Publications by authors named "Raquel L Ramon"

Introduction: Tuberculosis (TB) is the leading cause of death worldwide from a single infectious agent. Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG), the only licensed vaccine, provides limited protection. Controlled human infection models (CHIMs) are useful in accelerating vaccine development for pathogens with no correlates of protection; however, the need for prolonged treatment makes an unethical challenge agent.

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Unlabelled: In endemic settings it is known that natural malaria immunity is gradually acquired following repeated exposures. Here we sought to assess whether similar acquisition of blood-stage malaria immunity would occur following repeated parasite exposure by controlled human malaria infection (CHMI). We report the findings of repeat homologous blood-stage (3D7 clone) CHMI studies VAC063C (ClinicalTrials.

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Background: This phase I trial evaluated the safety and immunogenicity of a candidate tuberculosis vaccination regimen, ChAdOx1 85A prime-MVA85A boost, previously demonstrated to be protective in animal studies, in healthy UK adults.

Methods: We enrolled 42 healthy, BCG-vaccinated adults into 4 groups: low dose Starter Group (n = 6; ChAdOx1 85A alone), high dose groups; Group A (n = 12; ChAdOx1 85A), Group B (n = 12; ChAdOx1 85A prime - MVA85A boost) or Group C (n = 12; ChAdOx1 85A - ChAdOx1 85A prime - MVA85A boost). Safety was determined by collection of solicited and unsolicited vaccine-related adverse events (AEs).

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Article Synopsis
  • Seasonal influenza infections present a major global health and economic challenge, with current vaccines showing suboptimal effectiveness against variable virus surface antigens.
  • Cellular immune responses to conserved Influenza A antigens, like nucleoprotein (NP) and matrix protein-1 (M1), are linked to better disease protection, and viral-vectored vaccines could enhance this immunity.
  • A Phase I study of a new MVA-NP+M1 vaccine showed it was safe and well-tolerated, inducing strong T cell responses, leading to recommendations for further testing in older adults to evaluate its effectiveness alongside standard flu vaccines.
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Background: Intradermal MVA85A, a candidate vaccine against tuberculosis, induces high amounts of Ag85A-specific CD4 T cells in adults who have already received the BCG vaccine, but aerosol delivery of this vaccine might offer immunological and logistical advantages. We did a phase 1 double-blind trial to compare the safety and immunogenicity of aerosol-administered and intradermally administered MVA85A METHODS: In this phase 1, double-blind, proof-of-concept trial, 24 eligible BCG-vaccinated healthy UK adults were randomly allocated (1:1) by sequentially numbered, sealed, opaque envelopes into two groups: aerosol MVA85A and intradermal saline placebo or intradermal MVA85A and aerosol saline placebo. Participants, the bronchoscopist, and immunologists were masked to treatment assignment.

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