VaccinesPub Date : 2026-09-03DOI: 10.3390/vaccines14090773
Won Suk Choi, Karen Quan, James A Baber, Anna Jaques, Karla Janse van Rensburg, Wen Li, Mark W Cutler, Elena V Kalinina, Annaliesa S Anderson, Kena A Swanson, Alejandra Gurtman, Iona Munjal
{"title":"A Randomized Phase 3 Study to Evaluate the Safety, Tolerability, and Immunogenicity of the Bivalent RSVpreF Vaccine in Older Adults in Korea.","authors":"Won Suk Choi, Karen Quan, James A Baber, Anna Jaques, Karla Janse van Rensburg, Wen Li, Mark W Cutler, Elena V Kalinina, Annaliesa S Anderson, Kena A Swanson, Alejandra Gurtman, Iona Munjal","doi":"10.3390/vaccines14090773","DOIUrl":"10.3390/vaccines14090773","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background/Objectives</b>: The bivalent RSVpreF vaccine is effective at preventing respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)-associated lower respiratory tract illness in adults. However, data regarding safety and immunogenicity of RSVpreF in Korean populations are limited. <b>Methods</b>: This was a phase 3, multicenter, placebo-controlled, randomized (2:1), double-blind study in Korean adults 60 years of age and older. Participants received a single 120-μg dose of RSVpreF or matching placebo. Safety endpoints included local reactions and systemic events through 7 days and adverse events (AEs) through 1 month after vaccination, and serious AEs (SAEs) throughout the study. RSV-A and RSV-B serum 50% neutralizing geometric mean titers (GMTs) and geometric mean fold rises (GMFRs) were obtained 1 month after vaccination. <b>Results</b>: Overall, 377 participants received study intervention (RSVpreF, <i>n</i> = 251; placebo, <i>n</i> = 126). Most local reactions and all systemic events were of mild or moderate severity. Injection-site pain was the most frequently reported local reaction (RSVpreF, 12.4%; placebo, 3.2%). The most frequently reported systemic events were fatigue (RSVpreF, 23.1%; placebo, 26.2%) and muscle pain (RSVpreF, 15.5%; placebo, 9.5%). AEs through 1 month after vaccination were infrequent (RSVpreF, 3.6%; placebo, 0.8%); none were considered vaccine related by the investigator. RSV-A and RSV-B neutralizing GMTs increased 1 month after RSVpreF, with GMFRs (95% CIs) from before to 1 month after vaccination of 9.5 (8.51-10.67) for RSV-A and 8.3 (7.37-9.39) for RSV-B. <b>Conclusions</b>: In older Korean adults, RSVpreF had an acceptable safety and tolerability profile and elicited robust RSV neutralizing responses 1 month after vaccination consistent with pivotal phase 3 efficacy trial results. ClincalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT06593587 (date of registration: 9 September 2024).</p>","PeriodicalId":23634,"journal":{"name":"Vaccines","volume":"14 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-09-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13611546/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149064264","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
VaccinesPub Date : 2026-09-03DOI: 10.3390/vaccines14090774
Christian J Sauder, Malen Link, Laurie Ngo, Cheryl Zhang, Chao-Kai Chou, Wells W Wu, Tatiana Zagorodnyaya, Majid Laassri, Steven Rubin
{"title":"A Chimeric Virus Approach Reveals the Matrix (M) Gene as a Critical Modulator of Mumps Virus Neurovirulence.","authors":"Christian J Sauder, Malen Link, Laurie Ngo, Cheryl Zhang, Chao-Kai Chou, Wells W Wu, Tatiana Zagorodnyaya, Majid Laassri, Steven Rubin","doi":"10.3390/vaccines14090774","DOIUrl":"10.3390/vaccines14090774","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background/Objectives</b>: Live attenuated mumps virus (MuV) vaccine strains have significantly reduced disease incidence since their introduction in the 1960s; however, a recent resurgence of outbreaks has led to calls for the development of new vaccines to overcome what appears to be reduced effectiveness linked to waning immunity and the emergence of strains antigenically mismatched to vaccine strains. A major obstacle to the development of newer live, attenuated MuV vaccines is ensuring their safety, particularly given the virus's neurotropic properties. Indeed, several vaccine strains licensed for use outside the US have proven to be insufficiently attenuated (such as the Urabe AM9 vaccine strain) and have caused aseptic meningitis in recipients, despite efforts to test these strains for neurotoxicity pre-licensure. Historically, attenuation was achieved empirically, and pre-clinical testing for neurovirulence safety has proven unreliable. Despite efforts in recent years, the genetic basis of attenuation of MuV vaccines remains inadequately understood. The objective of this study was to elucidate the genetic basis of neurovirulence