Search

Abstract Background The differentiation of CD8+ T lymphocytes following priming of naïve cells is central in the establishment of the adaptive immune response. Yet, the molecular events underlying this process are not fully understood. MicroRNAs have been recently shown to play a key role in the regulation of haematopoiesis in mouse, but their implication in peripheral lymphocyte differentiation in humans remains largely unknown. Methods In order to explore the potential implication of microRNAs in CD8+ T cell differentiation in humans, microRNA expression profiles were analysed using microarrays and quantitative PCR in several human CD8+ T cell subsets defining the major steps of the T cell differentiation pathway. Results We found expression of a limited set of microRNAs, including the miR-17~92 cluster. Moreover, we reveal the existence of differentiation-associated regulation of specific microRNAs. When compared to naive cells, miR-21 and miR-155 were indeed found upregulated upon differentiation to effector cells, while expression of the miR-17~92 cluster tended to concomitantly decrease. Conclusions This study establishes for the first time in a large panel of individuals the existence of differentiation associated regulation of microRNA expression in human CD8+ T lymphocytes in vivo, which is likely to impact on specific cellular functions.

Background: Results of an earlier analysis of a trial of the M72/AS01E candidate vaccine against Mycobacterium tuberculosis showed that in infected adults, the vaccine provided 54.0% protection against active pulmonary tuberculosis disease, without evident safety concerns. We now report the results of the 3-year final analysis of efficacy, safety, and immunogenicity.Methods: From August 2014 through November 2015, we enrolled adults 18 to 50 years of age with M. tuberculosis infection (defined by positive results on interferon-γ release assay) without evidence of active tuberculosis disease at centers in Kenya, South Africa, and Zambia. Participants were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive two doses of either M72/AS01E or placebo, administered 1 month apart. The primary objective was to evaluate the efficacy of M72/AS01E to prevent active pulmonary tuberculosis disease according to the first case definition (bacteriologically confirmed pulmonary tuberculosis not associated with human immunodeficiency virus infection). Participants were followed for 3 years after the second dose. Participants with clinical suspicion of tuberculosis provided sputum samples for polymerase-chain-reaction assay, mycobacterial culture, or both. Humoral and cell-mediated immune responses were evaluated until month 36 in a subgroup of 300 participants. Safety was assessed in all participants who received at least one dose of M72/AS01E or placebo.Results: A total of 3575 participants underwent randomization, of whom 3573 received at least one dose of M72/AS01E or placebo, and 3330 received both planned doses. Among the 3289 participants in the according-to-protocol efficacy cohort, 13 of the 1626 participants in the M72/AS01E group, as compared with 26 of the 1663 participants in the placebo group, had cases of tuberculosis that met the first case definition (incidence, 0.3 vs. 0.6 cases per 100 person-years). The vaccine efficacy at month 36 was 49.7% (90% confidence interval [CI], 12.1 to 71.2; 95% CI, 2.1 to 74.2). Among participants in the M72/AS01E group, the concentrations of M72-specific antibodies and the frequencies of M72-specific CD4+ T cells increased after the first dose and were sustained throughout the follow-up period. Serious adverse events, potential immune-mediated diseases, and deaths occurred with similar frequencies in the two groups.Conclusions: Among adults infected with M. tuberculosis, vaccination with M72/AS01E elicited an immune response and provided protection against progression to pulmonary tuberculosis disease for at least 3 years. (Funded by GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals and Aeras; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01755598.). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) causes acute respiratory tract infection (ARTI) and reinfects adults throughout life, posing a risk for hospitalization in older adults (>60 years) with frailty and comorbidities., Methods: To investigate serum and mucosal antibodies for protection against RSV infections, baseline serum samples were compared for RSV-pre- and -post-fusion (F) binding, and RSV-A2 neutralizing IgG antibodies between symptomatic RSV-ARTI ( N = 30), non-RSV (RSV negative) ARTI ( N = 386), and no ARTI ( N = 338). Mucosal RSV-pre-F IgA and IgG levels, as well as serum RSV-G IgG antibodies, were analyzed to determine their association with protection from symptomatic RSV-ARTI in a subset study., Results: Using a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, we established thresholds of 1.4- to 1.6-fold change (FC) for RSV-pre-F and -post-F, and RSV-A2 neutralizing IgG antibodies, respectively, enabling the identification of asymptomatic RSV cases with high sensitivity and specificity (>80% and >90%, respectively). As a result, serum RSV-pre-F, RSV-G IgG, and mucosal pre-F binding IgA antibodies showed correlations with protection against symptomatic RSV infection. RSV-pre-F IgG antibodies were correlated with protection from RSV infections irrespective of the symptoms., Discussion: This study provides insights into antibody-mediated protection for symptomatic RSV infection in a community-dwelling older-adult population and establishes a threshold to identify asymptomatic RSV infection using a data-driven approach., Competing Interests: DÖ, SB-J, MC, AB, KT, SO, and JA were employed at the time the work was performed by Janssen Pharmaceuticals, a Johnson & Johnson company, and may be Johnson & Johnson stockholders. CV and AM were employed by Sanofi at the time the work was performed and may be Sanofi stockholder. CV is now employed by Vaccines Europe, Brussels, Belgium. BS and JD are employed by GlaxoSmithKline and may be GlaxoSmithKline stockholders. CB has participated in two virtual Advisory Boards for Moderna relevant to RSV vaccination on 30 March 2023 and 18 May 2023 and received payments. TV has received grant from Innovative Medicines Initiative European Commission, in which Biomerieux, Abbott, BD, BioRad, Janssen contributed ValueDx project, NIHR for project on cellulitis, and NHS UK regional funding for project on respiratory tract infections. He have been on the Advisory Board of a US study on lower respiratory tract infections in primary care EAST-PC funded by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. He is a member of the Dutch Health Council. SD has provided consultancy and/or investigator roles in relation to product development for Janssen, AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Moderna, Valneva, MSD, iLiAD and Sanofi with fees paid to St George’s, University of London. SD has been on the RSV advisory board Sanofi Pasteur and received fees. SD also received support for travel for chairing a conference session, fees paid to his institution SGUL. SD is a member of the UK Department of Health and Social Care’s DHSC Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation JCVI RSV subcommittee and Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency’s MHRA Paediatric Medicine Expert Advisory Group PMEAG. JW is investigator for clinical trials funded by pharmaceutical companies including AstraZeneca, Merck, Pfizer, Sanofi, and Janssen and investigator for clinical trials funded by IMI/Horizon2020 and ZonMw, with payments paid to her institution. She was a speaker at Sanofi sponsored symposium ESPID, payments paid to her institution. JW participated in the advisory board of Janssen RSV older adults and Sanofi advisory board with fees paid to UMCU. AP is part of EC IMI Programme RESCEU, payments paid to his institution. He has received grants from Gates, Wellcome, CEPI, MRC, NIHR, Serum Institute of India, AstraZeneca, and EC, with payments paid to his institution. Oxford University has entered into a partnership with AZ for development of COVID-19 vaccines. AP is a contributor to intellectual property licensed by Oxford University Innovation to AstraZeneca. AP is chair of the UK Department of Health and Social Care’s DHSC Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation JCVI, NIHR Senior Investigator, member of the Academy of Medical Sciences AMS and was a member of WHO’s SAGE until January 2022. AP’s institution received funding from the European Commission’s IMI programme for the conduct of this study. Oxford University has entered a partnership with AstraZeneca for the development of COVID-19 vaccines. PO received honoraria GSK, Pfizer Inc, Sanofi Pasteur, Seqirus, Moderna and Janssen for participation in advisory boards and expert meetings and for acting as a speaker in congresses outside the scope of the submitted work. PO is also a principal investigator in the INFLAMMAGE trial co-funded by the Medical Research Council UK and GSK as part of the EMINENT consortium to promote inflammation research. He received grants from UKRI-MRC/DHSC NIHR Grant award MR/V027859/1, and UKRI-BEIS for human infection challenge with SARS-CoV-2 and had roles as school governor Sidcot, Somerset. LB has regular interaction with pharmaceutical and other industrial partners. He has not received personal fees or other personal benefits. UMCU has received major funding >€100,000 per industrial partner for investigator-initiated studies from AbbVie, MedImmune, AstraZeneca, Sanofi, Janssen, Pfizer, MSD and MeMed Diagnostics. UMCU has received major funding for the RSV GOLD study from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. UMCU has received major funding as part of the public private partnership IMI-funded RESCEU and PROMISE projects with partners GSK, Novavax, Janssen, AstraZeneca, Pfizer and Sanofi. UMCU has received major funding from Julius Clinical for participating in clinical studies sponsored by MedImmune and Pfizer. UMCU received minor funding €1,000-25,000 per industrial partner for consultation and invited lectures by AbbVie, MedImmune, Ablynx, Bavaria Nordic, MabXience, GSK, Novavax, Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, MSD, Sanofi, Genzyme, Janssen. LB is the founding chairman of the ReSViNET Foundation. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Öner, Vernhes, Balla-Jhagjhoorsingh, Moureau, Crabbe, Salaun, Bastian, Thys, De Smedt, Ooft, Korsten, Adriaenssens, Coenen, Butler, Verheij, Drysdale, Wildenbeest, Pollard, Openshaw, Bont and Aerssens.)

