is a long‐sought goal, particularly for emerging pandemics. As previously shown, vaccines based on the highly conserved extracellular domain of M2 (M2e) may protect against all influenza A strains. Here we demonstrate that M2e‐specific monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) protect mice from a lethal influenza infection. To be protective, antibodies had to be able to bind to Fc receptors and fix complement. Furthermore, mAbs of IgG2c isotype were protective in mice, while antibodies of identical specificity, but of the IgG1 isotype, failed to prevent disease. These findings readily translated into vaccine design. A vaccine targeting M2 in the absence of a toll‐like receptor (TLR) 7 ligand primarily induced IgG1, whilst the same vaccine linked ...

A reduced dose seasonal trivalent influenza vaccine is safe and immunogenic in adult and elderly patients - a randomized controlled trial.

Clinical and Vaccine Immunology — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: We found that the present reduced dose vaccine is safe and immunogenic in healthy adult and elderly subjects and triggers immune responses to comply with licensing criteria. PMID: 22219315 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Clinical and Vaccine Immunology)

Evaluation of three commercially available influenza A type-specific blocking-ELISA assays for seroepidemiological studies of influenza A virus infection in pigs.

Clinical and Vaccine Immunology — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Tse M, Kim M, Chan CH, Ho PL, Ma SK, Guan Y, Peiris JS Abstract The reverse zoonotic transmission of the pandemic H1N1 2009 virus to swine necessitates enhanced surveillance of swine for influenza virus infection. Using a well characterized panel of naturally infected swine sera we evaluate and optimize the performance of three commercially available competitive ELISA assays, IDEXX® Influenza A Ab test, IDEXX® AI MultiS-Screen Ab Test and IDVet ID Screen® Influenza A Antibody Competition ELISA kit for detecting influenza type A reactive antibodies in swine. ROC analysis suggests that adjustment of the manufacturer recommended cut-off values would optimize sensitivity and specificity of these assays making them applicable for sero-epidemiology studies of swine influenza....

Public health impact of including two lineages of influenza B in a quadrivalent seasonal influenza vaccine.

Vaccine — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Reed C, Meltzer MI, Finelli L, Fiore A Abstract The annual trivalent influenza vaccine (TIV) includes viruses representing three influenza strains - one A/H1N1, one A/H3N2, and one B, although two antigenically distinct lineages of influenza B (Victoria and Yamagata) co-circulate annually in the United States. Predicting which lineage of influenza B will predominate during a season is challenging, and cross-protection by immunization against the other lineage is expected to be low. One proposed alternative is to produce a quadrivalent influenza vaccine (QIV) including an influenza B virus from each of the two circulating lineages. We estimated the additional public health benefit of QIV compared with TIV by calculating the expected impact on influenza-related health outcom...

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[Relationship between precariousness, social coverage, and vaccine coverage: Survey among children consulting in pediatric emergency departments in France.]

Archives de Pediatrie — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

CONCLUSION: Poor children living in southern France had significant delays in their routine immunizations, resulting in gaps in their protection. Every medical visit, even those conducted in an emergency ward, should identify children with immunization delays and offer a catch-up schedule if necessary. PMID: 22226013 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Archives de Pediatrie)

Acceptance and Opinions of Intanza/IDflu Intradermal Influenza Vaccine in the Czech Republic and Turkey.

Advances in Therapy — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

CONCLUSIONS: Intradermal vaccination for seasonal influenza using Intanza/IDflu is well accepted by adult vaccinees and vaccine prescribers. By providing an additional, well-accepted method, Intanza/IDflu might help increase seasonal influenza vaccination rates in adults. PMID: 22228256 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Advances in Therapy)

The population based socioeconomic burden of pediatric influenza-associated hospitalization in Hong Kong.

