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Objectives To determine whether, in addition to surgery, fosravuconazole (Fos) monotherapy of either 200 mg or 300 mg weekly was more effective [defined as complete cure at the End of Treatment (EOT; 52-week) visit] than the standard-of-care 12-month regimen of itraconazole (Itra) monotherapy, in patients with small to moderate eumycetoma lesions caused by Madurella mycetomatis. Methods This was a single-center (Mycetoma Research Center, Khartoum, Sudan), comparative, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, active-controlled, clinical superiority trial in participants with eumycetoma requiring surgery. Participants were randomized in a 1:1:1 ratio. In Arm 1 participants took a loading dose of Fos 300 mg on Day 1, Day 2, and Day 3, followed by a weekly dose of 300 mg for a total duration of 12 months. In Arm 2 participants took Fos 200 mg on Day 1, Day 2, and Day 3, followed by a weekly dose of 200 mg for a total duration of 12 months. In Arm 3 participants took Itra 400 mg daily for 12 months. All patients underwent surgery after 6 months of treatment in which the remaining lesion was removed. Mycetoma lesions were between 2 to ≤16 cm in diameter. The age cut-off was ≥15 years. The diagnosis of M. mycetomatis was confirmed by PCR. Safety monitoring included, among other, severe, and serious treatment-related events. Results A total of 122 participants were screened and 104 participants were enrolled (34 in Fos 300 mg, 34 in Fos 200 mg weekly, and 36 in Itra 400 mg). Complete cure after 12 months (EOT) of treatment was demonstrated in terms of an absence of eumycetoma mass, sinuses, and discharge; normal ultrasound of the lesion site or normal MRI; and a negative fungal culture from a surgical biopsy if a mycetoma mass was present. The complete cure rate was assessed in the mITT population. Secondary efficacy analyses were performed in the Per Protocol population. In addition, the influence of age, changes in clinical symptoms and signs, size, and duration of the lesion on outcome was examined. Safety was satisfactory and compliance was good. Conclusion This is the first randomized controlled trial in eumycetoma, comparing two azoles, fosravuconazole (two dosage regimens) and itraconazole, in combination with surgery. Detailed efficacy and safety results will be communicated and discussed in the oral presentation.

Background Eumycetoma is a neglected tropical disease. It is a chronic inflammatory subcutaneous infection characterised by painless swellings which produce grains. It is currently treated with a combination of itraconazole and surgery. In an ongoing clinical study, the efficacy of fosravuconazole, the prodrug of ravuconazole, is being investigated. For both itraconazole and ravuconazole, no clinical breakpoints or epidemiological cut-off values (ECV) to guide treatment are currently available. Objective To determine tentative ECVs for itraconazole and ravuconazole in Madurella mycetomatis, the main causative agent of eumycetoma. Materials and Methods Minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) for itraconazole and ravuconazole were determined in 131 genetically diverse clinical M. mycetomatis isolates with the modified CLSI M38 broth microdilution method. The MIC distributions were established and used to determine ECVs with the ECOFFinder software. CYP51A sequences were sequenced to determine whether mutations occurred in this azole target gene, and comparisons were made between the different CYP51A variants and the MIC distributions. Results The MICs ranged from 0.008 to 1 mg/L for itraconazole and from 0.002 to 0.125 mg/L for ravuconazole. The M. mycetomatis ECV for itraconazole was 1 mg/L and for ravuconazole 0.064 mg/L. In the wild-type population, two CYP51A variants were found for M. mycetomatis, which differed in one amino acid at position 499 (S499G). The MIC distributions for itraconazole and ravuconazole were similar between the two variants. No mutations linked to decreased susceptibility were found. Conclusion The proposed M. mycetomatis ECV for itraconazole is 1 mg/L and for ravuconazole 0.064 mg/L.