of the Urabe AM9 vaccine strain. <b>Methods</b>: To this end, we generated a series of chimeric viruses in which genes of the highly attenuated Jeryl Lynn (JL) vaccine strain were exchanged with corresponding genes from the Urabe AM9 vaccine strain. The resulting chimeric viruses were tested for neurovirulence in a rat model and characterized for replication in vitro and in vivo. Using a multi-tiered approach consisting of independent rescue and analysis of two to three viruses per cDNA construct, possible off-target effects of identified single-nucleotide heterogeneities were mitigated. <b>Results</b>: All viruses were shown to be replication-competent in Vero cells, but differences in replication efficiencies and virus-induced neurotoxicity were observed in the in vivo model. In a rat neuronal cell line, the Urabe AM9 M and HN genes had opposite effects on the growth of chimeric JL- and Urabe AM9-based viruses. <b>Conclusions</b>: The results presented herein indicate that MuV neuroattenuation is mediated by the concerted action of multiple genes, with the matrix (M) gene exerting a dominant effect. These findings contribute to a growing body of evidence that informs the rational design of next-generation live-attenuated mumps virus vaccines.</p>","PeriodicalId":23634,"journal":{"name":"Vaccines","volume":"14 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-09-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13611789/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149064563","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
VaccinesPub Date : 2026-09-03DOI: 10.3390/vaccines14090775
Andrzej Fal, Iwona Paradowska-Stankiewicz, Aneta Nitsch-Osuch, Ernest Kuchar
{"title":"Whole-Cell and Acellular Pertussis Vaccines: A Narrative Review of Biological, Clinical, Safety and Programmatic Evidence, with Implications for Poland.","authors":"Andrzej Fal, Iwona Paradowska-Stankiewicz, Aneta Nitsch-Osuch, Ernest Kuchar","doi":"10.3390/vaccines14090775","DOIUrl":"10.3390/vaccines14090775","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background/Objectives:</b> Pertussis has resurged worldwide despite long-standing vaccination programs. Whole-cell (wP) and acellular (aP) pertussis vaccines differ in immunobiology, durability, reactogenicity, and programmatic use. Poland is the only European Union/European Economic Area (EU/EEA) country that routinely primes infants with wP while using aP products for boosters, pregnancy, and selected indications, providing an informative programmatic context. This review compares both platforms across biological, clinical, safety, epidemiological, and supply domains. <b>Methods:</b> We conducted a narrative review of PubMed/MEDLINE literature and documents from the World Health Organization, European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, national public health institutes, and regulatory authorities through July 2026. No protocol was registered and no quantitative synthesis was performed. <b>Results:</b> wP priming induces a persistent T-helper 1/T-helper 17-oriented response and an immunoglobulin G1-dominant profile, whereas aP vaccination produces higher, higher-avidity antibody concentrations, an increasing immunoglobulin G4 fraction, and substantially lower reactogenicity. Historical trials demonstrated marked product-level heterogeneity: efficacy ranged from 36-48% for poorly performing wP vaccines to 84-85% for multicomponent aP vaccines, while one United Kingdom wP product performed comparably to a five-component aP vaccine. Protection after aP schedules wanes within several years, no validated correlate of protection exists, and neither intramuscular platform reliably prevents colonization or transmission. In 2024, eight aP-using EU/EEA countries had higher pertussis notification rates than Poland despite stable Polish infant coverage. <b>Conclusions:</b> Neither platform is uniformly superior across products, schedules, and clinically relevant outcomes. Program performance depends primarily on timely infant vaccination, maternal vaccination, appropriate boosters, product-specific effectiveness evidence, and secure vaccine supply.