No association between histo-blood group antigens and susceptibility to clinical infections with genogroup II norovirus

Noroviruses (NoVs) are a leading cause of viral gastroenteritis in humans. In the present study, the association between NoV susceptibility and the ABO histo-blood group was studied during 2 outbreaks of acute gastroenteritis in military units in Israel caused by genogroup II (GII) NoVs. The findings demonstrate that, unlike for genogroup I of NoV, there is no association between the ABO histo-blood group and clinical infection with GII NoVs. This is the largest study to test the association between NoVs, proven clinical infection with GII, and the ABO histo-blood group

Community-Based Safety, Immunogenicity, and Transmissibility Study of the Shigella sonnei WRSS1 Vaccine in Israeli Volunteers

We describe the first community-based evaluation of Shigella sonnei strain WRSS1, a live, oral candidate vaccine attenuated by a 212-bp deletion in the virG (or icsA) plasmid virulence gene. Three single-dose regimens of WRSS1 (5 × 10(3) CFU, 2 × 10(4) CFU, and 4 × 10(5) CFU) were tested with cohorts of 15 adult volunteers. The vaccine was generally well tolerated at the 10(3)- and 10(4)-CFU doses. There were no fevers and there was one report of moderate diarrhea in 30 vaccinees; five additional vaccinees reported mild diarrhea. At the 10(5)-CFU dose, there were two reports of low-grade fevers and four reports of moderate diarrhea. The geometric means for immunoglobulin A (IgA) antibody-secreting cells (ASC) against lipopolysaccharide (LPS) were 30, 75, and 193 ASC per 10(6) peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) for the 10(3)-, 10(4)-, and 10(5)-CFU doses, respectively. The IgG means were 40, 46, and 135 ASC per 10(6) PBMC, respectively. The 10(4)-CFU dose of WRSS1 gave the best balance of safety and immunogenicity, since all vaccinees had a significant IgA ASC response and 73% had a response of more than 50 ASC. The anti-LPS seroconversion rate (threefold) for IgA was 60% and the IgG rate was 27% for the 10(4)-CFU cohort. Each vaccinee and a cohabitating household contact delivered daily perianal stool swabs for bacteriological culture. WRSS1 colonized vaccinees for a median of 5 days, and one individual excreted WRSS1 intermittently for 23 days. None of the 45 household contacts were colonized with WRSS1 after a cumulative 192 days of cohabitation with colonized vaccinees, suggesting that adventitious vaccine spread was not common in the community setting

Pneumococcal cumulative acquisition rate per 100 participants by cohort and weeks since start of training.

<p>Pneumococcal cumulative acquisition rate per 100 participants by cohort and weeks since start of training.</p

Observed and expected cluster units of pneumococcal clones in three cohorts of trainees, Israel, 2007.

a<p>A cluster unit was defined by the presence of >50% of identified clones in one of the 3 cohorts.</p>b<p>Expected number of cluster units in the current study for each cluster unit size was derived by multiplying the observed number of groups with the same clone and the same size by the <i>P</i>-value for being a true cluster unit.</p>c<p>For clonal group of 5, if minimal number needed for cluster unit is defined as ≥4 (as was the observed cluster unit) then <i>P</i> value is .037.</p

Figure 2

<p>A. Pneumococcal carriage prevalence by cohort and weeks since start of training. B. Odds ratio and 95% confidence interval for pneumococcal carriage prevalence during training compared to first visit, adjusted for season and frequency of sharing drinking glass.</p

Timing of acquisition of pneumococci during training in confined setting in Israel, identified by multivariable repeated measures analysis^a.

a<p>Controlling for sharing drinking glass frequency, company and three seasons.</p>b<p>1003 observations included n unbalanced model, including contribution until loss to follow-up.</p>c<p>593 observations included in balanced model, i.e. including only those who were sampled in all 5 visits.</p