Young men who have sex with men’s awareness,acceptability, and willingness to participate in HIV vaccine trials: Results from a nationwide online pilot study

BackgroundNew cases of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) among young men who have sex with men (YMSM) underscore the need to examine their willingness to use biomedical prevention methods, including an acceptable and efficacious HIV vaccine. We examined whether YMSM’s vaccine altruism and vaccine-related socials concerns factors were associated with HIV vaccine acceptability across two vaccine efficacy scenarios, and their awareness and willingness to participate in HIV vaccine research.MethodsThis secondary analysis uses data from a mHealth trial with YMSM at heightened HIV risk (N = 137; 50% racial/ethnic minority; M = 21.7 years). Most YMSM (91.2%) had tested for HIV, and 17.5% (N = 24) reported a prior STI. We used paired-samples t-test to compare differences in efficacy acceptability (50% vs 85%), followed by multivariable regressions examining whether vaccine attitudes (altruism and social concerns) were associated with vaccine acceptability and awareness and willingness to participate in HIV vaccine trials. We controlled for age, education, race/ethnicity, prior HIV testing, and STI diagnosis in our analyses.ResultsAcceptability for the HIV vaccine with 85% efficacy (M = 8.86; SD = 1.76) was greater than acceptability in the 50% efficacy scenario (M = 7.60; SD = 2.58). Altruistic attitudes were associated with greater vaccine acceptability at 50% (β = 0.62) and 85% (β = 0.59) efficacy. Higher educational attainment was negatively associated with a vaccine with 50% efficacy (β = −0.20, but not for 85% efficacy. Greater vaccine-related social concerns were negatively associated with HIV vaccine research awareness (AOR = 0.38 (95% CI: 0.22, 0.67). Willingness to participate in a HIV vaccine trial was positively associated with age (β = 0.18) and altruism (β = 0.60), and negatively associated with education (β = −0.21).ConclusionsYMSM find HIV vaccines as an acceptable prevention modality and are willing to participate in HIV vaccine trials. Findings highlight the need to consider YMSM's altruistic and social concerns attitudes in HIV vaccine research and explore how to leverage these attitudes in research campaigns.ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02842060.     

MomsTalkShots: An individually tailored educational application for maternal and infant vaccines

IntroductionThe development and initial assessment in a clinical setting of a theory-driven, individually tailored educational application (app), MomsTalkShots, focused on increasing uptake of maternal and infant vaccines is described.MethodsMomsTalkShots algorithmically tailored videos based on parent needs to deliver an intervention that was specifically responsive to individual vaccine attitudes, beliefs and intentions, demographics, and source credibility. MomsTalkShots was evaluated among 1103 pregnant women recruited from 23 geographically and socio-demographically diverse obstetrician-gynecologist offices in Georgia and Colorado in 2017. Self-reported information needs were assessed pre-and post-videos and participants self-reported factors related to usability and analyzed in 2018.ResultsThe vast majority of women reported MomsTalkShots was helpful (95%), trustworthy (94%), interesting (97%) and clear to understand (99%), none of which varied by demographics or parity. Reported usability was slightly lower among vaccine hesitant women, yet the majority reported MomsTalkShots was helpful (91%), trustworthy (85%), interesting (97%) and clear (99%). The majority of women (72%) who did not have enough vaccine information pre-videos reported enough information post-videos.ConclusionsMomsTalkShots was designed to provide individually tailored vaccine information to pregnant women from a population with varied vaccine intentions, confidence and vaccine concerns. MomsTalkShots was extremely well-received among pregnant women, even among women who were initially vaccine hesitant and did not intend to vaccinate themselves and their infants according to the recommended immunization schedule. Next steps include evaluation to assess impact on vaccine uptake and expansion to adolescent and adult vaccines.     

