International Journal of Infectious Diseases最新文献

{"title":"The changing funding landscape for infectious disease research and control: implications for resource-limited countries","authors":"Moses J. Bockarie , Dziedzom K. de Souza , Rashid Ansumana , Danielle Ladzekpo , Kappa D. Ramaiah , Carol Karutu , Shui Shan Lee","doi":"10.1016/j.ijid.2025.107868","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijid.2025.107868","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":14006,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Infectious Diseases","volume":"154 ","pages":"Article 107868"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143541986","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Does wastewater surveillance have a role in vaccine-preventable disease control? Comparison of clinical and wastewater surveillance data for hepatitis A, E, measles, rubella and influenza viruses NICD, South Africa, 2021-2024","authors":"Dr Kerrigan McCarthy , Ms Chenoa Sankar , Mr Victor Mabasa , Ms Nosi Msomi , Mr Emmanuel Phalane , Ms Mokgaetji Macheke , Mr Sipho Gwala , Ms Natasha Singh , Ms Phindile Ntuli , Mr Nkosenhle Lindo Ndlovu , Ms Fiona Els , Ms Sibonginkosi Maposa , Dr Mukhlid Yousif","doi":"10.1016/j.ijid.2024.107380","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijid.2024.107380","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>Wastewater and environmental surveillance (WES) has provided valuable quantitation and sequencing data for polio, SARS-CoV-2 and Mpox to support public health decision-making. We aimed to determine if WES for vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs) is possible and if it may complement clinical surveillance for hepatitis A, E, measles, rubella and influenza viruses.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Digital PCR (dPCR) assays using disease-specific primers were incorporated into single and multiplex reactions that were optimized using positive controls (viral culture, RNA plasmids or known clinical samples). Limits of quantification for each pathogen were determined using quantitative (qPCR) and dPCR on serial dilutions of positive controls. Retained concentrates from wastewater samples collected from 48 national wastewater treatment plants or district sampling networks in nine South African provinces for SARS-CoV-2 wastewater surveillance were subjected to batched RNA extraction and dPCR testing for VPDs. Results of wastewater testing and national notifiable medical conditions surveillance data were compared by epidemiological week and district of collection. Influenza wastewater results were compared with reference to the influenza season (during, before and after) as determined by clinical sentinel site surveillance data.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Limits of quantification in genome copies/mL were as follows hepatitis A: 260; hepatitis E: 400; measles: 590; rubella: 460; influenza A&B: 1000. Amongst retrospective wastewater samples the proportion testing positive were; hepatitis A: 425/2329 (18%); hepatitis E: 280/2329 (12%), measles: 47/2422 (1.9%); rubella 39/2422 (1.6%), influenza A: 113/2422 (4.7%); influenza B: 72/2422 (3%). When compared with clinical results, wastewater results were positive when clinical cases were found in the same district and epidemiological week amongst 26%, 8%, 3% and 1% of time-district pairs for hepatitis A, E, measles and rubella respectively. However, the virus was detected in wastewater when no clinical cases were reported that week amongst 4%, 25%, 3% and 4% of time-district pairs for hepatitis A, E, measles and rubella respectively. Regarding influenza A, the majority of wastewater samples tested positive during the season (44/80 positive samples, 55%) than before or after, whilst the majority of influenza B detections in 2023 were after the season (28/36 positive samples, 77%)</div></div><div><h3>Discussion</h3><div>In our comparison of clinical and wastewater data for hepatitis A, E, measles and rubella, WES found evidence of circulating virus in wastewater on multiple occasions in districts when clinical surveillance failed to find cases. Clinical surveillance may be limited on account of test unavailability, absent health seeking, and cases being asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic. Public health action following wastewater detection in the absence of clinical","PeriodicalId":14006,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Infectious Diseases","volume":"152 ","pages":"Article 107380"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143520638","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Gut Inflammatory Proteins Associated with Environmental Enteric Dysfunction Can Be Measured