Research on vaccines and immunization. Covers COVID and flu vaccines, outbreak response, long-lasting antibodies, and vaccination in vulnerable groups.
The Nabi experimental vaccine reduced bloodstream infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus in end-stage kidney disease patients by nearly 60%. The vaccine elicited a significant antibody response in 86% of the patients, and significantly reduced the incidence of systemic S. aureus infection in the blood.
Researchers at the University of Melbourne have developed a potential allergy vaccine using a modified rye grass protein that reduces allergenic response while boosting immune system. The vaccine, delivered in its pure form, may significantly reduce risk of anaphylactic shock and increase immunotherapy efficacy.
A new prostate cancer vaccine developed at Duke University Medical Center has shown promising results, boosting the patient's immune system to fight cancer. The vaccine, made from the patient's own dendritic cells, causes no adverse side effects and activates T cell responses against tumor cells.
A study conducted by Yale University has shown that a cocaine vaccine can significantly reduce cravings and addiction in patients who abuse the drug. The vaccine was found to be safe and effective in increasing anti-cocaine antibodies, which help prevent the uptake of cocaine across the blood-brain barrier.
A recent study found that infants can generate protective immune responses to multiple vaccines simultaneously, using only a small percentage of their immune system. Current research also shows that vaccine formulations have been refined to contain fewer antigens, reducing the risk of overwhelming the infant's immune system.
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have developed a new procedure for delivering vaccines by manipulating dendritic cells in the skin, reducing production time from 10 days to just 24 hours. This breakthrough could lead to more effective cancer treatments and broader clinical applications.
A recent yellow fever outbreak in Guinea highlights insufficient international stocks of the 17D yellow fever vaccine, which can protect for at least 10 years. WHO recommends an emergency stockpile of 1 million doses to provide a rapid response to large outbreaks.
The US government is investing in bioterrorism research through seven new initiatives, aiming to develop vaccines and treatments for diseases like anthrax and smallpox. The initiatives will also support basic research and partnerships between academia, industry, and government.
A genetic vaccine developed by the University of Nebraska Medical Center has shown promising results in mice studies, combining DNA and adenovirus to deliver a tumor suppressor factor. The vaccine improved survival rates up to 40% in mice with metastatic breast cancer.
Researchers have found that a Japanese encephalitis (JE) vaccine may also protect people from the most serious complication associated with West Nile virus infection. The study tested two vaccines in hamsters and found that they provided better protection than other options, including a yellow fever vaccine.
Researchers aim to better understand cellular immunity in fighting Alzheimer's disease using a new mouse model jointly developed by USF and the University of Pennsylvania.
Researchers at Ohio State University have developed a new DNA-based vaccine approach that successfully immunizes mice against anthrax. The vaccine uses combinations of two gene products produced by the bacteria responsible for causing anthrax, resulting in strong immune responses.
A recent study suggests that the rotavirus vaccine did not increase the risk of intussusception, a rare bowel blockage, in infants under 1 year old. The study found a 4-10% decline in hospitalizations for intussusception during the period when the vaccine was available.
A recent study found that Rotashield may trigger intussusception events in susceptible infants, but these risks are compensated for by a lower risk of intussusception later in infancy. The study analyzed hospital admissions of infants with intussusception in ten US states during the period when Rotashield was in use.
Researchers are exploring postraumatic vaccination as a potential treatment for spinal cord injuries, showing promise in promoting neural regeneration and recovery. Early studies suggest that this approach may improve functional outcomes and quality of life for affected individuals.
Researchers at The Scripps Research Institute have solved the structure of a neutralizing antibody against HIV, marking an important milestone in the development of an effective vaccine. This breakthrough demonstrates that the human immune system can produce antibodies effective against HIV and provides a template for vaccine design.
Researchers at NYU Langone Health successfully immunized mice against Alzheimer's disease using a new vaccine that reduces amyloid plaque and soluble beta levels. The vaccine, modeled on a modified peptide, appears to be non-toxic and shows great promise for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.
A program called Operation Stop Cough reduced illness rates by 45% among Navy recruits who were ordered to wash their hands frequently. Handwashing may be especially valuable during the respiratory disease season, as it can prevent less virulent illnesses and mitigate outbreaks.
A new model for detecting early meningitis epidemics in sub-Saharan Africa has been developed, using weekly incidence thresholds to identify outbreaks. The model uses clinic-based weekly incidence of 5-10 cases per 100,000 inhabitants to detect all meningitis epidemics with high sensitivity.