Vaccine — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

We described the monetary and non-monetary cost incurred by children hospitalized for virologically confirmed influenza virus infection in a population-based prospective 3-year study. The mean direct and indirect cost of each child hospitalized was $1217.82 (95% CI, 1111.54-1324.23) and $1328.33 (95% CI, $1136.79-1520.00) for influenza A and B, respectively. School age patients took a mean (SD) of 4.70 (3.05) days and 5.31 (3.62) days of sick leave for influenza A and B infection, respectively. Pediatric influenza A and B hospitalization was associated with 662-1046 days of school absenteeism and 214-336 days of parental work loss per 10,000 population <18 years of age per year. We showed that the cost incurred by hospitalization alone, was comparable to the cost of annual universal ped...

History and Development of Haemophilus Influenzae Type B Vaccine.

Pediatric Annals — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: PMID: 22224719 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Pediatric Annals)

Influenza Research Database: an integrated bioinformatics resource for influenza research and surveillance

Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusions The IRD provides a wealth of integrated data and information about influenza virus to support research of the genetic determinants dictating virus pathogenicity, host range restriction and transmission, and to facilitate development of vaccines, diagnostics, and therapeutics. (Source: Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses)

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Modeling Insights into Haemophilus influenzae Type b Disease, Transmission, and Vaccine Programs.

Emerging Infectious Diseases — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Jackson ML, Rose CE, Cohn A, Coronado F, Clark TA, Wenger JD, Bulkow L, Bruce MG, Messonnier NE, Hennessy TW Abstract In response to the 2007-2009 Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine shortage in the United States, we developed a flexible model of Hib transmission and disease for optimizing Hib vaccine programs in diverse populations and situations. The model classifies population members by age, colonization/disease status, and antibody levels, with movement across categories defined by differential equations. We implemented the model for the United States as a whole, England and Wales, and the Alaska Native population. This model accurately simulated Hib incidence in all 3 populations, including the increased incidence in England/Wales beginning in 1999 and the ch...

The Food and Drug Administration's Post‐Licensure Rapid Immunization Safety Monitoring program: strengthening the federal vaccine safety enterprise

Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

ABSTRACTIn 2009, the Department of Health and Human Services created the new Post‐Licensure Rapid Immunization Safety Monitoring (PRISM) program, which used data from national health insurance plans and immunization registries to monitor the safety of the H1N1 influenza vaccine. PRISM has now been integrated into the FDA's Mini‐Sentinel pilot program. It strengthens the federal vaccine safety enterprise in two important ways. First, PRISM monitors the largest US general population cohort designated for active surveillance of vaccine safety. Second, PRISM links data from health plans with data from state and city immunization registries, which were a crucial source of exposure data in the H1N1 vaccine evaluation. The Mini‐Sentinel data that support PRISM are updated quarterly, and PRI...

Seroprevalence following the First Wave of Pandemic Influenza A (H1N1) in Turkey, 2009.

Japanese Journal of Infectious Diseases — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

In this study, we sought to describe the community seropositivity of pandemic influenza A (H1N1) in order to estimate immunity shortly after the peak of the first pandemic wave in two provinces in Turkey. This cross-sectional study was conducted in the provinces of Diyarbakir and Ankara, after the first wave of H1N1 incidences in 2009. It was designed to evaluate 276 houses in Diyarbakir and 455 houses in Ankara. Everyone living in these houses was included in the study. An antibody titer of ≥1:40 was considered as a positive result for all age groups. Antibody titers of ≤1:20 were considered as 1 while calculating the log titer and geometric mean. The pandemic H1N1 seropositivity was found to be 24.1% for Ankara and 27.7% for Diyarbakir. In Ankara, seropositivity was statistically ass...

Seroprevalence of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza and effectiveness of 2010/2011 influenza vaccine during 2010/2011 season in Beijing, China

Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 21:21:19 +0100

Conclusions A slight increase in herd immunity against pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza was observed in Beijing, China, during the 2010/2011 season. Prior vaccination and immunity had a suppressive impact on immune response toward this novel influenza virus, elicited by 2010/2011 trivalent vaccine. This trivalent vaccine conferred good protection against ILI and LRI. (Source: Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses)

The determinants of 2009 pandemic A/H1N1 influenza vaccination: A systematic review.