in Wastewater","authors":"Dr Jeffrey Donowitz ,&nbsp;Mr Ashiqul Khan ,&nbsp;Dr Suporn Pholwat ,&nbsp;Ms Sabrina Resha ,&nbsp;Dr Rashidul Haque ,&nbsp;Dr Mami Taniuchi","doi":"10.1016/j.ijid.2024.107382","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijid.2024.107382","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>Inhabitants of low-income countries in areas with poor sanitation suffer from high rates of Environmental Enteric Dysfunction (EED), a subclinical syndrome hallmarked by chronic inflammation of the small intestine driven by repeat and chronic enteric pathogen exposure. EED has been associated with poor linear growth and adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes in children. In adults, it has been hypothesized that EED plays a pathogenic role in obesity and metabolic syndrome. While small intestinal histology is the gold standard for EED diagnosis, protein biomarkers of enteric inflammation have been widely used as a proxy measure of EED. One of the major challenges in using such biomarkers for research is that these biomarkers are dynamic, responding to repeat pathogen exposures and clearance. This makes understanding the cumulative burden of EED and its effects on long-term outcomes difficult. Further, understanding the effect of interventions on EED burden is difficult as repeated measures in individuals may not give an accurate picture. We hypothesized that we could measure the community level of EED by quantifying levels of known fecal biomarkers of EED in wastewater.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Using commercially available ELISA kits, we attempted to measure alpha-1-antitrypsin, calprotectin, neopterin, myeloperoxidase, and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin in wastewater. The sewage samples were collected between 7 AM-9 AM from established sites in an existing sewage surveillance study in Dhaka, Bangladesh, where the EED burden is known to be high. The catchment population ranged from 2,317 to 606,332. The samples were processed at our icddr,b lab that same day. 50-100 µl of neat sewage samples were tested using ELISA kits for each EED biomarker.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>We detected antitrypsin (range 10.2-44.4 ng/l; mean 29.42±12.15 SD ng/l), neopterin (0-0.64 ng/µl; 0.03±0.03 ng/µl), and NGAL (0.6-1.1 ng/µl; 0.59±0.35 ng/µl) from neat samples. Calprotectin and MPO were not detected from the neat sample. We plan to concentrate the samples to detect these biomarkers in the future.</div></div><div><h3>Discussion</h3><div>These results demonstrate that biomarkers of EED can be measured in wastewater in a community known to have a high EED burden. The next steps involve comparing these results with those from a low EED burden catchment area (i.e. high-income country) and determining the variation in these wastewater biomarkers over time.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>In the long term, community-level EED measures can be correlated to population health outcomes and be used to measure response to both sanitation and pathogen-targeted interventions such as vaccines.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":14006,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Infectious Diseases","volume":"152 ","pages":"Article 107382"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143520639","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Rising Tide of Antibiotic Resistance in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Meta-Analysis of Vibrio cholerae Susceptibility(2014-2024)","authors":"Dr Yahaya Mohammed ,&nbsp;Dr Ahmed Olowo-okere","doi":"10.1016/j.ijid.2024.107387","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijid.2024.107387","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Introduction&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Antibiotics are commonly used alongside rehydration therapy in the management of cholera. Their efficacy is however increasingly compromised by global rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. This is particularly concerning in sub-Saharan Africa, where cholera is endemic, recurrent and access to effective antibiotics is highly limited. This study aims to systematically evaluate data on antibiotic resistance in Vibrio cholerae isolates across sub-Saharan Africa.