Dynamics of viral infection in 21 cynomolgus monkeys inoculated with SHIV_SF162P4cy during acute (2–4 weeks p.i.), post-acute (8–16 weeks p.i.) of infection.

<p>Data represent mean values with standard error of log plasma RNA load, log proviral DNA, IgG anti-Env Ab, and nAb from 0 to 16 weeks p.i. (*) week 4: anti-Env bAb titers correlated positively with viral load (p = 0.0002); (**) week 16: nAb titers correlated positively with anti-Env bAb titers (p = 0.0041); (***) post-acute phase: proviral DNA levels correlated positively with anti-Env bAb (p = 0.0225) and negatively with nAb titers (p = 0.0083).</p

Effects of MHC class I<i>A</i> and II haplotypes on IL-10 and α-defensin production during SHIV_SF162P4cy infection.

<p>Mean values with standard error are depicted for all animals positive or negative for the indicated haplotype: M3 (n = 9) non-M3 (n = 12) class I<i>A</i>; M3 (n = 13) non-M3 (n = 8) class II.</p

Frequency of MHC class IA, class IB and class II and recombinant haplotypes in animals included in the study.

<p>Animals carrying specific Mhc class I haplotypes. MHC class IA: M1 = 7, M2 = 5, M3 = 9, M4 = 6, M5 = 1, M6 = 2, M7 = 4, rec = 6; frequency of MHC class IB: M1 = 9, M2 = 5, M3 = 11, M4 = 7, M5 = 1, M6 = 3, M7 = 4, rec = 1; frequency of MHC class II: M1 = 9, M2 = 4, M3 = 13, M4 = 6, M5 = 1, M6 = 4, M7 = 3, rec = 2 <i>rec</i> recombinant haplotype.</p

Plasma α-defensin, IL-10 and IFN-γ levels with respect to the pre-infection values in naïve (n = 11) and adjuvant treated monkeys (n = 10) inoculated with SHIV_SF162P4cy.

<p>No significant differences were observed between naive and adjuvant treated monkeys during the observation period. Mean values with standard deviations are connected by dotted lines.</p

Regression analyses between immunological and virological parameters in infected monkeys during the acute phase of SHIV_SF162P4cy infection.

<p>A significant relationship was detected between: A) IL-10 production and plasma viral load (p = 0.0023); B) α-defensins production and viral RNA (p = 0.0286); C) IFNγ and IL-10 production (p<0.0001). D) AUC: significant relationship between viral load and α-defensins (p = 0.0002).</p

Effects of MHC class I<i>A</i> and I<i>B</i> haplotypes on IgG anti-Env antibodies and neutralizing Ab following infection with SHIV_SF162P4cy.

<p>Mean values with standard error are depicted for all animals positive or negative for the indicated haplotype: M4 (n = 6) non-M4 (n = 15) class I<i>A</i>; M4 (n = 7), non-M4 (n = 14) class I<i>B</i>.</p

Data_Sheet_1_Brand-specific estimates of influenza vaccine effectiveness for the 2021–2022 season in Europe: results from the DRIVE multi-stakeholder study platform.docx

