Publications by authors named "Maria De Lourdes De Sousa Maia"

Background: Although rare, vaccine-induced thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT) following adenoviral vector COVID-19 vaccination is a concerning and often severe adverse effect of vaccination. The generation of high anti-platelet factor 4 (PF4) antibody titers, promotes the formation of immune complexes capable of activating platelets and neutrophils through FcγRIIa.

Objective: Given that Platelet-leukocyte aggregate (PLA) formation and inflammasome activation are common features of thromboinflammatory diseases, we aimed to evaluate if these are also features of VITT.

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  • Brazil authorized the Astra Zeneca/Fiocruz vaccine in January 2021 and expanded booster recommendations by September 2021 due to the emergence of variants.
  • The study evaluates IgG antibody response after a third vaccine dose, comparing two initial dosing intervals of eight and 12 weeks in a phase IV clinical study.
  • Results showed a strong immune response in all age groups, with the third dose significantly increasing antibody levels, supporting Brazil's vaccination strategies against Covid-19.
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  • A study evaluated the long-term effectiveness of lower doses of the yellow fever vaccine, finding that even reduced doses can confer lasting immunity up to 10 years post-vaccination.
  • The research involved testing doses ranging from 27.476 IU down to 31 IU, with similar immune responses observed across most groups after 8 years.
  • Results indicated seropositivity rates of 83.1% to 93% among participants, supporting the idea that lower doses may still provide sufficient protection against yellow fever.
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The present study aimed at evaluating the YF-specific neutralizing antibody profile besides a multiparametric analysis of phenotypic/functional features of cell-mediated response elicited by the 1/5 fractional dose of 17DD-YF vaccine, administered as a single subcutaneous injection. The immunological parameters of each volunteer was monitored at two time points, referred as: before (Day 0) [Non-Vaccinated, NV] and after vaccination (Day 30-45) [Primary Vaccinees, PV]. Data demonstrated high levels of neutralizing antibodies for PV leading to a seropositivity rate of 93%.

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The re-emergence of yellow fever (YF) urged new mass vaccination campaigns and, in 2017, the World Health Organization approved the use of the fractional dose (FD) of the YF vaccine due to stock shortage. In an observational cross-sectional investigation, we have assessed viremia, antibodies, soluble mediators and effector and memory T and B-cells induced by primary vaccination of volunteers with FD and standard dose (SD). Similar viremia and levels of antibodies and soluble markers were induced early after immunization.

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Objective: Assess the level of measles vaccine-induced neutralizing antibodies against the D8 genotype and the persistence of humoral and cell-mediated immunity in children who received their first dose of the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine eight years previously.

Methods: Measles-specific IgG and neutralizing antibodies were determined in serum using ELISA and plaque reduction neutralization test, respectively. Cellular response was evaluated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC).

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  • New variants of SARS-CoV-2 have prompted the use of various booster vaccines, with adenoviral vector vaccines rarely linked to vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT).
  • This study analyzed 15 cases of VITT following COVID-19 booster shots in Brazil, finding a low occurrence rate of 0.33 cases per million doses administered, predominantly associated with the ChAdOx1 vaccine.
  • Given the findings and a 53% mortality risk linked to VITT, Brazil has since recommended messenger RNA vaccines over adenoviral vector vaccines for younger individuals without prior doses of this type.
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The global decline in vaccine coverage led the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2019 to define vaccine hesitation as one of the world's top ten threats to public health. In Brazil, the drop in vaccination coverage began in 2012, increasing from 2016, and was aggravated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The warning of low vaccination coverage is accompanied by the reintroduction of immunopreventable diseases such as measles.

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The emergence of the rare syndrome called vaccine-induced immune thrombocytopenia and thrombosis (VITT) after adenoviral vector vaccines, including ChAdOx1 nCov-19, raises concern about one's predisposing risk factors. Here we report the case of a 56-year-old white man who developed VITT leading to death within 9 days of symptom onset. He presented with superior sagittal sinus thrombosis, right frontal intraparenchymal hematoma, frontoparietal subarachnoid and massive ventricular hemorrhage, and right lower extremity arterial and venous thrombosis.

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We describe 5 cases of yellow fever vaccine-associated viscerotropic disease (YEL-AVD) in 2 familial clusters during the 2017-2018 yellow fever (YF) vaccination campaign in São Paulo state, Brazil. The first case was that of a 40-year-old white man who died of icterohemorrhagic syndrome, which was confirmed to be YEL-AVD by using real-time reverse transcription PCR to detect 17DD YF vaccine in the liver. Ten years previously, his brother died of a clinically similar disease without a confirmed diagnosis 9 days after YF vaccination.

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Background: A vaccination campaign targeted adults in response to the pandemic in the City of Rio de Janeiro.

Objective: We aimed to evaluate the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and identify factors associated with seropositivity on vaccinated and unvaccinated residents.

Methods: We performed a seroepidemiologic survey in all residents of Paquetá Island, a neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro city, during the COVID-19 vaccine roll-out.

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Objective: Describe a case series of vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT) after COVID-19 vaccination in Brazil that included ChAdOx1 nCoV-19, Ad26.COV2.S and BNT162b2 vaccines, describing their clinical and laboratory characteristics.

