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This page shows you the latest news and research items in this category.

Why Does Smallpox Vaccine Shield Some, Not Others? It's in the Genes, Mayo Finds
How well people are protected by the smallpox vaccine depends on more than the quality of the vaccination: individual genes can alter their response, Mayo Clinic research shows. (Source: News from Mayo Clinic)
Source: News from Mayo Clinic - April 22, 2013 Category: Databases & Libraries Authors: Mayo Clinic Source Type: news

Why Does Smallpox Vaccine Shield Some, Not Others? It's in the Genes, Mayo Finds
How well people are protected by the smallpox vaccine depends on more than the quality of the vaccination: individual genes can alter their response, Mayo Clinic research shows. (Source: Mayo Clinic Rochester News)
Source: Mayo Clinic Rochester News - April 22, 2013 Category: Hospital Management Authors: Mayo Clinic Source Type: news

Why Does Smallpox Vaccine Shield Some, Not Others? It's in the Genes, Mayo Finds
How well people are protected by the smallpox vaccine depends on more than the quality of the vaccination: individual genes can alter their response, Mayo Clinic research shows. (Source: Mayo Clinic Research News)
Source: Mayo Clinic Research News - April 22, 2013 Category: Research Authors: Mayo Clinic Source Type: news

Individual genes alter effectiveness of smallpox vaccine
ROCHESTER, Minn., April 21 (UPI) -- Individual genes alter the response -- effectiveness -- of the smallpox vaccine, not the quality of the vaccination, U.S. researchers say. (Source: Health News - UPI.com)
Source: Health News - UPI.com - April 21, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news

Genetic Differences Lead To Smallpox Vaccine Shielding Some But Not Others
How well people are protected by the smallpox vaccine depends on more than the quality of the vaccination: individual genes can alter their response, Mayo Clinic research shows. The findings, gathered using sophisticated genomic screening, appear in the online issue of the journal Genes and Immunity. "We were looking into the intercellular reactions that occur when vaccinated and unvaccinated persons are exposed to and infected with smallpox virus. We were able to use blood samples taken directly from vaccinated patients," says senior author Gregory Poland, M.D... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)
Source: Health News from Medical News Today - April 21, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Immune System / Vaccines Source Type: news

Transcriptomic profiles of high and low antibody responders to smallpox vaccine
& G A Poland (Source: Genes and Immunity)
Source: Genes and Immunity - April 18, 2013 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: R B KennedyA L ObergI G OvsyannikovaI H HaralambievaD GrillG A Poland Tags: Next-generation sequencing mRNA-Seq vaccinia virus smallpox vaccine Source Type: research

L1R, A27L, A33R and B5R vaccinia virus genes expressed by fowlpox recombinants as putative novel orthopoxvirus vaccines
Background: The traditional smallpox vaccine, administered by scarification, was discontinued in the general population from 1980, because of the absence of new smallpox cases. However, the development of an effective prophylactic vaccine against smallpox is still necessary, to protect from the threat of deliberate release of the variola virus for bioterrorism and from new zoonotic infections, and to improve the safety of the traditional vaccine. Preventive vaccination still remains the most effective control and new vectors have been developed to generate recombinant vaccines against smallpox that induce the same immunoge...
Source: Journal of Translational Medicine - April 11, 2013 Category: Research Authors: Sole PacchioniMassimiliano BissaCarlo ZanottoCarlo MorghenElena IllianoAntonia Radaelli Source Type: research

The Role of Vaccination, Antiorthopoxvirus Drug, and Social Cooperativity in a Mathematical Model of Smallpox Control
Biosecurity and Bioterrorism: Biodefense Strategy, Practice, and Science Mar 2013, Vol. 11, No. 1: 59-72. (Source: Biosecurity and Bioterrorism: Biodefense Strategy, Practice, and Science)
Source: Biosecurity and Bioterrorism: Biodefense Strategy, Practice, and Science - March 28, 2013 Category: Global & Universal Tags: article Source Type: research

Man catches smallpox-like virus through sex with someone who had been vaccinated against the disease
A man from San Diego was infected after coming into close contact with someone who had been recently vaccinated against the deadly disease. (Source: the Mail online | Health)
Source: the Mail online | Health - March 1, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news

