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Background We report 2-year persistence of immune response to Takeda's prophylactic purified formalin-inactivated whole Zika virus vaccine candidate (TAK-426) compared with that observed after natural infection. Methods A randomized, observer-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-selection, phase 1 trial was conducted in 18–49-year-old adults at 9 centers (7 in the United States, 2 in Puerto Rico) from 13 November 2017 to 24 November 2020. Primary objectives were safety, tolerability, and immunogenicity of 3 increasing doses of TAK-426 administered as 2 doses 28 days apart to flavivirus (FV)–naive and FV-primed adults. Here, we report on safety and persistence of immunity up to 2 years after primary vaccination with 10-μg TAK-426, the highest dose, and compare neutralizing antibody responses with those observed after natural infection. Results TAK-426 at 10-μg had an acceptable safety profile in FV-naive and FV-primed adults up to 24 months after dose 2. Seropositivity for neutralizing antibodies was 100% at 1 year, and 93.8% and 76.2% at 2 years in FV-naive and FV-primed groups, respectively. TAK-426 responses were comparable in magnitude and kinetics with those elicited by natural Zika virus infection. Conclusions These results support the further clinical development of TAK-426 for both FV-naive and FV-primed populations. Clinical Trials Registration NCT03343626 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite widespread belief that memory is enhanced by emotion, evidence also suggests that emotion can impair memory. Here we test predictions inspired by object-based binding theory, which states that memory enhancement or impairment depends on the nature of the information to be retrieved. We investigated emotional memory in the context of source retrieval, using images of scenes that were negative, neutral or positive in valence. At study each scene was paired with a colour and during retrieval participants reported the source colour for recognised scenes. Critically, we isolated effects of valence by equating stimulus arousal across conditions. In Experiment 1 colour borders surrounded scenes at study: memory impairment was found for both negative and positive scenes. Experiment 2 used colours superimposed over scenes at study: valence affected source retrieval, with memory impairment for negative scenes only. These findings challenge current theories of emotional memory by showing that emotion can impair memory for both intrinsic and extrinsic source information, even when arousal is equated between emotional and neutral stimuli, and by dissociating the effects of positive and negative emotion on episodic memory retrieval. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rationale: T-cell responses have been implicated in control and exacerbation of lung injury during influenza A virus (IAV) infection.Objectives: To examine the breadth and magnitude of influenza-specific CD4(+) and CD8(+) T-cell responses during acute phase of infection.Methods: Influenza-specific T-cell response to the entire pandemic H1N1/09 IAV proteome and T cell-related cytokine levels were measured in blood from previously healthy individuals with mild (n = 32) and severe (n = 16) IAV infection during the 2009 influenza pandemic. Virus-specific T-cell response in lung and blood was also performed in two acutely infected, severely ill patients using fluorescent-conjugated pdmH1N1/09 Matrix-MHC-I tetrameric complexes.Measurements and Main Results: Strong and broad CD4(+) but not CD8(+) T-cell responses were observed in the blood, and were higher in those with severe disease. Antigen-specific CD8(+) T cells in the lungs were on average 45-fold higher compared with blood in severely ill patients. Paradoxically, in patients with severe disease, IL-17, IL-2, IL-4, and IFN-γ levels were significantly decreased.Conclusions: High levels of circulating virus-specific CD4(+) T cells to two viral internal proteins (nucleoprotein and matrix) in the first phase of infection are associated with subsequent development of severe IAV infection. This finding could be an early and specific marker for ensuing clinical deterioration. Contrasting levels of antigen-specific CD8(+) T cells in lungs and blood have implications on design and analysis of clinical trials for T-cell vaccines because measurements of T cells in the periphery may not reflect events in the lungs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, we evaluated both the immunogenicity and safety of recombinant raccoon poxvirus (RCN) as a mucosal vaccine vector for domestic cats. RCN is an orthopoxvirus that was isolated from healthy raccoons and has been used experimentally as a vaccine vector for rabies and other antigens in a variety of species, including raccoons, skunks, foxes, bobcats, rabbits, domestic cats, piglets, sheep and non-human primates. We evaluated the antibody response induced by a recombinant RCN vaccine expressing the rabies-G glycoprotein (RCN/rabies-G) administered to cats by the oral (PO), intranasal (IN), conjunctival (CO) or intranasal/conjunctival (IN/CO) route (dose: 10 8 plaque forming units or PFU). The IN route, either alone or combined with the CO route, induced the highest rabies virus neutralizing antibody (RVNA) titers. The RVNA titers remained high when measured at six months post-vaccination, demonstrating that the recombinant vaccine administered via these routes is very efficient at inducing long-lasting immunity. A dose-response was observed following IN vaccination in cats. Doses of 10 7 PFU induced strong antibody responses in 4 of 5 animals [geometric mean titer: 3.2 (log 10 )]. None of the animals vaccinated with 10 4 PFU developed detectable RVNA titers. In this study, RCN/rabies-G viral shedding was below detectable levels. Nasal, oral and fecal swabs collected from these cats were negative for RCN by both virus isolation and by nested-PCR. In addition, no horizontal transmission of the virus could be detected. Gang-housed sentinel animals for each group did not develop detectable anti-RVNA or -RCN antibodies. To study tissue tropism of recombinant raccoon poxvirus vaccines, a RCN that can express the lacZ gene (RCN/ lacZ ) was constructed. Expression of β-galactosidase (β-gal) was validated in vitro and in mice in vivo . Cats were vaccinated IN with 10 7 PFU of RCN/ lacZ . No histopathological lesions were detected in any of the tissues collected from these cats at 1, 4, 7 and 15 days post-vaccination. In addition, no virus or β-gal expression was detected in any of these tissues. Controls demonstrated that virus could be reisolated from nasal swabs immediately after administration of 10 8 PFU to cats. These results suggest that recombinant RCN vaccines undergo limited replication after intranasal administration in cats that is sufficient to elicit strong, long-lasting systemic antibody responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Advocate General has opined on the availability of supplementary protection certificates (SPCs) for combination products, clarifying the interpretation of Articles 3(a) and 3(b) of Regulation 469/2009. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Developments in the history of human genetics are of interest to those who participated in them and also to historians of medicine and science. Individuals in these fields are increasingly concerned that the record of this history is being discarded. Based on a talk by two archivists which was presented at the Second International Workshop on Genetics, Medicine and History, this paper discusses the problems of selection and preservation and suggests methodologies and actions currently available which offer some practical solutions. Only by acting now in a co-ordinated approach of our disciplines will a history of human genetics survive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]