Background: The adjuvanted respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) prefusion F protein-based vaccine (RSVPreF3 OA) is approved in adults aged ≥60 years. We evaluated RSVPreF3 OA immunogenicity and safety in adults aged 50-59 years without or with increased risk for RSV disease due to specific chronic medical conditions., Methods: This observer-blind, phase 3, noninferiority trial included adults aged 50-59 years, stratified into 2 subcohorts: those with and those without predefined, stable, chronic medical conditions leading to an increased risk for RSV disease. Participants in both subcohorts were randomized 2:1 to receive RSVPreF3 OA or placebo. A control group of adults aged ≥60 years received RSVPreF3 OA. Primary outcomes were RSV-A and RSV-B neutralization titers (geometric mean titer ratios and sero-response rate differences) 1 month post-vaccination in 50-59-year-olds versus ≥60-year-olds. Cell-mediated immunity and safety were also assessed., Results: The exposed population included 1152 participants aged 50-59 years and 381 participants aged ≥60 years. RSVPreF3 OA was immunologically noninferior in 50-59-year-olds versus ≥60-year-olds; noninferiority criteria were met for RSV-A and RSV-B neutralization titers in those with and those without increased risk for RSV disease. Frequencies of RSVPreF3-specific polyfunctional CD4+ T cells increased substantially from pre- to 1 month post-vaccination. Most solicited adverse events had mild-to-moderate intensity and were transient. Unsolicited and serious adverse event rates were similar in all groups., Conclusions: RSVPreF3 OA was immunologically noninferior in 50-59-year-olds compared to ≥60-year-olds, in whom efficacy was previously demonstrated. The safety profile in 50-59-year-olds was consistent with that in ≥60-year-olds., Clinical Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT05590403., Competing Interests: Potential conflicts of interest . H. A. H., M. d. H., B. S., S. D., M.-P. D., D. D., J. H., C. V., and V. H. are/were GSK employees at the time when the study was designed and/or conducted. H. A. H., M. d. H., B. S., S. D., M.-P. D., D. D., J. H., and V. H. hold shares in GSK as part of their employee remuneration. M.-P. D. is a co-applicant on a pending patent filed by GSK. M. F. received study-related payments for training and study conduct from GSK. T. F. S. received honoraria for lectures from AstraZeneca, Bavarian Nordic, Biogen, CSL-Seqirus, GSK, Janssen-Cilag, Merck-Serono, Moderna, Novavax, MSD, Pfizer, Roche, Sanofi-Aventis, and Takeda; he participated on advisory boards for Bavarian Nordic, CSL-Seqirus, BioNTech, GSK, Moderna, Novavax, and Takeda. S. A. N. declares study-related payments to his institution from GSK and support from GSK to attend investigators meetings. J. R.-G. declares study-related payments from GSK and honoraria and support for attending meetings and/or travel from GSK, Pfizer, and Sanofi-MSD; he also participated on data and safety monitoring boards or advisory boards from GSK and Pfizer. C. Z. received grants from GSK for the conduct of this study and support from GSK for attending meetings. J. G. declares study-related payments from GSK; grants from Novartis, Pharmalog, New Amsterdam Pharma, Syneos, Winecker Pharma, and Lilly; and consulting fees, honoraria, payment for expert testimony, and support for attending meetings and/or travel from GSK. C. V.-P. is a former employee of QPS Netherlands B.V. The other authors report no potential conflicts. All authors have submitted the ICMJE Form for Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest. Conflicts that the editors consider relevant to the content of the manuscript have been disclosed., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Infectious Diseases Society of America.)

Background: The recently approved AS01E-adjuvanted respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) prefusion F protein-based vaccine for older adults (RSVPreF3 OA) demonstrated high efficacy against RSV-related disease in ≥60-year-olds., Methods: This ongoing phase 3 study in ≥60-year-olds evaluates immune persistence until 3 years after RSVPreF3 OA vaccination. Here, we describe interim results on humoral and cell-mediated immunogenicity, reactogenicity, and safety until 1 year post-dose 1., Results: In total, 1653 participants were vaccinated. One month post-dose 1, neutralization titers increased 10.5-fold (RSV-A) and 7.8-fold (RSV-B) vs pre-dose 1. Titers then declined to levels 4.4-fold (RSV-A) and 3.5-fold (RSV-B) above pre-dose 1 at month 6 and remained 3.1-fold (RSV-A) and 2.3-fold (RSV-B) above pre-dose 1 levels after 1 year. RSVPreF3-binding immunoglobulin G levels and CD4+ T-cell frequencies showed similar kinetics. Solicited administration-site and systemic adverse events (mostly mild to moderate and transient) were reported by 62.2% and 49.5% of participants. Serious adverse events were reported by 3.9% of participants within 6 months post-dose 1; 1 case was considered vaccine related., Conclusions: One RSVPreF3 OA dose elicited cell-mediated and RSV-A- and RSV-B-specific humoral immune responses that declined over time but remained above pre-dose 1 levels for at least 1 year. The vaccine was well tolerated with an acceptable safety profile. Clinical Trials Registration. NCT04732871 (ClinicalTrials.gov)., Competing Interests: Potential conflicts of interest. T. F. S. reports having received payment or honoraria for lecturing or advisory boards from GSK, AstraZeneca, Bavarian Nordic, Biogen, BioNTech, Janssen-Cilag, Merck-Serono, Moderna, MSD, Pfizer, Roche, Sanofi-Aventis, Seqirus, Takeda, and for conducting clinical vaccine trials from GSK, Pfizer, and Serum Institute of India. S.-J. H. received research support and consultation fees from GSK. P. Y. assisted as Site Principal Investigator for the current study. C. P. A. was a paid Site Principal Investigator for the study and has received consulting fees from Merck and Boehringer Ingelheim. D. C., M. d. H., N. D. S., B. S., A. L., C. M., A. O., P. N., M. L., and V. H. were employees of GSK at the time the study was designed, initiated, and/or conducted. D. C., M. d. H., N. D. S., B. S., C.M., A. O., M. L., and V. H. hold shares of stock in the company as part of their employee remuneration. A. O. is a co-applicant on a pending patent filed by GSK. All other authors report no potential conflicts. All authors have submitted the ICMJE Form for Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest. Conflicts that the editors consider relevant to the content of the manuscript have been disclosed., (© The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Infectious Diseases Society of America.)

Background: In the previous (parent) study, 2 doses of different formulations of an investigational vaccine against respiratory syncytial virus (RSVPreF3 OA) were well tolerated and immunogenic in older adults. This multicenter phase 2b extension study assessed safety and immunogenicity of a revaccination (third) dose of the 120 μg RSVPreF3-AS01E formulation., Methods: In total, 122 older adults (60-80 years), previously vaccinated with 2 doses of RSVPreF3-AS01E formulations (containing 30, 60, or 120 μg RSVPreF3 antigen), received an additional 120 μg RSVPreF3-AS01E dose 18 months after dose 2. Vaccine safety was evaluated in all participants up to 6 months and immunogenicity in participants who received 120 μg RSVPreF3-AS01E doses until 1 month after dose 3., Results: Similar to the parent study, mostly mild-to-moderate solicited adverse events and no vaccine-related serious adverse events or potential immune-mediated disorders were reported. Neutralizing titers and cell-mediated immune responses persisted for 18 months after 2-dose vaccination. Dose 3 increased RSV-specific neutralizing titers against RSV-A and RSV-B and median CD4+ T-cell frequencies. After dose 3, RSV-specific neutralizing titers but not CD4+ T-cell frequencies were below levels detected 1 month after dose 1., Conclusions: Revaccination with 120 μg RSVPreF3-AS01E 18 months after dose 2 is well tolerated and immunogenic in older adults., Clinical Trials Registration: NCT04657198; EudraCT, 2020-000692-21., Competing Interests: Potential conflicts of interest. I. L. R. reports funding from Icosavax and Virometix to her institution for the conduct of RSV vaccine trials, and from GSK to her institution for conduct of this clinical trial. M. V. R. reports GSK funding to the Leuven University Vaccinology Center for the conduct of the clinical trial. C. Vm. reports GSK funding to her institution for the conduct of the clinical trial as at the time of the execution of the clinical trial she was an investigator; C. Vm. joined GSK after the close of the study at her institution and is currently an employee of GSK; however, she does not hold any shares. C. V. A., N. D. S., B. S., C. V., M. P. D., S. K., and V. H. were employees of GSK at the time of the study conduct. N. D. S., B. S., M. P. D., C. V., S. K., and V. H. hold shares from GSK as part of their past/current employee remuneration. All current/previous employees of GSK declare financial and nonfinancial relationships and activities. All authors have submitted the ICMJE Form for Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest. Conflicts that the editors consider relevant to the content of the manuscript have been disclosed., (© The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Infectious Diseases Society of America.)