Secondary and tertiary transmission of vaccinia virus after sexual contact with a smallpox vaccinee--San Diego, California, 2012.
This report describes the epidemiology and clinical course of the secondary and tertiary cases and efforts to prevent further transmission to contacts. PMID: 23446513 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] (Source: MMWR Morb Mortal Wkl...)
Source: MMWR Morb Mortal Wkl... - March 1, 2013 Category: Epidemiology Authors: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Tags: MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep Source Type: research

Man Who Got Smallpox Vaccine Passes Milder Infection to Sex Partner: CDC
Transmission is common if the vaccine wound is not covered, expert says (Source: Fertility News - Doctors Lounge)
Source: Fertility News - Doctors Lounge - February 28, 2013 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: webmaster at doctorslounge.com Tags: Infections, Reproductive Medicine, News, Source Type: news

Man Who Got Smallpox Vaccine Passes Milder Infection to Sex Partner: CDC
Transmission is common if the vaccine wound is not covered, expert says Source: HealthDay Related MedlinePlus Pages: Immunization, Smallpox (Source: MedlinePlus Health News)
Source: MedlinePlus Health News - February 28, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news

[Editorial] 2018 must be the final target for polio eradication
Since the eradication of smallpox in the late 1970s, no other diseases have followed suit; the goal that has come closest so far is eradication of polio. The development of vaccines in the 1950s led to cases of polio plummeting: whereas hundreds of thousands were affected annually in the middle of last century, in 2012 around 250 people were paralysed by the disease. But the final stages of eradication are proving more difficult than the early phases. The disease remains entrenched in three countries—Afghanistan, Nigeria, and Pakistan—where social, political, and logistical factors prevent effective vaccination campaig...
Source: The Lancet Infectious Diseases - February 19, 2013 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: The Lancet Infectious Diseases Tags: Editorial Source Type: research

NK cells and poxvirus infection.
Abstract In recent years, our understanding of the role of natural killer (NK) cells in the response to viral infection has grown rapidly. Not only do we realize viruses have many immune-evasion strategies to escape NK cell responses, but that stimulation of NK cell subsets during an antiviral response occurs through receptors seemingly geared directly at viral products and that NK cells can provide a memory response to viral pathogens. Tremendous knowledge has been gained in this area through the study of herpes viruses, but appreciation for the significance of NK cells in the response to other types of viral infe...
Source: Herpes - February 10, 2013 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Burshtyn DN Tags: Front Immunol Source Type: research

Lucy Mangan: wanted – mother for Neanderthal baby
'Don't you long, occasionally, for something really, really interesting, something different, something overwhelmingly "other" to happen?'It's possible that the snow has driven me stir crazy. Although, as someone who, when under stress, still draws diagrams of the underground, Womble burrow-based home that she plans to build when she wins the lottery, I think that is highly unlikely. In any case, I have been seized by the idea of having another baby.Not just any old baby – I've already got one of those – but a Neanderthal baby. Earlier this week Professor George Church, a genetic researcher at Harva...
Source: Guardian Unlimited Science - January 26, 2013 Category: Science Authors: Lucy Mangan Tags: The Guardian Family Genetics Evolution Biology Parents and parenting Anthropology Features Life and style Neanderthal man Science Source Type: news

Medical aspects of bio-terrorism.
CONCLUSION: Biotoxins are very wide and bioterrorism is a heath and security threat that may induce national and international problems. Therefore, the security authorities, health professional and even public should be aware of bioterrorism. PMID: 23339855 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Toxicon)
Source: Toxicon - January 20, 2013 Category: Toxicology Authors: Balali-Mood M, Moshiri M, Etemad L Tags: Toxicon Source Type: research

Smallpox vaccine/tecovirimat: Progressive vaccinia and development of resistance in orthopoxvirus: case report
(Source: Reactions)
Source: Reactions - January 12, 2013 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Short communication Source Type: research

Expanding the histologic findings in smallpox‐related postvaccinial non‐viral folliculitis
We describe additional histopathologic findings associated with post‐vaccinial non‐viral folliculitis, which has only been described once previously. New findings include the presence of a neutrophilic or lymphohistiocytic infiltrate that is concentrated around the hair follicles. We compare our findings to the follicular nature of varicella and herpes zoster infections, generating the hypothesis of deposition of vaccinia protein within folliculosebaceous units as a potential pathophysiologic mechanism behind post‐vaccinial non‐viral folliculitis. (Source: Journal of Cutaneous Pathology)
Source: Journal of Cutaneous Pathology - December 1, 2012 Category: Pathology Authors: Christopher G. Bunick, Kavita Mariwalla, Omer Ibrahim, Badri Modi, Suguru Imaeda, Jennifer McNiff Tags: Case Report Source Type: research

