Publications by authors named "Pasetti M"

Dysentery caused by Shigella species remains a major health threat to children in low- and middle-income countries. There is no vaccine available. The most advanced candidates, i.

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Background: Following maternal COVID-19 vaccination, the persistence of antibodies in sera and breast milk for mothers and infants is not well characterized. We sought to describe the persistence of antibodies through 2 months after delivery in maternal and infant serum and breast milk following maternal COVID-19 mRNA vaccination and to examine differences by receipt of booster dose during pregnancy or postpartum.

Methods: This is a prospective cohort study with enrollment from July 2021 to January 2022 at 9 US academic sites.

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Article Synopsis
  • Pandemic influenza vaccine development emphasizes the importance of hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) antibodies for effective immune responses.
  • Clinical trials show that NA inhibition antibody responses increase with higher doses and extended intervals between vaccine doses, indicating a potential strategy for enhancing immunity.
  • The study indicates that while neuraminidase responses can be improved for better pandemic preparedness, the antibody responses to the HA stalk were minimal and not long-lasting.
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Purpose: The aim is to train and validate a multivariable Normal Tissue Complication Probability (NTCP) model predicting acute skin reactions in patients with breast cancer receiving adjuvant Radiotherapy (RT).

Methods And Materials: We retrospectively reviewed 1570 single-institute patients with breast cancer treated with whole breast irradiation (40 Gy/15fr). The patients were divided into training (n = 878, treated with 3d-CRT, from 2009 to 2017) and validation cohorts (n = 692, treated from 2017 to 2021, including advanced RT techniques).

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  • Bacterial gastrointestinal diseases, particularly those caused by various Shigella species, lead to significant health issues globally, causing approximately 125 million cases of shigellosis and 14,000 deaths each year, mostly in young children in developing nations.
  • A Phase 1 clinical trial evaluated the safety and tolerability of a new treatment called ShigActive™, a lytic bacteriophage aimed at Shigella, comparing its effects with a placebo over 29 days.
  • Results showed that ShigActive™ was generally safe and well tolerated, with mild side effects reported by some participants and no serious adverse events, indicating it could be a potential option for treating shigellosis
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  • Vaccine safety and immunogenicity data are crucial for making informed decisions in countries where both HIV and typhoid are prevalent, specifically focusing on HIV-exposed uninfected (HEU) children.
  • In a study involving Malawian infants, HEU and HIV unexposed uninfected (HUU) participants received the Vi-tetanus toxoid conjugate vaccine (Vi-TT) at different ages, with safety and immune response monitored after vaccination.
  • Results showed that the vaccine was generally safe with mild adverse events, and both HEU and HUU children had strong immune responses, indicating that a single dose of Vi-TT could be effectively introduced in HIV-endemic regions.
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Recent advances in the use of trophoblast stem cells and organoid models have markedly enhanced our understanding of placental development and function. These models offer significant improvements over previous systems due to their extended viability in culture and capacity to replicate various trophoblast functions, such as extravillous trophoblast invasion, syncytialisation and 3D architecture. Initially, the generation of trophoblast organoids was confined to first trimester placental tissue; however, it was recently reported that term placentae can also serve as a source of trophoblast stem cells.

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  • - Oropharyngeal cancer (OphC) during pregnancy is rare but may become more common, and delays in treatment can negatively impact survival; current data on radiation therapy's effects on pregnant patients and their children are limited.
  • - A case study describes a 39-year-old pregnant woman with advanced OphC who received surgery and radiation therapy, using techniques to minimize fetal radiation exposure, with an estimated dose of about 50 mSv.
  • - The patient remained cancer-free after 10 years, and her daughter, born at nearly 34 weeks, is healthy and performing well in school, suggesting that optimizing radiation treatment during pregnancy can protect both mother and child.
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On 27–29 of September 2022, Wellcome convened an international multi-stakeholder workshop to discuss the use of Correlates of Protection (CoP) to accelerate vaccine development, the hybrid format meeting was attended by 80 delegates including developers, manufacturers, regulators, public health officials and policy-makers from 17 countries, including 7 LMIC’s.

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Background: While maternal pertussis vaccination is a strategy to reduce infant morbidity, safety and immunogenicity data are limited in sub-Saharan Africa. We aimed to evaluate the safety of a single dose of tetanus, diphtheria and acellular pertussis vaccine (Tdap) vaccine compared to tetanus and diphtheria vaccine (Td) vaccine in pregnant women in Bamako, Mali and to assess the pertussis toxin (PT) antibody response at birth.

Methods: In this phase 2, single-centre, randomised, double-blind, active-controlled study, from 23 January 2019 to 10 July 2019, healthy 18-39 year old women in the second trimester of a singleton pregnancy were randomised 2:1 to receive Tdap or Td.

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Article Synopsis
  • Pertussis is a highly contagious respiratory infection that poses a significant risk to infants before they receive their vaccinations, making vaccination during pregnancy crucial for reducing the risk of severe infection and death in newborns.
  • A high-throughput multiplex assay was developed to measure IgG antibodies against various pertussis vaccine components and other related vaccines in serum and breast milk, demonstrating strong reliability and effectiveness.
  • Analysis showed differences in antibody profiles among pregnant women based on vaccination history, with postpartum vaccination resulting in sustained IgG levels for up to 24 months and effective antibody transfer to breast milk, highlighting the importance of maternal immunization.
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  • - The study addresses how toxicity from radiotherapy impacts quality of life in breast cancer patients and aims to create a model to predict late side effects based on dosimetric and clinical factors.
  • - Researchers analyzed data from over 1,000 patients treated with 40 Gy of radiation, finding a 3.8% rate of moderate to severe late side effects using a machine learning model that considered various clinical and dosimetric parameters.
  • - Key findings include that post-surgery cosmetic changes and the use of Aromatase Inhibitors significantly affect the risk of late reactions, highlighting the importance of certain dosimetric thresholds in managing patient outcomes.
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  • Maternal vaccination with mRNA COVID-19 vaccines can help protect infants from COVID-19 by passing antibodies through the placenta during pregnancy.
  • Infants born to mothers who received a booster shot had higher levels of protective antibodies and were 56% less likely to contract COVID-19 in their first 6 months compared to those whose mothers did not receive a booster.
  • The study suggests that higher antibody levels at delivery reduce infection risk significantly, emphasizing the importance of maternal vaccination until infants can be vaccinated themselves.
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Background: Malaria is preventable yet causes >600 000 deaths annually. RTS,S, the first marketed malaria vaccine, has modest efficacy, but improvements are needed for eradication.

