Immunogenicity of a bivalent Omicron BA.1 COVID-19 booster vaccination in people with HIV in the Netherlands

Objective We evaluated the immunogenicity of a bivalent BA.1 COVID-19 booster vaccine in people with HIV (PWH). Design Prospective observational cohort study. Methods PWH aged ≥45 years received Wuhan-BA.1 mRNA-1273.214 and those < 45 years Wuhan-BA.1 BNT162b2. Participants were propensity score-matched 1:2 to people without HIV (non-PWH) by age, primary vaccine platform (mRNA-based or vector-based), number of prior COVID-19 boosters and SARS-CoV-2 infections, and spike (S1)-specific antibodies on the day of booster administration. The primary endpoint was the geometric mean ratio (GMR) of ancestral S1-specific antibodies from day 0 to 28 in PWH compared to non-PWH. Secondary endpoints included humoral responses, T-cell responses, and cytokine responses up to 180 days post-vaccination. Results Forty PWH received mRNA-1273.214 (N = 35) or BNT162b2 (N = 5) following mRNA-based (N = 29) or vector-based (N = 11) primary vaccination. PWH were predominantly male (87% vs 26% of non-PWH) and median 57 years (interquartile range [IQR] 53–59). Their median CD4+ T-cell count was 775 (IQR 511–965) and the plasma HIV-RNA load was < 50 copies/mL in 39/40. The GMR of S1-specific antibodies by 28 days post-vaccination was comparable between PWH (4.48, 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.24–6.19) and non-PWH (4.07, 95% CI 3.42–4.83). S1-specific antibody responses were comparable between PWH and non-PWH up to 180 days, and T-cell responses up to 90 days post-vaccination. IFN-γ, IL-2, and IL-4 cytokine concentrations increased 28 days post-vaccination in PWH. Conclusion A bivalent BA.1 booster vaccine was immunogenic in well-treated PWH, eliciting comparable humoral responses to non-PWH. However, T-cell responses waned faster after 90 days in PWH compared to non-PWH

Immunogenicity of a bivalent Omicron BA.1 COVID-19 booster vaccination in people with HIV in the Netherlands

Objective We evaluated the immunogenicity of a bivalent BA.1 COVID-19 booster vaccine in people with HIV (PWH). Design Prospective observational cohort study. Methods PWH aged ≥45 years received Wuhan-BA.1 mRNA-1273.214 and those < 45 years Wuhan-BA.1 BNT162b2. Participants were propensity score-matched 1:2 to people without HIV (non-PWH) by age, primary vaccine platform (mRNA-based or vector-based), number of prior COVID-19 boosters and SARS-CoV-2 infections, and spike (S1)-specific antibodies on the day of booster administration. The primary endpoint was the geometric mean ratio (GMR) of ancestral S1-specific antibodies from day 0 to 28 in PWH compared to non-PWH. Secondary endpoints included humoral responses, T-cell responses, and cytokine responses up to 180 days post-vaccination. Results Forty PWH received mRNA-1273.214 (N = 35) or BNT162b2 (N = 5) following mRNA-based (N = 29) or vector-based (N = 11) primary vaccination. PWH were predominantly male (87% vs 26% of non-PWH) and median 57 years (interquartile range [IQR] 53–59). Their median CD4+ T-cell count was 775 (IQR 511–965) and the plasma HIV-RNA load was < 50 copies/mL in 39/40. The GMR of S1-specific antibodies by 28 days post-vaccination was comparable between PWH (4.48, 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.24–6.19) and non-PWH (4.07, 95% CI 3.42–4.83). S1-specific antibody responses were comparable between PWH and non-PWH up to 180 days, and T-cell responses up to 90 days post-vaccination. IFN-γ, IL-2, and IL-4 cytokine concentrations increased 28 days post-vaccination in PWH. Conclusion A bivalent BA.1 booster vaccine was immunogenic in well-treated PWH, eliciting comparable humoral responses to non-PWH. However, T-cell responses waned faster after 90 days in PWH compared to non-PWH

Immunogenicity of a bivalent BA.1 COVID-19 booster vaccine in people with HIV in the Netherlands

OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the immunogenicity of a bivalent BA.1 COVID-19 booster vaccine in people with HIV (PWH).DESIGN: Prospective observational cohort study.METHODS: PWH aged ≥45 years received Wuhan-BA.1 mRNA-1273.214 and those &lt; 45 years Wuhan-BA.1 BNT162b2. Participants were propensity score-matched 1:2 to people without HIV (non-PWH) by age, primary vaccine platform (mRNA-based or vector-based), number of prior COVID-19 boosters and SARS-CoV-2 infections, and spike (S1)-specific antibodies on the day of booster administration. The primary endpoint was the geometric mean ratio (GMR) of ancestral S1-specific antibodies from day 0 to 28 in PWH compared to non-PWH. Secondary endpoints included humoral responses, T-cell responses, and cytokine responses up to 180 days post-vaccination.RESULTS:Forty PWH received mRNA-1273.214 (N = 35) or BNT162b2 (N = 5) following mRNA-based (N = 29) or vector-based (N = 11) primary vaccination. PWH were predominantly male (87% vs 26% of non-PWH) and median 57 years (interquartile range [IQR] 53-59). Their median CD4+ T-cell count was 775 (IQR 511-965) and the plasma HIV-RNA load was &lt; 50 copies/mL in 39/40. The GMR of S1-specific antibodies by 28 days post-vaccination was comparable between PWH (4.48, 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.24-6.19) and non-PWH (4.07, 95% CI 3.42-4.83). S1-specific antibody responses were comparable between PWH and non-PWH up to 180 days, and T-cell responses up to 90 days post-vaccination. IFN-γ, IL-2, and IL-4 cytokine concentrations increased 28 days post-vaccination in PWH.CONCLUSION: A bivalent BA.1 booster vaccine was immunogenic in well-treated PWH, eliciting comparable humoral responses to non-PWH. However, T-cell responses waned faster after 90 days in PWH compared to non-PWH.</p

Immunogenicity of a bivalent BA.1 COVID-19 booster vaccine in people with HIV in the Netherlands

OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the immunogenicity of a bivalent BA.1 COVID-19 booster vaccine in people with HIV (PWH).DESIGN: Prospective observational cohort study.METHODS: PWH aged ≥45 years received Wuhan-BA.1 mRNA-1273.214 and those &lt; 45 years Wuhan-BA.1 BNT162b2. Participants were propensity score-matched 1:2 to people without HIV (non-PWH) by age, primary vaccine platform (mRNA-based or vector-based), number of prior COVID-19 boosters and SARS-CoV-2 infections, and spike (S1)-specific antibodies on the day of booster administration. The primary endpoint was the geometric mean ratio (GMR) of ancestral S1-specific antibodies from day 0 to 28 in PWH compared to non-PWH. Secondary endpoints included humoral responses, T-cell responses, and cytokine responses up to 180 days post-vaccination.RESULTS:Forty PWH received mRNA-1273.214 (N = 35) or BNT162b2 (N = 5) following mRNA-based (N = 29) or vector-based (N = 11) primary vaccination. PWH were predominantly male (87% vs 26% of non-PWH) and median 57 years (interquartile range [IQR] 53-59). Their median CD4+ T-cell count was 775 (IQR 511-965) and the plasma HIV-RNA load was &lt; 50 copies/mL in 39/40. The GMR of S1-specific antibodies by 28 days post-vaccination was comparable between PWH (4.48, 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.24-6.19) and non-PWH (4.07, 95% CI 3.42-4.83). S1-specific antibody responses were comparable between PWH and non-PWH up to 180 days, and T-cell responses up to 90 days post-vaccination. IFN-γ, IL-2, and IL-4 cytokine concentrations increased 28 days post-vaccination in PWH.CONCLUSION: A bivalent BA.1 booster vaccine was immunogenic in well-treated PWH, eliciting comparable humoral responses to non-PWH. However, T-cell responses waned faster after 90 days in PWH compared to non-PWH.</p

Immunogenicity of an additional mRNA-1273 SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in people with HIV with hyporesponse after primary vaccination

