Modulation of Monocyte Effector Functions and Gene Expression by Human Cytomegalovirus Infection.

Monocytes are crucial players in innate immunity. The human cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection has significant impacts on monocyte effector functions and gene expression. CMV, a β-herpesvirus, disrupts key monocyte roles, including phagocytosis, antigen presentation, cytokine production, and migration, impairing their ability to combat pathogens and activate adaptive immune responses.

Assessment of Simplified Surveillance for Congenital Rubella Syndrome in Sudan, 2014-2017.

Background/objectives: Congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) is a constellation of serious multi-organ birth defects following rubella virus infection during early pregnancy. Countries in which rubella vaccination has not yet been introduced can have a high burden of this disease. Data on CRS burden and epidemiology are needed to guide the introduction of a rubella vaccine and monitor progress for rubella elimination, but the multi-system nature of CRS manifestations and required specialized testing creates a challenge for conducting CRS surveillance in developing settings such as Sudan.

The Benefits of COVID-19 Vaccination for Pregnant Patients Hospitalized with Respiratory Symptoms: A Retrospective Cohort Study in South Brazil.

Objectives: SARS-CoV-2 infection is a known risk factor for adverse health outcomes in pregnancy, affecting both maternal and neonatal health. Mounting evidence suggests that even a single dose of an approved COVID-19 vaccine protects against severe SARS-CoV-2 infection and is safe for both pregnant persons and neonates. Southern Brazil was heavily affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the protective effects of the vaccine on maternal and neonatal health are not well described.

A Qualitative Analysis of Rural Community Vaccination Barriers During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Background/objectives: Rural communities in the United States experience increased disparity of care for both general healthcare services and access to routine vaccines. Previous research has indicated a 40% lower vaccination rate in rural communities, as compared to urban counterparts. Having a better understanding regarding factors influencing lower vaccination rates in rural areas could help public health officials prepare for future vaccination efforts.

Effectiveness of General Practitioners' Involvement in Adult Vaccination Practices: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of International Evidence.

Background: General practitioners (GPs) and primary care units collaborate with Prevention Departments (PDs) to improve immunization by participating in vaccination campaigns, sharing tools, and implementing educational programs to raise patient awareness. This review aimed to identify effective strategies for involving GPs in PD vaccination practices.

Methods: A systematic review following PRISMA guidelines was conducted on MEDLINE, TripDatabase, ClinicalTrials, CINAHL, and Cochrane up to January 2024 to identify full-text studies in English evaluating the effectiveness of GP involvement.

A Trivalent Live Vaccine Elicits Cross-Species Protection Against Acute Otitis Media in a Murine Model.

: Acute otitis media (AOM) is a common pediatric infection worldwide and is the primary basis for pediatric primary care visits and antibiotic prescriptions in children. Current licensed vaccines have been incompletely ineffective at reducing the global burden of AOM, underscoring a major unmet medical need. The complex etiology of AOM presents additional challenges for vaccine development, as it can stem from multiple bacterial species including , , and .

Improving Childhood Immunization Service Delivery in Cameroon: A Synthesis of Caregiver Experiences and Recommendations.

Background/objectives: A "people-centered" approach is one of the core principles of the Immunization Agenda (IA) 2030 and emphasizes the need for services to be organized around the needs and expectations of individuals and the community. A better understanding of the immunization experience from the client's perspective is key to guiding the design of policies and interventions aimed at improving immunization delivery and coverage. This study provides a synthesis of the immunization experiences of children's caregivers in Cameroon, highlighting potential barriers for timely and complete immunization.

Identifying the Gaps in Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine Uptake: An Exploratory Factor Analysis of Adults in Tennessee.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) remains the most prevalent sexually transmitted infection in the United States (U.S.).

Safety, Immunogenicity, and Efficacy of a Recombinant Vesicular Stomatitis Virus Vectored Vaccine Against Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome Virus and Heartland Bandavirus.

Background: Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) is a recently emerged tickborne virus in east Asia with over 18,000 confirmed cases. With a high case fatality ratio, SFTSV has been designated a high priority pathogen by the WHO and the NIAID. Despite this, there are currently no approved therapies or vaccines to treat or prevent SFTS.

