Immunogenicity and safety of the inactivated Japanese encephalitis vaccine IXIARO® in elderly subjects: Open-label,uncontrolled, multi-center,phase 4 study

BackgroundIXIARO® is a Vero cell-derived, inactivated Japanese encephalitis (JE) vaccine licensed mainly in western countries for children and adults traveling to JE endemic areas. Limited immunogenicity and safety data in elderly travelers have been available.ObjectivesTo evaluate safety and immunogenicity of IXIARO in elderly subjects.MethodsOpen-label, single arm, multi-centered study. Two-hundred subjects with good general health, including adequately controlled chronic conditions, received two doses of IXIARO®, 28 days apart. Protective levels of antibodies were tested 42 days after the second dose. Systemic and local adverse events (AEs) were solicited for 7 days after each dose, unsolicited AEs were collected up to day 70 and in a phone call at month 7.Summary of resultsSubjects were aged 64–83 years (median 69.0 years). Nineteen percent of subjects had serious or medically attended AEs up to Day 70 (primary endpoint), none of them causally linked to IXIARO. Solicited local AEs were reported by 33.5% (most common: local tenderness) and solicited systemic AEs by 27% (most common: headache) of subjects. The seroprotection rate was 65% with a geometric mean titre (GMT) of 37. Subjects with tick borne encephalitis (TBE) vaccinations in the past 5 years (N = 29) had a SCR of 90% and GMT of 65.ConclusionsIXIARO is generally well tolerated in the elderly, and the safety profile is largely comparable with younger adults. SCR and GMT are lower compared to younger adults, but SCR is in the range reported in elderly for other vaccines e.g. against TBE, hepatitis-A virus (HAV)/hepatitis-B virus (HBV), influenza. The differences in SCR and GMT from younger to elderly adults were in the range of other vaccines.Duration of protection is uncertain in older persons, therefore a booster dose (third dose) should be considered before any further exposure to JE virus.     

Immunogenicity and safety of inactivated quadrivalent influenza vaccine in adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials

BackgroundA quadrivalent influenza vaccine (QIV) includes two A strains (A/H1N1, A/H3N2) and two B lineages (B/Victoria, B/Yamagata). The presence of both B lineages eliminate potential B lineage mismatch of trivalent influenza vaccine (TIV) with the circulating strain.MethodsElectronic database searches of Medline, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CCRCT), Scopus and Web of Science were conducted for articles published until June 30, 2015 inclusive. Articles were limited to randomised controlled trials (RCTs) in adults using inactivated intramuscular vaccine and published in English language only. Summary estimates of immunogenicity (by seroprotection and seroconversion rates) and adverse events outcomes were compared between QIV and TIV, using a risk ratio (RR). Studies were pooled using inverse variance weights with a random effect model and the I² statistic was used to estimate heterogeneity.ResultsA total of five RCTs were included in the meta-analysis. For immunogenicity outcomes, QIV had similar efficacy for the three common strains; A/H1N1, A/H3N2 and the B lineage included in the TIV. QIV also showed superior efficacy for the B lineage not included in the TIV; pooled seroprotection RR of 1.14 (95%CI: 1.03–1.25, p = 0.008) and seroconversion RR of 1.78 (95%CI: 1.24–2.55, p = 0.002) for B/Victoria, and pooled seroprotection RR of 1.12 (95%CI: 1.02–1.22, p = 0.01) and seroconversion RR of 2.11 (95%CI: 1.51–2.95, p < 0.001) for B/Yamagata, respectively. No significant differences were found between QIV and TIV for aggregated local and systemic adverse events within 7 days post-vaccination. There were no vaccine-related serious adverse events reported for either QIV or TIV. Compared to TIV, injection-site pain was more common for QIV, with a pooled RR of 1.18 (95%CI: 1.03–1.35, p = 0.02).ConclusionIn adults, inactivated QIV was as immunogenic as seasonal TIV, with equivalent efficacy against the shared three strains included in TIV, and a superior immunogenicity against the non-TIV B lineage.     

角膜活性保存质量影响因素研究进展

有效的角膜保存技术是角膜移植成功的基础。近年来,角膜活性保存技术得到不断改进和发展。角膜保存过程中,细胞活性、角膜免疫原性等诸多因素和角膜保存的质量密切相关。本文对角膜活性保存过程中影响保存结果的因素进行综述。     

结核杆菌多价核酸疫苗的构建及其免疫原性的初步研究

目的构建包含结核杆菌3种抗原蛋白Ag85A、ESAT-6和CFP-10真核表达质粒的多价DNA疫苗,并对其在小鼠体内的免疫原性进行初步分析。方法PCR扩增获得结核杆菌ag85 a、esat-6和cfp-10基因片段,分别克隆入真核表达质粒VR1020的BamHⅠ位点构建DNA疫苗,以此多价DNA疫苗免疫BALB/c小鼠,检测小鼠体内的特异性抗体应答和细胞免疫反应,并与BCG免疫组、质粒VR1020免疫组和生理盐水对照组相比较。结果多价DNA疫苗免疫小鼠后能产生特异性的细胞和体液免疫应答,DNA疫苗免疫组小鼠脾细胞IFN-γ的表达量显著高于BCG免疫组,而DNA疫苗免疫组小鼠所产生的特异性抗体水平低于BCG免疫组。结论成功构建了结核杆菌多价DNA疫苗,免疫小鼠后检测到特异性细胞和体液免疫应答。     