Expanding the histologic findings in smallpox‐related post‐vaccinial non‐viral folliculitis
We describe additional histopathologic findings associated with post‐vaccinial non‐viral folliculitis, which has only been described once previously. New findings include the presence of a neutrophilic or lymphohistiocytic infiltrate that is concentrated around the hair follicles. We compare our findings to the follicular nature of varicella and herpes zoster infections, generating the hypothesis of deposition of vaccinia protein within folliculosebaceous units as a potential pathophysiologic mechanism behind post‐vaccinial non‐viral folliculitis. (Source: Journal of Cutaneous Pathology)
Source: Journal of Cutaneous Pathology - December 1, 2012 Category: Pathology Authors: Christopher G. Bunick, Kavita Mariwalla, Omer Ibrahim, Badri Modi, Suguru Imaeda, Jennifer M. McNiff Tags: Case Report Source Type: research

Cowpox virus but not Vaccinia virus induces secretion of CXCL1, IL-8 and IL-6 and chemotaxis of monocytes in vitro.
Abstract Orthopoxviruses are large DNA viruses which can cause disease in numerous host species. Today, after eradication of Variola virus and the end of vaccination against smallpox, zoonotic Orthopoxvirus infections are emerging as potential threat to human health. The most common causes of zoonotic Orthopoxvirus infections are Cowpox virus in Europe, Monkeypox virus in Africa and Vaccinia virus in South America. Although all three viruses are genetically and antigenically closely related, the human diseases caused by each virus differ considerably. This observation may reflect different capabilities of these vir...
Source: Virus Research - November 30, 2012 Category: Virology Authors: Bourquain D, Nitsche A Tags: Virus Res Source Type: research

The Viral Storm by Nathan Wolfe – review
This is a tale of ever-increasing intimacy between humans and other animal species, and the resultant threat of pandemicsThere are those who believe the dangers from "swine flu" (H1N1) in 2009 and Sars in 2003 were exaggerated by "mad scientists". It's true that, thankfully, swine flu and Sars have not so far proved as devastating as originally feared, but before the next emerging human infection hits the headlines, pandemic sceptics should find time to read The Viral Storm by a Stanford virologist called Nathan Wolfe.This is a tale of ever-increasing intimacy between ourselves and other animal species: the source of patho...
Source: Guardian Unlimited Science - November 23, 2012 Category: Science Authors: James Kingsland Tags: Bird flu Biology Infectious diseases guardian.co.uk Medical research Microbiology Reviews Books Zoology Swine flu Agriculture Science Source Type: news

Dose sparing and enhanced immunogenicity of inactivated rotavirus vaccine administered by skin vaccination using a microneedle patch.
Abstract Skin immunization is effective against a number of infectious diseases, including smallpox and tuberculosis, but is difficult to administer. Here, we assessed the use of an easy-to-administer microneedle (MN) patch for skin vaccination using an inactivated rotavirus vaccine (IRV) in mice. Female inbred BALB/c mice in groups of six were immunized once in the skin using MN coated with 5μg or 0.5μg of inactivated rotavirus antigen or by intramuscular (IM) injection with 5μg or 0.5μg of the same antigen, bled at 0 and 10 days, and exsanguinated at 28 days. Rotavirus-specific IgG titers increased over time ...
Source: Vaccine - November 19, 2012 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Moon S, Wang Y, Edens C, Gentsch JR, Prausnitz MR, Jiang B Tags: Vaccine Source Type: research

Adsorption of recombinant poxvirus L1-protein to aluminum hydroxide/CpG vaccine adjuvants enhances immune responses and protection of mice from vaccinia virus challenge.
Abstract The stockpiling of live vaccinia virus vaccines has enhanced biopreparedness against the intentional or accidental release of smallpox. Ongoing research on future generation smallpox vaccines is providing key insights into protective immune responses as well as important information about subunit-vaccine design strategies. For protein-based recombinant subunit vaccines, the formulation and stability of candidate antigens with different adjuvants are important factors to consider for vaccine design. In this work, a non-tagged secreted L1-protein, a target antigen on mature virus, was expressed using recombi...
Source: Vaccine - November 12, 2012 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Xiao Y, Zeng Y, Alexander E, Mehta S, Joshi SB, Buchman GW, Volkin DB, Russell Middaugh C, Isaacs SN Tags: Vaccine Source Type: research

