Reduced Antibody Acquisition with Increasing Age following Vaccination with BNT162b2: Results from Two Longitudinal Cohort Studies in The Netherlands.

Vaccine-induced protection against severe COVID-19, hospitalization, and death is of the utmost importance, especially in the elderly. However, limited data are available on humoral immune responses following COVID-19 vaccination in the general population across a broad age range. We performed an integrated analysis of the effect of age, sex, and prior SARS-CoV-2 infection on Spike S1-specific (S1) IgG concentrations up to three months post-BNT162b2 (Pfizer/BioNTech; Comirnaty) vaccination.

Infant antibody levels following 10-valent pneumococcal-protein D conjugate and DTaP-Hib vaccinations in the first year of life after maternal Tdap vaccination: An open-label, parallel, randomised controlled trial.

Background: Maternal antibody levels after Tdap vaccination during pregnancy may affect infant primary antibody responses to pertussis, Tetanus toxoid (TT), Diphtheria toxoid (DT) vaccinations and pneumococcal vaccines with diphtheria toxin mutants like CRM197 as carrier protein.

Methods: Mothers were recruited in an open label randomised parallel controlled trial in 2014-2016 through midwifes. They received Tdap [Boostrix] at 30-32 weeks of pregnancy (n = 58) or within 48 h after delivery (n = 60).

Maternal pertussis vaccination and its effects on the immune response of infants aged up to 12 months in the Netherlands: an open-label, parallel, randomised controlled trial.

Background: Maternal tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccination offers protection for neonates against clinical pertussis until primary vaccinations, but maternal antibodies also interfere with infants' immune responses to primary vaccinations. We investigated the effect of maternal Tdap vaccination on the pertussis antibody responses of infants starting primary vaccinations at age 3 months.

Methods: In an open-label, parallel, randomised, controlled trial, pregnant women aged 18-40 years with a low risk of pregnancy complications were recruited through independent midwives at 36 midwife clinics in the Netherlands and received Tdap vaccination either at 30-32 weeks of pregnancy (maternal Tdap group) or within 48 h after delivery (control group).

Ig-free light chains play a crucial role in murine mast cell-dependent colitis and are associated with human inflammatory bowel diseases.

Traditionally, mast cells were regarded as key cells orchestrating type I hypersensitivity responses. However, it is now recognized that mast cells are widely involved in nonallergic (non-IgE) chronic diseases. Also, in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), a disease not associated with increased IgE concentrations, clear signs of activation of mast cells have been found.

Standardization and validation of assays determining cellular immune responses against influenza.

Influenza vaccine efficacy does not always correlate with humoral immune responses. Recent reports indicate that the cellular immune response also contributes to protection, however robust assays are lacking. We standardized and validated assays for detection of human influenza-specific cellular responses in four international laboratories.

Influenza virus inactivation for studies of antigenicity and phenotypic neuraminidase inhibitor resistance profiling.

Introduction of a new influenza virus in humans urges quick analysis of its virological and immunological characteristics to determine the impact on public health and to develop protective measures for the human population. At present, however, the necessity of executing pandemic influenza virus research under biosafety level 3 (BSL-3) high-containment conditions severely hampers timely characterization of such viruses. We tested heat, formalin, Triton X-100, and beta-propiolactone treatments for their potencies in inactivating human influenza A(H3N2) and avian A(H7N3) viruses, as well as seasonal and pandemic A(H1N1) virus isolates, while allowing the specimens to retain their virological and immunological properties.

Glutathione peroxidase 2 and aquaporin 8 as new markers for colonic inflammation in experimental colitis and inflammatory bowel diseases: an important role for H2O2?

Objective: Different mouse models of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) demonstrate various aspects of the pathophysiology of IBD. We looked for overlapping gene expression profiles in three different mouse models of experimental colitis and analysed whether these overlapping genes are of help to find new genes that could be used as general markers in human IBD.

Methods: Using Agilent mouse TOX oligonucleotide microarrays, we analysed the gene expression profiles in three widely used models of experimental colitis: 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulphonic acid, dextran sodium sulfate and CD4CD45RB transfer and looked for overlapping gene expression in these models.

Comparative analysis of colonic gene expression of three experimental colitis models mimicking inflammatory bowel disease.

Background: Mouse models of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are used to unravel the pathophysiology of IBD and to study new treatment modalities, but their relationship to Crohn's disease (CD) or ulcerative colitis (UC) is speculative.

Methods: Using Agilent mouse TOX oligonucleotide microarrays, we analyzed colonic gene expression profiles in three widely used models of experimental colitis. In 2 of the models (TNBS and DSS-induced colitis), exogenous agents induce the colitis.

Consequence of functional Nod2 and Tlr4 mutations on gene transcription in Crohn's disease patients.

The concept that mutations in germ-line encoded pattern recognition receptors with immune activating functions are associated with an increased incidence in Crohn's disease (CD) is gaining acceptance. Whether these mutations have similar or distinct effects on cellular physiology remains obscure. The incidence of three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the Nod2 gene and one functional SNP within both the Tlr4 and Tlr5 gene in a Dutch cohort of 637 patients with inflammatory bowel disease and 127 controls was investigated.

Prevention of colitis by interleukin 10-transduced T lymphocytes in the SCID mice transfer model.

Background & Aims: Regulatory CD4(+) cells secreting the anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL)-10 play a key role in maintaining the immune balance in the intestinal mucosa. In this study we engineered primary CD4(+) cells to express IL-10 and investigated the efficacy of this approach in offering protection against experimental colitis.

Methods: Spleen-derived CD4(+) cells were transduced by using a retroviral vector to simultaneously express IL-10 and green fluorescent protein (GFP).