Vaccine — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

CONCLUSIONS: Vaccine coverage during the pandemic varied widely across countries and population sub-groups. We identified some consistent determinants of this variation that can be targeted to increase vaccination during future influenza pandemics. PMID: 22214889 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Vaccine)

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Influenza‐like illness surveillance on the California‐Mexico border, 2004–2009

Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusions The US‐Mexico border is one of the busiest in the world, with a large number of daily crossings. Due to its traffic, this area is an ideal location for surveillance sites. We identified a pathogen in 36% of the specimens tested, with influenza A the most common pathogen. A number of other viral and bacterial respiratory pathogens were identified. An understanding of the incidence of respiratory pathogens in border populations is useful for development of regional vaccination and disease prevention responses. (Source: Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses)

Trivalent Inactivated Influenza Vaccine Is Not Associated With Sickle Cell Crises in Children

PEDIATRICS — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Children with sickle cell disease are at high risk of complications from influenza infection and have been recommended to receive annual influenza vaccine since the 1970s. Few safety studies, however, have examined the safety of influenza vaccine in this population. This large cohort study did not find an association between influenza vaccination and hospitalization for sickle cell crises in children with sickle cell anemia. (Read the full article) (Source: PEDIATRICS)

2011's best health news

NHS News Feed — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 12:43:00 +0100

Although Behind the Headlines often spends time explaining mistaken or misguided news reports, the joy of this service is when there are genuinely exciting medical advances to report. Over the past year there have been many important and fascinating stories, and it is a credit to the national press that so many of them have been so well understood and so well reported. Here’s our pick of some of the best stories from the many brilliant health articles and impressive studies published in 2011. Heartwarming gene therapy By far the most heartwarming breakthrough in medical science involves the story of seven-year-old Jack Crick (presumably no relation to the co-discoverer of the DNA double helix). Jack was born with severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) – an inherited genetic mutati...

IgG Subclass Levels and Antibody Responses to the 2009 Influenza A (H1N1) Monovalent Vaccine among HIV‐Infected and HIV‐Uninfected Adults

Clinical and Experimental Immunology — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusion: Prevaccination IgG subclass levels did not correlate with the ability to develop robust antibody responses to the 2009 influenza A (H1N1) monovalent vaccine. IgG2 deficiencies were common among HIV‐infected persons but did not correlate with poor influenza vaccine responses. Further investigations into the etiology of disparate vaccine responses are needed. (Source: Clinical and Experimental Immunology)

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Vaccines for Pandemic Influenza

Springer Biomedical Sciences titles — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 12:07:00 +0100

series:Current Topics in Microbiology and ImmunologyRecent years have seen unprecedented outbreaks of avian influenza A viruses. In particular, highly pathogenic H5N1 viruses have not only resulted in widespread outbreaks in domestic poultry, but have been transmitted to humans resulting in numerous fatalities. The rapid expansion in their geographic distribution and the possibility that these viruses could acquire the ability to spread from ... (Source: Springer Biomedical Sciences titles)

Seasonal Influenza Vaccination of Healthy Working-Age Adults: A Review of Economic Evaluations

Drugs — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 10:06:25 +0100

(Source: Drugs)

Active surveillance of adverse events following immunization against pandemic influenza A (H1N1) in Korea.