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  • The study investigates the role of host genetics, specifically single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in interferon lambda genes, in the immune response and treatment outcomes for chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients.
  • Three specific SNPs (rs12979860-CC, rs8109886-CC, and rs8099917-TT) were identified as predictive markers for sustained virologic response (SVR), with rs12979860-CC showing the strongest association.
  • The research also highlighted the relationship between these genetic markers and cytokine levels, indicating a modulating effect on inflammation and immunity that could influence not only hepatitis C treatment but also other infections.
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Vaccination is one of the greatest public health interventions, based on its safety and effectiveness, but vaccination does not always mean immunization. Numerous aspects related both to the individual that receives the vaccine and the specificity of each vaccine administered are part of the process of obtaining adequate immunization, and it is essential to observe the aspects in order to avoid vaccine failures. The analysis of immunogenicity and effectiveness studies for the measles, varicella, and mumps vaccines point to the need to incorporate two doses into the basic vaccination calendars in order to control these diseases.

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Immunization is one of the most effective measures to protect individuals and the population against vaccine-preventable diseases. Vaccines are safe and effective products, but like any other drug they can cause adverse events, which tend to become more visible as the diseases are controlled, eliminated, or eradicated. This study analyzed activities in the surveillance of adverse events following immunization (AEFI) based on data from the scientific literature, websites of immunization programs and health andregulatory agencies, and the authors' expertise in the areas of immunizations and pharmacovigilance.

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Yellow Fever (YF) vaccination is suggested to induce a large number of adverse events (AE) and suboptimal responses in patients with autoimmune diseases (AID); however, there have been no studies on 17DD-YF primary vaccination performance in patients with AID. This prospective non-interventional study conducted between March and July, 2017 assessed the safety and immunogenicity of planned 17DD-YF primary vaccination in patients with AID. Adult patients with AID (both sexes) were enrolled, along with healthy controls, at a single hospital (Vitória, Brazil).

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  • The article DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.01211 has been revised or corrected to address previous errors or updates.
  • The correction may include adjustments to data, conclusions, or experimental methods to enhance the accuracy of the original findings.
  • Readers are encouraged to refer to the corrected version for reliable information and insights presented in the research.
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The Yellow Fever (YF) vaccination is recommended for people living in endemic areas and represents the most effective strategy to reduce the risk of infection. Previous studies have warned that booster regimens should be considered to guarantee the long-term persistence of 17DD-YF-specific memory components in adults living in areas with YF-virus circulation. Considering the lower seroconversion rates observed in children (9-12 months of age) as compared to adults, this study was designed in order to access the duration of immunity in single-dose vaccinated children in a 10-years cross-sectional time-span.

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Introduction: Vaccination is the most important measure for prevention and control of yellow fever. It is recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) for residents of endemic areas and travelers to risk areas. In 2013, the WHO discontinued the recommendation of booster doses every 10 years, indicating a single dose as sufficient for lifelong protection.

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We evaluated the duration of neutralizing antibodies and the status of 17DD vaccine-specific T- and B-cell memory following primary and revaccination regimens for yellow fever (YF) in Brazil. We observed progressive decline of plaque-reduction neutralization test (PRNT) seropositivity and of the levels of effector memory CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, as well as interferon-γ+CD8+ T cells, 10 years after primary vaccination. Revaccination restored PRNT seropositivity as well as the levels of effector memory CD4+, CD8+, and interferon-γ+CD8+ T cells.

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  • The study investigates whether immunity from a specific yellow fever vaccine is maintained 8 years after using subdoses in 98 volunteers, comparing them to non-vaccinated controls.
  • The findings show that those who received lower doses still had similar levels of neutralizing antibodies and T-cell memory compared to those who got the full dose, particularly for doses above a certain level.
  • Strong correlations were found between different immune cell types, indicating effective immune response and supporting the idea that lower vaccine doses can still provide adequate protection.
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Background: The 17DD-yellow fever (YF) vaccine induces a long-lasting protective immunity, resulting from humoral and cellular immunological memory. The treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARD) may affect pre-existing 17DD-vaccine protective immunity and increase the risk of acquiring YF infection. Our goal was to determine whether DMARD would affect the duration of YF-specific protective immunity in RA patients.

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Background: Field testing required to license the combined measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine must take into account the current recommendation of the vaccine in Brazil: first dose at 12 months and second dose at 15 months of age in combination with a varicella vaccine.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the clinical consistency, immunogenicity, and reactogenicity of three batches of MMR vaccine prepared with active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) from Bio-Manguinhos, Fiocruz (MMR-Bio), and compare it to a vaccine (MMR produced by GlaxoSmithKline) with different API.

Methods: This was a phase III, randomised, double-blind, non-inferiority study of the MMR-Bio administered in infants immunised at health care units in Pará, Brazil, from February 2015 to January 2016.

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In this investigation, machine-enhanced techniques were applied to bring about scientific insights to identify a minimum set of phenotypic/functional memory-related biomarkers for post-vaccination follow-up upon yellow fever (YF) vaccination. For this purpose, memory status of circulating T-cells (Naïve/early-effector/Central-Memory/Effector-Memory) and B-cells (Naïve/non-Classical-Memory/Classical-Memory) along with the cytokine profile (IFN/TNF/IL-5/IL-10) were monitored before-NV(day0) and at distinct time-points after 17DD-YF primary vaccination-PV(day30-45); PV(year1-9) and PV(year10-11). A set of biomarkers (eEfCD4; EMCD4; CMCD19; EMCD8; IFNCD4; IL-5CD8; TNFCD4; IFNCD8; TNFCD8; IL-5CD19; IL-5CD4) were observed in PV(day30-45), but not in NV(day0), with most of them still observed in PV(year1-9).

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