We show that VZV-seropositive women sustain VZV-specific humoral immunity at the gastrointestinal and genital mucosa and that this immunity can be boosted upon vaccination. Our findings encourage further investigation of VZV as a potential vector in vaccines including HIV., Background Attenuated varicella zoster virus (VZV) is a promising vector for recombinant vaccines. Because human immunodeficiencyvirus (HIV) vaccines are believed to require mucosal immunogenicity, we characterized mucosal VZV-specific humoral immunity following VZVOka vaccination. Methods Adult Kenyan VZV-seropositive women (n = 44) received a single dose of the live zoster VZVOka vaccine. The anamnestic responses to the virus were followed longitudinally in both plasma and mucosal secretions using an in-house glycoprotein enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and safety and reactogenicity monitored. VZV seroprevalence and baseline responses to the virus were also characterized in our cohorts (n = 288). Results Besides boosting anti-VZV antibody responses systemically, vaccination also boosted anti-VZV immunity in the cervicovaginal mucosa with a 2.9-fold rise in immunoglobulin G (P < .0001) and 1.6-fold rise in immunoglobulin A (IgA) (P = .004) from the time before immunization and 4 weeks postvaccination. Baseline analysis demonstrated high avidity antibodies at the gastrointestinal and genital mucosa of VZV-seropositive women. Measurement of VZV-specific IgA in saliva is a sensitive tool for detecting prior VZV infection. Conclusions VZVOka vaccine was safe and immunogenic in VZV-seropositive adult Kenyan women. We provided compelling evidence of VZV ability to induce genital mucosa immunity. Clinical Trials Registration NCT02514018.

Introduction Long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs) are effective birth control methods that do not depend on patient compliance. They include injections, intrauterine devices (IUDs) and sub-dermal implants. Kenya had over 1.5 million people living with HIV in 2015 with female sex workers (FSWs) known to be at a higher risk for both unintended pregnancies and HIV infection. HIV clinical trials test novel compounds whose effects in fetuses are unknown thus require female subjects to use LARCs to avoid pregnancies. Clinical trials also aim to recruit high-risk individuals to closely study infection dynamics in a representative natural infection cohort. Therefore, it is crucial to investigate the preference for contraception in a HIV-high risk population such as FSWs to inform the design and conduct of HIV vaccine clinical trials, especially in the resource-limited Sub-Saharan Africa. The on-going Simulated Vaccine Efficacy Trial (SiVET) Study at KAVI-ICR may provide answers to this. Methods Data on use of modern contraception methods (pills, injectables, implants, IUDs and surgicals) are collected from FSWs during screening, and confirmed by a contraceptive card or the presence of an implant or IUD strings. The proportion of women per method used is determined. Results Seventy nine women with an age range of 18–50 years have been screened since 2016. Most (89%, n=73) were already using contraception. Of these; 63% (n=46) were on injectables, 22% on implants (n=16), 8% IUCDs (n=6), 4% pills (n=3) and 3% (n=2) had undergone a surgical method. No pregnancy while two HIV infections were reported at screening. Conclusion There is high contraceptive use among the FSWs with the majority preferring injectables. This practice is encouraging and thus, discontinuation of volunteers from the clinical trial due to pregnancy is unlikely. At the end of trial in 2018, data will be collected on changes in contraceptive, number of pregnancies, condom use, HIV infections and experience on use of the contraception.

Background 1.5 million Kenyans are living with HIV/AIDS as per 2015 estimates. Though there is a notable decline in new HIV infections, continued effort is still needed to develop an efficacious, accessible and affordable HIV vaccine. HIV vaccine clinical trials bear risks, hence a need to understand volunteer motivators for enrolment, retention and follow-up. Understanding the factors that motivate volunteers to participate in a clinical trial can help to strategize, refine targeting and thus increase enrolment of volunteers in future HIV vaccine clinical trials. The health belief model classifies motivators into social benefits such as ‘advancing research’ and collaboration with science, and personal benefits such as health benefits and financial interests. Method A thematic analysis was carried out on data obtained from four HIV clinical trials conducted at KAVI-Institute of Clinical Research in Nairobi Kenya from 2009 to 2015. Responses were obtained from a Questionnaire administered to the volunteers during their screening visit at the research site. Results Of the 281 healthy, HIV-uninfected volunteers participating in this study; 38% were motivated by personal benefits including, 31% motivated by health benefits and 7% motivated by possible financial gains. In addition, 62% of the volunteers were motivated by social benefits with 20% of who were seeking to help their family/society/world while 42% were interested in advancing research. Conclusion The majority of volunteers in the HIV vaccine trials at our site were motivated by social benefits, suggesting that altruism can be a major contributor to participation in HIV vaccine studies. Personal benefits were a secondary motivator for the volunteers. The motivators to volunteer in HIV clinical trials were similar across ages, education level and gender. Education on what is needed (including volunteer participation) to develop an efficacious vaccine could be the key to greater volunteer motivation to participate in HIV vaccine clinical trials.