Japanese Journal of Infectious Diseases — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 15:27:37 +0100

Authors: Choe YJ, Cho H, Song KM, Kim JH, Han OP, Kwon YH, Bae GR, Lee HJ, Lee JK Abstract Surveillance of vaccine safety is one of the public health interventions used to investigate the causal relationship between vaccines and adverse events. Using active surveillance data, we aimed to compile a detailed summary describing the safety of the pandemic influenza A (H1N1) vaccine. Computer-assisted telephone interview was used to investigate adverse events for 9,000 subjects who had received non-adjuvanted vaccines between November 2009 and January 2010, and for 19,000 adults who received adjuvanted vaccines from January through March 2010. The participants were interviewed to obtain information about local and systemic adverse events. Among subjects who received the non-adjuvanted v...

Efficacy of a heterologous vaccine and adjuvant in ferrets challenged with influenza virus H5N1

Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 11:08:22 +0100

Conclusions Altogether, the data suggest that the heterologous vaccine in combination with the aluminum hydroxide adjuvant offers maximum protection against challenge with A/Vietnam/1203/04 when compared to the unvaccinated control animals or animals vaccinated without any adjuvant. (Source: Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses)

Influenza Outbreak Management in Long-Term Care Facilities

CDC Flu updates — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 13:00:00 +0100

Offers information related to vaccination, testing, infection control, antiviral treatment, and antiviral chemoprophylaxis. (Source: CDC Flu updates)

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[Comment] Estimating the effect of influenza vaccines

The Lancet Infectious Diseases — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 11:07:41 +0100

In The Lancet Infectious Diseases, Michael Osterholm and colleagues report a meta-analysis on the efficacy and effectiveness of influenza vaccines licensed in the USA. Although not confined to country of licensure, similar analyses have been published by the Cochrane collaboration. However, this new study differs in several ways from the Cochrane analyses. (Source: The Lancet Infectious Diseases)

[Articles] Efficacy and effectiveness of influenza vaccines: a systematic review and meta-analysis

The Lancet Infectious Diseases — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 11:07:41 +0100

SummaryBackgroundNo published meta-analyses have assessed efficacy and effectiveness of licensed influenza vaccines in the USA with sensitive and highly specific diagnostic tests to confirm influenza.MethodsWe searched Medline for randomised controlled trials assessing a relative reduction in influenza risk of all circulating influenza viruses during individual seasons after vaccination (efficacy) and observational studies meeting inclusion criteria (effectiveness). Eligible articles were published between Jan 1, 1967, and Feb 15, 2011, and used RT-PCR or culture for confirmation of influenza. (Source: The Lancet Infectious Diseases)

Rituximab blocks protective serologic response to influenza A (H1N1) 2009 vaccination in lymphoma patients during or within 6 months after treatment

Blood — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Cancer patients are often encouraged to receive seasonal influenza vaccination. The monoclonal antibody rituximab is widely used in treatment of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. This results in a prolonged depletion of normal B cells, which might impair humoral responses. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether lymphoma patients undergoing rituximab-containing treatment regimens or having received such regimens within the past 6 months were able to mount protective antibody responses to the influenza A(H1N1) 2009 virus vaccine Pandemrix during the 2009 "swine flu" pandemic. Contrary to the control group, where 82% responded adequately to the vaccine, none of the 67 patients achieved protective antibody titers, suggesting that lymphoma patients receiving rituximab-containing regimens m...

US government urges scientists to censor findings on new strain of bird flu

Guardian Unlimited Science — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 19:11:00 +0100

Scientists warn that redacting information from new research on H5N1 virus could hinder the discovery of a vaccineMoves by the US government to restrict the publication of papers describing potentially dangerous new strains of bird flu could do more harm than good by hampering progress towards a vaccine, scientists warn.The US biosecurity watchdog has asked two leading scientific journals, Science and Nature, to remove sensitive details from the papers amid fears the research might fall into the hands of bioterrorists. But scientists involved in the research discussed their experiments at public conferences earlier this year, leading some experts to doubt whether redacting the papers will have much effect."There is a cause for concern, but to restrict publication now is shutting the stable...