The magnitude and quality of cell-mediated immune responses elicited by natural infection or vaccination are commonly measured by Interferon-ɣ (IFN-ɣ) Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSpot (ELISpot) and Intracellular Cytokine Staining (ICS). To date, laboratories apply a variety of in-house procedures which leads to diverging results, complicates interlaboratory comparisons and hampers vaccine evaluations. During the FLUCOP project, efforts have been made to develop harmonized Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for influenza-specific IFN-ɣ ELISpot and ICS assays. Exploratory pilot studies provided information about the interlaboratory variation before harmonization efforts were initiated. Here we report the results of two proficiency tests organized to evaluate the impact of the harmonization effort on assay results and the performance of participating FLUCOP partners. The introduction of the IFN-ɣ ELISpot SOP reduced variation of both background and stimulated responses. Post-harmonization background responses were all lower than an arbitrary threshold of 50 SFU/million cells. When stimulated with A/California and B/Phuket, a statistically significant reduction in variation (p < 0.0001) was observed and CV values were strongly reduced, from 148% to 77% for A/California and from 126% to 73% for B/Phuket. The harmonizing effect of applying an ICS SOP was also confirmed by an increased homogeneity of data obtained by the individual labs. The application of acceptance criteria on cell viability and background responses further enhanced the data homogeneity. Finally, as the same set of samples was analyzed by both the IFN-ɣ ELISpot and the ICS assays, a method comparison was performed. A clear correlation between the two methods was observed, but they cannot be considered interchangeable. In conclusion, proficiency tests show that a limited harmonization effort consisting of the introduction of SOPs and the use of the same in vitro stimulating antigens leads to a reduction of the interlaboratory variation of IFN-ɣ ELISpot data and demonstrate that substantial improvements for the ICS assay are achieved as comparable laboratory datasets could be generated. Additional steps to further reduce the interlaboratory variation of ICS data can consist of standardized gating templates and detailed data reporting instructions as well as further efforts to harmonize reagent and instrument use., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest Authors EM and EG are employed by VisMederi srl. MJ and BS are employed by GlaxoSmithKline. SB and AP are employed by Sanofi and may hold stock.The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Introduction: The immune mechanisms supporting partial protection from reinfection and disease by the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) have not been fully characterized. In older adults, symptoms are typically mild but can be serious in patients with comorbidities when the infection extends to the lower respiratory tract., Methods: This study formed part of the RESCEU older-adults prospective-cohort study in Northern Europe (2017-2019; NCT03621930) in which a thousand participants were followed over an RSV season. Peripheral-blood samples (taken pre-season, post-season, during illness and convalescence) were analyzed from participants who (i) had a symptomatic acute respiratory tract infection by RSV (RSV-ARTI; N=35) or (ii) asymptomatic RSV infection (RSV-Asymptomatic; N=16). These analyses included evaluations of antibody (Fc-mediated-) functional features and cell-mediated immunity, in which univariate and machine-learning (ML) models were used to explore differences between groups., Results: Pre-RSV-season peripheral-blood biomarkers were predictive of symptomatic RSV infection. T-cell data were more predictive than functional antibody data (area under receiver operating characteristic curve [AUROC] for the models were 99% and 76%, respectively). The pre-RSV season T-cell phenotypes which were selected by the ML modelling and which were more frequent in RSV-Asymptomatic group than in the RSV-ARTI group, coincided with prominent phenotypes identified during convalescence from RSV-ARTI (e.g., IFN-γ+, TNF-α+ and CD40L+ for CD4+, and IFN-γ+ and 4-1BB+ for CD8+)., Conclusion: The evaluation and statistical modelling of numerous immunological parameters over the RSV season suggests a primary role of cellular immunity in preventing symptomatic RSV infections in older adults., Competing Interests: Authors CV and AM were employed by the company Sanofi during the development of the study and own stock options in the company. Authors SB-J, AB, JA and DÖ were employed by the company Janssen Pharmaceutica NV. Authors SB-J, AB and JA own stocks from Johnson & Johnson. Authors MJ, BS, CL, and JD were employed by the company GSK, and BS and CL own stocks from the company. Author CL had submitted a patent application for COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS FOR IMPROVING THE IMMUNE RESPONSE TO SARS-COV2. During this time, he was a GSK representative as a co-leader for a subgroup in the Adventitious Virus Detection Technologies Interest Groups AVDTIG. Author SD has been an investigator for clinical trials of vaccines and antimicrobials for pharmaceutical companies including AstraZeneca, Merck, Pfizer, Valneva, Iliad, Sanofi, and Janssen, and previously sat on RSV advisory boards for Sanofi and Merck. Author JW was a member of Janssen and Sanofi advisory boards. She also worked closely together with author LB on many projects and clinical studies for which LB received grants. Author AP received grants from: Gates, Wellcome, MRC, NIHR and European Commission IMI RESCEU. During this time the laboratory assays were provided by GSK. Author AP is a contributor to intellectual property licensed by Oxford University Innovation to AstraZeneca. He also received consulting fees from Shionogi. He was chair of DHSC’s Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation and also a member of WHOs SAGE until 2022. Author PO received the RESCEU EU IMI award and consulting fees from: GSK, Moderna, Janssen, Seqirus and Pfizer. He also received payments or honoraria from Moderna, Medscape and support for attending meetings for Moderna. During this project he was also a school governor for Sidcot, Somerset. He received grants from UKRI and MRC EMINENT. Author LB has regular interaction with pharmaceutical and other industrial partners. UMCU has received funding for investigator-initiated studies from AbbVie, MedImmune, AstraZeneca, Sanofi, Janssen, Pfizer, MSD and MeMed Diagnostics. UMCU has received funding for the RSV GOLD study from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. UMCU has received funding as part of the public private partnership IMI funded RESCEU and PROMISE projects with partners GSK, Novavax, Janssen, AstraZeneca, Pfizer and Sanofi. UMCU has received funding by Julius Clinical for participating in clinical studies sponsored by MedImmune and Pfizer. UMCU received funding for consultation and invited lectures by AbbVie, MedImmune, Ablynx, Bavaria Nordic, MabXience, GSK, Novavax, Pfizer, Moderna, Astrazeneca, MSD, Sanofi, Genzyme, Janssen. Author LB is the founding chairman of the ReSViNET Foundation. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Salaun, De Smedt, Vernhes, Moureau, Öner, Bastian, Janssens, Balla-Jhagjhoorsingh, Aerssens, Lambert, Coenen, Butler, Drysdale, Wildenbeest, Pollard, Openshaw and Bont.)

