Research on vaccines and immunization. Covers COVID and flu vaccines, outbreak response, long-lasting antibodies, and vaccination in vulnerable groups.
Researchers have found a link between the chickenpox and shingles vaccine and corneal inflammation in rare instances. Primary care physicians should discuss this potential side effect with susceptible patients before vaccination.
A large-scale clinical trial has been launched in Brazil to evaluate a candidate vaccine for dengue fever, which affects half the world's population and causes 500,000 hospitalizations annually. The vaccine, TV003, aims to prevent the mosquito-borne illness with a robust antibody and cellular immune response.
A $3.82 million NIH grant will prepare the Schistosomiasis Vaccine (SchistoShield) for human clinical trials, aiming to reduce infections in millions worldwide. The vaccine has potential impact on up to one billion people and is part of a broader research effort with over $11.5 million in total funding.
Researchers developed a vaccine effective in protecting dromedaries against MERS-CoV, reducing nasal excretion and transmission. Vaccination may also protect humans at high risk of infection, but further studies are needed to determine duration of protection.
Researchers have developed a new vaccine candidate that significantly reduces the virus load in infected camels, offering a promising method to prevent human infections. The vaccine also provides dual activity, protecting camels from another disease similar to smallpox.
A US$200,000 grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will support the development of a one-shot vaccine for tapeworms, reducing deaths from neurocysticercosis in developing countries. The vaccine aims to break the lifecycle of the parasite, causing brain cysts and seizures.
The La Jolla Institute will characterize immune responses to dengue virus and Mycobacterium tuberculosis with the HIPC grant. The research aims to identify effective gene signatures for vaccines against these diseases, which are major global health challenges.
Recent studies identified five distinct lineages of MERS-CoV in camels, with low barrier for interspecies transmission. A vaccine was found to be effective in preventing clinical symptoms and reducing virus levels in vaccinated camels.
A Kaiser Permanente study found that elderly patients with end-stage renal disease who received the shingles vaccine were half as likely to develop shingles. The vaccine was most effective when given shortly after beginning dialysis, reducing the risk by nearly 70%.
A study found a transient increased risk of ischemic stroke and myocardial infarction after herpes zoster diagnosis, peaking within the first week. The risk gradually decreased over six months.
A £5.7 million grant from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) will support the development of cheap and effective vaccines for poultry. The project aims to reduce infections in humans and minimize antibiotics in the food chain, with potential applications for cattle, sheep, and goats.
Researchers have found novel mechanisms to inhibit chikungunya virus at multiple stages of infection, including entry and release from cells. The discovery could lead to the development of a single vaccine that protects against multiple alphaviruses.
The article provides recommendations for primary care physicians to screen for mental health issues in Syrian refugees, such as anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder. It also highlights the importance of vaccinations, including measles, mumps, and rubella, as well as screening for chronic Hepatitis B and tuberculosis.
A study in Tanzania found that using incentives increased dog vaccination turnout by 34 dogs per village, while a household questionnaire underestimated coverage by 6.6%. The researchers recommend using incentives and the questionnaire as a reliable method to assess post-vaccination coverage.
A Phase 2 clinical trial is underway to test a chikungunya vaccine in 400 healthy adult volunteers. The trial aims to assess the safety and immune response of the vaccine, which has shown promising results in previous studies.
A recent study by the CDC and University of Georgia found that 75% of first-time expectant mothers planned to follow the recommended childhood immunization schedule. Most undecided mothers had low levels of confidence in vaccines, suggesting targeted outreach may be needed.
A content analysis of nearly 500 anti-vaccination websites found that over two-thirds used misinformation and pseudoscience to claim vaccines are dangerous. The sites also promoted positive behaviors like eating healthy and breastfeeding, often using these tactics to sway vaccine-hesitant parents.
Research by University of Colorado School of Medicine faculty found that one in five pediatricians dismiss families who refuse vaccines. The study suggests that states with philosophical exemption laws and easier exemption processes have lower vaccination rates and higher rates of vaccine-preventable diseases.
A Cancer Research UK survey found that around 20% of unvaccinated ethnic school girls believe they don't need the HPV vaccine. Reasons cited include lack of sexual activity and perceived side effects, highlighting barriers to vaccination uptake.
Saint Louis University's Vaccine and Treatment Evaluation Unit will study the safety and effectiveness of vaccines using omics technologies, including transcriptomics, proteomics, lipidomics, and metabolomics. The research aims to understand the immune system's response to infectious diseases.