牛心包脱细胞处理后免疫原性的研究

牛心包用0.5%胰蛋白酶处理3 h,探讨其作为组织工程心脏瓣膜支架材料的可行性。大鼠被分成新鲜牛心包组、脱细胞处理牛心包组、空白对照组三组,分别测定其血清中产生的特异性抗牛心包抗体IgG的OD值,结果发现IgG含量在术后7 d三组间比较无统计学意义(P>0.05),其余各时点间比较差异有显著性(P<0.05),在相应时点新鲜牛心包产生的IgG值比脱细胞处理的牛心包高,且新鲜牛心包产生的IgG值在术后2月达峰值,而脱细胞处理牛心包产生的IgG在术后1月达峰值。组织学观察发现脱细胞处理后牛心包完全清除了细胞成分,纤维网架结构轻度松散,但基本保持完整。结果表明,这种脱细胞方法能完全清除牛心包上的细胞成分,降低免疫原性。     

重组结核抗原痘苗病毒Ankara株的构建及其免疫原性研究

目的 构建5种不同类型的表达结核杆菌特异抗原的重组痘苗病毒,并研究其特异免疫原性.方法 运用同源重组技术将含结核分泌抗原Ag85A和ESAT-6的基因片段插入痘苗病毒表达质粒p18中.重组质粒导入痘苗病毒Ankara(MVA)后构建重组痘苗病毒,经筛选和Western blot鉴定,得到5个种类的带有结核抗原基因的重组病毒.用构建的5种重组病毒免疫小鼠,MTT法检测免疫后小鼠脾淋巴细胞对特异结核抗原的增殖反应;ELISA检测小鼠脾淋巴细胞培养上清液中IFN-γ的含量;结核菌素纯蛋白衍化物(PPD)皮内试验以检测重组病毒引发的针对结核抗原的特异细胞免疫应答.结果 构建的5种蘑组病毒介导的细胞表达产物经Western blot鉴定确认相对分子质量与结核抗原一致.免疫小鼠两次后,5种重组病毒免疫组脾淋巴细胞体外与Ag85A-ESAT-6融合蛋白共培养后表现出明显的增殖活性(P<0.01),培养上清液中IFN-γ的浓度均较同组细胞经生理盐水刺激明显增高(P<0.05);与空痘苗病毒或生理盐水免疫后小鼠相比,5种重组MVA免疫组脾淋巴细胞与AgB5A.ESAT-6融合蛋白共培养后同样表现出明显的增殖活性(P<0.01),与Ag85A-ESAT-6融合蛋白共培养的细胞上清液中IFN-γ的浓度均升高(P<0.01).与空痘苗病毒或生理盐水免疫后小鼠相比,5种重组MVA免疫组小鼠对PPD都表现出显著的迟发型超敏反应应答(P<0.05).结论 成功构建了5种不同类型的表达结核杆菌抗原的重组痘苗病毒疫苗,其免疫小鼠后可激发针对结核杆菌抗原的特异性细胞免疫.     

Rabies Virus Neutralizing Activity,Safety, and Immunogenicity of Recombinant Human Rabies Antibody Compared with Human Rabies Immunoglobulin in Healthy Adults

ObjectivePreliminary assessment of rabies virus neutralizing activity, safety and immunogenicity of a recombinant human rabies antibody (NM57) compared with human rabies immunoglobulin (HRIG) in Chinese healthy adults.MethodsSubjects were randomly (1:1:1) allocated to Groups A (20 IU/kg NM57), B (40 IU/kg NM57), or C (20 IU/kg HRIG). One injection was given on the day of enrollment. Blood samples were collected on days –7 to 0 (pre-injection), 3, 7, 14, 28, and 42. Adverse events (AEs) and serious AEs (SAEs) were recorded over a period of 42 days after injection.ResultsAll 60 subjects developed detectable rabies virus neutralizing antibodies (RVNAs) (> 0.05 IU /mL) on days 3, 7, 14, 28, and 42. The RVNA levels peaked on day 3 in all three groups, with a geometric mean concentration (GMC) of 0.2139 IU/mL in Group A, 0.3660 IU/mL in Group B, and 0.1994 IU/mL in Group C. At each follow-up point, the GMC in Group B was significantly higher than that in Groups A and C. The areas under the antibody concentration curve over 0–14 days and 0–42 days in Group B were significantly larger than those in Groups A and C. Fifteen AEs were reported. Except for one grade 2 myalgia in Group C, the other 14 were all grade 1. No SAEs were observed.ConclusionThe rabies virus neutralizing activity of 40 IU/kg NM57 was superior to that of 20 IU/kg NM57 and 20 IU/kg HRIG, and the rabies virus neutralizing activity of 20 IU/kg NM57 and 20 IU/kg HRIG were similar. Safety was comparable between NM57 and HRIG.     