[The historical development of immunization in Germany : From compulsory smallpox vaccination to a National Action Plan on Immunization].
[The historical development of immunization in Germany : From compulsory smallpox vaccination to a National Action Plan on Immunization]. Bundesgesundheitsblatt Gesundheitsforschung Gesundheitsschutz. 2012 Nov;55(11-12):1512-23 Authors: Klein S, Schöneberg I, Krause G Abstract In the German Reich, smallpox vaccinations were organized by the state. A mandatory vaccination throughout the empire was introduced in 1874, which was continued in the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) and the German Democratic Republic (GDR) until 1982/1983. From 1935, health departments were responsible for vaccinations. In the GD...
Source: Bundesgesundheitsblatt, Gesundheitsforschung, Gesundheitsschutz - November 1, 2012 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Klein S, Schöneberg I, Krause G Tags: Bundesgesundheitsblatt Gesundheitsforschung Gesundheitsschutz Source Type: research

Impact of cytokine and cytokine receptor gene polymorphisms on cellular immunity after smallpox vaccination.
Abstract We explored associations between SNPs in cytokine/cytokine receptor genes and cellular immunity in subjects following primary smallpox vaccination. We also analyzed the genotype-phenotype associations discovered in the Caucasian subjects among a cohort of African-Americans. In Caucasians we found 277 associations (p<0.05) between gene SNPs and inter-individual variations in IFN-α, IL-12p40, IL-1β, IL-2, and TNF-α secretion levels. A collection of SNPs in the IL1RN, IL2RB, IL4R, IL6, IL10RB, IL12A, and IL12RB2 genes had consistent associations among both Caucasians and African-Americans. A regulatory ...
Source: Gene - October 8, 2012 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: Ovsyannikova IG, Haralambieva IH, Kennedy RB, Pankratz VS, Vierkant RA, Jacobson RM, Poland GA Tags: Gene Source Type: research

Smallpox vaccine: Chest pain: 3 case reports
(Source: Reactions)
Source: Reactions - September 30, 2012 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Short communication Source Type: research

This isn't bad science. It's evil science | Andrew Brown
Some things are so abhorrent it is hard to see them serving any good end. Soviet bioweapons research offers a case in pointHow helpful is it to say that science is neutral in itself, and what makes it good or evil are political decisions? Scientists, we're told, deliver knowledge, and it is up to society to decide what to do with it. It is seldom added, except by Marxist critics of science like Richard Lewontin, that "society" – in effect government and big business – decides what knowledge scientists will look for. Most science costs money. Big science costs big money. It is hardly surprising when the suppliers of tha...
Source: Guardian Unlimited Science - September 26, 2012 Category: Science Authors: Andrew Brown Tags: Blogposts Russia World news guardian.co.uk Weapons technology Science Comment is free Source Type: news

The N-terminus of vaccinia virus host range protein C7L is essential for function
Abstract Vaccinia virus (VACV), a member of the Poxviridae family of large double-stranded DNA viruses, is being used as a smallpox vaccine as well as an expression vector for immunization against other infectious diseases and cancer. The host range of wild type VACV is very broad among mammalian cells. C7L is a host range gene identified in VACV and is well conserved in mammalian poxviruses except for parapoxviruses and molluscum contagiosum virus. The molecular mechanisms by which the C7L gene exerts host range function are not well understood. The C7L protein does not have any known conserved domains or...
Source: Virus Genes - September 21, 2012 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Tags: Virus Genes Source Type: research

Why the uptake of change and innovation is slow amongst the medical fraternity and how these can be overcome
The steps of progress in the medical field the last 50years is impressive: The 5-year cancer survival rates have risen from 30% to over 60% . Cardiovascular mortality between 1950 and 1990 has decreased by about the same number and HIV/AIDS has been transformed into a chronic disease . Vaccines have eradicated many once-fatal diseases, including smallpox. Life expectancy for a 45-year-old has increased 9years since 1950 . It is impressive that on February 15, 2001, Nature published the initial sequence and analysis of the human genome. (Source: International Journal of Cardiology)
Source: International Journal of Cardiology - September 17, 2012 Category: Cardiology Authors: Haralabos Parissis, Bassel Al-Alao Tags: Letters to the Editor Source Type: research

