Minor Changes in the Hemagglutinin of Influenza A(H1N1)2009 Virus Alter Its Antigenic Properties

BACKGROUND: The influenza A(H1N1)2009 virus has been the dominant type of influenza A virus in Finland during the 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 epidemic seasons. We analyzed the antigenic characteristics of several influenza A(H1N1)2009 viruses isolated during the two influenza seasons by analyzing the amino acid sequences of the hemagglutinin (HA), modeling the amino acid changes in the HA structure and measuring antibody responses induced by natural infection or influenza vaccination. METHODS/RESULTS: Based on the HA sequences of influenza A(H1N1)2009 viruses we selected 13 different strains for antigenic characterization. The analysis included the vaccine virus, A/California/07/2009 and multiple California-like isolates from 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 epidemic seasons. These viruses had two to five amino acid changes in their HA1 molecule. The mutation(s) were located in antigenic sites Sa, Ca1, Ca2 and Cb region. Analysis of the antibody levels by hemagglutination inhibition test (HI) indicated that vaccinated individuals and people who had experienced a natural influenza A(H1N1)2009 virus infection showed good immune responses against the vaccine virus and most of the wild-type viruses. However, one to two amino acid changes in the antigenic site Sa dramatically affected the ability of antibodies to recognize these viruses. In contrast, the tested viruses were indistinguishable in regard to antibody recognition by the sera from elderly individuals who had been exposed to the Spanish influenza or its descendant viruses during the early 20(th) century. CONCLUSIONS: According to our results, one to two amino acid changes (N125D and/or N156K) in the major antigenic sites of the hemagglutinin of influenza A(H1N1)2009 virus may lead to significant reduction in the ability of patient and vaccine sera to recognize A(H1N1)2009 viruses

Terveyttä edistävä kulttuuri kunnan toiminnassa : Menetelmäraportti

Kulttuuri kunnan toiminnassa 2019 -tiedonkeruulla selvitettiin ensimmäisen kerran kulttuurin, eri-tyisesti hyvinvointia ja terveyttä edistävän kulttuurin toimenpiteitä, resursseja ja toimintakäytäntöjä kunnissa. Tiedonkeruu on osa Terveyden edistämisen vertailutietojärjestelmää (TEAviisari), jossa vertailukelpoisten tunnuslukujen avulla kuvataan ja seurataan kunnan toimintaa väestönsä hyvinvoinnin ja terveyden edistämiseksi. TEAviisarissa tulokset raportoidaan terveydenedistämisaktiivisuuden (TEA) viitekehyksen ulottuvuuksien (johtaminen, sitoutuminen, seuranta ja arviointi, voimavarat, osallisuus, yhteiset käytännöt ja muut ydintoiminnat) mukaan. Kulttuuri täydentää TEAviisarin tietopohjaa antaen kuntien hyvinvoinnin ja terveyden edistämisaktiivisuudesta entistä paremman ja monipuolisemman kokonaiskuvan. Kunnille tiedonkeruu antaa tietoa kunnan tilanteesta sekä näkemyksen siitä, millainen on sen tilanne suhteessa koko maahan tai vastaaviin kuntiin. Tietoa käytetään johtamisen välineenä myös valtakunnallisella ja alueellisella tasolla. Aineistona oli keväällä 2019 kuntien (N=295) kulttuurin edistämisestä vastaaville vastuuhenkilöille tehty tiedonkeruu, johon tiedot toimitti 283 (96 %) kuntaa. Keskimääräinen kokonaispistemäärä (TEA) oli 49 pistettä. Kaupunkimaiset kunnat pärjäsivät jokseenkin paremmin kuin taajaan asutut tai maaseutumaiset kunnat. Tiedonkeruu osoittaa kuntien välisten erojen olevan suuria, jotka voivat olla merkittäviä kaupunkimaisten, taajaan asuttujen ja maaseutumaisten kuntien välillä

Epidemiology of laboratory-confirmed influenza among kidney transplant recipients compared to the general population-A nationwide cohort study

Seasonal influenza causes morbidity and mortality after organ transplantation. We quantified the detection of laboratory-confirmed influenza among kidney transplant recipients compared to the general population in a nationwide cohort. All laboratory-confirmed cases of influenza and hospitalizations due to influenza among all kidney transplant recipients in our country between 1995 and 2017 were captured with database linkage from statutory national registries. Data from the general population of Finland, population 5.5 million, were used for comparisons. Annual incidences of influenza and hospitalizations due to influenza, and standardized incidence ratios (SIR) were calculated. Altogether 3904 kidney transplant recipients with a total follow-up of 37 175 patient-years were included. Incidence of laboratory-confirmed influenza was 9.0 per 1000 patient years in 2003-2019, and 18.0 per 1000 patient years during 2015-2019. The risk of laboratory-confirmed influenza was significantly higher among kidney transplant recipients compared to the general population (SIR 5.1, 95% CI 4.5-5.7). SIR for hospitalization due to influenza was 4.4 (95% CI 3.4-4.7). Mortality of the hospitalized patients was 9%, and 5% of the patients with laboratory-confirmed influenza. Detection of laboratory-confirmed influenza is increased fivefold and risk of hospitalization due to influenza more than fourfold among kidney transplant recipients compared to the general population.Peer reviewe

Long-lasting heterologous antibody responses after sequential vaccination with A/Indonesia/5/2005 and A/Vietnam/1203/2004 pre-pandemic influenza A(H5N1) virus vaccines