Methods: We conducted an open-label, dose escalation phase 1 study of a full-length recombinant circumsporozoite protein vaccine (rCSP) administered with adjuvant glucopyranosyl lipid A-liposome Quillaja saponaria 21 formulation (GLA-LSQ) on days 1, 29, and 85 or 1 and 490 to healthy, malaria-naive adults.

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Diarrhea caused by Shigella has been associated with high morbidity and mortality in young children worldwide. There are no licensed vaccines, and those clinically advanced have restricted coverage as they elicit serotype-specific immunity while disease is caused by multiple circulating serotypes. Our group had previously reported a close association between serum antibodies to the Shigella virulence factor VirG (or IcsA) and clinical protection in infected individuals.

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  • Bacillary dysentery is a major global health issue, and this study investigates the immune response generated by two live oral vaccine candidates (WRSs2 and WRSs3) to understand how immunity works against this infection.
  • The research focused on measuring specific antibody activities in serum and stool samples to evaluate local and systemic immune responses, revealing that high levels of bactericidal and opsonophagocytic antibodies were produced after vaccination.
  • Findings suggest that IgG plays a key role in mucosal immunity, working alongside IgA to enhance the body’s ability to clear bacteria, highlighting the importance of these antibodies in developing effective vaccines for bacillary dysentery.
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Background: In Santiago, Chile, where typhoid had been hyperendemic (1977-1991), we investigated whether residual chronic carriers could be detected among household contacts of non-travel-related typhoid cases occurring during 2017-2019.

Methods: Culture-confirmed cases were classified as autochthonous (domestically acquired) versus travel/immigration related. Household contacts of cases had stool cultures and serum Vi antibody measurements to detect chronic Salmonella Typhi carriers.

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The global public health nonprofit organization PATH hosted the third Vaccines Against Shigella and Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (VASE) Conference in Washington, DC, from November 29 to December 1, 2022. This international gathering focused on cutting-edge research related to the development of vaccines against neglected diarrheal pathogens including Shigella, enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC), Campylobacter, and non-typhoidal Salmonella. In addition to the conference's plenary content, the agenda featured ten breakout workshops on topics of importance to the enteric vaccine field.

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Nontyphoidal (NTS) is a leading cause of foodborne illness worldwide, including in the United States, where infants show the highest incidence amongst all age groups. serovar Typhimurium is one of the most frequently isolated serovars from NTS infections. We have developed several candidate live-attenuated Typhimurium vaccines to prevent NTS infection.

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We assessed anti-Vi IgG/IgA responses to typhoid conjugate vaccine (TCV) in children enrolled in a double-blind randomized controlled, phase 2 trial in Burkina Faso. Anti-Vi IgG seroconversion and anti-Vi IgA titers were higher in TCV than control recipients at 30-35 months post-vaccination. TCV induces durable immunity in Burkinabe children vaccinated at 15 months.

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  • A multicenter study analyzed the immune responses to COVID-19 vaccinations in pregnant women, focusing on both primary doses and boosters from July 2021 to January 2022.
  • Results showed that booster vaccinations led to significantly higher antibody levels in mothers and their newborns, particularly against the Omicron BA.1 variant, compared to those who received only the primary 2-dose series.
  • Efficient transplacental antibody transfer was observed for all vaccination regimens, indicating robust immune responses in mothers and effective protection for infants.
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The coordinated interaction between the intestinal epithelium and immune cells is required to maintain proper barrier function and mucosal host defenses to the harsh external environment of the gut lumen. Complementary to in vivo models, there is a need for practical and reproducible in vitro models that employ primary human cells to confirm and advance our understanding of mucosal immune responses under physiologic and pathophysiologic conditions. Here we describe the methods to co-culture human intestinal stem cell-derived enteroids grown as confluent monolayers on permeable supports with primary human innate immune cells (e.

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Introduction: Hemagglutination inhibition (HAI) antibody titers to seasonal influenza strains are important surrogates for vaccine-elicited protection. However, HAI assays can be variable across labs, with low sensitivity across diverse viruses due to lack of standardization. Performing qualification of these assays on a strain specific level enables the precise and accurate quantification of HAI titers.

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Background: Previously studied risk factors for rotavirus vaccine failure have not fully explained reduced rotavirus vaccine effectiveness in low-income settings. We assessed the relationship between histo-blood group antigen (HBGA) phenotypes and clinical rotavirus vaccine failure among children <2 years of age participating in the Vaccine Impact on Diarrhea in Africa Study in 3 sub-Saharan African countries.

Methods: Saliva was collected and tested for HBGA phenotype in children who received rotavirus vaccine.

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is responsible for high burdens of diarrhea and dysentery globally. Children living in areas of endemicity are the most affected, and currently, there are no licensed vaccines to prevent shigellosis. Vaccine approaches have traditionally targeted the bacterial lipopolysaccharide as a protective antigen.

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