The SARS-CoV-2 neutralising antibody profile of New Zealand adults in 2023: Impact of vaccination and infection.

The successive dominance of SARS-CoV-2 omicron sublineages presents challenges for vaccination strategies with respect to the antigenic content of boosters. New Zealand's COVID-19 elimination strategy (2020-2021) ensured the major vaccination campaign (Pfizer-BioNTech BNT162b2) was completed pre-omicron in an infection-naive population, providing a unique setting to explore the impact of omicron infection waves on vaccine responses. This study compared neutralising antibodies (NAb) to eight SARS-CoV-2 omicron sublineages 28-days and 11-months after a third dose.

Robust immunogenicity of a third BNT162b2 vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in a naïve New Zealand cohort.

The ability of a third dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech BNT162b2 SARS-CoV-2 vaccine to stimulate immune responses against subvariants, including Omicron BA.1, has not been assessed in New Zealand populations. Unlike many overseas populations, New Zealanders were largely infection naïve at the time they were boosted.

Patients with previous immediate hypersensitivity reactions to polyethylene glycol can safely receive the BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine.

Previous anaphylaxis or immediate allergic reaction to polyethylene glycol (PEG; also known as macrogol) is considered a contraindication to the BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, which contains 50 ug of PEG at a molecular weight of 2000, and this component is thought to account for the higher rate of anaphylaxis seen with this vaccine (4.7 per million doses) than with other non-mRNA vaccines. However, there is evidence that both anaphylaxis to PEG and anaphylaxis to the Pfizer COVID-19 reaction may not be IgE-mediated, with patients with anaphylaxis to first dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine receiving their second dose of vaccine without no or milder reactions in a high-risk clinic setting.

Immunogenicity of BNT162b2 COVID-19 vaccine in New Zealand adults.

Background: There is very little known about SARS-CoV-2 vaccine immune responses in New Zealand populations at greatest risk for serious COVID-19 disease.

Methods: This prospective cohort study assessed immunogenicity in BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine recipients in New Zealand without previous COVID-19, with enrichment for Māori, Pacific peoples, older adults ≥ 65 years of age, and those with co-morbidities. Serum samples were analysed at baseline and 28 days after second dose for presence of quantitative anti-S IgG by chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay and for neutralizing capacity against Wuhan, Beta, Delta, and Omicron BA.

Vaccine mandates in the time of Omicron.

Nil.

IL-13 in dermal type-2 dendritic cell specialization: From function to therapeutic targeting.

Skin functions as a barrier protecting the host against physical, thermal, chemical changes as well as microbial insults. The skin is populated by several immune cell types that are crucial to host defense and to maintain self-tolerance as well as equilibrium with beneficial microbiota. Conventional dendritic cells (cDCs) are antigen-presenting cells that patrol the skin and all other nonlymphoid tissues for self or foreign antigens, and then migrate to draining lymph nodes to initiate T-cell responses.

Bronchiectasis is associated with delayed diagnosis and adverse outcomes in the New Zealand Common Variable Immunodeficiency Disorders cohort study.

Common variable immunodeficiency disorders (CVID) are multi-system disorders where target organ damage is mediated by infective, autoimmune and inflammatory processes. Bronchiectasis is probably the most common disabling complication of CVID. The risk factors for bronchiectasis in CVID patients are incompletely understood.

Prevalence of clinic-defined food allergy in early adolescence: The SchoolNuts study.

Background: Rising rates of food-induced anaphylaxis have recently been shown in the adolescent age group, following earlier descriptions of a rise in children younger than 5 years. However, few population-based studies have examined the prevalence of food allergy in adolescence using objective measures such as oral food challenge (OFC).

Objective: We sought to determine the prevalence of food allergy among a population-based sample of 10- to 14-year-old adolescents using clinical evaluation including OFC to confirm the diagnosis.

The case for a national service for primary immune deficiency disorders in New Zealand.

Primary immune deficiency disorders (PIDs) are rare conditions for which effective treatment is available. It is critical these patients are identified at an early stage to prevent unnecessary morbidity and mortality. Treatment of these disorders is expensive and expert evaluation and ongoing management by a clinical immunologist is essential.

Comparison of diagnostic criteria for common variable immunodeficiency disorder.

Common variable immunodeficiency disorders (CVIDs) are the most frequent symptomatic primary immune deficiency condition in adults. The genetic basis for the condition is not known and no single clinical feature or laboratory test can establish the diagnosis; it has been a diagnosis of exclusion. In areas of uncertainty, diagnostic criteria can provide valuable clinical information.

Identification of germinal centres in the lymph node of a patient with hyperimmunoglobulin M syndrome associated with congenital rubella.

Background: The hyper immunoglobulin M syndrome (HIM) associated with congenital rubella infection (rHIM) is an extremely rare disorder, where patients have elevated serum IgM in association with reduced IgG and IgA. We have previously shown that in contrast to X-linked HIM (XHIM), a patient with well-characterised rHIM is able to express functional CD40 ligand, undergo immunoglobulin isotype switching and to generate memory B cells. Here we describe the ultrastructural features of an excised lymph node from this patient.

Primary immune deficiency disorders in the South Pacific: the clinical utility of a customized genetic testing program in New Zealand.

Primary immune deficiency disorders (PIDs) are a group of diseases associated with a genetic susceptibility to recurrent infections, malignancy, autoimmunity, and allergy. The molecular basis of many of these disorders has been identified in the last two decades. Most are inherited as single gene defects.

Adverse reactions to food in New Zealand children aged 0-5 years.

Aim: The aim of this study was to describe parent/caregiver-reported adverse reactions to food in children aged 0-5 years in New Zealand.

Method: A cross-sectional survey was undertaken in clinics conducted by the Royal New Zealand Plunket Society, which is the major healthcare provider for New Zealand's Well Child programme. Parents/caregivers of 110 (65%) children participated.

The changing epidemiology of food allergy--implications for New Zealand.

Food allergy (FA) is recognised as an important public health problem in developed countries. Recent studies suggest a significant proportion of the general population has a definable FA. The methods used to study FA influence published estimates of incidence and prevalence.