When it comes to bird flu, nature is the greatest bioterrorist

Guardian Unlimited Science — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 17:48:53 +0100

I hope that fear of terrorism will not lead to the suppression of valuable research about engineering the H5N1 virusA few months ago, Dutch virologist Ron Fouchier made what he hoped would be a low-key announcement at a conference on influenza in Malta. After a series of painstaking experiments, Fouchier announced he had achieved the holy grail of influenza research: engineering the H5N1 bird flu virus so that it could pass easily between mammals. The "airborne" virus had been created, Fouchier explained, not by using sophisticated, lab-based genetic technology but by the relatively low-tech method of passaging H5N1 repeatedly through ferrets.The significance of the discovery was not lost on the assembled delegates. If ferrets could be infected this way, then so could humans. Fouchier had ...

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When it comes to bird flu, nature is the greatest bioterrorist | Mark Honigsbaum

Guardian Unlimited Science — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 17:48:53 +0100

Antibody breadth and protective efficacy is increased by vaccination with computationally optimized hemagglutinin but not with polyvalent hemagglutinin based h5n1 vlp vaccines.

Clinical and Vaccine Immunology — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

In this report, the immune responses elicited by the COBRA HA virus-like particle (VLP) vaccine were compared to responses elicited by a mixture of VLPs expressing representative HA molecules from clade 2.1, 2.2, and 2.3 primary H5N1 isolates (polyvalent). COBRA HA VLP elicited higher titer antibodies to a panel of H5N1 HA proteins. Both COBRA and polyvalent vaccines protected vaccinated mice and ferrets from experimental infection with highly lethal H5N1 influenza viruses, but COBRA vaccinated animals had decreased viral replication, less inflammation in the lungs of mice, and reduced virus recovery in ferret nasal washes. Both vaccines had similar cellular responses post-challenge indicating that higher titer serum antibody likely restricts the duration of viral replication. Furthermore,...

Effects of different adjuvants in the context of intramuscular and intranasal routes on humoral and cellular immune responses induced by detergent-split A/H3N2 influenza vaccines in mice.

Clinical and Vaccine Immunology — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Baz M, Samant M, Zekki H, Tribout-Jover P, Plante M, Lanteigne AM, Hamelin ME, Mallett C, Papadopoulou B, Boivin G Abstract Influenza A/H3N2 viruses have caused the most severe epidemics since 1968 despite current immunization programs with inactivated vaccines. We undertook a side-by-side pre-clinical evaluation of different adjuvants (Alum, AS03 and Protollin) and routes of administration (intramuscular (i.m.) and intranasal (i.n.)) for assessing their effect on the immunogenicity and cross-reactivity of inactivated split vaccines (A/H3N2/New York/55/2004). Humoral and T cell-mediated immune responses against the homologous virus and a heterologous drifted strain (A/H3N2/Wisconsin/67/2005) were measured in BALB/c mice at 2, 6, and 19 weeks post-boost. The AS03- and alum-...

Drug-induced immune thrombocytopaenia: results from the Berlin Case–Control Surveillance Study

European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 16:46:52 +0100

Conclusions Our study confirms known ITP risks for glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor antagonists and sulphonamides and generates signals for several other drugs and vaccines. New onset of ITP should not only direct attention to drugs as possible aetiological agents, but also to vaccines that are known to cause autoimmune phenomena. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Pharmacoepidemiology and PrescriptionPages 1-12DOI 10.1007/s00228-011-1184-3Authors Edeltraut Garbe, Centre of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, GermanyFrank Andersohn, Institute for Social Medicine, Epidemiology and Health Economy, Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, GermanyElisabeth Bronder, Centre of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, C...