Anal human papillomavirus infections in young unvaccinated men who have sex with men attending a sexual health clinic for HPV vaccination in Melbourne,Australia

The Victorian Government introduced a time-limited quadrivalent human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination catch-up program targeting gay and bisexual men who have sex with men (MSM) aged up to 26 years in 2017. As of 2017, men aged ≥20 years were not eligible for the school-based HPV vaccination program. This study examined the prevalence of anal HPV among 496 MSM aged 20–26 years before they received the first dose of the HPV vaccine at the Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, Australia. More than half (56.5%) had any high-risk HPV genotypes detected in the anus. Almost half (43.1%) had at least one quadrivalent HPV vaccine-preventable genotype (6, 11, 16 or 18) and one-fifth (21.0%) had HPV 16 detected in the anus. These findings suggest that a targeted catch-up HPV vaccination program for MSM is still beneficial to protect against high-risk HPV genotypes associated with anal cancer, as well as low-risk HPV genotypes.     

Prevalence of meningococcal meningitis in China from 2005 to 2010

BackgroundWe aimed to estimate the prevalence and epidemiologic characteristics of meningococcal meningitis (MM) in mainland China (excluding Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau) and to provide reference data for controlling the outbreak and prevalence of MM.MethodsData from the National Notifiable Diseases Registry System and the MM case information reporting system from 2005 to 2010 as well as data from the MM Surveillance System were used.ResultsThe morbidity of MM for the whole country was, on average, 0.09 cases per 100,000 (range 0.02 [2010]–0.18 [2005] cases per 100,000) from 2005 to 2010, the incidence rate was highest in the Xinjiang autonomous region (average 0.56 cases per 100,000), and the majority of cases came from Anhui province (average 0.32 cases per 100,000). Morbidity was highest in children under 1 year old (average 0.60 cases per 100,000). The proportion of laboratory-confirmed cases of serogroups A, B, and C were 37.2, 11.5 and 42.7, respectively, from 2005 to 2010.ConclusionsThe incidence level declined year-to-year in mainland China. Children and students are the most at risk groups. The proportion of serogroup C cases has increased year-to-year, and new cases of serogroup W135 have been found. Controlling the epidemic of serogroup C and preventing outbreaks of serogroup B and W135 represent major future challenges.     

Evaluation of a chimeric multi-epitope-based DNA vaccine against subgroup J avian leukosis virus in chickens

The prokaryotic expressed recombinant chimeric multi-epitope protein X (rCMEPX) had been evaluated with good immunogenicity and protective efficacy against subgroup J avian leukosis virus (ALV-J) in our previous study. In the present research, we cloned the chimeric multi-epitope gene X into the eukaryotic expression vector pVAX1 to evaluate its potency as a DNA vaccine. The purified recombinant gp85 protein and rCMEPX were used as positive controls and a DNA prime-protein boost strategy was also studied. Six experimental groups of 7-day-old chickens (20 per group) were immunized intramuscularly three times at 2 weeks interval with PBS, gp85, rCMEPX, pVAX1, pVAX-X and pVAX-X + rCMEPX respectively. The antibody titers and cellular immune responses were assayed after immunization. The efficacy of immunoprotection against the challenge of ALV-J NX0101 strain was also examined. The results showed that the DNA vaccine could elicit both neutralizing antibodies and cellular responses. Immune-challenge experiments showed good protection efficacy against ALV-J infection. Particularly, the regimen involving one priming pVAX-X and twice recombinant rCMEPX boosting, induced the highest antibody titers in all immunized groups. Our results suggest that the constructed chimeric multi-epitope DNA has potential for a candidate vaccine against ALV-J when used in proper prime-boost combinations. The data presented here may provide an alternative strategy for vaccine design in chicken ALV-J prevention.     

Epidemiological and molecular characteristics of HIV infection among money boys and general men who have sex with men in Shanghai,China