Background: Avian influenza A(H5N1) viruses have caused sporadic infections in humans and thus they pose a significant global health threat. Among symptomatic patients the case fatality rate has been ca. 50%. H5N1 viruses exist in multiple clades and subclades and several candidate vaccines have been developed to prevent A(H5N1) infection as a principal measure for preventing the disease.Methods: Serum antibodies against various influenza A(H5N1) Glade viruses were measured in adults by ELISA-based microneutralization and haemagglutination inhibition tests before and after vaccination with two different A(H5N1) vaccines in 2009 and 2011.Results: Two doses of AS03-adjuvanted A/Indonesia/5/2005 vaccine induced good homologous but poor heterologous neutralizing antibody responses against different Glade viruses. However, non-adjuvanted A/Vietnam/1203/2004 booster vaccination in 2011 induced very strong and long-lasting homologous and heterologous antibody responses while homologous response remained weak in naive subjects.Conclusions: Sequential vaccination with two different A(H5N1) pre-pandemic vaccines induced long-lasting high level cross-Glade immunity against influenza A(H5N1) strains, thus supporting a prime-boost vaccination strategy in pandemic preparedness plans. </div

Seasonal influenza vaccines induced high levels of neutralizing cross-reactive antibody responses against different genetic group influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses

Influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses have been circulating throughout the world since the 2009 pandemic. A/California/07/2009 (H1N1) virus was included in seasonal influenza vaccines for seven years altogether, providing a great opportunity to analyse vaccine-induced immunity in relation to the postpandemic evolution of the A(H1N1)pdm09 virus. Serum antibodies against various epidemic strains of influenza A (H1N1)pdm09 viruses were measured among health care workers (HCWs) by haemagglutination inhibition and microneutralization tests before and after 2010 and 2012 seasonal influenza vaccinations. We detected high responses of vaccine-induced neutralizing antibodies to six distinct genetic groups. Our results indicate antigenic similarity between vaccine and circulating A(H1N1)pdm09 strains, and substantial vaccine-induced immunity against circulating epidemic viruses. (C) 2019 Published by Elsevier Ltd.Peer reviewe

An outbreak caused by the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant (B.1.617.2) in a secondary care hospital in Finland, May 2021

An outbreak caused by the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant (B.1.617.2) spread from one inpatient in a secondary care hospital to three primary care facilities, resulting in 58 infections including 18 deaths in patients and 45 infections in healthcare workers (HCW). Only one of the deceased cases was fully vaccinated. Transmission occurred despite the use of personal protective equipment by the HCW, as advised in national guidelines, and a high two-dose COVID-19 vaccination coverage among permanent staff members in the COVID-19 cohort ward.Peer reviewe

Some features of winter climate in Northern Fennoskandia

Tiivistelmä Fennoskandian pohjoisosien talvi-ilmaston ankaruus luo erinomaiset edellytykset erilaisten laitteiden teknisen kestävyyden testaamiseen äärimmäisissä olosuhteissa. Autojen ja talvirenkaiden suorituskyvyn testaus talviolosuhteissa onkin ollut kasvava toimiala alueella. Myös alueen jatkuvasti kasvava matkailuelinkeino on vahvasti riippuvainen talvi-ilmastosta. Tietoa talvi-ilmaston alueellisesta vaihtelusta tarvitaan uusia investointeja suunniteltaessa. Tähän tarpeeseen vastataksemme olemme tutkineet valikoitujen, talven lämpötila- ja lumioloja kuvaavien ilmastollisten muuttujien alueellista vaihtelua Fennoskandian pohjoisosissa. Hilamuotoinen E-OBS aineisto lämpötilalle ja GlobSnow aineisto lumen vesiarvolle osoittautuivat käyttökelpoisiksi muodostettaessa kuvausta nykyilmastosta. Tämän lisäksi esitämme arvioita ilmastonmuutoksen vaikutuksesta termisen talven ja lumipeiteajan pituuteen lähitulevaisuudessa. Pisimpien ja lumisimpien talvien havaitaan esiintyvän Ruotsin luoteisosien vuoristoisilla alueilla, kun taas rannikkoalueilla talvet ovat lauhempia kuin muualla. Kaikkein matalimpia lämpötiloja vuorostaan esiintyy korkeimmilla alueilla vain harvoin.Abstract The harsh winter climate of northern Fennoscandia creates an excellent environment for testing the technical durability of vehicles in extreme conditions. A growing economic activity in the region is testing the performance of cars and snow tyres in these winter conditions. Moreover, the continuallygrowing tourism industry of the region is highly dependent on the winter climate. When new infrastructures are planned, a spatial knowledge of winter climate is needed to determine the most favourable locations for the intended purposes. To respond to this demand, we have examined the spatial variation of selected climatological parameters describing winter temperature and snow conditions in northern Fennoscandia. The gridded high-resolution E-OBS data set for temperature and the GlobSnow data set for snow water equivalent were found to be suitable to construct a description of the present-day winter climate. In addition to presenting a description of the winter climate in the baseline period 1981–2010, we also give estimates of the effect of climate change on the length of the thermal winter and snow season in the near future. The longest and snowiest winters are found to occur in the mountainous areas of north-western Sweden, while in coastal areas winters are milder than elsewhere. In contrast, the lowest temperatures seldom occur in the highest areas

Genomic and epidemiological report of the recombinant XJ lineage SARS-CoV-2 variant, detected in northern Finland, January 2022

Recombinant sequences of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant were detected in surveillance samples collected in north-western Finland in January 2022. We detected 191 samples with an identical genome arrangement in weeks 3 to 11, indicating sustained community transmission. The recombinant lineage has a 5'-end of BA.1, a recombination breakpoint between orf1a and orf1b (nucleotide position 13,296-15,240) and a 3'-end of BA.2 including the S gene. We describe the available genomic and epidemiological data about this currently circulating recombinant XJ lineage.Peer reviewe