Factors Affecting Intention among Students to Be Vaccinated against A/H1N1 Influenza: A Health Belief Model Approach

EURASIP Journal on Bioinformatics and Systems Biology — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 15:07:57 +0100

This study examined the factors affecting the intention to be vaccinated against the swine flu among students in Israel. Questionnaires were distributed in December 2009 among 387 students at higher-education institutions. The research questionnaire included sociodemographic characteristics and Health Belief Model principles. The results show that the factors positively affecting the intention to take the swine flu vaccine were past experience with seasonal flu shot and three HBM categories: higher levels of perceived susceptibility for catching the illness, perceived seriousness of illness, and lower levels of barriers. We conclude that offering the vaccine at workplaces may raise the intention to take the vaccine among young people in Israel. (Source: EURASIP Journal on Bioinformatics an...

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How Influenza Evolves - And How To Stop It From Doing So

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 13:00:00 +0100

If you become infected with the flu after getting vaccinated, your body activates an immune response that stops you from becoming ill. Although, this can trigger the virus to change into a slightly different form - one that may be more infectious. A novel investigation from MIT reveals the mechanism responsible for this phenomenon, known as antigenic drift. The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health and the Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology and appears in the December 19 online edition of Scientific Reports, an open-access journal published by Nature... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Fitness costs limit influenza A virus hemagglutinin glycosylation as an immune evasion strategy [Microbiology]

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Here, we address the question of why the influenza A virus hemagglutinin (HA) does not escape immunity by hyperglycosylation. Uniquely among dozens of monoclonal antibodies specific for A/Puerto Rico/8/34, escape from H28-A2 neutralization requires substitutions introducing N-linked glycosylation at residue 131 or 144 in the globular domain. This escape decreases viral binding to cellular receptors, which must be compensated for by additional substitutions in HA or neuraminidase that enable viral replication. Sequence analysis of circulating H1 influenza viruses confirms the in vivo relevance of our findings: natural occurrence of glycosylation at residue 131 is always accompanied by a compensatory mutation known to increase HA receptor avidity. In vaccinated mice challenged with WT vs. H2...

Discordant antigenic drift of neuraminidase and hemagglutinin in H1N1 and H3N2 influenza viruses [Microbiology]

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Seasonal epidemics caused by influenza virus are driven by antigenic changes (drift) in viral surface glycoproteins that allow evasion from preexisting humoral immunity. Antigenic drift is a feature of not only the hemagglutinin (HA), but also of neuraminidase (NA). We have evaluated the antigenic evolution of each protein in H1N1 and H3N2 viruses used in vaccine formulations during the last 15 y by analysis of HA and NA inhibition titers and antigenic cartography. As previously shown for HA, genetic changes in NA did not always lead to an antigenic change. The noncontinuous pattern of NA drift did not correspond closely with HA drift in either subtype. Although NA drift was demonstrated using ferret sera, we show that these changes also impact recognition by NA-inhibiting antibodies in hu...

Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Reminders for Children with High-Risk Conditions: A Registry-Based Randomized Trial

American Journal of Preventive Medicine — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 00:13:30 +0100

Conclusions: Receipt of a reminder was positively associated with seasonal influenza vaccination. However, more than 40% of children assigned to receive a reminder were determined to have an invalid or undeliverable address, emphasizing the need for increased quality of IIS contact information. Trial registration: This study is registered at www.ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01431183. (Source: American Journal of Preventive Medicine)

Changes in antigen-specific IgG1 Fc N-glycosylation upon influenza and tetanus vaccination.

Molecular and Cellular Proteomics : MCP — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Selman MH, de Jong SE, Soonawala D, Kroon FP, Adegnika AA, Deelder AM, Hokke CH, Yazdanbakhsh M, Wuhrer M Abstract Antibody effector functions have been shown to be influenced by the structure of the Fc N-glycans. Here we studied the changes in plasma or serum IgG Fc N-glycosylation upon vaccination of 10 Caucasian adults and 10 African children. Serum/plasma IgG was purified by affinity chromatography prior to and at two time points after vaccination. Fc N-glycosylation profiles of individual IgG subclasses were determined for both total IgG and affinity-purified anti-vaccine IgG using a recently developed fast nanoLC-ESI-MS method. While vaccination had no effect on the glycosylation of total IgG, anti-vaccine IgG showed increased levels of galactosylation and sialylatio...

