Influence of Timing of Maternal Pertussis Immunization on the Avidity of Transferred Antibodies in Term and Preterm Neonates.

The timing of maternal pertussis vaccination influences the titers of cord-blood anti-pertussis antibodies. Whether it affects their avidity is unknown. We demonstrate in 298 term and 72 preterm neonates that antibody avidity is independent of the timing of maternal vaccination, whether comparing second with third trimester or intervals before birth.

Missed pertussis diagnosis during co-infection with Bordetella holmesii.

The purpose of this study is to identify predictive factors associated with missed diagnosis of B. pertussis-B. holmesii co-infection by assessing the analytical performance of a commercially available multiplexed PCR assay and by building a prediction model based on clinical signs and symptoms for detecting co-infections.

Fitness of B-Cell Responses to SARS-CoV-2 WT and Variants Up to One Year After Mild COVID-19 - A Comprehensive Analysis.

Objective: To comprehensively evaluate SARS-CoV-2 specific B-cell and antibody responses up to one year after mild COVID-19.

Methods: In 31 mildly symptomatic COVID-19 participants SARS-CoV-2-specific plasmablasts and antigen-specific memory B cells were measured by ELISpot. Binding antibodies directed against the proteins spike (S), domain S1, and nucleocapsid (N) were estimated using rIFA, ELISA, and commercially available assays, and avidity measured using thiocyanate washout.

SARS-CoV-2 infection as a trigger of humoral response against apolipoprotein A-1.

Background: Unravelling autoimmune targets triggered by SARS-CoV-2 infection may provide crucial insights into the physiopathology of the disease and foster the development of potential therapeutic candidate targets and prognostic tools. We aimed at determining (a) the association between anti-SARS-CoV-2 and anti-apoA-1 humoral response and (b) the degree of linear homology between SARS-CoV-2, apoA-1 and Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) epitopes.

Design: Bioinformatics modelling coupled with mimic peptides engineering and competition experiments were used to assess epitopes sequence homologies.

Boosting Teenagers With Acellular Pertussis Vaccines Containing Recombinant or Chemically Inactivated Pertussis Toxin: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Background: Protection induced by acellular pertussis (aP) vaccines is partial and short-lived, especially in teenagers, calling for novel immunization strategies.

Methods: We conducted an investigator-driven proof-of-concept randomized controlled trial in aP-primed adolescents in Geneva to assess the immunogenicity and reactogenicity of a novel recombinant aP (r-aP) vaccine including recombinant pertussis toxin (PT) and filamentous hemagglutinin (FHA) coadministered with tetanus-diphtheria toxoids (Td), compared to a licensed tetanus-diphtheria-aP vaccine containing chemically detoxified PT (cd/Tdap). The primary immunological endpoints were day 28/365 geometric mean concentrations (GMCs) of total and neutralizing anti-PT antibodies.

Usefulness of a systematic approach at listing for vaccine prevention in solid organ transplant candidates.

Solid organ transplant (SOT) candidates may not be immune against potentially vaccine-preventable diseases because of insufficient immunizations and/or limited vaccine responses. We evaluated the impact on vaccine immunity at transplant of a systematic vaccinology workup at listing that included (1) pneumococcal with and without influenza immunization, (2) serology-based vaccine recommendations against measles, varicella, hepatitis B virus, hepatitis A virus, and tetanus, and (3) the documentation of vaccines and serology tests in a national electronic immunization registry (www.myvaccines.

Immune system correlates of extensive limb swelling in response to conjugated pneumococcal vaccination.

Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) is recommended for adults with chronic disease. Extensive limb swelling (ELS) is an acute vigorous local inflammatory reaction following vaccination. Predisposing immune system correlates and the influence of ELS on vaccine responses are not known.

Determinants of antibody persistence across doses and continents after single-dose rVSV-ZEBOV vaccination for Ebola virus disease: an observational cohort study.

Background: The recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus (rVSV) vaccine expressing the Zaire Ebola virus (ZEBOV) glycoprotein is efficacious in the weeks following single-dose injection, but duration of immunity is unknown. We aimed to assess antibody persistence at 1 and 2 years in volunteers who received single-dose rVSV-ZEBOV in three previous trials.

Methods: In this observational cohort study, we prospectively followed-up participants from the African and European phase 1 rVSV-ZEBOV trials, who were vaccinated once in 2014-15 with 300 000 (low dose) or 10-50 million (high dose) plaque-forming units (pfu) of rVSV-ZEBOV vaccine to assess ZEBOV glycoprotein (IgG) antibody persistence.

Pertussis Antibody Transfer to Preterm Neonates After Second- Versus Third-Trimester Maternal Immunization.

Preterm infants are most vulnerable to pertussis. Whether they might benefit from maternal immunization is unknown. Extending our previous results in term neonates, this observational study demonstrates that second- rather than third-trimester maternal vaccination results in higher birth anti-pertussis toxin titers in preterm neonates.

Maternal Immunization Earlier in Pregnancy Maximizes Antibody Transfer and Expected Infant Seropositivity Against Pertussis.

Background: Maternal immunization against pertussis is currently recommended after the 26th gestational week (GW). Data on the optimal timing of maternal immunization are inconsistent.

Methods: We conducted a prospective observational noninferiority study comparing the influence of second-trimester (GW 13-25) vs third-trimester (≥GW 26) tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis (Tdap) immunization in pregnant women who delivered at term.

The effect of dose on the safety and immunogenicity of the VSV Ebola candidate vaccine: a randomised double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 1/2 trial.

Background: Safe and effective vaccines against Ebola could prevent or control outbreaks. The safe use of replication-competent vaccines requires a careful dose-selection process. We report the first safety and immunogenicity results in volunteers receiving 3 × 10(5) plaque-forming units (pfu) of the recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus-based candidate vaccine expressing the Zaire Ebola virus glycoprotein (rVSV-ZEBOV; low-dose vaccinees) compared with 59 volunteers who had received 1 ×10(7) pfu (n=35) or 5 × 10(7) pfu (n=16) of rVSV-ZEBOV (high-dose vaccinees) or placebo (n=8) before a safety-driven study hold.

Phase 1 Trials of rVSV Ebola Vaccine in Africa and Europe.

Background: The replication-competent recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus (rVSV)-based vaccine expressing a Zaire ebolavirus (ZEBOV) glycoprotein was selected for rapid safety and immunogenicity testing before its use in West Africa.

Methods: We performed three open-label, dose-escalation phase 1 trials and one randomized, double-blind, controlled phase 1 trial to assess the safety, side-effect profile, and immunogenicity of rVSV-ZEBOV at various doses in 158 healthy adults in Europe and Africa. All participants were injected with doses of vaccine ranging from 300,000 to 50 million plaque-forming units (PFU) or placebo.

The role of penicillin in benign skin rashes in childhood: a prospective study based on drug rechallenge.

Background: Delayed-onset urticarial or maculopapular rashes are frequently observed in children treated with β-lactams. Many are labeled "allergic" without reliable testing.

Objective: Determine the etiology of these rashes by exploring both infectious and allergic causes.