</p>","PeriodicalId":23634,"journal":{"name":"Vaccines","volume":"14 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-09-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13611526/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149064826","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"An Analysis of Multilevel Barriers to Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Uptake Among Rural U.S. Adolescents.","authors":"Tajauna Batchelor, Madison Brown, Kimbrionna Hunter, Asma Hanif, Shumaila Nida Javed Tunio","doi":"10.3390/vaccines14090772","DOIUrl":"10.3390/vaccines14090772","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Despite longstanding vaccine availability, human papillomavirus (HPV) remains the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States and a leading cause of preventable cancers. Additionally, HPV vaccination rates remain below other routinely recommended adolescent immunizations, particularly in rural populations. This study aimed to identify barriers related to healthcare access, socioeconomic conditions, cultural beliefs, and provider-patient communication in rural communities. A bibliographical review of articles published in English from 2020 to 2025 and an analysis of national datasets were conducted to establish trends in HPV vaccination rates. State-level HPV vaccination data for adolescents aged 13-17 years were obtained from America's Health Rankings and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Immunization Survey-Teen. States were classified as predominantly rural or urban using Rural-Urban Continuum Codes, and mean vaccination completion rates were compared. The mean HPV vaccination completion rate was lower in rural states (60.55%) compared to urban states (67.31%); however, this difference did not meet the selected threshold for statistical significance (<i>p</i> = 0.025). Barriers identified in the literature included reduced access to healthcare, differences in provider communication, socioeconomic constraints, and limited health literacy in rural communities. Of the identified barriers, healthcare provider recommendations emerged as one of the strongest predictors of vaccine acceptance. These findings highlight multilevel determinants contributing to differences in HPV vaccine uptake and underscore the need for targeted, evidence-based strategies to improve vaccine access and coverage in underserved adolescent populations.</p>","PeriodicalId":23634,"journal":{"name":"Vaccines","volume":"14 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-09-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13611848/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149064499","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
VaccinesPub Date : 2026-09-02DOI: 10.3390/vaccines14090769
John M Ramos, Brittany Plummer, Christian R Binuya, Mackensie Gross, Adelaide S Fuller, Krithika P Karthigeyan, Savannah Berrios, Sallie R Permar, Caitlin A Williams
{"title":"Immunization with mRNA-LNP Elicits De Novo IgG Responses in the Presence of Maternal Antibody.","authors":"John M Ramos, Brittany Plummer, Christian R Binuya, Mackensie Gross, Adelaide S Fuller, Krithika P Karthigeyan, Savannah Berrios, Sallie R Permar, Caitlin A Williams","doi":"10.3390/vaccines14090769","DOIUrl":"10.3390/vaccines14090769","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background/objectives: </strong>Maternal antibodies can inhibit vaccine-specific humoral responses in early life, leaving infants at increased risk for severe disease for vaccine-preventable infections. In the case of SARS-CoV-2, infants under the age of 3 months represented most child hospitalizations, yet there is no approved vaccine for children under the age of 6 months. There is a clear need for effective immunization in early life to prevent infant morbidity and mortality. Here, we established a mouse model to define how maternally derived antibodies shape early-life responses to mRNA vaccination.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Adult female mice were immunized with PBS or 5 mcg of the SARS-CoV-2 mRNA-1273 vaccine via intramuscular injection and paired with a male. Pups from subsequent litters were immunized with PBS or 5 mcg of mRNA-1273 vaccine via intramuscular injection. Peripheral blood and spleens were collected at time points post-immunization. We measured vaccine-elicited anti-Spike IgG in mouse pups exposed or unexposed to vaccine-specific maternal IgG.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Spike-specific maternal IgG is detectable at high levels immediately after pup immunization or mock immunization; however, in mock immunized pups, it wanes by three weeks post-pup immunization. Pups born to immunized dams developed Spike specific IgG comparable to pups born to naïve dams. IgG subclass analyses distinguished passively acquired antibodies from vaccine-induced responses. Despite robust binding antibody responses, neutralizing activity against D614G pseudovirus was heterogeneous and did not scale proportionally with IgG titers, showing qualitative differences in early-life humoral immunity. Splenic Spike-specific B cell frequencies and T follicular helper (Tfh) cell responses were detectable in vaccinated pups irrespective of maternal immunization status, with Tfh cell frequencies peaking at day 7 post-immunization in both groups.