Dr. Tramont takes helm of DAIDS, a successful program critical to understanding HIV causes and creating antiretroviral drugs, with a focus on building on its legacy
Two fatal cases of haemorrhagic fever associated with yellow fever 17DD substrain vaccine were reported in Brazil, highlighting the need to review the vaccine's safety. The cases led Philippe Marianneau and colleagues from Institut Pasteur to emphasize the importance of investigating mechanisms of attenuation of yellow-fever virus.
The Office of Naval Research has funded a study to develop new plasmid DNA vaccines for marine mammals, aiming to prevent epidemic disease. The studies may soon allow for better protection against infection using vaccination of individual animals within a population.
Researchers developed a rapid ELISPOT assay to detect T cells responding to ESAT-6 protein, which is absent in BCG vaccine strains. The new test shows stronger correlation with exposure intensity than existing tuberculin skin test (TST), providing potential for improved tuberculosis control and targeted preventative therapy.
A study found that individuals with high scores for neuroticism tend to have lower immune system responses to vaccination, making them more vulnerable to disease. Stress can further weaken the immune system, exacerbating this effect.
A new pancreatic cancer vaccine has been found to be safe and successful in reaching immune system cells, with several patients remaining disease-free over 30 months after diagnosis. The vaccine uses lab-grown pancreatic cancer cells genetically-modified with the immune-boosting gene GM-CSF.
A study found that children with personal exemptions from immunization are 22.2 times more likely to acquire measles and 5.9 times more likely to acquire pertussis than vaccinated children. Exemptions also increase community risk, particularly in schools with outbreaks.
Scientists have discovered a vaccine that may prevent and treat Alzheimer's by blocking the production of toxic amyloid ß peptides, which accumulate in the brain and cause dementia. The vaccine has shown promise in removing amyloid plaques and preventing learning impairment in transgenic mice, paving the way for potential human trials.
Research by Imperial College scientists shows that previous infection history greatly affects the duration and severity of subsequent lung infections. This highlights the importance of considering past infections in vaccine design, particularly for individuals with varying ages and immune systems.
Short-term travelers to high-risk areas are at risk of getting typhoid fever, particularly those visiting India and Pakistan. The CDC recommends vaccination for travelers who have prolonged exposure to contaminated food and drink.
The phase III clinical trial demonstrated a significant reduction in S. aureus bacteremias during the first ten months, but not after one-year follow-up. The study found that StaphVAX-induced antibodies protected against bloodstream infections.
The Sequella Global Tuberculosis Foundation invites researchers worldwide to apply for $50,000 grants to develop effective vaccines for human tuberculosis. The program aims to spur innovation and encourage new approaches to vaccine development.
Researchers at Duke University Medical Center and Geron Corp. have made promising findings on a 'universal' cancer vaccine based on the telomerase protein. The active part of telomerase can stimulate development of immune cells that recognize and kill multiple, unrelated mouse and human cancer cells.
Research on a monkey vaccine for anthrax suggests that while vaccinated individuals may survive an attack, they could become severely ill, posing a burden on the military. The US Army Medical Research Institute's 1991 test found that monkeys given the vaccine became sick for up to two weeks after inhaling anthrax spores.
A plant-based vaccine has successfully triggered human immunity to the Norwalk virus, causing widespread food-borne illness in the US. Researchers at Cornell University and the University of Maryland have developed a transgenic potato vaccine that shows promising results in clinical trials.
Researchers are testing two vaccines, using vaccinia and fowlpox viruses, to treat prostate cancer that has spread beyond the gland. The goal is to boost the patient's immune system and eliminate cancer cells before they become symptomatic.
The study confirms that M-Vax increases the survival rate of patients with advanced Stage III melanoma, even after disease recurrence. Patients who developed an immune response against their melanoma had a far better outcome, with a five-year survival rate of 65%.
The data from an ongoing Phase 1/2 trial of O-Vax in patients with advanced ovarian cancer indicates that the vaccine induces a positive immunological response, as measured by a delayed type hypersensitivity test. Favorable clinical responses were also observed, including complete regression of tumors and normalization of CA-125 levels.
A custom-made vaccine created from a patient's own cancer tumor cells has proven effective in prolonging the survival of patients with malignant melanoma. The vaccine resulted in a 47% five-year survival rate among 214 patients with disease spread, outperforming standard treatment.
New York State-based study finds that removing financial barriers through vaccine-financing reforms reduces scattered care and underimmunization among disadvantaged children. The reforms appear effective in keeping children in their primary care medical homes.
Mothers prefer family practice vaccinations over clinics, citing lack of empathy and pain from vaccination as reasons. Health professionals who acknowledge distress and engage with babies are valued most by mothers, research suggests.