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Decreased influenza-specific B cell responses in rheumatoid arthritis patients treated with anti-TNF

Arthritis Research and Therapy — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusion: RA patients treated with anti-TNF exhibit a compromised immune response to influenza vaccine, consisting of impaired effector and consequently memory B cell and antibody responses. The results suggest that the increased incidence and severity of infection observed in this patient population could be a consequence of diminished antigen-responsiveness. This patient population would likely benefit from repeat vaccination and from vaccines with enhanced immunogenicity. (Source: Arthritis Research and Therapy)

European CHMP recommends approval of Vepacel (A/H5N1 pre-pandemic influenza vaccine)

NeLM - News — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Source: European Medicines Agency (EMA) Area: News The European Medicines Agency's Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has recommended the approval of Vepacel (A/H5N1 pre-pandemic influenza vaccine, whole virion, vero cell derived, inactivated) intended for the prophylaxis of H5N1 subtype of influenza A in either a pre-pandemic or pandemic situation in adults aged 18 years and older. (Source: NeLM - News)

Voluntary to Mandatory: Evolution of Strategies and Attitudes toward Influenza Vaccination of Healthcare Personnel

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol Latest Issue — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 23:20:00 +0100

Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology, Volume 33, Issue 1, Page 63-70, January 2012. (Source: Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol Latest Issue)

National Influenza Vaccination Disparities Partnership December Newsletter, PDF

CDC Flu updates — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 15:05:00 +0100

(Source: CDC Flu updates)

Mimotopes selected with neutralizing antibodies against Multiple Subtypes of Influenza A

Virology Journal — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: Phage-displayed mimotopes against multiple subtypes of influenza A were accessible to the mouse immune system and triggered a humoral response to above virus. (Source: Virology Journal)

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Immunization schedule of the Spanish Association of Pediatrics: 2012 recommendations.

Anales de Pediatria — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Moreno-Pérez D, Alvarez García FJ, Aristegui Fernández J, Barrio Corrales F, Cilleruelo Ortega MJ, Corretger Rauet JM, González-Hachero J, Hernández-Sampelayo Matos T, Merino Moína M, Ortigosa Del Castillo L, Ruiz-Contreras J, Abstract The Advisory Committee on Vaccines of the Spanish Association of Pediatrics (CAV-AEP) updates the immunization schedule every year, taking into account epidemiological data as well as evidence on the effectiveness and efficiency of vaccines. The present schedule includes grades of recommendation. We have graded as routine vaccinations those that the CAV-AEP believes all children should receive; as recommended those that fit the profile for universal childhood immunization and would ideally be given to all children, but that can be pri...

Characterization of neutralizing antibodies in adults after intranasal vaccination with an inactivated influenza vaccine

Journal of Medical Virology — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 19:14:18 +0100

AbstractThe levels and properties of neutralizing antibodies in nasal wash and serum collected from five healthy adults were examined after intranasal administration of an A/Uruguay/716/2007 (H3N2) split vaccine (45 µg hemagglutinin (HA) per dose; five doses, with an interval of 3 weeks between each dose). Prior to the assays, nasal wash samples were concentrated so that the total amount of antibodies was equivalent to about 1/10 of that found in the natural nasal mucus. Vaccination induced virus‐specific neutralizing antibody responses, which increased with the number of vaccine doses given. Neutralizing antibodies were produced more efficiently in the nasal passages than in the serum: A ≥4‐fold increase in nasal neutralization titres was observed after the second vaccination in ...