Researchers have developed a new way to enhance the effectiveness of antigen-based vaccines by mimicking the natural arrangement of multiple TLR agonists. This triply-linked activator more effectively triggers an immune response than mixing individual components, paving the way for improved vaccine design.
A new study by the American Academy of Pediatrics found that nearly three-quarters of mothers and fathers start developing vaccine preferences for their newborns before they know they are having a baby. Parents who were more educated and had previously discussed vaccines with their partner were more likely to form these early preferences.
Researchers at Boston Medical Center have been awarded a $1.04 million grant to expand an education-based pilot program improving communication between pediatric physicians and their patients about the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. The intervention has shown significant increases in HPV vaccination rates among pilots.
A study found that many pediatricians and primary care physicians report communicating about HPV vaccination in ways that discourage parents from getting their children vaccinated. The researchers recommend improving communication practices, such as recommending HPV vaccination for all 11- to 12-year-olds and suggesting same-day vaccin...
A study examining the safety of Tdap vaccination in pregnant women found no significant differences in acute adverse events or adverse birth outcomes between those vaccinated recently and those not. The researchers' findings provide reassurance for patients and clinicians regarding the use of Tdap vaccine during pregnancy.
Researchers at Duke Medicine have discovered that rhesus monkeys can transmit the virus across the placenta to their unborn offspring, establishing a first primate model to study mother-to-fetus CMV infections. The discovery aims to spur development of potential vaccine approaches against congenital CMV infections.
The Global Health Vaccine Center of Innovation (GHVCI) aims to accelerate vaccine development and make vaccines more accessible globally. The GHVCI combines IDRI's vaccine design technologies with Sanofi Pasteur's expertise in vaccine development, formulation, and production.
Researchers at Tulane National Primate Research Center are working on a new tuberculosis vaccine by modifying Mycobacterium tuberculosis to lose stress response gene SigmaH. Monkeys vaccinated with the modified strain showed better resistance to infection and protective immune responses in their lungs.
A recent study found that over half of eligible Americans visiting a travel clinic did not receive the recommended measles vaccine, putting them at risk for infection. Vaccination is also essential for preventing hepatitis A outbreaks in areas with inadequate sanitation, such as Mexico's Tulum resort destination.
A new review of the literature identifies four types of people who decide not to vaccinate due to issues of complacency, convenience, confidence, and calculation. Strategies include increasing awareness about vaccine effectiveness, debunking myths, and adding incentives for calculating individuals.
Researchers at University of Zurich and University Hospital Zurich develop new treatment methods for rare brain disease PML. A vaccine against the disease could be developed using specific antibodies that recognize the most important mutants of the JC virus.
Researchers at Scripps Florida Institute have been awarded $6 million to develop an innovative HIV/AIDS vaccine that has shown promise in animal models. The approach works by blocking key sites on the virus's surface, preventing it from attaching and invading human immune cells.
Researchers uncover interesting revelations about the vaccinia virus through DNA sequencing data and historical accounts. The study suggests that the Brazilian VACV-IOC strain may have originated from a French Beaugency strain, challenging previous assumptions.
Researchers mapped antigenic differences in dengue virus strains, finding overlap among previously thought distinct groups. The findings suggest a continuum rather than separate groups, making vaccine development harder.
In a clinical trial, a genetically engineered vaccine successfully eradicated high-grade precancerous cervical lesions in 48.2% of women who received the vaccine, compared to 30% of those who received saline injections. The vaccine also cleared the virus from the cervixes of 56 women, reducing the risk of cancer recurrence.
A systematic review of animal studies on MVA85A vaccine found insufficient evidence to support its effectiveness as a BCG booster. The delay in publishing the largest monkey trial with the longest follow-up also raised concerns about scientific integrity.
The American College of Physicians recommends policies for the use of telemedicine in primary care settings, aiming to improve access to care while balancing benefits and risks. The position paper offers more than a dozen policy statements and recommendations for utilization and reimbursement.
Researchers at VIB discovered that exposure to farm dust reduces the severity of allergic reactions in mice. In humans, a deficiency in the protective protein A20 is found in those who suffer from allergies and asthma. The study paves the way for the development of an asthma vaccine.
A new modeling study suggests that a single dose of cholera vaccine could be as effective as the traditional two-dose regimen in preventing deaths. The researchers estimate that a one-dose campaign reaching half the population would have averted over 78,000 cases and prevented 738 deaths.
A new minimally invasive vaccine combines cancer cells with immune-enhancing factors, evoking an immune response in a simpler and more economical way. The approach has shown promising results in experimental animal models, shrinking tumors and protecting animals from tumor growth.