To examine and compare the epidemiological and molecular characteristics of HIV infection between money boys (MBs) and general men who have sex with men (MSM) in Shanghai, China. Using a venue-based sampling strategy, a total of 535 MSM including 226 MBs and 309 general MSM were recruited to participate in a cross-sectional survey including a face-to-face questionnaire interview and HIV testing. Genotyping of HIV-1 pol gene was performed for HIV-positive participants. Compared with general MSM, MBs reported more sexual partners, more alcohol and drug use and more sex after alcohol or drug use. HIV prevalence was 10.7% overall, 14.6% for MBs and 7.8% for general MSM (p = 0.011). Two independent multiple logistic regression analyses indicated that HIV infection was positively associated with non-Han ethnicity (Odds Ratio [OR] = 4.79, 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 1.08–21.28) and sex after drug use in the past 6 months (OR = 3.59, 95% CI: 1.50–8.61) among MBs, and with sex after drug use in the past 6 months (OR = 3.38, 95% CI: 1.10–10.34) among general MSM as well. HIV-1 pol gene was successfully amplified and sequenced for 52 (91.2%) of HIV-positive participants. Of them, 53.8% were genotyped as CRF01_AE, 36.5% as CRF07_BC and 9.6% as subtype B. Two CRF01_AE subtype-infected participants (3.8%), a 50 years old MB and a 24 years old general MSM, harbored viruses with a M46L mutation conferring resistance to protease inhibitors (PI). MSM particularly MBs in Shanghai, China were at high risk of HIV infection, underscoring an urgent need for joint intervention efforts for drug use and sexual behaviors. HIV drug resistance surveillance is also warranted although the relatively low prevalence of HIV drug resistance implies the effectiveness of current antiretroviral treatment regimen.     

Neospora caninum antigens displaying virus-like particles as a bivalent vaccine candidate against neosporosis

Neospora caninum is a causative and transmissible agent of dog and bovine neosporosis. The resulting reproductive failures in infected cattle lead to significant economic losses worldwide. However, there is no satisfactory treatment or vaccine currently available to combat this pathogen. Thus, the development of appropriate vaccines to manage its infection and transmission is urgently needed. In this study, we expressed Rous sarcoma virus-like particles (RSV-LP) that displayed dual N. caninum antigens in silkworms. The antigen candidates are modified by adding a transmembrane domain of GP64 protein from Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV) to the C-terminus of surface antigen 1 (NcSAG1) and SAG1-related sequence 2 (NcSRS2). The NcSRS2 alone or the NcSAG1/NcSRS2 bivalent form displaying RSV-LPs were purified using sucrose density gradient centrifugation. These purified VLPs were then used for immunizations in gerbils, Meriones unguiculatus, to evaluate the anti-N. caninum effects in vivo. The results demonstrated that antigens displaying RSV-LPs in immunized gerbils produced the antigen-specific antibody, leading to a relatively lower parasite load after infections of N. caninum. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to present an RSV-LP vaccine displaying bivalent antigens from neosporosis. Taken together, our strategy suggests that silkworm-expressed virus-like particles (VLPs) are promising bivalent vaccine candidates against N. caninum infections.     

Antibody response to hepatitis B vaccine is independently associated with hepatitis B breakthrough infection among adults: Results from a three-year follow-up study in China

Hepatitis B breakthrough infection (HBBI) and its risk factors are rarely reported among adults in China. In 2009–2010 in three townships of China, hepatitis B vaccine (HepB) administration and anti-HBs detection after HepB were conducted among the residents aged 18–59 years. HBsAg, anti-HBs and anti-HBc were detected for these vaccinees in 2013. A total of 252 out of 4701 vaccinees turned to be positive for anti-HBc in 2013, but nobody was positive for HBsAg. The HBBI rate was 5.36% (95% CI 4.73, 6.04). The highest rate was found in age-group of 18–29 years (7.33%, 95% CI: 5.31, 9.82). The rate was significantly different by the residential townships (P < 0.001) and by the antibody response to HepB (P = 0.003). Multivariate analysis showed that anti-HBs response to HepB was the independent risk factor of HBBI. The study documents the association between hyporesponse to HepB and HBBI among adults. It also suggests more attention should be given to new HBV infection among young adults.     

Complete genome analysis of human enterovirus B73 isolated from an acute flaccid paralysis patient in Shandong,China

Human enterovirus B73 (EV-B73) is a member of species Enterovirus B. To date, only one complete genome sequence of prototype strain CA55-1988 from California has been available. In this study, the complete genome analysis of an EV-B73 strain 088/SD/CHN/04 isolated from an acute flaccid paralysis case in Shandong Province, China in 2004 is conducted. It had 75.6 and 79.3 % nucleotide similarity with prototype strain CA55-1988 in the VP1 coding region and the complete genome, respectively. It had great VP1 nucleotide divergence (16.7–24.4 %) with EV-B73 strains from other parts of the world. Similarity plot and bootscanning analyses provided evidence of recombination with other EV-B viruses.