Researchers have developed a method to modify an allergen, like ragweed, into a vaccine that induces protective molecules, type 1 helper T cells (Th1), inhibiting the allergic inflammatory reaction. The new vaccine, named AIC, was found to be 180 times less allergenic than a licensed product in human studies.
Researchers used genomics-based approach to discover new surface proteins that behave differently and are present across multiple strains of Neisseria meningitidis. These proteins can stimulate an antibody response capable of killing the bacterium, a key property for vaccine efficacy.
Research suggests that children allergic to eggs are not at a higher risk of anaphylaxis from the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine. A growing body of evidence shows that only minor reactions may occur in some cases.
A new nicotine vaccine has been developed to prevent and treat tobacco addiction by blocking nicotine from reaching the brain. The vaccine, which uses antibodies to bind to nicotine, has shown promising results in laboratory studies, reducing nicotine levels in the brain by up to 64%.
Dr. Rafi Ahmed will deliver a lecture on immune memory to viruses as part of the 1999 Tadeusz J. Wiktor Memorial Lecture series at The Wistar Institute. His research focuses on chronic viral infections and immunology, building on his PhD in Microbiology and Molecular Genetics from Harvard.
Researchers have identified a substance produced by the tuberculosis bacterium that triggers an immune response, suggesting it could enhance vaccine effectiveness. The substance, combined with vaccines, may push the body's immune system in the right direction to fight tuberculosis and other microbial infections.
Researchers found that vaccinated patients had a significantly lower chance of death and relapse compared to non-vaccinated patients. The THERATOPEO vaccine increased specific killing activity against cancer cells, leading to longer remission periods.
Jefferson researchers report progress in using a vaccinia-based vaccine to treat advanced melanoma, with two patients achieving complete remission. The vaccine works by boosting the immune system with granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), but more research is needed to enhance the treatment.
Weizmann Institute scientists develop a heat-shock protein-based vaccine that triggers high-performance antibodies against bacterial infections, providing nearly complete protection against lethal doses. The new approach may lead to improved vaccines for various diseases and potentially cancer therapy.
The article discusses various public health issues, including tobacco control, food industry manipulation, and violence prevention. It highlights the importance of vaccination coverage estimation using parental recall, medical records, and other methods to prevent diseases such as tuberculosis.
Researchers at the University of Michigan have developed a vaccine made from dendritic cells that triggers the immune system to attack malignant tumors and prevent new tumor development in mice. The study found significant results, including a 70% kill rate of sarcoma cells within four hours.
A human clinical trial of an edible vaccine has shown promising results, indicating that consumption can result in immunity to specific diseases. The vaccine was tested on volunteers who ate genetically altered potatoes and showed a significant immune response, with antibodies found in both blood and stool samples.
Researchers have shown that an edible vaccine can safely trigger significant immune responses in humans. Ten of the 11 volunteers who ingested transgenic potatoes had fourfold rises in serum antibodies, and six developed intestinal antibodies. The study demonstrates a potential solution for reducing vaccine burden in developing countries.
Researchers at Thomas Jefferson University have created an autologous ovarian cancer vaccine that stimulates an immune response in patients, showing promise for treatment. The vaccine is custom-made for each patient and has been safe with no significant side effects, paving the way for further clinical trials.
Researchers found that ewes' antibodies are passed to lambs through colostrum, making vaccination unnecessary until past the age of 6 weeks. This schedule change can save time and energy for farmers, with significant benefits for national agriculture.
Researchers have discovered that killer lymphocytes recognising HPV can be found in tumour tissues, and that they may be able to boost the immune system's response to prevent cancer. A novel vaccine is also being developed to stimulate killer lymphocytes to target HPV-infected cells.
A team of chemists has created a completely synthetic vaccine by synthesizing the epitope of Neisseria meningiditis. The new vaccine uses a system that mimics conventional vaccines and may offer fewer side effects. Researchers are optimistic about the potential for this technology to improve vaccine development in the future.
Researchers create a novel form of botulinum toxin that survives the gastrointestinal system and can be used as an effective oral vaccine. This breakthrough has far-reaching implications for developing vaccines against diseases such as diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping cough.
A new experimental vaccine has been developed to block viral entry in cattle, which may have implications for the development of vaccines against human herpes viruses. The vaccine stimulates the animal's immune system to make antibodies that line the nasal passages and block the virus from entering the animal.
Researchers discovered a strong correlation between mumps virus infection and infantile rapid progression of congestive heart failure (EFE), with 72% of cases positive for the virus. The study's findings support the development of a vaccine against adenovirus, which is currently being produced but not widely available.