Hpv-specific systemic antibody responses and memory b cells are independently maintained up to 6 years and in a vaccine-specific manner following immunization with cervarix and gardasil in adolescent and young adult women in vaccination programs in Italy

Human papillomavirus (HPV) persistent infections are associated with cervical cancer and other HPV-related diseases and tumors. Thus, the characterization of long lasting immunity to currently available HPV vaccines is important. A total of 149 female subjects vaccinated with Cervarix or Gardasil participated to the study and they were stratified according to age (10–12-year-old and 16–20-year-old). Humoral immune responses (IgG and neutralizing antibody titers, antibody avidity) and circulating memory B cells were analyzed after an average of 4–6 years from the third immunization. The humoral responses against HPV-16 and HPV-18 (and HPV-6 and HPV- 11 for Gardasil) were high in both age groups and vaccines up to six years from the third dose. However, Cervarix induced significantly higher and more persistent antibody responses, while the two vaccines were rather equivalent in inducing memory B cells against HPV-16 and HPV-18. Moreover, the percentage of subjects with vaccine-specific memory B cells was even superior among Gardasil vaccinees and, conversely, Cervarix vaccinated individuals with circulating antibodies, but undetectable memory B cells were found. Finally, a higher proportion of Cervarix-vaccinated subjects displayed cross-neutralizing responses against non-vaccine types HPV-31 and HPV-45. Gardasil and Cervarix may, thus, differently affect long-lasting humoral immunity from both the quantitative and qualitative point of view

Biocontrol traits of Bacillus licheniformis GL174, a culturable endophyte of Vitis vinifera cv. Glera

Background Bacillus licheniformis GL174 is a culturable endophytic strain isolated from Vitis vinifera cultivar Glera, the grapevine mainly cultivated for the Prosecco wine production. This strain was previously demonstrated to possess some specific plant growth promoting traits but its endophytic attitude and its role in biocontrol was only partially explored. In this study, the potential biocontrol action of the strain was investigated in vitro and in vivo and, by genome sequence analyses, putative functions involved in biocontrol and plant-bacteria interaction were assessed. Results Firstly, to confirm the endophytic behavior of the strain, its ability to colonize grapevine tissues was demonstrated and its biocontrol properties were analyzed. Antagonism test results showed that the strain could reduce and inhibit the mycelium growth of diverse plant pathogens in vitro and in vivo. The strain was demonstrated to produce different molecules of the lipopeptide class; moreover, its genome was sequenced, and analysis of the sequences revealed the presence of many protein-coding genes involved in the biocontrol process, such as transporters, plant-cell lytic enzymes, siderophores and other secondary metabolites. Conclusions This step-by-step analysis shows that Bacillus licheniformis GL174 may be a good biocontrol agent candidate, and describes some distinguished traits and possible key elements involved in this process. The use of this strain could potentially help grapevine plants to cope with pathogen attacks and reduce the amount of chemicals used in the vineyard

HPV-Specific Systemic Antibody Responses and Memory B Cells are Independently Maintained up to 6 Years and in a Vaccine-Specific Manner Following Immunization with Cervarix and Gardasil in Adolescent and Young Adult Women in Vaccination Programs in Italy

Humanpapillomavirus(HPV)persistentinfectionsareassociatedwithcervicalcancerandother HPV-related diseases and tumors. Thus, the characterization of long lasting immunity to currently availableHPVvaccinesisimportant. Atotalof149femalesubjectsvaccinatedwithCervarixorGardasil participatedtothestudyandtheywerestratifiedaccordingtoage(10\u201312-year-oldand16\u201320-year-old). Humoral immune responses (IgG and neutralizing antibody titers, antibody avidity) and circulating memoryBcellswereanalyzedafteranaverageof4\u20136yearsfromthethirdimmunization. Thehumoral responses against HPV-16 and HPV-18 (andHPV-6andHPV-11forGardasil) were high in both age groupsandvaccinesuptosixyearsfromthethirddose. However,Cervarixinducedsignificantlyhigher and more persistent antibody responses, while the two vaccines were rather equivalent in inducing memoryBcellsagainstHPV-16andHPV-18. Moreover,thepercentageofsubjectswithvaccine-specific memory B cells was even superior among Gardasil vaccinees and, conversely, Cervarix vaccinated individualswithcirculatingantibodies,butundetectablememoryBcellswerefound. Finally,ahigher proportionofCervarix-vaccinatedsubjectsdisplayedcross-neutralizingresponsesagainstnon-vaccine types HPV-31 and HPV-45. Gardasil and Cervarix may, thus, differ

Progress in European Thin Film Activities

Thin film cavities with higher Tc superconductors SC than Nb promise to move the operating temperature from 2 to 4.5 K with savings 3 orders of magnitude in cryogenic power consumption. Several European labs are coordinating their efforts to obtain a first 1.3 GHz cavity prototype through the I.FAST collaboration and other informal col laborations with CERN and DESY. R amp;D covers the entire production chain. In particular, new production techniques of seamless Copper and Niobium elliptical cavities via additive manufacturing are studied and evaluated. New acid free polishing techniques to reduce surface roughness in a more sustainable way such as plasma electropolishing and metallographic polishing have been tested. Optimization of coating parameters of higher Tc SC than Nb Nb 3Sn, V 3Si, NbTiN via PVD and multilayer via ALD are on the way. Finally, rapid heat treatments such as Flash Lamp Annealing and Laser Annealing are used to avoid or reduce Copper diffusion in the SC film. The development and characterization of superconducting coatings is done on planar samples, 6 GHz cavities, choke cavities, QPR and 1.3 GHz cavities. This work presents the progress status of these co ordinated effort