The 16 th Workshop on Recent Issues in Bioanalysis (16 th WRIB) took place in Atlanta, GA, USA on September 26-30, 2022. Over 1000 professionals representing pharma/biotech companies, CROs, and multiple regulatory agencies convened to actively discuss the most current topics of interest in bioanalysis. The 16 th WRIB included 3 Main Workshops and 7 Specialized Workshops that together spanned 1 week in order to allow exhaustive and thorough coverage of all major issues in bioanalysis, biomarkers, immunogenicity, gene therapy, cell therapy and vaccines. Moreover, in-depth workshops on ICH M10 BMV final guideline (focused on this guideline training, interpretation, adoption and transition); mass spectrometry innovation (focused on novel technologies, novel modalities, and novel challenges); and flow cytometry bioanalysis (rising of the 3rd most common/important technology in bioanalytical labs) were the special features of the 16 th edition. As in previous years, WRIB continued to gather a wide diversity of international, industry opinion leaders and regulatory authority experts working on both small and large molecules as well as gene, cell therapies and vaccines to facilitate sharing and discussions focused on improving quality, increasing regulatory compliance, and achieving scientific excellence on bioanalytical issues. This 2022 White Paper encompasses recommendations emerging from the extensive discussions held during the workshop and is aimed to provide the bioanalytical community with key information and practical solutions on topics and issues addressed, in an effort to enable advances in scientific excellence, improved quality and better regulatory compliance. Due to its length, the 2022 edition of this comprehensive White Paper has been divided into three parts for editorial reasons. This publication (Part 2) covers the recommendations on LBA, Biomarkers/CDx and Cytometry. Part 1 (Mass Spectrometry and ICH M10) and Part 3 (Gene Therapy, Cell therapy, Vaccines and Biotherapeutics Immunogenicity) are published in volume 15 of Bioanalysis, issues 16 and 14 (2023), respectively.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate safety and immunogenicity of vaccine formulations against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) containing the stabilized prefusion conformation of RSV fusion protein (RSVPreF3)., Methods: This phase 1/2, randomized controlled, observer-blind study enrolled 48 young adults (YAs; aged 18-40 years) and 1005 older adults (OAs; aged 60-80 years) between January and August 2019. Participants were randomized into equally sized groups to receive 2 doses of unadjuvanted (YAs and OAs) or AS01-adjuvanted (OAs) vaccine or placebo 2 months apart. Vaccine safety and immunogenicity were assessed until 1 month (YAs) or 12 months (OAs) after second vaccination., Results: The RSVPreF3 vaccines boosted humoral (RSVPreF3-specific immunoglobulin G [IgG] and RSV-A neutralizing antibody) responses, which increased in an antigen concentration-dependent manner and were highest after dose 1. Compared to prevaccination, the geometric mean frequencies of polyfunctional CD4+ T cells increased after each dose and were significantly higher in adjuvanted than unadjuvanted vaccinees. Postvaccination immune responses persisted until end of follow-up. Solicited adverse events were mostly mild to moderate and transient. Despite a higher observed reactogenicity of AS01-containing vaccines, no safety concerns were identified for any assessed formulation., Conclusions: Based on safety and immunogenicity profiles, the AS01E-adjuvanted vaccine containing 120 μg of RSVPreF3 was selected for further clinical development., Clinical Trials Registration: NCT03814590., Competing Interests: Potential conflicts of interest. D. C., M.-P. D., M. d. H., N. D. S., N. D., L. F., V. H., J. K., N. M., B. S., F. S., J. T., C. V. A., and C. Ve. are/were employees of the GSK group of companies at the time of the study conduct. C. Va. is currently an employee of the GSK group of companies. D. C., M.-P. D., M. d. H., N. D. S., N. D., B. S., F. S., and C. Ve. hold shares from the GSK group of companies as part of their past/current employee remuneration. F. S. is currently an employee of Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson and holds restricted shares from Johnson & Johnson as part of his employee remuneration. All current/previous employees of the GSK groups of companies declare financial and nonfinancial relationships and activities. C. P. A., E. K., I. L.-R., K. S., and C. Va. report grant/research support from the GSK group of companies to their institution for study conduct and, except for C. Va., they have no nonfinancial relationships and activities to declare. E. K. has served as consultant, in advisory boards, in speaker’s bureaus, or received travel reimbursement from Amphastar, AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Forest, Cipla, Chiesi, GSK, Mylan, Novartis, Sunovion, Teva, Pearl Pharmaceuticals, and Theravance. All other authors report no potential conflicts. All authors have submitted the ICMJE Form for Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest. Conflicts that the editors consider relevant to the content of the manuscript have been disclosed., (© The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Infectious Diseases Society of America.)

Despite the knowledge that cell-mediated immunity (CMI) contributes to the reduction of severe influenza infection, transmission, and disease outcome, the correlates of protection for cell-mediated immunity remain still unclear. Therefore, measuring the magnitude and quality of influenza-specific T cell responses in a harmonized way is of utmost importance to improve characterisation of vaccine-induced immunity across different clinical trials. The present study, conducted as part of the FLUCOP project, describes the development of a consensus protocol for the intracellular cytokine staining (ICS) assay, in order to reduce inter-laboratory variability, and its qualification. In order to develop a consensus protocol, the study was divided into different stages. Firstly, two pilot studies evaluated critical parameters in the analytical (read-outs) and post-analytical (gating strategies and data analysis) methods applied by eight different laboratories within the FLUCOP consortium. The methods were then harmonized by fixing the critical parameters and the subsequent consensus protocol was then qualified by one FLUCOP member. The antigen-specific cell population was defined as polypositive CD4 + T cells (i.e. positive for at least two markers among CD40L/IFNγ/IL2/TNFα), which was shown to be the most sensitive and specific read-out. The qualification of this consensus protocol showed that the quantification of polypositive CD4 + T cells was precise, linear and accurate, and sensitive with a lower limit of quantification of 0.0335% antigen-specific polypositive CD4 + T cells. In conclusion, we provide the description of a harmonized ICS assay, which permits quantitative and qualitative evaluation of influenza vaccine-induced T cell responses. Application of this harmonized assay may allow for future comparisons of T cell responses to different influenza vaccines. It may facilitate future assessments of potential correlates of protection with the promise of application across other pathogens., Competing Interests: Authors EM and EG are employees of VisMederi srl. MJ, and BS are employees of GlaxoSmithKline. SB and AP are employees of Sanofi and may hold stock. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. The authors declare that this study received funding from Sanofi. The funder had the following involvement in the study: analysis and interpretation of the data, the writing of this article, and the decision to submit for publication, (Copyright © 2022 Begue, Waerlop, Salaun, Janssens, Bellamy, Cox, Davies, Gianchecchi, Medaglini, Montomoli, Pettini, Leroux-Roels, Clement and Pagnon.)