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Methods&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;We conducted a systematic literature search across PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Google scholar and Web of Science databases to identify articles reporting the susceptibility profiles of Vibrio cholerae isolates from cholera patients between 2014 and April 2024. We utilized the Freeman-Tukey double arcsine transformation to estimate the weighted pooled resistance (WPR). Heterogeneity of the data and bias were analyzed with random effect model meta-analysis and funnel plot. The data were analyzed using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis Software Version 4.0 (Biostat, Englewood, NJ, USA)&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Results&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;This meta-analysis presents results of antibiotics resistance profile of 1761 V. cholerae isolates from 12 countries. The isolates were predominantly O1 El tor serogroup with 71.2% ogawa and 28.8% inaba biotypes. Majority of the studies were from Nigeria (6/22) followed by Ghana (4/22) and Kenya (3/22). Ciprofloxacin (19/22), tetracycline (18/22) and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (17/22) were the most frequently studied antibiotics. The results revealed varying rates of resistance among different antibiotics, with co-trimoxazole 77.99% (C.I.: 0.6702-0.8606) exhibiting the highest resistance, followed by nalidixic acid 67.25 % (C.I.: 0.4625-0.8305) and amoxicillin-clavulanate 74.91 % (C.I.: 0.411- 0.927). The WPR of tetracycline, ciprofloxacin and chloramphenicol were respectively 29.74 % (C.I.: 0.1912-0.4313), 8.41% (C.I.: 0.0423-0.1605) and 32.71 % (0.1708-0.5343). Regional analysis revealed that WPR of tetracycline and ciprofloxacin were highest in Nigeria (60.75 %) and Zambia (59.04 %) respectively. The WPR for tetracycline and ciprofloxacin increased notably after 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, rising from 16.6% (0.0687-0.3499) to 39.1% (0.2314-0.5784) and from 1.5% (0.0042-0.0552) to 16.2% (0.0802-0.2990), respectively. This upward trend was also observed across other antibiotics studied.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Discussion&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;The meta-analysis reveals a worrying rise in antibiotic resistance among V. cholerae in sub-Saharan Africa. The increasing antibiotic resistance observed both before and after 2020 could potentially be associated with the global rise in antibiotic resistance, possibly stemming from the overuse of antibiotics during the COVID-19 pandemic.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Conclusion&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;The findings underscore the alarming prevalence of antibiotic resistance among V. cholerae isolates in sub-Saharan Africa. ","PeriodicalId":14006,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Infectious Diseases","volume":"152 ","pages":"Article 107387"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143520655","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Transient Expression of Recombinant Antimicrobial Peptide Meucin18 in Nicotiana tabacum and its Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing","authors":"Mr Parthiban Subramanian,&nbsp;Ms Sakshi Chavhan,&nbsp;Mr Rudranil Saha,&nbsp;Dr. SATHISHKUMAR RAMALINGAM","doi":"10.1016/j.ijid.2024.107406","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijid.2024.107406","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Introduction&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Scorpion venom peptides as antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) possess high bactericidal activity against a broad range of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Meucin-18, a venom peptide of molecular weight 2.1 kDa from Mesobuthus eupeus, shows high bacteriolytic potential, and so recombinant production in E. coli is highly unlikely. Hence, recombinant Meucin-18 is transiently expressed in an efficient alternate host, Nicotiana tabacum plant system, to test its antibacterial efficacy.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Methods&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;The gene sequence (54 bp) coding Meucin18 fused with a C-terminal 6X histidine tag and an ER localization signal KDEL, was codon optimized, synthesized de novo and custom cloned into pENTR-D-TOPO Gateway vector. Gateway LR cloning was performed to produce expression construct pEAQ-HT-DEST3-Meucin18. A quantity of 100 ng expression construct was transformed into electrocompetent Agrobacterium tumefaciens GV3101 through electroporation, pulsed at 1800V for 5 ms. Agrosuspension was prepared with 1X MES infiltration medium containing 100 µM acetosyringone. Leaves of N. tabacum plants maintained at 26°C were syringe infiltrated with agrosuspension in abaxial side. Total protein was extracted from 5 days post infiltration (dpi) leaves using extraction buffer (Tris-HCl 100mM; pH 7.5 and 0.1M KH2PO4; pH 6.4). Recombinant Meucin18 AMP was purified by Ni-NTA affinity chromatography and analyzed on tricine-SDS-PAGE, and Western blot using anti-His6 peroxidase antibody. Recombinant fusion AMP will be tested for its efficacy against bacteria (pathogenic and non-pathogenic) using classical agar diffusion and broth microdilution assays.