Can vaccines control bacterial virulence and pathogenicity? : the advantage of fitness over virulence.

Some vaccines, such as diphtheria toxoid and acellular pertussis vaccines (aPVs), may favor the emergence of less pathogenic strains of the respective bacteria they target. This review discusses the impact of the wide use of aPV on phenotype evolutions and their beneficial consequences in the light of the diphtheria toxoid immunization program experience and structuring evidence review in a causal analysis following Bradford Hill's causality criteria. All aPVs contain the pertussis toxin (PT), the main virulence factor of , alone or with one adhesin (filamentous hemagglutinin (FHA)), two adhesins (FHA and pertactin (PRN)) or four adhesins (FHA, PRN and two fimbriae (Fim 2/3)).

Immunogenicity and safety of intramuscular versus subcutaneous administration of a combined measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella vaccine to children 12 to 18 months of age.

This randomized trial conducted in France compared intramuscular (IM) and subcutaneous (SC) administration of two doses of a measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (MMRV) combination vaccine (ProQuad®) administered one month apart to 405 children 12-18 months of age (NCT00402831). The 2-dose regimen of MMRV administered IM was shown to be as immunogenic as the 2-dose regimen administered SC for all antigens 6 weeks post-vaccination for the subjects who were initially seronegative for measles, mumps, rubella, or varicella (lower bounds of the two-sided 95% CIs for the difference in response rates for all antigens greater than -10% [range -2.1 for varicella to -3.

[From vaccine manufacturing to its availability in pharmacy].

After a brief overview of vaccine industry and the regulatory requirements for biologics, the biological and pharmaceutical manufacturing of vaccine is presented. Vaccine production specificities are discussed. They show that, despite recent efforts and progress, continuously adapting vaccine supply to demand "at any time and in any place" remains a challenge, for reasons inherent in biological production, which is a production in tight flow, structurally delicate (control of the biological hazard), and weakly reactive.

The public health value of vaccination for seniors in Europe.

Longer life expectancy and decreasing fertility rates mean that the proportion of older people is continually increasing worldwide, and particularly in Europe. Ageing is associated with an increase in the risk and severity of infectious diseases. These diseases are also more difficult to diagnose and manage in seniors who often have at least one comorbid condition (60% of seniors have two or more conditions).

Estimation of the individual residual risk of cervical cancer after vaccination with the nonavalent HPV vaccine.

Background: The nonavalent HPV (9vHPV) vaccine is indicated for active immunisation of individuals from the age of 9 years against cervical, vulvar, vaginal and anal premalignant lesions and cancers causally related to vaccine HPV high risk types 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52 and 58, and to the HPV low risk types 6 and 11, causing genital warts.

Objective: To estimate the lifetime risk (up to the age of 75 years) for developing cervical cancer after vaccinating a HPV naïve girl (e.g.

Safety and immune response to a challenge dose of hepatitis B vaccine in healthy children primed 10years earlier with hexavalent vaccines in a 3, 5, 11-month schedule: An open-label, controlled, multicentre trial in Italy.

Background And Aims: The strategy of vaccinating infants to prevent hepatitis B virus infection in adolescence or adulthood requires durable immunity. This study investigated responses to a challenge dose of monovalent hepatitis B vaccine in children primed with three doses of either Hexavac® or Infanrix hexa® 10years earlier during infancy.

Methods: This open-label, controlled, multicentre study conducted in Italy, enrolled 751 healthy pre-adolescents (aged 11-13years) who were given either Hexavac (n=409) or Infanrix hexa (n=342) at 3, 5 and 11months of life.

Manufacturing DTaP-based combination vaccines: industrial challenges around essential public health tools.

The manufacture of DTP-backboned combination vaccines is complex, and vaccine quality is evaluated by both batch composition and conformance of manufacturing history. Since their first availability, both the manufacturing regulations for DTP combination vaccines and their demand have evolved significantly. This has resulted in a constant need to modify manufacturing and quality control processes.

Vaccination of adults with 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine induces robust antibody responses against pneumococcal serotypes associated with serious clinical outcomes.

