Antigen-specific memory Th17 cells promote cross-protection against nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae after mild influenza A virus infection.

Secondary bacterial pneumonia after influenza A virus (IAV) infection is the leading cause of hospitalization and death associated with IAV infection worldwide. Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) is one of the most common causes of secondary bacterial pneumonia. Current efforts to develop vaccines against NTHi infection focus on inducing antibodies but are hindered by antigenic diversity among NTHi strains.

Hepatitis reactivation in patients with rheumatic diseases after immunosuppressive therapy--a report of long-term follow-up of serial cases and literature review.

The aims of this paper are to report hepatitis B virus reactivation in 12 patients with rheumatic disease undergoing immunosuppressive therapy and to evaluate whether pre-emptive antiviral therapy is necessary in patients receiving disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs. From January 2008 to March 2012, a total of 12 HBV-infected patients with rheumatic diseases were consecutively enrolled in the long-term follow-up. Liver function, HBV DNA, and serum aminotransferase level were tested during the follow-up.

Efficacy and safety of live attenuated persistent and rapidly cleared Mycobacterium tuberculosis vaccine candidates in non-human primates.

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a global health burden for which safe vaccines are needed. BCG has limitations as a TB vaccine so we have focused on live attenuated Mycobacterium tuberculosis mutants as vaccine candidates. Prior to human studies, however, it is necessary to demonstrate safety in non-human primates (NHP).

Novel recombinant RD2- and RD11-encoded Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigens are potential candidates for diagnosis of tuberculosis infections in BCG-vaccinated individuals.

Proteins encoded by region of deletions (RD) of Mycobacterium tuberculosis are useful in development of vaccines and diagnostic reagents. In the present study, six M. tuberculosis genes from RD2 and RD11, rv1978, nrdf1, mpt64, cfp-21, ppe57 and ppe59, were cloned and overexpressed in Escherichia coli.

Coadministration of cidofovir and smallpox vaccine reduced vaccination side effects but interfered with vaccine-elicited immune responses and immunity to monkeypox.

While the smallpox vaccine, Dryvax or Dryvax-derived ACAM2000, holds potential for public immunization against the spread of smallpox by bioterror, there is serious concern about Dryvax-mediated side effects. Here, we report that a single-dose vaccination regimen comprised of Dryvax and an antiviral agent, cidofovir, could reduce vaccinia viral loads after vaccination and significantly control Dryvax vaccination side effects. However, coadministration of cidofovir and Dryvax also reduced vaccine-elicited immune responses of antibody and T effector cells despite the fact that the reduced priming could be boosted as a recall response after monkeypox virus challenge.

Variants of the natural resistance-associated macrophage protein 1 gene (NRAMP1) are associated with severe forms of pulmonary tuberculosis.

Although genetic factors may affect susceptibility to tuberculosis, studies that have assessed variants of the natural resistance-associated macrophage protein 1 gene (NRAMP1) and their association with tuberculosis in humans have yielded conflicting results. It is likely that NRAMP1 polymorphisms may be associated with progression to severe forms of pulmonary tuberculosis rather than with susceptibility to Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. To test this possibility, we examined NRAMP1 variants at the INT4 and D543N loci, as well as their association with severe forms of pulmonary tuberculosis, in 127 patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis and in 91 ethnically matched, healthy control subjects in areas of China where tuberculosis is endemic.