The European flat oyster ( Ostrea edulis L.) is a native bivalve of the European coasts. Harvest of this species has declined during the last decades because of the appearance of two parasites that have led to the collapse of the stocks and the loss of the natural oyster beds. O. edulis has been the subject of numerous studies in population genetics and on the detection of the parasites Bonamia ostreae and Marteilia refringens. These studies investigated immune responses to these parasites at the molecular and cellular levels. Several genetic improvement programs have been initiated especially for parasite resistance. Within the framework of a European project (PERLE 2) that aims to produce genetic lines of O. edulis with hardiness traits (growth, survival, resistance) for the purpose of repopulating natural oyster beds in Brittany and reviving the culture of this species in the foreshore, obtaining a reference genome becomes essential as done recently in many bivalve species of aquaculture interest. Here, we present a chromosome-level genome assembly and annotation for the European flat oyster, generated by combining PacBio, Illumina, 10X linked, and Hi-C sequencing. The finished assembly is 887.2 Mb with a scaffold-N50 of 97.1 Mb scaffolded on the expected 10 pseudochromosomes. Annotation of the genome revealed the presence of 35,962 protein-coding genes. We analyzed in detail the transposable element (TE) diversity in the flat oyster genome, highlighted some specificities in tRNA and miRNA composition, and provided the first insight into the molecular response of O. edulis to M. refringens . This genome provides a reference for genomic studies on O. edulis to better understand its basic physiology and as a useful resource for genetic breeding in support of aquaculture and natural reef restoration., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (© 2022 The Authors. Evolutionary Applications published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: One strategy to develop a universal influenza virus vaccine is to redirect the immune system to the highly conserved haemagglutinin stalk domain by sequentially administering vaccines expressing chimeric (c) haemagglutinins with a conserved stalk domain and divergent head domain, to which humans are naive. We aimed to assess the reactogenicity, safety, and immunogenicity of adjuvanted and unadjuvanted investigational supra-seasonal universal influenza virus vaccines (SUIVs) in healthy young adults., Methods: In this observer-masked, randomised, controlled, phase 1-2 trial, we recruited adults aged 18-39 years with no clinically significant conditions from six centres in Belgium and the USA. Participants were randomly assigned to ten equally sized groups via an online system with the MATerial Excellence programme. Vaccines contained heterosubtypic group 1 H8, H5, or H11 haemagglutinin heads, an H1 haemagglutinin stalk, and an N1 neuraminidase (cH8/1N1, cH5/1N1, and cH11/1N1; haemagglutinin dose 15 μg/0·5 mL), administered on days 1 and 57, with a month 14 booster. SUIVs were evaluated in the sequences: cH8/1N1-placebo-cH5/1N1, cH5/1N1-placebo-cH8/1N1, or cH8/1N1-cH5/1N1-cH11/1N1, adjuvanted with either AS03 or AS01, or not adjuvanted. The last group received inactivated quadrivalent influenza vaccine (IIV4)-placebo-IIV4. Primary outcomes were safety (analysed in the exposed population) and immunogenicity in terms of the anti-H1 stalk humoral response at 28 days after vaccination (analysed in the per-protocol population, defined as participants who received the study vaccines according to the protocol). This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03275389., Findings: Between Sept 25, 2017, and March 26, 2020, 507 eligible participants were enrolled. 468 (92%) participants received at least one dose of study vaccine (exposed population), of whom 244 (52%) were included in the per-protocol population at final analysis at month 26. The safety profiles of all chimeric vaccines were clinically acceptable, with no safety concerns identified. Injection-site pain was the most common adverse event, occurring in 84-96% of participants receiving an adjuvanted SUIV or non-adjuvanted IIV4 and in 40-50% of participants receiving a non-adjuvanted SUIV. Spontaneously reported adverse events up to 28 days after vaccination occurred in 36-60% of participants, with no trends observed for any group. 17 participants had a serious adverse event, none of which were considered to be causally related to the vaccine. Anti-H1 stalk antibody titres were highest in AS03-adjuvanted groups, followed by AS01-adjuvanted and non-adjuvanted groups, and were higher after cH8/1N1 than after cH5/1N1 and after a two-dose primary schedule than after a one-dose schedule. Geometric mean concentrations by ELISA ranged from 21 938·1 ELISA units/mL (95% CI 18 037·8-26 681·8) in the IIV4-placebo-IIV4 group to 116 596·8 ELISA units/mL (93 869·6-144 826·6) in the AS03-adjuvanted cH8/1N1-cH5/1N1-cH11/1N1 group 28 days after the first dose and from 15 105·9 ELISA units/mL (12 007·7-19 003·6) in the non-adjuvanted cH5/1N1-placebo-cH8/1N1 group to 74 639·7 ELISA units/mL (59 986·3-92 872·6) in the AS03-adjuvanted cH8/1N1-cH5/1N1-cH11/1N1 group 28 days after the second dose., Interpretation: The stalk domain seems to be a rational target for development of a universal influenza virus vaccine via administration of chimeric haemagglutinins with head domains to which humans are naive., Funding: GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals., Competing Interests: Declaration of interests AG-S, FK, RN, PP, and AS report study funding from the GSK group of companies made to the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (New York, NY, USA). AG-S and PP also report study funding from the US National Institutes of Health and National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases made to the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. AG-S, FK, RN, PP, BLI, and CPM are named as inventors on a patent family regarding influenza virus vaccine constructs filed by the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and the GSK group of companies, not licensed at the time of writing. AG-S is named as inventor of a patent owned by Mount Sinai on plasmid-based rescue technologies to generate recombinant influenza viruses, with royalties paid to Medimmune, now acquired by AstraZeneca. AG-S and PP are named as inventors on live attenuated NS1 mutant influenza viruses licensed to Vivaldi, with no royalties to date. RN is named as inventor on patents for influenza virus vaccines filed by Mount Sinai, the University of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, PA), and Moderna. AG-S reports consulting fees from Avimex, 7Hills, Esperovax, Pfizer, Applied Biological Laboratories, and Farmak, outside of the submitted work. AG-S reports stock ownership from Vivaldi Biosciences, Pagoda, Contrafect, Vaxalto, and Accurius, outside the submitted work. AG-S reports research funding from The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, US Department of Defense, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, the National Institutes of Health, Pfizer, Pharmamar, Blade Therapeutics, Avimex, Accurius, Dynavax, Kenall Manufacturing, ImmunityBio, Nanocomposix, and Merck, outside the submitted work, paid to the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. FK reports consulting fees from Avimex, Goldman Sachs, Pfizer, Seqirus, and Third Rock Ventures, outside the submitted work. FK also reports that royalty payments were made by the GSK group of companies to the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. RN is currently an employee of Moderna and received stock and stock option grants from Moderna. RN also reports consulting fees from Guidepoint and ExpertConnect, outside the submitted work. PP reports consulting fees from Avimex, outside the submitted work. CVA, DB, M-PD, DF, CPM, BS, VV, and CV are employed by the GSK group of companies. NF, BLI, JK, RNR, and FS were employed by the GSK group of companies at the time the study was performed. NF, DB, M-PD, DF, BS, CPM, VV, CV, and FS hold shares in the GSK group of companies. NF is currently an employee of Takeda Pharmaceuticals International. BLI is currently an employee of PATH. FS is currently an employee of Janssen, Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson. PVD reports grants from the University of Antwerp (Antwerp, Belgium) from the GSK group of companies, Pfizer, Sanofi, Merck, Takeda, Baxter, CanSino China, Themis, Osivax, Johnson & Johnson, Abbott, The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, PATH, the Flemish Government, and the EU, outside the submitted work. PVD also reports participating on data and safety monitoring boards for Janssen Vaccines and Virometrix, outside the submitted work. These authors declare no other financial and non-financial relationships and activities. LC declares no competing interests., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: This ongoing follow-up study evaluated the persistence of efficacy and immune responses for 6 additional years in adults vaccinated with the glycoprotein E (gE)-based adjuvanted recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV) at age ≥50 years in 2 pivotal efficacy trials (ZOE-50 and ZOE-70). The present interim analysis was performed after ≥2 additional years of follow-up (between 5.1 and 7.1 years [mean] post-vaccination) and includes partial data for year (Y) 8 post-vaccination., Methods: Annual assessments were performed for efficacy against herpes zoster (HZ) from Y6 post-vaccination and for anti-gE antibody concentrations and gE-specific CD4[2+] T-cell (expressing ≥2 of 4 assessed activation markers) frequencies from Y5 post-vaccination., Results: Of 7413 participants enrolled for the long-term efficacy assessment, 7277 (mean age at vaccination, 67.2 years), 813, and 108 were included in the cohorts evaluating efficacy, humoral immune responses, and cell-mediated immune responses, respectively. Efficacy of RZV against HZ through this interim analysis was 84.0% (95% confidence interval [CI], 75.9-89.8) from the start of this follow-up study and 90.9% (95% CI, 88.2-93.2) from vaccination in ZOE-50/70. Annual vaccine efficacy estimates were >84% for each year since vaccination and remained stable through this interim analysis. Anti-gE antibody geometric mean concentrations and median frequencies of gE-specific CD4[2+] T cells reached a plateau at approximately 6-fold above pre-vaccination levels., Conclusions: Efficacy against HZ and immune responses to RZV remained high, suggesting that the clinical benefit of RZV in older adults is sustained for at least 7 years post-vaccination. Clinical Trials Registration. NCT02723773., (© The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press for the Infectious Diseases Society of America.)

Background: The adjuvanted recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV) is highly immunogenic and efficacious in adults ≥50 years of age. We evaluated (1) long-term immunogenicity of an initial 2-dose RZV schedule, by following up adults vaccinated at ≥60 years of age and by modeling, and (2) immunogenicity of 2 additional doses administered 10 years after initial vaccination., Methods: Persistence of humoral and cell-mediated immune (CMI) responses to 2 initial RZV doses was assessed through 10 years after initial vaccination, and modeled through 20 years using a Piecewise, Power law and Fraser model. The immunogenicity and safety of 2 additional RZV doses were also evaluated., Results: Seventy adults were enrolled. Ten years after initial vaccination, humoral and CMI responses were approximately 6-fold and 3.5-fold, respectively, above those before the initial vaccination levels. Predicted immune persistence through 20 years after initial vaccination was similar across the 3 models. Sixty-two participants (mean age [standard deviation], 82.6 [4.4] years) received ≥1 additional RZV dose. Strong anamnestic humoral and CMI responses were elicited by 1 additional dose, without further increases after a second additional dose., Conclusions: Immune responses to an initial 2-dose RZV course persisted for many years in older adults. Strong anamnestic immune responses can be induced by additional dosing 10 years after the initial 2-dose course., Clinical Trials Registration: NCT02735915., (© The Author(s) 2020. Published by Oxford University Press for the Infectious Diseases Society of America.)

Immunocompromised (IC) persons are at increased risk for herpes zoster (HZ) and its complications, mainly due to impairment of cell-mediated immunity (CMI). The adjuvanted recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV) demonstrated efficacy against HZ in autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant (auto-HSCT) recipients and hematologic malignancy (HM) patients. We review immune responses to RZV in 5 adult IC populations, 4 of which were receiving multiple, concomitant immunosuppressive medications: auto-HSCT and renal transplant recipients, HM and solid tumor patients, and human immunodeficiency virus-infected adults. Although administered in most cases when immunosuppression was near its maximum, including concomitantly with chemotherapy cycles, RZV induced robust and persistent humoral and, more importantly, CMI responses in all 5 IC populations. Based on the overall clinical data generated in older adults and IC individuals, RZV is expected to provide benefit in a broad adult population at risk for HZ.