PNEUMOVAX™ 23, a 23-valent polysaccharide pneumococcal vaccine (PPV23), covers 65% to 91% of the isolates recovered from adult cases of invasive pneumococcal disease. Several studies have demonstrated that pneumococcal serotypes 31, 11A, 35F, 17F, 3, 16F, 19F, 15B, and 10A are associated with higher case-fatality or meningitis rates than other pneumococcal serotypes. This study (U05-PnPS-403; EudraCT: 2008-003648-12) evaluated the immune response followings administration of PPV23 for 4 of these serotypes (10A, 11A, 15B, and 17F), that are included in PPV23 but not in licensed pneumococcal conjugate vaccines.

Use of the nonavalent HPV vaccine in individuals previously fully or partially vaccinated with bivalent or quadrivalent HPV vaccines.

With the availability of the nonavalent human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, vaccinees, parents and healthcare providers need guidance on how to complete an immunization course started with the bi- or quadrivalent vaccine and whether to revaccinate individuals who have completed a full immunization course with the bi- or quadrivalent vaccine. To answer these questions three parameters should be considered: age at the start of vaccination (9 to 14 years of age versus 15 years and older, the cut-off for 2 or 3 doses schedule), the number of doses already received and the time interval between doses. Based on a number of scenarios, we propose that the 9-valent vaccine can be used to complete an incomplete vaccination regimen or might be added to a previous completed schedule to extend protection.

What are the preferences of health care professionals in Germany regarding fully liquid, ready-to-use hexavalent pediatric vaccine versus hexavalent pediatric vaccine that needs reconstitution?

Diphtheria, tetanus and acellular pertussis (DTaP) based combined vaccines have led to significant reduction in incidence of several serious pediatric infectious diseases. A new, fully liquid combined hexavalent vaccine has been introduced and has been shown to reduce administration time. This fully liquid vaccine may also be simpler to administer and could reduce handling errors.

Potential impact of the human papillomavirus vaccine on the incidence proportion of genital warts in French women (EFFICAE study): a multicentric prospective observational study.

Unlabelled: Background The objective was to evaluate the effect of a HPV vaccination program on the incidence proportion of a proxy, genital warts (GW), in women in France.

Methods: The number of primary GW cases was prospectively recorded over two 4-month periods before (T0: Dec 2008 to March 2009) and after (T1: Dec 2011 to March 2012) a HPV vaccination program. A total of 160 gynaecologists participated in T0 and 189 in T1.

Assessment of preparation time with fully-liquid versus non-fully liquid paediatric hexavalent vaccines. A time and motion study.

Background And Aims: Simplified vaccine preparation steps would save time and reduce potential immunisation errors. The aim of the study was to assess vaccine preparation time with fully-liquid hexavalent vaccine (DTaP-IPV-HB-PRP-T, Sanofi Pasteur MSD) versus non-fully liquid hexavalent vaccine that needs reconstitution (DTPa-HBV-IPV/Hib, GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals).

Methods: Ninety-six Health Care Professionals (HCPs) participated in a randomised, cross-over, open-label, time and motion study in Belgium (2014).

[Update on vaccine research. Proceedings of the 15th annual conference on vaccine research organized by the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases].

Every year, the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases brings together more than 300 participants to review progress in vaccine research and development and identify the most promising avenues of research. These conferences are among the most important scientific meetings entirely dedicated to vaccine research for both humans and animals, and provide a mix of plenary sessions with invited presentations by acknowledged international experts, parallel sessions, poster sessions, and informal exchanges between experts and young researchers. During the Fifteenth Conference that took place in Baltimore in May 2012, various topics were addressed, including the scientific basis for vaccinology; exploration of the immune response; novel vaccine design; new adjuvants; evaluation of the impact of newly introduced vaccines (such as rotavirus, HPV vaccines); vaccine safety; and immunization strategies.

Immunogenicity and safety of a booster dose of diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis and inactivated poliomyelitis vaccine (Tdap-IPV; Repevax) administered concomitantly versus non-concomitantly with an influenza vaccine (Vaxigrip) to adults aged ≥60 years: an open-label, randomised trial.