HPV Vaccines Among University Students: Understanding Barriers and Facilitators of Vaccine Uptake.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection and plays a significant role in cervical, penile, anal, vaginal, vulvar, and oropharyngeal cancers as well as non-cancerous genital warts and genital dysplasia. In the United States, there are approximately 46,000 new HPV-related cancers a year. There is an effective vaccine to prevent over 90% of these cancers and other HPV-related diseases; however, those that are aged 18-26 have the lowest vaccine rates among eligible age groups.

The Glycopeptide PV-PS A1 Immunogen Elicits Both CD4+ and CD8+ Responses.

Background/objectives: The MHCII-dependent, CD4+ T-cell zwitterionic polysaccharide PS A1 has been investigated as a promising carrier for vaccine development because it can induce an MHCII-dependent CD4+ response towards a variety of tumor-associated carbohydrate antigens (TACAs). However, PS A1 cannot elicit cytotoxic T lymphocytes through MHCI, which may or may not hamper its potential clinical use in cancer, infectious and viral vaccine development. This paper addresses PS A1 MHCI independence through the introduction of an MHCI epitope, the poliovirus (PV) peptide, to establish an MHCI- and MHCII-dependent vaccine.

Routine Immunization Microplanning Challenges and Opportunities in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Mixed-Method Landscape Analysis.

Background: Microplanning is widely recognized as a critical tool for improving immunization coverage and equity and is considered a core component of routine immunization. However, there is limited evidence on how microplans are developed and implemented and the effectiveness of microplanning. As such, this study sought to review the existing evidence on implementation and institutionalization of microplanning; identify strategies to improve microplanning; and document evidence on new approaches to microplanning, including digitally enhanced and integrated microplanning.

Association Between County-Level Social Vulnerability and Vaccine-Related Attitudes and Hesitancy Toward COVID-19 Vaccination in the United States.

Background/objectives: Understanding attitudes and behaviors related to vaccination is critical for enhancing COVID-19 vaccination acceptance and reducing disparities in vaccination coverage. This study examines disparities in vaccine-related attitudes and COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in the United States in relation to community-level social vulnerability.

Methods: This study analyzed cross-sectional national surveys conducted repeatedly between July 2020 and August 2021 ( = 6716).

Computationally Optimized Hemagglutinin Proteins Adjuvanted with Infectimune Generate Broadly Protective Antibody Responses in Mice and Ferrets.

Standard-of-care influenza vaccines contain antigens that are typically derived from components of wild type (WT) influenza viruses. Often, these antigens elicit strain-specific immune responses and are susceptible to mismatch in seasons where antigenic drift is prevalent. Thanks to advances in viral surveillance and sequencing, influenza vaccine antigens can now be optimized using computationally derived methodologies and algorithms to enhance their immunogenicity.

The Protective Effect of IL-17A in Pneumonic Plague Can Be Compensated by Effective Vaccines and Immunization Strategies in Mice.

Plague, caused by , poses a public health threat not only due to sporadic outbreaks across the globe but also due to its potential as a biothreat agent. Ironically, among the seven deadliest pandemics in global history, three were caused by . Pneumonic plague, the more contagious and severe form of the disease, is difficult to contain, requiring either prophylactic antibiotic treatment or vaccination.

A Preclinical Immunogenicity Study of the Recombinant Human Papillomavirus Nine-Valent Virus-like Particle Vaccine.

Background: Cervical cancer is associated with persistent infection of high-risk human papillomaviruses (HPVs). Prophylactic HPV vaccines have been recommended and have significant efficacy in preventing cervical cancer. Multivalent HPV vaccines have a better preventative effect on HPV-related diseases.

Evaluation of Integrated Child Health Days as a Catch-Up Strategy for Immunization in Three Districts in Uganda.

Uganda's Integrated Child Health Day (ICHD) initiative aims to improve children's access to vaccinations. Although widely used as a catch-up vaccination strategy, the effectiveness of the ICHD program in increasing immunization coverage, especially among vulnerable populations, has not been recently evaluated. This study assessed the reach and uptake of ICHD for immunizations in Uganda.

A Statistical Model to Predict Protection Against Infant Respiratory Syncytial Virus Disease Through Maternal Immunization.