Immunocompromised individuals, particularly autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant (auHSCT) recipients, are at high risk for herpes zoster (HZ). We provide an in-depth description of humoral and cell-mediated immune (CMI) responses by age (protocol-defined) or underlying disease (post-hoc) as well as efficacy by underlying disease (post-hoc) of the adjuvanted recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV) in a randomized observer-blind phase III trial (ZOE-HSCT, NCT01610414). 1846 adult auHSCT recipients were randomized to receive a first dose of either RZV or placebo 50-70 days post-auHSCT, followed by the second dose at 1-2 months (M) later. In cohorts of 114-1721 participants, at 1 M post-second vaccine dose: Anti-gE antibody geometric mean concentrations (GMCs) and median gE-specific CD4[2+] T-cell frequencies (CD4 T cells expressing ≥2 of four assessed activation markers) were similar between 18-49 and ≥50-year-olds. Despite lower anti-gE antibody GMCs in non-Hodgkin B-cell lymphoma (NHBCL) patients, CD4[2+] T-cell frequencies were similar between NHBCL and other underlying diseases. The proportion of polyfunctional CD4 T cells increased over time, accounting for 79.6% of gE-specific CD4 T cells at 24 M post-dose two. Vaccine efficacy against HZ ranged between 42.5% and 82.5% across underlying diseases and was statistically significant in NHBCL and multiple myeloma patients. In conclusion, two RZV doses administered early post-auHSCT induced robust, persistent, and polyfunctional gE-specific immune responses. Efficacy against HZ was also high in NHBCL patients despite the lower humoral response.

Background: Efficacy of the live-attenuated herpes zoster (HZ) vaccine (ZVL) wanes substantially over time. We evaluated immunogenicity and safety of the adjuvanted recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV) in previous ZVL recipients., Methods: Adults aged ≥65 years who were previously vaccinated with ZVL ≥5 years earlier (n = 215) were group-matched with ZVL-naive individuals (n = 215) and vaccinated with RZV. Glycoprotein E (gE)-specific humoral and cell-mediated immune responses and the correlation between them, polyfunctional gE-specific CD4 T-cell responses, safety, and confirmed HZ cases were assessed., Results: Through 12 months after dose 2, anti-gE antibody concentrations, gE-specific CD4 T-cell frequencies, and activation marker profiles were similar between groups. Safety outcomes were also similar. No HZ episodes were confirmed., Conclusions: RZV induced strong humoral and polyfunctional cell-mediated immune responses that persisted above prevaccination levels through 1 year after dose 2 in adults aged ≥65 years irrespective of previous ZVL vaccination. The RZV safety profile was not affected., Clinical Trials Registration: NCT02581410., (© The Author(s) 2020. Published by Oxford University Press for the Infectious Diseases Society of America.)

Background: This phase 2 observer-blind, randomized, multicenter, dose-ranging study evaluated immunogenicity and safety of different formulations of an AS03-adjuvanted H5N1 influenza vaccine in children 6-35 months of age., Methods: One hundred eighty-five children randomized into 5 groups [1.9 µg hemagglutinin (HA)/AS03B, 0.9 µg HA/AS03C, 1.9 µg HA/AS03C, 3.75 µg HA/AS03C or 3.75 µg HA/AS03D] were to receive 2 doses administered 21 days apart (primary vaccination). AS03 was classified by amount of DL-α-tocopherol, with AS03B the highest amount. One year later, all subjects were to receive unadjuvanted 3.75 µg HA as antigen challenge. Immunogenicity was assessed 21 days after primary vaccination (day 42) and 7 days after antigen challenge (day 392). Immunogenicity-fever index, based on hemagglutination inhibition and microneutralization antibody titers at day 42 and fever 7 days after each vaccination, was used to guide the selection of an acceptable formulation., Results: After primary vaccination, formulations elicited strong homologous immune responses with all subjects' hemagglutination inhibition titers ≥1:40 post-vaccination. Immunogenicity-fever index based on hemagglutination inhibition and microneutralization assays showed that 1.9 µg HA/AS03B ranked the highest. Antibody levels persisted >4 times above baseline 12 months after primary vaccination with all formulations (day 385). Antibodies increased >4-fold after antigen challenge (day 392/day 385) with 1.9 µg HA/AS03B, 0.9 µg HA/AS03C and 1.9 µg HA/AS03C formulations. Overall per subject, the incidence of fever ranged from 28.6% (3.75 µg HA/AS03D) to 60.5% (1.9 µg HA/AS03B)., Conclusions: All formulations were highly immunogenic and demonstrated acceptable safety profiles, with the 1.9 µg HA/AS03B providing the most favorable balance of immunogenicity versus reactogenicity for use in children 6-35 months of age., Competing Interests: J.H.K., M.D., J.D., D.F. and B.S. are employees of the GSK group of companies. W.W., D.W.V., B.I. and A.S. were employees of the GSK group of companies during the conduct of the study. J.H.K., B.S., M.D., J.D., W.W. and A.S. hold shares from the GSK group of companies. T.P., N.-C.C., K.S. and L.-M.H. received funds from the GSK group of companies through their institution for the conduct of the study. L.-M.H. received personal fees from the GSK group of companies for educational lectures. J.H.K., M.D., T.P., N.-C.C., K.S., L.-M.H., J.D., D.F., B.S., W.W., D.W.V., B.I. and A.S. declare no other financial and nonfinancial relationships and activities. K.-P.H., P.-Y.C. and C.-H.C. declare no financial and nonfinancial relationships and activities and no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2021 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Background: Non-neutralizing antibodies inducing complement-dependent lysis (CDL) and antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) activity may contribute to protection against influenza infection. We investigated CDL and ADCC responses in healthy adults randomized to receive either non-adjuvanted or AS03-adjuvanted monovalent A(H1N1)pdm09 vaccine (containing 15 µg/3.75 μg of hemagglutinin, respectively) on a 2-dose schedule 21 days apart., Methods: We conducted an exploratory analysis of a subset of 106 subjects having no prior history of A(H1N1)pdm09 infection or seasonal influenza vaccination enrolled in a previously reported study (NCT00985673). Antibody responses against the homologous A/California/7/2009 (H1N1) vaccine strain and a related A/Brisbane/59/2007 (H1N1) seasonal influenza strain were analyzed up to Day 42., Results: Baseline seropositivity determined with hemagglutination inhibition (HI), CDL and ADCC antibody titers against viral strains was high; A/California/7/2009 (HI [40.4-48.1%]; CDL [34.6-36.0%]; ADCC [92.1-92.3%]); A/Brisbane/59/2007 (HI [73.1-88.9%]; CDL [38.0-42.0%]; ADCC [86.8-97.0%]). CDL seropositivity increased following vaccination with both adjuvanted and non-adjuvanted formulations (A/California/7/2009 [95.9-100%]; A/Brisbane/59/2007 [75.5-79.6%]). At Day 21, increases in CDL and ADCC antibody geometric mean titers against both strains were observed for both formulations. After 2 doses of AS03-adjuvanted vaccine, vaccine responses of 95.8% (≥9-fold increase from baseline in CDL titers) and 34.3% (≥16-fold increase from baseline in ADCC titers) were seen against A/California/7/2009; and 22.4% and 42.9%, respectively, against A/Brisbane/59/2007. Vaccine responses after 2 doses of the non-adjuvanted vaccine were broadly similar., Conclusions: Broadly comparable non-neutralizing immune responses were observed following vaccination with non-adjuvanted and AS03-adjuvanted A(H1N1)pdm09 formulations; including activity against a related vaccine strain., (© 2020 Glaxosmithkline Biologicals. Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Women living with HIV (WLWH) are at higher risk of acquisition and progression of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. Evidence on effect of HPV vaccination in this population is limited., Methods: This phase IV randomized controlled observer-blind study assessed immunogenicity and safety of two HPV vaccines (AS04-HPV-16/18 vs. 4vHPV) given in WLWH (stage 1) and HIV- females aged 15-25 years. Co-primary endpoints were to demonstrate, in WLWH subjects, non-inferiority (and if demonstrated, superiority) of AS04-HPV-16/18 vs. 4vHPV for HPV-16 and HPV-18 by pseudovirion-based neutralization assay (PBNA) at month 7 and safety. Non-inferiority criteria was lower limit (LL) of the 95% confidence interval (CI) of the GMT ratio AS04-HPV-16/18/4vHPV above 0.5, in the according to protocol population. NCT01031069., Findings: Among 873 subjects recruited between 26-Oct-2010 and 14-May-2015, 546 were randomized (1:1) and received at least one vaccine dose (total vaccinated cohort, TVC): 257 were WLWH (129 AS04-HPV-16/18; 128 4vHPV) and 289 were subjects without HIV (144 AS04-HPV-16/18; 145 4vHPV). Baseline CD4 cell count in WLWH was at least 350 cells/mm 3 .At month 7, AS04-HPV-16/18 showed immunological superiority to 4vHPV in WLWH. Neutralizing anti-HPV-16 and HPV-18 antibody GMTs were 2·74 (95% CI: 1·83; 4·11) and 7·44 (95% CI: 4·79; 11·54) fold higher in AS04-HPV-16/18 vs. 4vHPV (LL of the GMT ratio >1 in TVC, p <0·0001), respectively. Similar results were observed by ELISA up to month 24.Solicited local and general symptoms were in line with product labels. The number of reported serious adverse events (SAEs) was balanced throughout the study., Interpretation: Both vaccines showed an acceptable safety profile in all subjects. Despite the absence of an immunological correlate of protection for HPV, differences in immune responses elicited by the vaccines especially for HPV-18 may translate into longer lasting or more robust protection against cervical cancer with the AS04-HPV-16/18 vaccine in WLWH., Competing Interests: N Folschweiller is an employee of the GSK group of companies and holds shares in the GSK group of companies. J Teixeira, S Joshi, K Supparatpinyo, and K Ruxrungtham report grants from the GSK group of companies for the conduct of the study. K Ruxrungtham also received honoraria or consultation fees from Merck, Roche, Jensen-Cilag, Tibotec, Myland and GPO (Governmental pharmaceutical organization, Thailand) and participated in a company sponsored speaker's bureau from Abbott, Gilead, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Merck, Roche, Jensen-Cilag, GSK, and Thai GPO. L Goldani, P Basu, C Roteli-Martins, B Grinsztejn, S Quintana, N Kumarasamy, S Poongulali and V Kulkarni report no conflict of interest. T Chotpitayasunondh reports grant for the study conduct and speaker honorarium outside of the present work, from the GSK group of companies. P Chetchotisakd reports grant from the GSK group of companies for the study conduct and from Gilead outside of the present work. L Lin, S Datta, D Descamps, F Tavares da Silva, D Friel, S Poncelet, and B Salaun are employees of the GSK group of companies and hold shares in the GSK group of companies. M Dodet, N Karkada are employees of the GSK group of companies. G Dubin was an employee of the GSK group of companies during the study conduct, holds shares in the GSK group of companies, and is currently an employee of Takeda Pharmaceuticals. F Struyf was an employee of the GSK group of companies during the study conduct, holds shares in the GSK group of companies, and is currently an employee of Janssen, Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson. M Hezareh reports consulting fees for her institution from the GSK group of companies. D Meric Camilleri was an employee of the GSK group of companies and held shares in the company at the time of the study. F Thomas-Jooris was an employee of the GSK group of companies at the time of the study and hold shares in the GSK group of companies., (© 2020 The Author(s).)