A mathematical model shows that using one dose of the oral cholera vaccine can prevent more cases and save more lives than the recommended two doses, especially in crisis situations. The study found that a single dose could protect more people in the long run and improve herd immunity.
Scientists have finally understood the structure of a flexible plant virus that has resisted description for over 75 years, revolutionizing efforts to stop such viruses and potentially leading to new vaccine delivery methods.
Researchers at the NIH have successfully tested an experimental MERS vaccine in monkeys and camels, demonstrating broad protection against different strains of the virus. The vaccine uses a synthetic DNA sequence that combines elements of SARS and MERS-CoV proteins, inducing protective immunity in non-human primates.
A new synthetic DNA vaccine has been developed to induce protective immunity against the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) coronavirus in animals. The vaccine, administered six weeks prior to exposure, was found to fully protect rhesus macaques from disease and generate potentially protective antibodies in camels.
A new study from the University of Michigan Health System found that electronic prompts and reminders resulted in significant increases in Tdap vaccine uptake among patients aged 11-64. The system improved vaccine rates by 76% for adults and 85% for adolescents, compared to 59% in similar-aged groups without automated prompts.
A single dose of the experimental Ebola virus (EBOV) vaccine VSV-EBOV has been shown to completely protect cynomolgus macaques against the current EBOV outbreak strain, EBOV-Makona. The vaccine triggers both innate and adaptive immunity, providing partial protection if given three days prior to exposure.
A preclinical study found that a new Ebola vaccine, VSV-EBOV, provides complete protection against the disease when given 7 days before infection in macaques. The vaccine also induces a strong innate immune response, helping to limit virus replication and eventually clearing the virus.
A new study from the University of Georgia found that lax state vaccination laws contribute to lower immunization rates and increased outbreaks of preventable diseases, such as whooping cough and measles. States with stricter policies have lower pertussis rates, highlighting the impact of policymakers on disease prevention.
A proposed global vaccine-development fund could help make vaccines available for emergency use, saving thousands of lives. The fund would cover the financial burden of vaccine development, addressing barriers such as high costs, limited market potential and lack of government support.
A model investigates optimal vaccination strategies to minimize cholera-related mortality and costs, considering seasonality in pathogen transmission. The study finds that effective vaccination can significantly reduce disease spread and associated expenses.
Researchers have devised a new approach to vaccines that creates immunity without standard approaches, offering a rapid solution to deadly diseases like dengue fever. The DMAb platform produces antibodies that do not bind to cell receptors, eliminating the chance for infection and disease.
Researchers at UCLA and University of Illinois found that emphasizing the benefits of vaccination and taking a non-confrontational approach can increase support for vaccination among skeptical parents. A study with 315 adults showed that highlighting the dangers of measles and mumps can substantially increase support for vaccination.
Researchers found that reminding skeptics about the importance of vaccines and the risks associated with not being vaccinated can change their attitudes positively. The study tested three groups of participants and showed that even the most skeptical individuals were influenced by the intervention.
Researchers at Georgia State University developed a vaccine containing virus-like nanoparticles that induces long-term protection against RSV. The study found that mice vaccinated with these particles showed no severe pulmonary disease and lower levels of inflammatory markers after infection.
A two-step regimen of experimental vaccines against Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) prompted immune responses in mice and rhesus macaques, producing broadly neutralizing antibodies against multiple strains of the MERS coronavirus. Vaccinated macaques were protected from severe lung damage when later exposed to MERS-CoV.
A global study found that chronic hepatitis B virus infection affects approximately 248 million people worldwide, with a disproportionately high burden in some countries. The prevalence of the disease varies significantly between countries, with up to 20% of the population infected in certain regions.
A new study published in PLOS Biology found that imperfect vaccines can promote the evolution of nastier viral strains, increasing the risk of severe illness among unvaccinated individuals. The research highlights the importance of perfect vaccines in preventing not only disease but also transmission.
Researchers are developing a cancer vaccine to combat Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD), a contagious cancer killing Tasmanian devils. The vaccine aims to save the species by targeting proteins unique to the tumour cells, with hopes for eventual release into the wild.
A Phase I research study is underway to develop a vaccine that could prevent recurrence of some childhood cancers in patients who have relapsed after surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. The trial has enrolled three patients so far and aims to stimulate the immune system to attack specific tumor proteins.
The Oxford Vaccine Group is conducting a Phase II study of an Ebola vaccine regimen, recruiting over 600 healthy adult volunteers in the UK and France. The study aims to assess the safety and immunogenicity of the vaccine, as well as determine the best timing for each dose.