Estimated size of the population at risk of severe adverse events after smallpox vaccination in Israel.
CONCLUSION: Approximately 4.3% of the Israeli population should not be exposed to the currently used smallpox vaccine. This knowledge is important to ensure the effectiveness of mass vaccination programs in the event of a bioterror attack. PMID: 22963804 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Vaccine)
Source: Vaccine - September 7, 2012 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Levy Y, Anis E, Kaliner E, Grotto I, Danon YL Tags: Vaccine Source Type: research

Guinea worm disease poised to be eradicated within a few years
Parasite transmitted through drinking water expected to become only the second human disease, after smallpox, to be defeatedGuinea worm disease is reaching the end of its days. The parasitic infection, which has sickened millions, mostly in Asia and Africa, is on the verge of being done in not by sophisticated medicine but by aggressive public health efforts in some of the poorest and most remote parts of the world.To eliminate the parasite, which is found in drinking water, hundreds of thousands of volunteers have handed out straws with cloth filters, treated water sources with larvicide, have taught villagers how to avoi...
Source: Guardian Unlimited Science - September 4, 2012 Category: Science Tags: Infectious diseases News Health Vaccines and immunisation Society Jimmy Carter Guardian Weekly Global development Source Type: news

50 Years Ago in The Journal of Pediatrics: Smallpox and Air Travel: Need for Vigilance
Blattner RJ. J Pediatr 1962;61:477 In a section of The Journal titled “Comments on Current Literature,” Blattner summarized several recent small outbreaks of smallpox in England. In each instance, the index case had flown into Britain from an endemic area while incubating the infection. Since then, of course, smallpox has gone through a dramatic epidemiological change. An aggressive campaign of case identification and vaccination resulted in the worldwide eradication of the disease, a remarkable accomplishment formally announced by the World Health Organization in 1980. (Source: The Journal of Pediatrics)
Source: The Journal of Pediatrics - August 23, 2012 Category: Pediatrics Authors: Philip Toltzis Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research

Smallpox vaccine: Vaccine encephalopathy in an infant with Angelman syndrome: case report
(Source: Reactions)
Source: Reactions - August 19, 2012 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Short communication Source Type: research

Impact of Infection or Vaccination on Pre-existing Serological Memory.
We describe a cohort of four subjects who received smallpox vaccination, and a single subject who received multiple vaccinations, with antibody levels to unrelated antigens monitored for 1-3 years. These immunizations provided the opportunity to determine if infection/vaccination and the resulting toll-like receptor stimulation would alter antigen-specific serological memory to other antigens, including bacterial toxins (tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis) and viruses (yellow fever virus, measles, mumps, rubella, Epstein-Barr virus, and varicella-zoster virus). Our results indicate that serum IgG levels are remarkably stab...
Source: Human Immunology - August 16, 2012 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Amanna IJ, Hammarlund E, Lewis MW, Slifka MK Tags: Hum Immunol Source Type: research

Vaccination-induced syphilis and the Hübner malpractice litigation.
This article examines smallpox vaccination in the 19th century as background for a notorious medical malpractice case that occupied Bavarian courts from April 1853 until May 1854. Dr. Georg Hübner, the defendant, was accused of having initiated a small epidemic of syphilis by using the lymph of a syphilitic infant to vaccinate 13 infants. The litigation and its published contemporaneous discussion demonstrate conflicts in the understanding of syphilis, the hazards of having to make a purely clinical diagnosis, the effect of obsolete legal wording in medical litigation, and the attitude of leading physicians to a guilty co...
Source: Perspectives in Biology and Medicine - August 2, 2012 Category: Medical Ethics Authors: Benedek TG Tags: Perspect Biol Med Source Type: research

Bavarian says U.S. expands group eligible for Imvamune
COPENHAGEN (Reuters) - Danish biopharmaceutical company Bavarian Nordic said on Wednesday the U.S. government had expanded the population eligible to receive its attenuated smallpox vaccine, Imvamune, during an emergency. (Source: Reuters: Health)
Source: Reuters: Health - July 11, 2012 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: healthNews Source Type: news

Dracunculiasis eradication--finishing the job before surprises arise.
Abstract Dracunculiasis (Guinea worm disease) is a preventable waterborne parasitic disease that affects the poorest people living in remote rural areas in sub-Saharan African countries, who do not have access to safe drinking water. The Guinea Worm Eradication Program, a 25-year old campaign to rid the world of Guinea Worm disease has now reached its final stage accelerating to zero cases in all endemic countries. During the 19th and 20th centuries, dracunculiasis was common in much of Southern Asia and the African continent. The overall number of cases has been reduced tremendously by ≥99%, from the 3.32 millio...
Source: Rural Remote Health - July 1, 2012 Category: Rural Health Authors: Visser BJ Tags: Asian Pac J Trop Med Source Type: research