Background/objectives: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the leading cause of severe respiratory disease in infants worldwide. Maternal immunization to protect younger infants is supported by evidence that virus-neutralizing antibodies, which are efficiently transferred across the placenta from mother to fetus, are a primary immune mediator of protection. In maternal RSV vaccine studies, estimates of correlates of protection are elusive because many factors of maternal-fetal immunobiology and disease characteristics must be considered for the estimates.

Bridging the Vaccination Equity Gap: A Community-Driven Approach to Reduce Vaccine Inequities in Polio High-Risk Areas of Pakistan.

Immunization saves millions of lives, and globally, vaccines have significantly contributed to reducing mortality and morbidity due to more than 20 life-threatening illnesses. However, there are considerable disparities in vaccination coverage among countries and within populations. This study evaluates the reduction in disparities in vaccination coverage across various socio-economic groups by adopting an integrated community-engagement approach combined with maternal and child health services through mobile health camps.

COVID-19 Testing Behavior as a Predictor of COVID-19 Vaccination in Southeastern Louisiana: A Longitudinal Cohort Study.

Global COVID-19 vaccination effort faces the challenges of vaccine hesitancy and resistance, rooted in misinformation and institutional distrust. Addressing these barriers with customized messaging is essential, yet the relationship between vaccine hesitancy and other health-seeking behaviors, like COVID-19 testing, has been underexplored. This study assessed COVID-19 vaccine uptake in Southeastern Louisiana across 10 pharmacies and clinics in areas with historically high rates of COVID-19 infection.

Antibody Response to SARS-CoV-2 Vaccines in Transplant Recipients and Hemodialysis Patients: Data from the Dominican Republic.

: The global COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in approximately 7 million deaths and a historic vaccination effort, with over 13.6 billion doses administered. Despite this, understanding of immune responses in vulnerable populations, such as transplant recipients (TR) and hemodialysis patients (HD), remains limited, especially outside the US and Europe.

Differential Neutralization Profiles of 17DD Vaccinated Population to 17D-204 and 17DD Vaccine Strains.

: Yellow fever virus (YFV) (, ) is the etiologic agent of yellow fever (YF), a vector-borne disease with significant morbidity and mortality across the tropics and neotropics, despite having a highly efficacious and safe vaccine (17D). Vaccination provides lifelong protection from YF disease mediated by humoral immunity. There are several versions of the original 17D vaccine: 17D-204 (marketed in the USA as YF-VAX, in France as Stamaril, and in China as Tiantan-V), 17D-213 (Russian Federation), and 17DD (by FIOCRUZ in Brazil).

Monitoring the Risk of Type-2 Circulating Vaccine-Derived Poliovirus Emergence During Roll-Out of Type-2 Novel Oral Polio Vaccine.

Although wild poliovirus type 2 has been eradicated, the prolonged transmission of the live- attenuated virus contained in the type-2 oral polio vaccine (OPV2) in under-immunized populations has led to the emergence of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2). The novel OPV2 (nOPV2) was designed to be more genetically stable and reduce the chance of cVDPV2 emergence while retaining comparable immunogenicity to the Sabin monovalent OPV2 (mOPV2). This study aimed to estimate the relative reduction in the emergence risk due to the use of nOPV2 instead of mOPV2.

Overview of Wearable Healthcare Devices for Clinical Decision Support in the Prehospital Setting.

Prehospital medical care is a major challenge for both civilian and military situations as resources are limited, yet critical triage and treatment decisions must be rapidly made. Prehospital medicine is further complicated during mass casualty situations or remote applications that require more extensive medical treatments to be monitored. It is anticipated on the future battlefield where air superiority will be contested that prolonged field care will extend to as much 72 h in a prehospital environment.

Optimal Position and Orientation of an Ossicular Accelerometer for Human Auditory Prostheses.

In this study, a method for determining the optimal location and orientation of an implantable piezoelectric accelerometer on the short process of the incus is presented. The accelerometer is intended to be used as a replacement for an external microphone to enable totally implantable auditory prostheses. The optimal orientation of the sensor and the best attachment point are determined based on two criteria-maximum pressure sensitivity sum and minimum loudness level sum.