Background: The rVSVΔG-ZEBOV-GP vaccine (ERVEBO®) is a single-dose, live-attenuated, recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus vaccine indicated for the prevention of Ebola virus disease (EVD) caused by Zaire ebolavirus in individuals 12 months of age and older.
Methods: The Partnership for Research on Ebola VACcination (PREVAC) is a multicenter, phase 2, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 3 vaccine strategies in healthy children (ages 1-17) and adults, with projected 5 years of follow-up (NCT02876328). Using validated assays (GP-ELISA and PRNT), we measured antibody responses after 1-dose rVSVΔG-ZEBOV-GP, 2-dose rVSVΔG-ZEBOV-GP (given on Day 0 and Day 56), or placebo.
This review describes key aspects of the development of the rVSVΔG-ZEBOV-GP Ebola vaccine and key activities which are continuing to further expand our knowledge of the product. Extensive partnerships and innovative approaches were used to address the various challenges encountered during this process. The rVSVΔG-ZEBOV-GP Ebola vaccine was initially approved by the European Medicines Agency and prequalified by the World Health Organization in November 2019.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe world is experiencing an unprecedented global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by a novel coronavirus, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). Development of new vaccines and therapeutics are important to achieve long-term prevention and control of the virus. Experience gained in the development of vaccines for Ebola virus disease provide important lessons in the regulatory, clinical, and manufacturing process that can be applied to SARS-CoV-2 and other epidemic pathogens.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe 2014-2016 Ebola outbreak caused over 28,000 cases and 11,000 deaths. Merck & Co. Inc.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFLegionella pneumophila is an intracellular bacterial pathogen that replicates in alveolar macrophages, causing a severe form of pneumonia. Intracellular growth of the bacterium depends on its ability to sequester iron from the host cell. In the L.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Despite advances in the quality and delivery of stroke care, regional disparities in stroke incidence and outcome persist. Spatial analysis using geographic information systems (GIS) can assist in identifying high-risk populations and regional differences in efficacy of stroke care. The aim of this study was to identify and locate geographic clusters of high or low rates of stroke, risk factors, and in-hospital mortality across a provincial health care network in Alberta, Canada.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: Requests for specialty consultation are common in emergency departments (EDs) and often contribute to delays in throughput. Our objectives were to describe the contribution of the consultation process to total ED length of stay (LOS) through novel metrics and illustrate causes of delay.
Methods: We conducted a prospective cross-sectional study at three Canadian tertiary care centres.
Legionella pneumophila replicates within alveolar macrophages, causing a severe pneumonia termed Legionnaires' disease. The bacterium resides within a vacuole that escapes immediate transport to the host lysosome. Instead, the vacuole interacts with the early secretory pathway to establish an environment suitable for rapid multiplication.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe gram-negative bacterium Legionella pneumophila causes a severe form of pneumonia called Legionnaires' disease, characterized by bacterial replication within alveolar macrophages. Prior to intracellular replication, the vacuole harboring the bacterium must first escape trafficking to the host lysosome, a process that is dependent on the Dot/Icm type IV secretion system. To identify genes required for intracellular growth, bacterial mutants were isolated that were delayed in escape from the macrophage but which retain a minimally functional Dot/Icm machinery.
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