Measuring Vaccine Responses in the Multiplex Era.

Vaccine studies in psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) provide insight into biopsychosocial interactions and their role in infectious diseases. Methodologies to measure vaccine responses are therefore of critical importance for PNI researchers. In this chapter, traditional and modern immunoassays for the assessment of vaccine responses are discussed, highlighting how multiplex techniques provide researchers with greater capacity and opportunity for novel research relating to vaccine outcomes.

Lower Humoral and Cellular Immunity Following Asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 Infection Compared to Symptomatic Infection in Education (The ACE Cohort).

Purpose: Asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infections were widely reported during the COVID-19 pandemic, acting as a hidden source of infection. Many existing studies investigating asymptomatic immunity failed to recruit true asymptomatic individuals. Thus, we conducted a longitudinal cohort study to evaluate humoral- and cell-mediated responses to infection and vaccination in well-defined asymptomatic young adults (the Asymptomatic COVID-19 in Education [ACE] cohort).

The Role of Extracellular Vesicles in Atopic Dermatitis.

Atopic dermatitis, or eczema, is the most common chronic skin disorder, characterized by red and pruritic lesions. Its etiology is multifaceted, involving an interplay of factors, such as the allergic immune response, skin barrier dysfunction, and dysbiosis of the skin microbiota. Recent studies have explored the role of extracellular vesicles (EVs), which are lipid bilayer-delimitated particles released by all cells, in atopic dermatitis.

Antibody response to four doses of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine in rare autoimmune rheumatic diseases: an observational study.

Objective: Antibody responses to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines are reduced among immunocompromised patients but are not well quantified among people with rare disease. We conducted an observational study to evaluate the antibody responses to the booster SARS-CoV-2 vaccine in people with rare autoimmune rheumatic diseases (RAIRD).

Methods: Blood samples were collected after second, before third, after third and after fourth vaccine doses.

Toxicological Aspects Associated with Consumption from Electronic Nicotine Delivery System (ENDS): Focus on Heavy Metals Exposure and Cancer Risk.

Tobacco smoking remains one of the leading causes of premature death worldwide. Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDSs) are proposed as a tool for smoking cessation. In the last few years, a growing number of different types of ENDSs were launched onto the market.

Optimizing mood prior to influenza vaccination in older adults: A three-arm randomized controlled trial.

Objective: This trial explored the psychological and immunological effects of two brief interventions, targeting improving positive mood, administered to older adults immediately prior to influenza vaccination. The primary aim was to examine whether the interventions resulted in greater positive mood compared to usual care, and if so, which was superior. Secondary outcomes included antibody responses to vaccination and feasibility of collecting clinical outcome data (e.

Invariant NKT cells are more abundant in peanut-allergic adults and a subset of CD8 iNKT cells are depleted after peanut oil exposure.

Introduction: Peanut allergy is one of the most prevalent food allergies globally. Currently, most research into the mechanisms involved in protein allergy focuses on the protein allergens under investigation, and information on the function of accompanying compounds, such as lipids, is scarce. Thus, this research investigates the role of peanut-associated lipids and invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells in peanut allergy using a novel, human, assay.

PBMC-derived extracellular vesicles in a smoking-related inflammatory disease model.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) function as mediators of intercellular communication and as such influence the recipient cell function. EVs derived from immune cells can carry out many of the same functions as their parental cells, as they carry costimulatory molecules, antigens, and antigen-MHC complexes. As a result, there is a strong interest in understanding the composition and origin of immune cell-derived EVs in order to understand their role in the pathogenesis of diseases.

Humoral and cellular immunity in patients with rare autoimmune rheumatic diseases following SARS-CoV-2 vaccination.

Objectives: Coronavirus 2019 vaccine responses in rare autoimmune rheumatic diseases (RAIRDs) remain poorly understood; in particular there is little known about whether people develop effective T cell responses. We conducted an observational study to evaluate the short-term humoral and cell-mediated T cell response after the second severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccination in RAIRD patients compared with healthy controls (HCs).

Methods: Blood samples were collected after the second dose and anti-spike, anti-nucleocapsid antibody levels and SARS-CoV-2-specific T cell responses were measured and compared with those of HCs.

The Role of Lipids in Allergic Sensitization: A Systematic Review.

Immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated allergies are increasing in prevalence, with IgE-mediated food allergies currently affecting up to 10% of children and 6% of adults worldwide. The mechanisms underpinning the first phase of IgE-mediated allergy, allergic sensitization, are still not clear. Recently, the potential involvement of lipids in allergic sensitization has been proposed, with reports that they can bind allergenic proteins and act on immune cells to skew to a T helper type 2 (Th2) response.