Physicians Oppose Mandatory Flu Vaccine for Health Workers

Medical News (via PRIMEZONE) — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 18:55:00 +0100

TUCSON, Ariz., Dec. 14, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In a letter to Colorado public health officials, the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons (AAPS) opposes a rule requiring workers in health care facilities to have an annual influenza vaccination or lose their jobs. Workers who had a rare religious or medical exemption would be required to wear a mask in patient care areas from November through March. (Source: Medical News (via PRIMEZONE))

Statins May Help Fight Influenza

Health News from Medical News Today — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 18:00:00 +0100

Findings published in The Journal of Infectious Diseases show that statins, one of the most widely sold drugs today, that are more commonly used for combating high cholesterol levels, may have a new use in helping fight influenza in critically ill patients. Influenza is usually dealt with, initially by vaccine to prevent infection from occuring in the first place, and once the patient is ill, by prescribing antiviral drugs. For example, Tamiflu from Roche received a lot of media attention during the 2009 Swine Flu pandemic... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Updated Case Counts

About.com Pediatrics — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 17:44:55 +0100

Some updated case counts of vaccine-preventable diseases (not all pediatric) include: at least 223 reported cases of measles for the year, the most since 1996 120 pediatric flu deaths from the 2010-2011 flu season, an increase from the previous total of 118 deaths to include two deaths that were recently reported to the CDC 7 cases of Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) 168 cases of invasive meningococcal disease types A, C, Y, and W-135 1,078 cases of hepatitis A 2,315 cases of hepatitis B 13,188 cases of pertussis (whooping cough) ...Read Full Post (Source: About.com Pediatrics)

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Hospital Worker Flu Vaccination Rate Increased By Strict Policy

Health News from Medical News Today — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 09:00:00 +0100

A California hospital raised its employee influenza vaccination rate above 90 percent by shifting from a voluntary vaccination program to one mandating all healthcare workers either get vaccinated or wear a mask at work for the entire flu season (December through March). A five-year study of evolving flu vaccination programs at University of California Irvine Medical Center is published in the January 2012 issue of Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology, the journal of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Vaccination against 2009 pandemic H1N1 in a population dynamical model of Vancouver, Canada: timing is everything

BMC Public Health - Latest articles — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusion: Delays in vaccine production due to technological or logistical barriers may reduce potential benefits of vaccination for pandemic influenza, and these temporal effects can outweigh any additional theoretical benefits from population targeting. Careful modeling may provide decision makers with estimates of these effects before the epidemic peak to guide production goals and inform policy. Integration of real-time surveillance data with mathematical models holds the promise of enabling public health planners to optimize the community benefits from proposed interventions before the pandemic peak. (Source: BMC Public Health - Latest articles)

Childhood immunisation with conjugate vaccines and prevention of pneumonia

Thorax — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Principi and Esposito1 describe that widespread use of Haemophilus influenzae b (Hib) and pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7) has nearly eliminated pneumonia due to the first pathogen and significantly reduced the number of cases due to the second pathogen. So, they advise a strong recommendation of these vaccines worldwide. However, the Indonesia probe-trial cited by them actually found more cases of pneumonia admitted to hospital among those vaccinated, and meningitis admissions were not reduced significantly either. The trial did not support a major role for Hib vaccine in overall pneumonia prevention programmes, but in view of high incidences of Hib meningitis and pneumonia found in the study, the authors mentioned that inclusion of Hib vaccine in routine immunisation programmes in A...

Authors' response

Thorax — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

We thank Dr Das for his letter1 regarding our paper on the management of severe community-acquired pneumonia in children.2 He questions our suggestion that both Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) conjugate and pneumococcal conjugate (PCV) vaccines could be given to Asian children living in developing countries on the grounds that the incidence of infections due to Hib and the pneumococcal serotypes included in PCV is low. He also states that there is no clear demonstration that either vaccine is effective, and the risk of replacement phenomena is a significant limitation. Regarding the burden of Hib infection, data show that Hib is significantly more important in Asia than previously thought mainly because a number of cases are not identified by the short-term administration of low-dose a...