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Using SARS-CoV-2 as a model pathogen, we found that early-life mRNA vaccination can elicit humoral immune responses in the presence of maternal antibodies. Furthermore, the presence of maternal antibody did not inhibit the development of antigen-specific B cells or Tfh cells in the spleen. Our findings support the potential of extending vaccination strategies into early infancy and provide a framework for optimizing mRNA-based vaccine timing and design in the context of maternal immunity.</p>","PeriodicalId":23634,"journal":{"name":"Vaccines","volume":"14 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-09-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13611114/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149064653","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
VaccinesPub Date : 2026-09-02DOI: 10.3390/vaccines14090768
Susanna Esposito, Matteo Riccò, Bahaa Abu-Raya, Giancarlo Icardi, Vana Spoulou, David Greenberg, Oana Falup Pecurariu, Ivan Fan-Ngai Hung, Albert Osterhaus, Vittorio Sambri, Nicola Principi
{"title":"Maternal Immunization Against Respiratory Syncytial Virus: An Updated WAidid Consensus Document on Evidence, Implementation, and Public Health Priorities.","authors":"Susanna Esposito, Matteo Riccò, Bahaa Abu-Raya, Giancarlo Icardi, Vana Spoulou, David Greenberg, Oana Falup Pecurariu, Ivan Fan-Ngai Hung, Albert Osterhaus, Vittorio Sambri, Nicola Principi","doi":"10.3390/vaccines14090768","DOIUrl":"10.3390/vaccines14090768","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a major cause of lower respiratory tract disease and hospitalization in early infancy. The availability of maternal RSVpreF vaccination and long-acting infant monoclonal antibodies has created two effective but operationally distinct pathways for passive protection.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This WAidid consensus document focuses on maternal RSV immunization within an integrated early infancy prevention strategy. A multidisciplinary Consensus Development Group reviewed evidence on infant RSV burden and seasonality, maternal vaccine efficacy and effectiveness, transplacental antibody transfer, long-acting monoclonal antibodies, implementation, equity, and economic considerations. Recommendations were developed using a modified Delphi process with a prespecified consensus threshold of at least 75% agreement.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Maternal vaccination can provide protection from birth when administered sufficiently before delivery, whereas direct infant monoclonal antibody prophylaxis provides rapid protection independent of maternal immune response and placental transfer. The relative value of the two approaches depends on gestational age, vaccination-to-delivery interval, infant risk, birth timing, local RSV circulation, antenatal care access, product availability, and cost. Post-pandemic disruption of RSV seasonality increases the importance of flexible strategies that protect infants born outside historically defined seasonal windows. Direct head-to-head evidence remains limited; therefore, policy decisions should integrate trial efficacy, emerging real-world effectiveness, implementation feasibility, and local epidemiology rather than assume universal superiority of one strategy.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Maternal vaccination and infant monoclonal antibodies should be positioned within a coordinated prevention pathway. Maternal vaccination may serve as the principal strategy for appropriately timed pregnancies with reliable antenatal access, while infant monoclonal antibodies are particularly important when maternal vaccination is absent, too close to delivery, or potentially ineffective, or when the infant is preterm or otherwise at increased risk. Surveillance and locally adapted implementation are essential to maintain protection as RSV epidemiology evolves.</p>","PeriodicalId":23634,"journal":{"name":"Vaccines","volume":"14 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-09-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13611319/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149064649","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
VaccinesPub Date : 2026-09-02DOI: 10.3390/vaccines14090770
Elena V Yakovleva, Denis V Antonets, Mariya B Borgoyakova, Ekaterina V Starostina, Vladimir A Yakovlev, Elizaveta V Shaburova, Denis N Kisakov, Lyubov A Kisakova, Olga Y Volkova, Nadezhda B Rudometova, Andrey P Rudometov, Larisa I Karpenko