Generation and Characterization of Monoclonal Antibodies Specific for Vaccinia Virus
Monoclonal antibodies to specific vaccinia virus (VACV) proteins are valuable reagents in studies of VACV. In this chapter, we describe methods of generating a panel of monoclonal antibodies that recognize a variety of VACV proteins in their native conformation in infected cells. The antibodies thus generated recognize mostly VACV proteins that are involved in virion assembly or/and are major antigens in smallpox vaccine. These antibodies are useful for tracking distinct steps in virion assembly and for studying the B cell epitopes in smallpox vaccine. (Source: Springer protocols feed by Infectious Diseases)
Source: Springer protocols feed by Infectious Diseases - June 20, 2012 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: news

Measurements of Vaccinia Virus Dissemination Using Whole Body Imaging: Approaches for Predicting of Lethality in Challenge Models and Testing of Vaccines and Antiviral Treatments
Preclinical evaluation of novel anti-smallpox vaccines and antiviral treatments often rely on mouse challenge models using pathogenic vaccinia virus, such as Western Reserve (WR) strain or other orthopoxviruses. Traditionally, efficacy of treatment is evaluated using various readouts, such as lethality (rare), measurements of body weight loss, pox lesion scoring, and determination of viral loads in internal organs by enumerating plaques in sensitive cell lines. These methodologies provide valuable information about the contribution of the treatment to protection from infection, yet all have similar limitations: they d...
Source: Springer protocols feed by Infectious Diseases - June 20, 2012 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: news

A single cidofovir treatment rescues animals at progressive stages of lethal orthopoxvirus disease
Conclusions: Altogether, our data substantiate the feasibility of single post-exposure antiviral treatment toface orthopoxvirus infection. (Source: Virology Journal)
Source: Virology Journal - June 18, 2012 Category: Virology Authors: Tomer IsraelyNir ParanShlomo LustigNoam ErezBoaz PolitiAvigdor ShaffermanSharon Melamed Source Type: research

Vaccinia Virus and Poxvirology
Methods and Protocolsseries:Methods in Molecular BiologySince the first edition of Vaccinia Virus and Poxvirology: Methods and Protocols was published, a number of important events related to poxvirology have occurred, such as FDA approval of a culture-based live smallpox vaccine and the vaccination of large numbers of U.S. military personnel and relatively large numbers of U.S. civilians. Novel anti-poxvirus therapeutics have been developed and ... (Source: Springer Medicine titles)
Source: Springer Medicine titles - June 14, 2012 Category: Databases & Libraries Tags: Infectious Diseases Source Type: news

Response surface methodology to determine optimal measles-specific cytokine responses in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells.
Abstract Limitations of assay variability, labor costs, and availability of cells can affect the conduct of large population-based studies. The ability to determine optimal conditions for laboratory assessment of immune outcomes, including measurement of cytokines, can reduce the number of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) needed, reduce the labor costs involved, and the variability in secreted cytokine response by pooling cytokines from the same cell culture supernatant. Previously, we used response surface methodology to predict optimal conditions for vaccinia virus-stimulated cytokine responses in recip...
Source: Journal of Immunological Methods - June 13, 2012 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Taylor MJ, Haralambieva IH, Vierkant RA, Ovsyannikova IG, Poland GA Tags: J Immunol Methods Source Type: research

Genome-wide genetic associations with IFNγ response to smallpox vaccine
We report here the first smallpox vaccine response genome-wide association study of over 1,000 recent recipients of Dryvax®. The data presented here focus on cellular immune responses as measured by both production of secreted IFNγ and quantitation of IFNγ secreting cells by ELISPOT assay. We identified multiple significant SNP associations in genes (RASA1, ADRA1D, TCF7L1, FAS) that are critical components of signaling pathways that directly control lymphocyte IFNγ production or cytotoxic T cell function. Similarly, we found many associations with SNPs located in genes integral to nerve cell function; findings that...
Source: Human Genetics - June 3, 2012 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Tags: Human Genetics Source Type: research