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Results&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Plant expression construct pEAQ-HT-DEST3-Meucin18 was transformed into E. coli DH5ɑ for propagation and confirmed through PCR and restriction digestion analysis. pEAQ-HT-DEST3-Meucin18 from A. tumefaciens GV3101 was isolated and confirmed using PCR analysis. Total crude protein from 5 dpi N. tabacum leaf sample was measured, at A280 using an Epoch Take3 spectrophotometer, to be 11.51 mg/g and 20.76 mg/g of fresh leaf tissue and the protein content from uninfiltrated leaf sample was measured to be 8.90 mg/g of fresh leaf tissue. The quantity of purified sample was found to be 21.4 µg/g that will be confirmed using 16% tricine-SDS-PAGE and Western blot. Further, recombinant Meucin18 will be tested for its bactericidal potential using agar diffusion and broth microdilution assays.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Discussion&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Scorpion venom peptides have been assessed for their potential to act against a broad range of bacteria including Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Staphylococcus epidermidis, Bacillus subtilis, Micrococcus luteus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and E. coli. N. tabacum plant system proves to be a better host system for transient expression of recombinant functional antimicrobial peptides such as protegrin-1. Further optimiz","PeriodicalId":14006,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Infectious Diseases","volume":"152 ","pages":"Article 107406"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143520665","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Persistence of the neutralizing antibody response one year after a single injection of a new Yellow fever vaccine in adults","authors":"Dr Emmanuel Feroldi,&nbsp;Prof Mark J Mulligan,&nbsp;Dr Kawsar Talaat,&nbsp;Dr Chen Sabrina Tan,&nbsp;Dr Kristopher Paolino,&nbsp;Prof Srilatha Edupuganti,&nbsp;Prof Matthew H Collins,&nbsp;Prof Sarah L George,&nbsp;Dr Matthew Davis,&nbsp;Dr Brandon Essink,&nbsp;Dr James Peterson,&nbsp;Dr David Fried,&nbsp;Dr Natalia Rodriguez Valero,&nbsp;Prof Michael Ramharter,&nbsp;Prof Odile Launay,&nbsp;Prof Anu Kantele,&nbsp;Prof Terapong Tantawichien,&nbsp;Prof Jenny Guek-Hong Low,&nbsp;Ms Sandrine Orlando,&nbsp;Ms Pascale Davaux,&nbsp;Dr Carina Frago","doi":"10.1016/j.ijid.2024.107447","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijid.2024.107447","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>Yellow fever (YF) remains a major global health threat, complicated by climate change, vector expansion, and insufficient health system infrastructure in endemic regions. Recent shortages of licensed vaccines during regional outbreaks underscore the need for next-generation YF vaccines that retain safety and effectiveness standards while enhancing manufacturing efficiency. Grown in serum-free Vero cells, vYF is a live-attenuated YF vaccine developed to ensure a sustainable and robust global supply.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>In two ongoing Phase II randomized, observer-blind, active-controlled, non-inferiority multicenter clinical trials of vYF in 18-60-year-old adults in the US (vs. YF-VAX – VYF02 study) or in Europe and Asia (vs. Stamaril – VYF03 study), the neutralizing antibody (NAb) responses are being measured by a YF microneutralization assay on day 29 (D29), month 6 (M6), and then annually from year 1 (Y1) until Y5. Seroprotection is defined as NAb titers ≥ 10 (1/dil). Interim analyses conducted one-month post-vaccination demonstrated that the vYF immune response was non-inferior to YF-VAX or Stamaril. Here, we report the immunogenicity up to Y1.</div><div>Adults were randomized 2:1 to receive one dose of vYF or YF active control: 568 in the US (VYF02) and 690 in Europe and Asia (VYF03).</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Twenty-eight days after a vYF dose administration, over 99% of YF-naive participants in the US, and over 98% in the EU and over 95% in Asia were seroprotected.</div><div>YF-naive recipients (FAS) exhibited D29 post-vaccination geometric mean titers (GMT) well above the seroprotective threshold: 2654, 1/dil, in the US; 2508, 1/dil, in EU; 1374, 1/dil, in Asia. As expected, GMTs waned after D29 but more than 97% of participants in the US, over 98% in Europe and more than 94% in Asia maintained titers above the threshold of protection at Y1, with GMTs of 401, 1/dil, in the US; 469, 1/dil, in EU; and 205, 1/dil, in Asia.