Background:The COVIH study is a prospective coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination study in 1154 people with HIV (PWH), of whom 14% showed reduced antibody levels after primary vaccination. We evaluated whether an additional vaccination boosts immune responses in these hyporesponders. Methods: The primary end point was the increase in antibodies 28 days after additional mRNA-1273 vaccination. Secondary end points included neutralizing antibodies, S-specific T-cell and B-cell responses, and reactogenicity. Results:Of the 66 participants, 40 previously received 2 doses ChAdOx1-S, 22 received 2 doses BNT162b2, and 4 received a single dose Ad26.COV2.S. The median age was 63 years (interquartile range [IQR], 60–66), 86% were male, and median CD4 + T-cell count was 650/μL (IQR, 423–941). The mean S1-specific antibody level increased from 35 binding antibody units (BAU)/ mL (95% confidence interval [CI], 24–46) to 4317 BAU/mL (95% CI, 3275–5360) (P &lt; .0001). Of all participants, 97% showed an adequate response and the 45 antibody-negative participants all seroconverted. A significant increase in the proportion of PWH with ancestral S-specific CD4 + T cells (P = .04) and S-specific B cells (P = .02) was observed. Conclusions:An additional mRNA-1273 vaccination induced a robust serological response in 97% of PWH with a hyporesponse after primary vaccination.</p

Trends in poverty and inequality since the political transition

Using a constructed data series and another data series based on the All Media and Products surveys (AMPS), this paper explores trends in poverty and income distribution over the post-transition period. To steer clear of an unduly optimistic conclusion, assumptions are chosen that would tend to show the least decline in poverty. Whilst there were no strong trends in poverty for the period 1995 to 2000, both data series show a considerable decline in poverty after 2000, particularly in the period 2002-2004. Poverty dominance testing shows that this decline is independent of the poverty line chosen or whether the poverty headcount, the poverty ratio or the poverty severity ratio are used as measure. We find likely explanations for this strong and robust decline in poverty in the massive expansion of the social grant system as well as possibly in improved job creation in recent years. Whilst the collective income of the poor (using our definition of poverty) was only R27 billion in 2000, the grants (in constant 2000 Rand values) have expanded by R22 billion since. Even if the grants were not well targeted at the poor (and in the past they have been), a large proportion of this spending must have reached the poor, thus leaving little doubt that poverty must have declined substantially

Mutation in SUMO E3 ligase, SIZ1, Disrupts the Mature Female Gametophyte in Arabidopsis

Female gametophyte is the multicellular haploid structure that can produce embryo and endosperm after fertilization, which has become an attractive model system for investigating molecular mechanisms in nuclei migration, cell specification, cell-to-cell communication and many other processes. Previous reports found that the small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) E3 ligase, SIZ1, participated in many processes depending on particular target substrates and suppression of salicylic acid (SA) accumulation. Here, we report that SIZ1 mediates the reproductive process. SIZ1 showed enhanced expression in female organs, but was not detected in the anther or pollen. A defect in the siz1-2 maternal source resulted in reduced seed-set regardless of high SA concentration within the plant. Moreover, aniline blue staining and scanning electron microscopy revealed that funicular and micropylar pollen tube guidance was arrested in siz1-2 plants. Some of the embryo sacs of ovules in siz1-2 were also disrupted quickly after stage FG7. There was no significant affects of the siz1-2 mutation on expression of genes involved in female gametophyte development- or pollen tube guidance in ovaries. Together, our results suggest that SIZ1 sustains the stability and normal function of the mature female gametophyte which is necessary for pollen tube guidance

Genomic signatures of local adaptation reveal source-sink dynamics in a high gene flow fish species

Understanding source-sink dynamics is important for conservation management, particularly when climatic events alter species' distributions. Following a 2011 'marine heatwave' in Western Australia, we observed high recruitment of the endemic fisheries target species Choerodon rubescens, towards the cooler (southern) end of its distribution. Here, we use a genome wide set of 14 559 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to identify the likely source population for this recruitment event. Most loci (76%) showed low genetic divergence across the species' range, indicating high levels of gene flow and confirming previous findings using neutral microsatellite markers. However, a small proportion of loci showed strong patterns of differentiation and exhibited patterns of population structure consistent with local adaptation. Clustering analyses based on these outlier loci indicated that recruits at the southern end of C. rubescens' range originated 400 km to the north, at the centre of the species' range, where average temperatures are up to 3 °C warmer. Survival of these recruits may be low because they carry alleles adapted to an environment different to the one they now reside in, but their survival is key to establishing locally adapted populations at and beyond the range edge as water temperatures increase with climate change

Gender differences in the use of cardiovascular interventions in HIV-positive persons; the D:A:D Study

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