The stalk of the influenza virus hemagglutinin (HA) is an attractive target for antibody-based universal influenza virus vaccine development. While antibodies that target this part of the virus can be neutralizing, it has been shown in recent years that Fc receptor-mediated effector functions are of significant importance for the protective effect of anti-stalk antibodies. Several assays to measure Fc-Fc receptor interaction-based effector functions like antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity and antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis exist, but they suffer from limitations such as low throughput and high run-to-run variability. Reporter assays for antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity based on reporter cells that express luciferase upon engagement of human FcγRIIIa with the Fc of antigen-bound antibodies have been developed as well. These reporter assays can be used in a higher throughput setting with limited run-to-run assay variability but since they express only one Fc receptor, their biological relevance is unclear. Here we optimized an antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity reporter assay to measure the activity of antibodies to the conserved stalk domain of H1 hemagglutinin. The assay was then correlated to a CD107a-based degranulation assay, and a strong and significant correlation could be observed. This data suggests that the FcγRIIIa-based reporter assay is a good substitute for functional assays, especially in settings where larger sample numbers need to be analyzed., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest BS is an employee of GSK. The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (ISMMS) has issued patents and filed patent applications covering the use of chimeric hemagglutinin antigens as vaccines. RN, AGS and FK are named as inventors on these patents and applications. The laboratories of AGS, PP, and FK were in the past also engaged in a research program funded by GSK., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: The incidence of herpes zoster is up to 9 times higher in immunosuppressed solid organ transplant recipients than in the general population. We investigated the immunogenicity and safety of an adjuvanted recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV) in renal transplant (RT) recipients ≥18 years of age receiving daily immunosuppressive therapy., Methods: In this phase 3, randomized (1:1), observer-blind, multicenter trial, RT recipients were enrolled and received 2 doses of RZV or placebo 1-2 months (M) apart 4-18M posttransplant. Anti-glycoprotein E (gE) antibody concentrations, gE-specific CD4 T-cell frequencies, and vaccine response rates were assessed at 1M post-dose 1, and 1M and 12M post-dose 2. Solicited and unsolicited adverse events (AEs) were recorded for 7 and 30 days after each dose, respectively. Solicited general symptoms and unsolicited AEs were also collected 7 days before first vaccination. Serious AEs (including biopsy-proven allograft rejections) and potential immune-mediated diseases (pIMDs) were recorded up to 12M post-dose 2., Results: Two hundred sixty-four participants (RZV: 132; placebo: 132) were enrolled between March 2014 and April 2017. gE-specific humoral and cell-mediated immune responses were higher in RZV than placebo recipients across postvaccination time points and persisted above prevaccination baseline 12M post-dose 2. Local AEs were reported more frequently by RZV than placebo recipients. Overall occurrences of renal function changes, rejections, unsolicited AEs, serious AEs, and pIMDs were similar between groups., Conclusions: RZV was immunogenic in chronically immunosuppressed RT recipients. Immunogenicity persisted through 12M postvaccination. No safety concerns arose., Clinical Trials Registration: NCT02058589., (© The Author(s) 2019. Published by Oxford University Press for the Infectious Diseases Society of America.)

Background: Results of an earlier analysis of a trial of the M72/AS01 E candidate vaccine against Mycobacterium tuberculosis showed that in infected adults, the vaccine provided 54.0% protection against active pulmonary tuberculosis disease, without evident safety concerns. We now report the results of the 3-year final analysis of efficacy, safety, and immunogenicity., Methods: From August 2014 through November 2015, we enrolled adults 18 to 50 years of age with M. tuberculosis infection (defined by positive results on interferon-γ release assay) without evidence of active tuberculosis disease at centers in Kenya, South Africa, and Zambia. Participants were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive two doses of either M72/AS01 E or placebo, administered 1 month apart. The primary objective was to evaluate the efficacy of M72/AS01 E to prevent active pulmonary tuberculosis disease according to the first case definition (bacteriologically confirmed pulmonary tuberculosis not associated with human immunodeficiency virus infection). Participants were followed for 3 years after the second dose. Participants with clinical suspicion of tuberculosis provided sputum samples for polymerase-chain-reaction assay, mycobacterial culture, or both. Humoral and cell-mediated immune responses were evaluated until month 36 in a subgroup of 300 participants. Safety was assessed in all participants who received at least one dose of M72/AS01 E or placebo., Results: A total of 3575 participants underwent randomization, of whom 3573 received at least one dose of M72/AS01 E or placebo, and 3330 received both planned doses. Among the 3289 participants in the according-to-protocol efficacy cohort, 13 of the 1626 participants in the M72/AS01 E group, as compared with 26 of the 1663 participants in the placebo group, had cases of tuberculosis that met the first case definition (incidence, 0.3 vs. 0.6 cases per 100 person-years). The vaccine efficacy at month 36 was 49.7% (90% confidence interval [CI], 12.1 to 71.2; 95% CI, 2.1 to 74.2). Among participants in the M72/AS01 E group, the concentrations of M72-specific antibodies and the frequencies of M72-specific CD4+ T cells increased after the first dose and were sustained throughout the follow-up period. Serious adverse events, potential immune-mediated diseases, and deaths occurred with similar frequencies in the two groups., Conclusions: Among adults infected with M. tuberculosis , vaccination with M72/AS01 E elicited an immune response and provided protection against progression to pulmonary tuberculosis disease for at least 3 years. (Funded by GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals and Aeras; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01755598.)., (Copyright © 2019 Massachusetts Medical Society.)

