Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection remains a major complication for solid organ transplant recipients (SOTRs). The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of HCMV-specific T cell immunity measured at the time of the HCMV-DNA peak in predicting the spontaneous clearance of infection. The performance of cytokine flow cytometry using infected dendritic cells (CFC-iDC), infected cell lysate (CFC-iCL) and pp65 peptide pool (CFC-pp65 pool) as stimuli, as well as ELISPOT assays using infected cell lysate (ELISPOT-iCL) and the pp65 peptide pool (ELISPOT-pp65 pool), was analysed.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHerpes zoster (HZ) is caused by the reactivation of latent varicella zoster virus (VZV). Severe immunocompromising conditions, such as solid tumors, have been largely associated with an increased risk for HZ due to waning VZV-specific cellular immunity. With the approval of the adjuvanted glycoprotein E (gE)-based recombinant vaccine (RZV; Shingrix™, GSK) also in immunocompromised subjects, HZ is considered a vaccine-preventable disease changing perspectives in immunocompromised subjects.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe role and durability of the immunogenicity of the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine against severe acute respiratory virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), in cancer patients one year after receiving the third dose have to be elucidated. We have prospectively evaluated the long-term immunogenicity of the third dose of the SARS-CoV-2 BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine in 55 patients undergoing active treatment. Neutralizing antibody (NT Ab) titers against Omicron variants and total anti-trimeric S IgG levels were measured one year after the third dose.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWe reported the long-term kinetics of immune response after vaccination and evaluated the immunogenicity after a third dose of mRNA vaccine in 86 healthcare workers. Humoral response was analyzed by measuring anti-spike IgG and SARS-CoV-2 NTAbs titer; cell-mediated response was measured as frequency of IFN-γ producing T-cells and cell proliferation. Memory B cells secreting SARS-CoV-2 RBD-IgG were measured by B-spot assay.
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