</div></div><div><h3>Discussion</h3><div>Overall, 94% or more of YF-naive adults in US, EU and Asia were seroprotected 28 days after receiving vYF and remained seroprotected at Y1. Seroprotection rates and GMT values following administration of the control vaccines (YF-VAX or Stamaril) were in similar ranges at all evaluated timepoints. Despite lower NAb titers observed in Asia from D29, GMT values remain well above the threshold considered for protection in all regions.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Immunogenicity of vYF is non-inferior to YF-VAX and Stamaril, inducing seroprotective NAb responses in 18 to 60-year-old vaccinees to 1-year post-vaccination. Reduced NAb titers in Asia relative to the US and Europe did not diminish rates of seroprotection. These results are encouraging for addressing unmet public health needs during YF outbreaks.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":14006,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Infectious Diseases","volume":"152 ","pages":"Article 107447"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143520474","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Preclinical evaluation of a fully-human, quadrivalent-hantavirus polyclonal antibody derived from non-human source.","authors":"Dr Jay Hooper ,&nbsp;Dr Steve Kwilas ,&nbsp;Dr Rebecca Brocato ,&nbsp;Mr. Matthew Josleyn ,&nbsp;Ms. Lucia Principe ,&nbsp;Mr Joshua Shamblin ,&nbsp;Dr. Hua Wu ,&nbsp;Dr. Christoph Bausch ,&nbsp;Dr. Tom Luke ,&nbsp;Dr Priya Karmali ,&nbsp;Mr. Jerel Vega ,&nbsp;Dr Padmanabh Chivukaula ,&nbsp;Dr. Eddie Sullivan","doi":"10.1016/j.ijid.2024.107448","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijid.2024.107448","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Hantaviruses are rodent-borne viruses that can cause severe disease in infected humans. In the New World, major hantaviruses include Andes virus (ANDV) and Sin Nombre virus (SNV), and the disease is known as hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS). In the Old World, major hantaviruses include Hantaan virus (HTNV) and Puumala virus (PUUV), and the disease is known as hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS). Previously, transchromsomic bovines (TcBs) were used and engineered to produce fully human antibodies to produce anti-HPS human polyclonal neutralizing antibody (SAB-400) that protected Syrian hamsters against lethal disease caused by ANDV and SNV; and anti-HFRS human polyclonal neutralizing antibody, SAB-159 and SAB-159P, that protected hamsters against infection with HTNV and PUUV, respectively.</div></div><div><h3>Methods &amp; Materials</h3><div>Here, the same approach was used to produce a candidate cGMP product (SAB-163) targeting both HFRS and HPS. Two TcB animals were produced and qualified for cGMP antibody manufacturing. One animal was vaccinated with a lipid nanoparticle (LNP)-formulated ANDV and a SNV M gene-based DNA vaccine and a second animal was vaccinated with LNP-formulated HTNV and PUUV DNA vaccine. The hantavirus M gene encodes the viral envelop glycoproteins. The resultant fully-human, polyclonal antibody purified from the combined plasma from the two TcBs was designated SAB-163.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>SAB-163 has potent neutralizing antibodies (PRNT50 &gt;200,000) against the four targeted hantaviruses, and cross-neutralization against several other heterotypic hantaviruses, albeit with lower titers. SAB-163 was tested for safety in a GLP toxicity study in rabbits and human tissue binding study and was found to be safe. SAB-163 was tested for efficacy in Syrian hamsters. At a dosage of 10 mg/kg, SAB-163 is bioavailable in hamsters out to 70 days post-treatment with a half-life of 10-15 days. At this same dosage, SAB-163 administered 1 day or out 5 days after exposure protected all hamsters from lethal disease caused by ANDV. At a higher dose, partial protection was achieved as late as day 6 in the ANDV model. SAB-163 also protected hamsters in the HTNV, PUUV, and SNV infection models when administered 1 day before or up to 3 days after challenge.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The candidate product is attractive because it is fully-human, polyclonal, safe and effective in animal models, and was produced from plasma collected within ∼100 days without the use of blood products from HFRS or HPS patients. Essentially, the virus sequence information was transformed into a candidate human polyclonal antibody product capable of protecting against prototype hantaviruses from Asia, Europe, and the Americas.