Extracellular vesicles and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): a systematic review.

Background: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a common inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by irreversible airflow limitation, ranking the third highest cause of death worldwide. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are important intercellular communication mediators released by cells into their extracellular environment with the capacity to transfer biological signals. EVs involved in COPD hold great potential to understand disease pathogenesis and identify important biomarkers.

Relationship Between Anxiety, Depression, and Susceptibility to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infection: Proof of Concept.

Background: Psychological factors can influence susceptibility to viral infections. We examined whether such influences are evident in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection.

Methods: Participants (n = 102) completed measures of anxiety, depression, positive mood, and loneliness and provided a blood sample for the measurement of antibodies to the SARS-CoV-2 spike and nucleocapsid proteins.

Whole blood-based measurement of SARS-CoV-2-specific T cells reveals asymptomatic infection and vaccine immunogenicity in healthy subjects and patients with solid-organ cancers.

Accurate assessment of SARS-CoV-2 immunity is critical in evaluating vaccine efficacy and devising public health policies. Whilst the exact nature of effective immunity remains incompletely defined, SARS-CoV-2-specific T-cell responses are a critical feature that will likely form a key correlate of protection against COVID-19. Here, we developed and optimized a high-throughput whole blood-based assay to determine the T-cell response associated with prior SARS-CoV-2 infection and/or vaccination amongst 231 healthy donors and 68 cancer patients.

Mutations in the binding site of TNFR1 PLAD reduce homologous interactions but can enhance antagonism of wild-type TNFR1 activity.

The tumour necrosis factor receptor superfamily (TNFRSF) members contain cysteine-rich domains (CRD) in their extracellular regions, and the membrane-distal CRD1 forms homologous interactions in the absence of ligand. The CRD1 is therefore termed a pre-ligand assembly domain (PLAD). The role of PLAD-PLAD interactions in the induction of signalling as a consequence of TNF-TNFR binding led to the development of soluble PLAD domains as antagonists of TNFR activation.

Array-based measurements of aero-allergen-specific IgE correlate with skin-prick test reactivity in asthma regardless of specific IgG4 or total IgE measurements.

Skin prick testing (SPT) and measurement of serum allergen-specific IgE (sIgE) are used to investigate asthma and other allergic conditions. Measurement of serum total IgE (tIgE) and allergen-specific IgG4 (sIgG4) may also be useful. The aim was to ascertain the correlation between these serological parameters and SPT.

Perceptions and Experiences of the University of Nottingham Pilot SARS-CoV-2 Asymptomatic Testing Service: A Mixed-Methods Study.

We aimed to explore student and staff perceptions and experiences of a pilot SARS-CoV-2 asymptomatic testing service (P-ATS) in a UK university campus setting. This was a mixed-method study comprised of an online survey, and thematic analysis of qualitative data from interviews and focus groups conducted at the mid-point and end of the 12-week P-ATS programme. Ninety-nine students (84.

Effects of non-pharmacological interventions as vaccine adjuvants in humans: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Introduction: Psychological and behavioural may enhance vaccine effectiveness. We conducted a systematic review and network meta-analysis (NMA) to examine the effects of non-pharmacological adjuvants on vaccine effectiveness, as measured by antibody responses to vaccination.

Areas Covered: Electronic databases (EMBASE, Medline, PsychINFO, CINAHL) were searched from inception to 6th February 2018.

The role of CD8 + T lymphocytes in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a systematic review.

Objective And Design: This systematic review aims to establish the role of CD8 + T lymphocytes in COPD.

Methods: Forty-eight papers published in the last 15 years were identified for inclusion.

Results: CD8 + T-cells are increased in the lungs of patients with COPD (17 studies, 16 positive) whereas in the circulation, findings were inconclusive.

Electronic cigarette vapour moderately stimulates pro-inflammatory signalling pathways and interleukin-6 production by human monocyte-derived dendritic cells.

Dendritic cells (DCs) are professional antigen presenting cells that play a critical role in bridging innate and adaptive immunity. Numerous studies have shown that tobacco constituents present in conventional cigarettes affect the phenotype and function of DCs; however, no studies have examined the effects of vapour from E-cigarettes on human DCs. Here, the effects of E-cigarette vapour extract (ECVE) on the phenotype and function of DCs were investigated by creating an in vitro cell culture model using human monocyte-derived DCs (MoDCs).

Correction to: Atopic dermatitis and autoimmunity: the occurrence of autoantibodies and their association with disease severity.

Two of the references included in this review concern antigens derived from the fungus Malassezia globosa that have also been found in human sweat.