{"title":"How Does Inter-Epitope Spacer Variation Within Artificial Immunogens Based on T-Cell Epitopes of Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus Affect Immunogenicity?","authors":"Elena V Yakovleva, Denis V Antonets, Mariya B Borgoyakova, Ekaterina V Starostina, Vladimir A Yakovlev, Elizaveta V Shaburova, Denis N Kisakov, Lyubov A Kisakova, Olga Y Volkova, Nadezhda B Rudometova, Andrey P Rudometov, Larisa I Karpenko","doi":"10.3390/vaccines14090770","DOIUrl":"10.3390/vaccines14090770","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background/Objectives:</b> In recent years, researchers have directed considerable attention toward the activation of the T-cell response in the development of vaccines against viral infections, including the tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV). A particularly promising approach to developing effective and safe T-cell vaccines involves the use of artificial multi-epitope immunogens. The selection of spacers that link epitopes within a construct can have a significant effect on the immunogenicity of multi-epitope constructs. The objective of this study was to design multi-epitope TBEV immunogens using various spacers and to evaluate their immunogenicity. <b>Methods:</b> The present study involved the design of three multi-epitope immunogens, which were developed based on T-cell epitopes from TBEV proteins. The AG1-ub construct contained optimized alanine spacers, the AG2-ub construct contained GPGPG spacers, and the AG4-ub construct contained no spacers. Three DNA vaccines encoding the designed immunogens were subsequently produced. To assess the immunogenicity of the constructs, BALB/c mice were immunized with the designed DNA vaccines via electroporation. <b>Results:</b> The ELISpot assay demonstrated that DNA vaccines encoding AG1-ub and AG4-ub induced a significant number of IFN-γ-producing cells. The DNA vaccine encoding AG2-ub, a multi-epitope with GPGPG spacers, exhibited low immunogenicity, potentially attributable to inadequate processing or misfolding of the AG2-ub protein, thereby affecting the molecule's structure. <b>Conclusions:</b> The data provided in this study on the effect of spacers on the immunogenicity of multi-epitope constructs can be used to optimize the design of vaccine candidates. However, further research is needed to assess their clinical potential.</p>","PeriodicalId":23634,"journal":{"name":"Vaccines","volume":"14 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-09-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13611838/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149064619","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
VaccinesPub Date : 2026-09-02DOI: 10.3390/vaccines14090766
Brook Tesfaye, Terna Nomhwange, Shelina Moonsamy, Julius E Chia, Maryceline M Baba, Adedayo Omotayo Fanaye, Mesfin Tefera, Yogolelo Riziki, Peter Borus, Josephine Bwogi, Marie-Claire Endegue, Mariette Glitho, Idah Ndumba, Priscilla Mosoke, Ousmane M Diop, John Kofi Odoom, Martin Faye, Gedi Mohamed, Anfumbom Kfutwah
{"title":"The African Polio Laboratory Network: Advancing Regional Poliovirus Detection, Genomic Surveillance, and Eradication.","authors":"Brook Tesfaye, Terna Nomhwange, Shelina Moonsamy, Julius E Chia, Maryceline M Baba, Adedayo Omotayo Fanaye, Mesfin Tefera, Yogolelo Riziki, Peter Borus, Josephine Bwogi, Marie-Claire Endegue, Mariette Glitho, Idah Ndumba, Priscilla Mosoke, Ousmane M Diop, John Kofi Odoom, Martin Faye, Gedi Mohamed, Anfumbom Kfutwah","doi":"10.3390/vaccines14090766","DOIUrl":"10.3390/vaccines14090766","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Sustaining progress toward polio eradication requires not only effective vaccination but also a resilient laboratory network capable of timely poliovirus detection, confirmation, and genetic characterization. In the WHO African region, the African polio laboratory network provides essential virological support for eradication efforts; however, persistent circulating Vaccine-derived Polioviruses (cVDPVs) outbreaks and increasing demands of genomic surveillance continue to challenge laboratory capacity. Despite its critical role, evidence describing the operational performance, adaptive capacity, and evolution of regional polio laboratory network remains limited. This study evaluates the performance and operational experience of the African polio laboratory network in 2025, highlighting contributions to poliovirus detection, genomic surveillance, quality assurance, and outbreak response, while sharing lessons to inform regional public health systems.