IntroductionDevelopment of Robust and Innovative Vaccine Effectiveness (DRIVE) was a European public–private partnership (PPP) that aimed to provide annual, brand-specific estimates of influenza vaccine effectiveness (IVE) for regulatory and public health purposes. DRIVE was launched in 2017 under the umbrella of the Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI) and conducted IVE studies from its pilot season in 2017–2018 to its final season in 2021–2022.MethodsIn 2021–2022, DRIVE conducted four primary care-based test-negative design (TND) studies (Austria, Italy, Iceland, and England; involving >1,000 general practitioners), nine hospital-based TND studies (France, Iceland, Italy, Romania, and Spain, for a total of 21 hospitals), and one population-based cohort study in Finland. In the TND studies, patients with influenza-like illness (primary care) or severe acute respiratory infection (hospital) were enrolled, and laboratory tested for influenza using RT-PCR. Study contributor-specific IVE was calculated using logistic regression, adjusting for age, sex, and calendar time, and pooled by meta-analysis.ResultsIn 2021–2022, pooled confounder-adjusted influenza vaccine effectiveness (IVE) estimates against laboratory-confirmed influenza (LCI) overall and per type and subtype/lineage was produced, albeit with wide confidence intervals (CI). The limited circulation of influenza in Europe did not allow the network to reach the optimal sample size to produce precise IVE estimates for all the brands included. The most significant IVE estimates were 76% (95% CI 23%−93%) for any vaccine and 81% (22%−95%) for Vaxigrip Tetra in adults ≥65 years old and 64% (25%−83%) for Fluenz Tetra in children (TND primary care setting), 85% (12%−97%) for any vaccine in adults 18–64 years (TND hospital setting), and 38% (1%−62%) in children 6 months−6 years (population-based cohort, mixed setting).DiscussionOver five seasons, DRIVE collected data on >35,000 patients, more than 60 variables, and 13 influenza vaccines. DRIVE demonstrated that estimating brand-specific IVE across Europe is possible, but achieving sufficient sample size to obtain precise estimates for all relevant stratifications remains a challenge. Finally, DRIVE's network of study contributors and lessons learned have greatly contributed to the development of the COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness platform COVIDRIVE.</p

Biocompatible Anionic Polymeric Microspheres as Priming Delivery System for Effetive HIV/AIDS Tat-Based Vaccines

<div><p>Here we describe a prime-boost regimen of vaccination in <i>Macaca fascicularis</i> that combines priming with novel anionic microspheres designed to deliver the biologically active HIV-1 Tat protein and boosting with Tat in Alum. This regimen of immunization modulated the IgG subclass profile and elicited a balanced Th1-Th2 type of humoral and cellular responses. Remarkably, following intravenous challenge with SHIV89.6P_cy243, vaccinees significantly blunted acute viremia, as compared to control monkeys, and this control was associated with significantly lower CD4⁺ T cell depletion rate during the acute phase of infection and higher ability to resume the CD4⁺ T cell counts in the post-acute and chronic phases of infection. The long lasting control of viremia was associated with the persistence of high titers anti-Tat antibodies whose profile clearly distinguished vaccinees in controllers and viremics. Controllers, as opposed to vaccinated and viremic cynos, exhibited significantly higher pre-challenge antibody responses to peptides spanning the glutamine-rich and the RGD-integrin-binding regions of Tat. Finally, among vaccinees, titers of anti-Tat IgG1, IgG3 and IgG4 subclasses had a significant association with control of viremia in the acute and post-acute phases of infection. Altogether these findings indicate that the Tat/H1D/Alum regimen of immunization holds promise for next generation vaccines with Tat protein or other proteins for which maintenance of the native conformation and activity are critical for optimal immunogenicity. Our results also provide novel information on the role of anti-Tat responses in the prevention of HIV pathogenesis and for the design of new vaccine candidates.</p></div

Antibody responses against HIV-1 Env and Tat proteins after challenge with SHIV89.6P_cy243.

<p>Anti-Env IgG antibody titers were determined in plasma of control (<b>A</b>) and vaccinated (<b>B</b>) macaques. In the middle panels are reported the anti-Tat IgG antibody titers in (<b>C</b>) controls and (<b>D</b>) vaccinees. In the bottom panels the anti-Tat IgM antibody titers in (<b>E</b>) controls and (<b>F</b>) vaccinees are indicated. The dashed lines indicate the cut-off values (samples showing titers <1∶25 for IgM and <1∶100 for IgG were scored as negative).</p

Absolute numbers of CD4⁺ T cells following challenge with SHIV89.6P_cy243.

<p>The absolute CD4⁺ T cell counts are reported for (<b>A</b>) control and (<b>B</b>) vaccinated monkeys. In the left middle panel (<b>C</b>) the trend line as a LOESS smoothed average of the values of control (dashed line) and vaccinated (continous line) monkeys is shown. (<b>D</b>) Statistical analysis of the changes from baseline of CD4⁺ T cell counts in vaccinated and control macaques during the acute, post-acute and chronic phases of infection. The numbers within the panel indicate the level of statistically significant differences. (<b>E</b>) Analysis of the correlation of plasma viremia and CD4⁺ T cells counts in vaccinated (continuous red line) and control (black line) monkeys is reported.</p