Evaluation of a non-viral vaccine in smallpox-vaccinated individuals and immunized HLA-transgenic mice.
Abstract The current poxvirus vaccine is associated with rare, but serious adverse events. Therefore, we investigated a non-replicating approach to vaccine design. Peptides encoding potential HLA-binding motifs were derived from the orthopoxvirus genes, D8L, A27L, and C12L (the IL-18-binding protein [vIL18BP105]), all of which are preserved among poxviruses that infect humans, and which may be a target of host immunity. The peptides were tested with poxvirus-vaccinated human PBMC and serum for eliciting memory responses, as well as with splenocytes and serum from peptide-immunized, human HLA-DR04 transgenic (HLA tg...
Source: Human Immunology - June 1, 2012 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Taylor AP, Makabi-Panzu B, Chen X, Gold DV, Goldenberg DM Tags: Hum Immunol Source Type: research

Bavarian Nordic says U.S. backs new Imvamune study
COPENHAGEN (Reuters) - Danish biopharma firm Bavarian Nordic said on Tuesday that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has supported the initiation of an expanded phase 3 study of its smallpox vaccine Imvamune. (Source: Reuters: Health)
Source: Reuters: Health - May 22, 2012 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: healthNews Source Type: news

Genome-wide analysis of polymorphisms associated with cytokine responses in smallpox vaccine recipients
Abstract The role that genetics play in response to infection or disease is becoming increasingly clear as we learn more about immunogenetics and host–pathogen interactions. Here we report a genome-wide analysis of the effects of host genetic variation on cytokine responses to vaccinia virus stimulation in smallpox vaccine recipients. Our data show that vaccinia stimulation of immune individuals results in secretion of inflammatory and Th1 cytokines. We identified multiple SNPs significantly associated with variations in cytokine secretion. These SNPs are found in genes with known immune function, as well ...
Source: Human Genetics - May 19, 2012 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Tags: Human Genetics Source Type: research

Cowpox: What do a Dairymaid and a Lab Technician Have in Common?
A 32-year-old woman was working in a local biotechnology laboratory and, while attempting to inoculate a mouse with a cowpox viral strain currently being developed as a live vaccine against smallpox, accidentally self-inoculated the tip of her right index finger with a needle. The patient was seen that day in the Occupational Medicine clinic for the needle-stick and was instructed to return to the Emergency Department (ED) if she developed any symptoms. The patient presented to the ED 5 days later with a lesion on the fingertip (). She was noted to have focal edema as well as red streaking up her left forearm without fever...
Source: The Journal of Emergency Medicine - May 7, 2012 Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Davut J. Savaser, Vaishal M. Tolia, Peter J. Witucki Tags: Visual Diagnosis in Emergency Medicine Source Type: research

Position on donors and smallpox vaccine: a committee opinion
Although there is presently no definitive evidence linking vaccinia virus transmission through reproductive cells, SART/ASRM accordingly recommends that ART practitioners consider deferring donors who have recently received smallpox vaccine or contracted symptomatic vaccinia virus infection through close contact with a vaccine recipient (until after the vaccine or infectious scab has spontaneously separated). Good donor practice further suggests that donors who are not in good health, including those with recent complications from smallpox vaccine, should be similarly deferred. (This document was reviewed by the ASRM Pract...
Source: Fertility and Sterility - April 26, 2012 Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Practice Committees of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine and Society for Reproductive Technology Tags: ASRM pages Source Type: research

Evaluation of a non-viral vaccine in smallpox-vaccinated individuals and immunized HLA-transgenic mice.
Abstract The current poxvirus vaccine is associated with rare, but serious adverse events. Therefore, we investigated a non-replicating approach to vaccine design. Peptides encoding potential HLA-binding motifs were derived from the orthopoxvirus genes, D8L, A27L, and C12L (the IL-18-binding protein [vIL18BP105]), all of which are preserved among poxviruses that infect humans, and which may be a target of host immunity. The peptides were tested with poxvirus-vaccinated human PBMC and serum for eliciting memory responses, as well as with splenocytes and serum from peptide-immunized, human HLA-DR04 transgenic (HLA tg...
Source: Human Immunology - April 12, 2012 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Taylor AP, Makabi-Panzu B, Chen X, Gold DV, Goldenberg DM Tags: Hum Immunol Source Type: research

Smallpox vaccine: Myopericarditis: 2 case reports
(Source: Reactions)
Source: Reactions - March 21, 2012 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Short communication Source Type: research