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A retrospective secondary data analysis was conducted using laboratory surveillance and outbreak databases, supplemented by reviews of programmatic reports. Data were cleaned and harmonized prior to analysis. Descriptive analyses were performed to assess laboratory workload, timeliness indicators, genomic capacity, quality assurance performance, and operational challenges. Qualitative review of programmatic documents was conducted to identify contextual factors influencing performance.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In 2025, 77,230 Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) specimens were analyzed across 16 laboratories. Ninety-two percent of specimens met the timeliness target for virus isolation, and 94% met the target for PCR-ITD. Genomic sequencing confirmed 20 cVDPV outbreaks in 10 countries. The establishment of new sequencing laboratories in Uganda and Nigeria reduced turnaround times, and a 2025 expansion plan aimed to build sequencing capacity in 12 additional countries. All laboratories assessed in 2024 for virus isolation, PCR-ITD, and environmental surveillance exceeded quality assurance accreditation thresholds and were rated \"Pass\". The pilot implementation of Direct Detection Nanopore Sequencing (DDNS) techniques is expected to further strengthen genomic surveillance. Challenges remain, including stock out of essential supplies, uneven workloads, and infrastructure gaps.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The African polio laboratory network has demonstrated sustained capacity, adaptability, and innovation in supporting polio eradication activities in the WHO African region. This study provides evidence on the importance of strengthening laboratory systems, expanding genomic capacity, and maintaining quality assurance mechanisms to support the final phase of polio eradication and broader public health surveillance.</p>","PeriodicalId":23634,"journal":{"name":"Vaccines","volume":"14 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-09-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13611089/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149064767","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
VaccinesPub Date : 2026-09-02DOI: 10.3390/vaccines14090771
Mariam M AlEissa, Refat M Nimer, Reem H AlMalki, Randh AlAhmari, Ahdab A Alsaieedi, Monera Alrukhayes, Nada Saleh, Raef R Albugami, Raghad A AlQurashi, Esraa A Hawsa, Muath Ben Shaded, Afshan Masood, Sami S Almudarra, Assim A Alfadda, Hamad H Alonazi, Abdullah M Assiri, Anas Abdel Rahman
{"title":"Metabolic Signatures Associated with COVID-19 Vaccination in Serum from Healthy Individuals.","authors":"Mariam M AlEissa, Refat M Nimer, Reem H AlMalki, Randh AlAhmari, Ahdab A Alsaieedi, Monera Alrukhayes, Nada Saleh, Raef R Albugami, Raghad A AlQurashi, Esraa A Hawsa, Muath Ben Shaded, Afshan Masood, Sami S Almudarra, Assim A Alfadda, Hamad H Alonazi, Abdullah M Assiri, Anas Abdel Rahman","doi":"10.3390/vaccines14090771","DOIUrl":"10.3390/vaccines14090771","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background</b>: COVID-19 vaccines have proven effective in reducing severe disease and mortality from SARS CoV-2 infection. The underlying molecular mechanisms and alterations in the human serum metabolome influencing the effectiveness and development of immunity remain unclear. <b>Methods:</b> Serum samples were collected from 29 healthy individuals at three time points: prior to vaccination (A), post-first dose (B), and post-second dose (C). Untargeted high-resolution (HR) liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (LC-MS) was performed on these samples. Metabolites showing significant differential abundance at each time point were identified, and both multivariate and univariate statistical analyses were performed to determine changes associated with the pairwise comparisons, priming (A vs. B), booster (B vs. C), and the overall vaccine effect (A vs. C). Vaccination-specific features were determined after excluding metabolites associated with SARS-CoV-2 IgG seropositivity to better isolate vaccine-driven metabolic changes. Bioinformatics, pathway, and network analyses were conducted using Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) to identify relevant pathways. <b>Results:</b> Our study identified significant metabolic changes across the three time points. A total of 377 metabolites were identified, of which 59 metabolites, including prostaglandins, eicosanoids, and lipids, were shared across all three groups. The majority of these metabolites showed an initial decrease after the first dose, followed by broad upregulation after the second dose. We identified 1 (downregulated), 34 (26 upregulated and 8 downregulated), and 18 (2 upregulated and 16 downregulated) unique metabolites in the priming, booster, and