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":14006,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Infectious Diseases","volume":"152 ","pages":"Article 107448"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143520475","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Closing the equity gap – opportunities and challenges in unlocking the value of immunizing children","authors":"Rudzani Muloiwa","doi":"10.1016/j.ijid.2025.107822","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijid.2025.107822","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Infection remains one of the greatest killers of children in the world. A large proportion of these deaths are due to infectious agents for which effective vaccines are already available.</div><div>Vaccination has been one the most successful and cost-effective public health interventions of the 20th century. Data indicates that the greatest return on investment from vaccination disproportionately accrues to the poorest communities. Unfortunately, access to vaccines is not equitable, with the most vulnerable least likely to receive them.</div><div>Using global data on the burden of disease, vaccination coverage, historical patterns of vaccine introduction and uptake, as well as access to currently available antigens, the talk will highlight the inequities in immunization practices and explore their causes. In addition, the talk will challenge the ethical framework that perpetuates these iniquities and suggests potential opportunities for addressing them.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":14006,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Infectious Diseases","volume":"152 ","pages":"Article 107822"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143520496","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Respiratory Tract Infections at Mass Gatherings","authors":"Prof Jaffar Al-tawfiq","doi":"10.1016/j.ijid.2025.107819","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijid.2025.107819","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>Large-scale events that bring people together, like music festivals, athletic competitions, and religious pilgrimages, can foster the spread of respiratory pathogens by drawing large crowds of people in close quarters. Planning and implementing public health interventions and plans effectively requires an understanding of the dynamics and effects of RTIs in these contexts.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A thorough literature review was done to look at reports and studies about RTIs at large gatherings. Using electronic databases like PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar, pertinent articles were found. \"Respiratory tract infections,\" \"mass gatherings,\" \"outbreaks,\" and associated keywords were among the search terms used. The review included studies that looked at the epidemiology, risk factors, transmission patterns, and interventions for RTIs in situations involving large crowds.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The analysis produced a number of important conclusions. First off, respiratory viruses like influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and coronaviruses are the main causes of RTIs, which are frequently observed during large crowds. Second, the quick spread of respiratory pathogens is facilitated by close contact between attendees, insufficient ventilation, and overcrowding. Third, elements including the length of the event, the type of activities, and the participants' demographics all have an impact on the risk of RTI transmission. Fourth, successful preventive initiatives have demonstrated encouraging outcomes in lowering the incidence of RTIs at large gatherings. These initiatives include vaccination campaigns, hand hygiene promotion, and respiratory etiquette.</div></div><div><h3>Discussion</h3><div>In order to lessen the impact of RTIs at large gatherings, it is crucial to conduct proactive surveillance, evaluate risks, and put preventive measures in place. Combining public health strategies like case isolation, early detection, and contact tracing can help manage outbreaks and reduce the spread of respiratory pathogens. Furthermore, the implementation of technology-driven monitoring platforms and crowd control techniques can facilitate the prompt detection and remediation of possible epidemics.