Inclusion of membrane-anchored LTB or flagellin protein in H5N1 virus-like particles enhances protective responses following intramuscular and oral immunization of mice

We previously demonstrated that intramuscular immunization with virus-like particles (VLPs) composed of the haemagglutinin (HA), neuraminidase (NA), and matrix (M1) proteins of A/meerkat/Shanghai/SH-1/2012 (clade 2.3.2.1) protected mice from lethal challenge with viruses from other H5 HPAI clades. The inclusion of additional proteins that can serve as immunological adjuvants in VLPs may enhance adaptive immune responses following vaccination, and oral vaccines may represent the safest choice. Here, we report the generation of H5N1 VLPs composed of the viral HA, NA, and M1 proteins and membrane-anchored forms of the Escherichia coli heat-labile enterotoxin B subunit protein (LTB) or the Toll-like receptor 5 ligand flagellin (Flic). Mice intramuscularly or orally immunized with VLPs containing LTB or Flic generated greater humoural and cellular immune responses than those administered H5N1 VLPs without LTB or Flic. Intramuscular immunization with VLPs protected mice from lethal challenge with homologous or heterologous H5N1 viruses irrespective of whether the VLPs additionally included LTB or Flic. In contrast, oral immunization of mice with LTB- or Flic-VLPs conferred substantial protection against lethal challenge with both homologous and heterologous H5N1 influenza viruses, whereas mice immunized orally with VLPs lacking LTB and Flic universally succumbed to infection. Mice immunized orally with LTB- or Flic-VLPs showed 10-fold higher virus-specific IgG titres than mice immunized with H5N1-VLPs lacking LTB or Flic. Collectively, these results indicate that the inclusion of immunostimulatory proteins, such as LTB and Flic, in VLP-based vaccines may represent a promising new approach for the control of current H5N1 HPAI outbreaks by eliciting higher humoural and cellular immune responses and conferring improved cross-clade protection.     

A comparative study between outbred and inbred rat strains for the use in in vivo IPV potency testing

In vivo potency testing of inactivated poliovirus vaccines (IPV) is generally performed in rats, although no systematic investigation has identified the most appropriate rat strain for anti-poliovirus antibody quantification. We investigated humoral immune responses to IPV in five different rat strains to identify the most suitable strain. Three outbred (Wistar, Wistar Hannover, Sprague-Dawley) and two inbred rat strains (Fisher 344, Wistar Furth) were immunized intramuscularly with a full or one-fifth human dose of commercial IPV. Anti-poliovirus neutralizing antibody (NA) titers were measured using Salk and Sabin virus neutralizing assays. Post-vaccination responses varied between strains; inbred strains showed greater animal-to-animal variation in NA responses than outbred strains. Virus NA titers persisted for 9 weeks with little reduction in the response. The outbred Wistar rat model was identified as the preferred strain for IPV potency testing based on its capacity to produce high, dose-dependent anti-poliovirus NA responses, with low animal-to-animal variation.     

A randomized,open label trial to evaluate and compare the immunogenicity and safety of a novel liquid hexavalent DTwP-Hib/Hep B-IPV (EasySix™) to licensed combination vaccines in healthy infants

Immunogenicity and safety of a newly developed liquid DTwP-Hib/HepB-IPV hexavalent vaccine (EasySix™) was evaluated and compared with administration of commercially licensed Pentavac SD® (DTwP-HepB/Hib) and Imovax Polio® vaccine in an open-label, randomized multi-centric trial. 284 participants, aged 6–10 weeks, randomized in a 1:1 allocation, received three doses of test or comparator vaccines, administered 4 weeks apart. Immunogenicity of the vaccines was determined by measuring the baseline and post-vaccination antibody responses and comparing the proportions of subjects achieving seroprotection against the vaccine antigens; safety was evaluated in terms of solicited (local and systemic) and unsolicited incidences in the follow up phase. Post-vaccination, seroprotection was achieved against all six vaccine antigens in both vaccine groups. The seroresponse rate as well as geometric mean titers of antibody for all vaccine components were comparable between EasySix™ and Pentavac SD®-Imovax Polio® group. Both vaccines had similar reactogenicity profiles and were well tolerated; all adverse events resolved completely without any sequelae. Only one serious adverse event was reported that completely resolved; it was regarded unconnected to the vaccine administered. This study demonstrated that immunogenicity and safety profiles of EasySix™ vaccine, manufactured by Panacea Biotec Ltd, are non-inferior to the commercially available vaccines.Clinical trial registration: CTRI/2015/02/005578.