Background: Annual influenza vaccination provides an opportunity to administer a booster dose of diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis and inactivated poliomyelitis vaccine (Tdap-IPV) to the elderly. This study evaluated immune responses to and safety of the two vaccines administered concomitantly or sequentially to elderly individuals in France and Germany.

Methods: Individuals aged ≥60 years who had received a diphtheria/tetanus booster within 5-15 years were randomised (1:1) to receive either Tdap-IPV and an inactivated influenza vaccine concomitantly (Group 1) or inactivated influenza vaccine then Tdap-IPV 28-35 days later (Group 2).

Immunogenicity and safety results from a randomized multicenter trial comparing a Tdap-IPV vaccine (REPEVAX®) and a tetanus monovalent vaccine in healthy adults: new considerations for the management of patients with tetanus-prone injuries.

Unlabelled: In adults with a tetanus-prone injury, combined vaccines such as Tdap-IPV (REPEVAX®) can boost immunity against several diseases simultaneously. This Phase IIIb, parallel-group, open-label trial compared antibody responses to Tdap-IPV and tetanus monovalent vaccine (TMV; Vaccin Tétanique Pasteur® or Tetavax®) against tetanus toxoid 10 and 28 d post-vaccination. Between July and December 2009, four centers in France and five in Germany recruited healthy adults who had received a tetanus-containing vaccine 5-10 y previously.

[Current events in vaccination].

The annual meeting of the Infectious Disease Society of America (IDSA) ; which brought together nearly 5000 participants from over 80 countries in Vancouver, Canada, October 21 to 24, 2010 ; provided a review of the influenza (H1N1) 2009 pandemic, evaluated vaccination programmes and presented new vaccines under development. With 12,500 deaths in the United States in 2009-2010, the influenza (H1N1) 2009 pandemic was actually less deadly than the seasonal flu. But it essentially hit the young, and the toll calculated in years of life lost is high.

Does monastic life predispose to the risk of Saint Anthony's fire (herpes zoster)?

Background: The consequences of the epidemiology of varicella for zoster epidemiology are still debated. We therefore compared the frequency of herpes zoster in an adult population with virtually no varicella zoster virus (VZV) exposure with that in the general population (GP).

Methods: We performed a national, multicenter, observational, exposed versus nonexposed, comparative study.

Disease-specific adverse events following nonlive vaccines: a paradoxical placebo effect or a nocebo phenomenon?

Vaccines can cause adverse reactions (AR), i.e. adverse events following immunization (AEFIs) due to the vaccine, such as local reactions or fever.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination: perception and practice among French general practitioners in the year since licensing.

Acceptance of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine by targeted populations will depend to a large extent on its acceptability among physicians. We examined the perceptions, attitudes and practices of general practitioners (GPs) in relation to HPV vaccination. From November 2007 to April 2008, a cross-sectional survey was carried out among a representative 5% sample of GPs in the large Rhône-Alpes region of France.

Inverse correlation between varicella severity and level of anti-Varicella Zoster Virus maternal antibodies in infants below one year of age.

Varicella, a widespread disease of childhood, is usually benign but may in some instances lead to complications and eventually death. The aim of this study was to assess whether varicella severity in infants below one year of age was associated with the level of anti-varicella zoster virus (VZV) maternal antibodies. Two different data sets were used.

Human papillomavirus genotype distribution in oropharynx and oral cavity cancer in France--The EDiTH VI study.

Background: The incidence of oropharyngeal cancers has gradually increased over the last decades. Recent studies suggest an association between human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and several head and neck cancers, especially oropharyngeal and oral cavity invasive carcinomas.

Objectives: The objective was to assess the overall and type specific HPV prevalence in oropharyngeal and oral cavity carcinomas in France.

[Current events in vaccination].

The annual meeting of the Infectious Disease Society of America (IDSA); which brought together nearly 5000 participants from over 80 countries in Vancouver, Canada, October 21 to 24, 2010; provided a review of the influenza (H1N1) 2009 pandemic, evaluated vaccination programmes and presented new vaccines under development. With 12,500 deaths in the United States in 2009-2010, the influenza (H1N1) 2009 pandemic was actually less deadly than the seasonal flu. But it essentially hit the young, and the toll calculated in years of life lost is high.