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Since mass gatherings are high-density events, respiratory tract infections are a significant risk. To lessen the effects of RTIs and safeguard the public's and participants' health, thorough planning is necessary. This includes providing an appropriate healthcare infrastructure, communicating effectively, and implementing targeted preventive interventions. Subsequent investigations ought to concentrate on assessing the efficacy of interventions and improving tactics to augment respiratory infection control during large-scale assemblies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":14006,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Infectious Diseases","volume":"152 ","pages":"Article 107819"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143520465","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Electronic Pillbox-enabled Self-administered Therapy Versus Standard Directly Observed Therapy for Tuberculosis Medication Adherence and Treatment Outcomes in Ethiopia: a Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial","authors":"Dr Tsegahun Manyazewal ,&nbsp;Dr. Yimtubezinash Woldeamanuel ,&nbsp;Mr. Tewodros Getinet ,&nbsp;Ms Alison Hoover ,&nbsp;Dr Kidist Bobosha ,&nbsp;Mr Oumer Fuad ,&nbsp;Dr. Belete Getahun ,&nbsp;Prof. Abebaw Fekadu ,&nbsp;Dr. David Holland ,&nbsp;Prof. Vincent Marconi","doi":"10.1016/j.ijid.2024.107397","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijid.2024.107397","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Background&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;The prolonged and complex nature of anti-tuberculosis regimens contributes to suboptimal medication adherence, leading to poor treatment outcomes and drug resistance. Trials evaluating the effectiveness of digital adherence technologies are urgently needed. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of pillbox-enabled self-administered therapy (SAT) compared to standard DOT on adherence to tuberculosis medication and treatment outcomes.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Methods&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;In this multicenter, randomized controlled trial, adults diagnosed with new or previously treated, bacteriologically-confirmed, drug-sensitive pulmonary tuberculosis and eligible to commence anti-tuberculosis therapy were enrolled from 10 healthcare facilities across Ethiopia. Participants were allocated in a 1:1 ratio to either receive a 15-day supply of tuberculosis medication dispensed with an evriMED500® digital medication event reminder and monitor (MERM) device for self-administration and return every 15 days, or to undergo standard DOT. The MERM device integrates an electronic module and medication container, serving to record adherence, securely store medication, emit audible and visual alarms onboard to prompt patients for timely intake and refills, and facilitates healthcare providers in downloading data for monitoring adherence closely. Both groups were monitored throughout the standard two-month intensive treatment phase. The primary endpoints, analyzed following the intention-to-treat (ITT) principle, included were individual-level percentage adherence during the two-month intensive phase, and sputum smear conversion. Secondary endpoints were a negative IsoScreen urine isoniazid test, adverse treatment outcomes, and self-reported adherence. ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04216420.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Results&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;A total of 337 patients underwent eligibility screening, with 114 randomly assigned and included in the final analysis (57 in the control group and 57 in the intervention group). Adherence to tuberculosis medication showed comparable rates between the intervention arm (geometric mean percentage [GM%] 99.01%, geometric standard deviation [GSD] 1.02) and the control arm (GM% 98.97%, GSD 1.04), falling within the predefined margin for non-inferiority [mean ratio (MR) 1.00 (95% CI 0.99-1.01); p=0.954]. Urine isoniazid testing was conducted on 443 (97%) samples obtained from 114 participants, revealing that 13 participants yielded at least one negative result. A negative test was more prevalent among the control group compared to the intervention group (p=0.008). There were no significant difference observed regarding smear conversion, adverse treatment outcomes, and self-reported non-adherence.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Discussion&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;In this randomized controlled trial involving patients with drug-susceptible pulmonary tuberculosis, self-administered therapy facilitated by the MERM device demonstrated treatment adherence comparable","PeriodicalId":14006,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Infectious Diseases","volume":"152 ","pages":"Article 107397"},"PeriodicalIF":4.8,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143520466","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}