the overall vaccine effect groups, respectively. L-3-hydroxykynurenine was observed to be significantly reduced by the priming dose effect. By contrast, the booster effect showed decreased myo-inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate, while levels of DL-DOPA, 3-methoxytyrosine, and prostaglandin-esterified phospholipids, including PC(P-16:0/PGF1α) and PE(PGF1α/18:0), increased. On the other hand, the overall vaccine effect revealed decreased cyclic AMP and increased 3'-O-methyladenosine levels. These changes were associated with perturbations in arachidonic acid metabolism, glycerophospholipid metabolism, arginine biosynthesis, and steroid hormone biosynthesis. IPA network analysis identified AKT, TP53, EGFR, and cAMP as key dysregulated nodes. <b>Conclusions:</b> Longitudinal metabolomic profiling demonstrated that COVID-19 vaccination induced distinct but interrelated biochemical changes throughout the vaccination course. The priming dose induced a limited set of early metabolic changes, whereas the booster was associated with more significantly changed metabolites that were involved in lipid, bile acid, steroid, amino acid, and nucleotide pathways. Together, these findings indicate that sequential vaccination is associated with dose-d","PeriodicalId":23634,"journal":{"name":"Vaccines","volume":"14 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-09-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13611412/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149064638","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
VaccinesPub Date : 2026-09-02DOI: 10.3390/vaccines14090767
Sara Maria Pani, Luigi Isaia Lecca, Sergio Pili, Ilaria Pilia, Vitalba Milazzo, Marcello Campagna
{"title":"High Hepatitis A Virus Seroprevalence and Low Self-Reported Vaccination Coverage Among Waste Collection Workers in Sardinia, Italy: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study.","authors":"Sara Maria Pani, Luigi Isaia Lecca, Sergio Pili, Ilaria Pilia, Vitalba Milazzo, Marcello Campagna","doi":"10.3390/vaccines14090767","DOIUrl":"10.3390/vaccines14090767","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background/objectives: </strong>Hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection is a relevant biological risk in some occupational settings and has long been discussed as an occupational health concern among municipal waste collection workers. Data on HAV seroprevalence and vaccination history in this occupational group remain limited in Italy. This study investigated HAV seroprevalence, self-reported vaccination history, and factors associated with HAV seropositivity among waste collection workers in Sardinia.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This retrospective cross-sectional study analyzed HAV seroprevalence and self-reported vaccination history among 326 workers in Sardinia, Italy, using occupational health surveillance data (2017-2024). Recorded variables included age, sex, smoking habits, years of service, work setting, vaccination status, and serological results. Chi-square and Mann-Whitney U tests assessed group differences; logistic regression identified factors independently associated with HAV seropositivity.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>HAV seroprevalence was 44.2%; only 0.9% of participants reported previous HAV vaccination. Multivariable analysis identified older age, but not years of service, as independently associated with HAV seropositivity once age was modeled as a continuous variable-a pattern more consistent with birth-cohort differences in lifetime HAV exposure than with cumulative occupational exposure. Worksite 7 showed a higher prevalence ratio of HAV seropositivity relative to the reference site, but this finding was based on a small subsample and should be considered exploratory; observed worksite-level differences may reflect organizational rather than geographic factors.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Older age, rather than occupational tenure, was independently associated with HAV seropositivity among Sardinian waste workers, a pattern consistent with birth-cohort differences in lifetime exposure. The high seroprevalence and very low vaccination uptake highlight the need to strengthen prevention through improved vaccination access, awareness, and better integration of occupational and public health strategies.</p>","PeriodicalId":23634,"journal":{"name":"Vaccines","volume":"14 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-09-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13611448/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149064578","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}