Licensed influenza virus vaccines target the head domain of the hemagglutinin (HA) glycoprotein which undergoes constant antigenic drift. The highly conserved HA stalk domain is an attractive target to increase immunologic breadth required for universal influenza virus vaccines. We tested the hypothesis that immunization with a pandemic influenza virus vaccine boosts pre-existing anti-stalk antibodies. We used chimeric cH6/1, full length H2 and H18 HA antigens in an ELISA to measure anti-stalk antibodies in recipients participating in clinical trials of A/H1N1, A/H5N1 and A/H9N2 vaccines. The vaccines induced high titers of anti-H1 stalk antibodies in adults and children, with higher titers elicited by AS03-adjuvanted vaccines. We also observed cross-reactivity to H2 and H18 HAs. The A/H9N2 vaccine elicited plasmablast and memory B-cell responses. Post-vaccination serum from vaccinees protected mice against lethal challenge with cH6/1N5 and cH5/3N4 viruses. These findings support the concept of a chimeric HA stalk-based universal influenza virus vaccine. clinicaltrials.gov: NCT02415842., Competing Interests: Competing interestsF.K., A.G.-S., and P.P. report study funding from the GSK group of companies. R.N., A.G.-S., P.P., F.K., C.P.M., and B.L.I. are named as inventor on a patent family regarding influenza virus vaccine constructs filed by the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and the GSK group of companies. A.G.-S. also reports he is an inventor of a Mount Sinai owned patent on plasmid-based rescue technologies to generate recombinant influenza viruses with royalties paid to Medimmune. R.A.A. reports grants from National Institutes of Health, outside the submitted work. B.S., D.F., M.D., R.N.R., and C.P.M. are employed by the GSK group of companies. B.S., M.D., C.P.M., and C.C. hold shares in the GSK group of companies. C.C. and B.L.I. were employed by the GSK group of companies at the time of the study. D.S., M.A.B., A.C., W.S., and A.R. have nothing to disclose., (© The Author(s) 2019.)

The duration of protection after hepatitis B vaccination is not exactly known. This phase IV study evaluated antibody persistence and immune memory 20-30 years after adult immunization with recombinant hepatitis B vaccine (HBsAg vaccine, Engerix-B) in routine clinical practice. Men and women 40-60 years old, with documented evidence of vaccination with three or four HBsAg vaccine doses 20-30 years earlier and without subsequent booster, were enrolled and received HBsAg vaccine as challenge dose. HBsAg-specific antibodies (anti-HBs) and frequencies of HBsAg-specific circulating memory B cells and CD4 + T cells expressing combinations of activation markers (CD40L, IL2, IFNγ, TNFα) were measured prechallenge, 7 and 30 days postchallenge. Of 101 participants in the according-to-protocol cohort for immunogenicity, 90.1% had anti-HBs concentrations ≥ 10 mIU/mL prechallenge administration; 84.2% and 100% mounted an anamnestic response 7 and 30 days postchallenge, respectively. HBsAg-specific memory B and CD4 + T cells expressing at least two activation markers were low prechallenge and increased markedly postchallenge. These results suggest sustained immune memory and long-term protection 20-30 years after a complete primary HBsAg vaccination course during adulthood, in line with current recommendations that a booster is not needed in fully vaccinated immunocompetent adults., (© 2019 The Authors. Journal of Viral Hepatitis Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: The adjuvanted recombinant zoster vaccine (Shingrix) can prevent herpes zoster in older adults and autologous haemopoietic stem cell transplant recipients. We evaluated the safety and immunogenicity of this vaccine in adults with haematological malignancies receiving immunosuppressive cancer treatments., Methods: In this phase 3, randomised, observer-blind, placebo-controlled study, done at 77 centres worldwide, we randomly assigned (1:1) patients with haematological malignancies aged 18 years and older to receive two doses of the adjuvanted recombinant zoster vaccine or placebo 1-2 months apart during or after immunosuppressive cancer treatments, and stratified participants according to their underlying diseases. The co-primary objectives of the study were the evaluation of safety and reactogenicity of the adjuvanted recombinant zoster vaccine compared with placebo from the first vaccination up to 30 days after last vaccination in all participants; evaluation of the proportion of participants with a vaccine response in terms of anti-glycoprotein E humoral immune response to the adjuvanted recombinant zoster vaccine at month 2 in all participants, excluding those with non-Hodgkin B-cell lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic leukaemia; and evaluation of the anti-glycoprotein E humoral immune responses to the vaccine compared with placebo at month 2 in all participants, excluding those with non-Hodgkin B-cell lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. We assessed immunogenicity in the per-protocol cohort for immunogenicity and safety in the total vaccinated cohort. The study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01767467, and with the EU Clinical Trials Register, number 2012-003438-18., Findings: Between March 1, 2013, and Sept 10, 2015, we randomly assigned 286 participants to adjuvanted recombinant zoster vaccine and 283 to placebo. 283 in the vaccine group and 279 in the placebo group were vaccinated. At month 2, 119 (80·4%, 95% CI 73·1-86·5) of 148 participants had a humoral vaccine response to adjuvanted recombinant zoster vaccine, compared with one (0·8%, 0·0-4·2) of 130 participants in the placebo group, and the adjusted geometric mean anti-glycoprotein E antibody concentration was 23 132·9 mIU/mL (95% CI 16 642·8-32 153·9) in the vaccine group and 777·6 mIU/mL (702·8-860·3) in the placebo group (adjusted geometric mean ratio 29·75, 21·09-41·96; p<0·0001) in all patients, excluding those with non-Hodgkin B-cell lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. Humoral and cell-mediated immune responses persisted above baseline until month 13 in all strata and, as expected, vaccine was more reactogenic than placebo (within 7 days after vaccination pain was reported by 221 [79·5%] of 278 vaccine group participants and 45 [16·4%] of 274 placebo group participants; fatigue was reported by 162 [58·3%] of 278 vaccine group participants and 102 [37·2%] of 274 placebo group participants). Incidences of unsolicited or serious adverse events, potential immune-mediated diseases, disease-related events, and fatal serious adverse events were similar between the groups., Interpretation: The immunocompromised adult population with haematological malignancies is at high risk for herpes zoster. The adjuvanted recombinant zoster vaccine, which is currently licensed in certain countries for adults aged 50 years and older, is likely to benefit this population., Funding: GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals SA., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: The adjuvanted recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV) has demonstrated >90% efficacy against herpes zoster in adults ≥50 years of age and 68% efficacy in autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients ≥18 years of age. We report the immunogenicity and safety of RZV administered to patients with solid tumors (STs) before or at the start of a chemotherapy cycle., Method: In this phase 2/3 observer-blind, multicenter study (NCT01798056), patients with STs who were ≥18 years of age were randomized (1:1) to receive 2 doses of RZV or placebo 1-2 months apart and stratified (4:1) according to the timing of the first dose with respect to the start of a chemotherapy cycle (first vaccination 8-30 days before the start or at the start [±1 day] of a chemotherapy cycle). Anti-glycoprotein E (gE) antibody concentrations, gE-specific CD4 + T cell frequencies, and vaccine response rates (VRRs) were assessed 1 month after dose 1 and 1 and 12 months after dose 2. Reactogenicity and safety were assessed in the total vaccinated cohort through 12 months after dose 2., Results: There were 232 participants in the total vaccinated cohort, 185 participants in the according-to-protocol cohort for humoral immunogenicity, and 58 participants in the according-to-protocol cohort for cell-mediated immunogenicity. Postvaccination anti-gE antibody concentrations, gE-specific CD4 + T cell frequencies and VRRs were higher in RZV recipients than in placebo recipients. Solicited adverse events (AEs) were more frequent among RZV recipients than placebo recipients. Incidence of unsolicited AEs, serious AEs, fatalities, and potential immune-mediated diseases were similar between RZV and placebo recipients., Conclusion: RZV was immunogenic in patients with STs receiving immunosuppressive chemotherapies. Humoral and cell-mediated immune responses persisted 1 year after vaccination. No safety concerns were identified., (© 2019 The Authors. Cancer published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of American Cancer Society.)

Background: The herpes zoster subunit vaccine (HZ/su), consisting of varicella-zoster virus glycoprotein E (gE) and AS01B Adjuvant System, was highly efficacious in preventing herpes zoster in the ZOE-50 and ZOE-70 trials. We present immunogenicity results from those trials., Methods: Participants (ZOE-50: ≥50; ZOE-70: ≥70 years of age) received 2 doses of HZ/su or placebo, 2 months apart. Serum anti-gE antibodies and CD4 T cells expressing ≥2 of 4 activation markers assessed (CD42+) after stimulation with gE-peptides were measured in subcohorts for humoral (n = 3293) and cell-mediated (n = 466) immunogenicity., Results: After vaccination, 97.8% of HZ/su and 2.0% of placebo recipients showed a humoral response. Geometric mean anti-gE antibody concentrations increased 39.1-fold and 8.3-fold over baseline in HZ/su recipients at 1 and 36 months post-dose 2, respectively. A gE-specific CD42+ T-cell response was shown in 93.3% of HZ/su and 0% of placebo recipients. Median CD42+ T-cell frequencies increased 24.6-fold (1 month) and 7.9-fold (36 months) over baseline in HZ/su recipients and remained ≥5.6-fold above baseline in all age groups at 36 months. The proportion of CD4 T cells expressing all 4 activation markers increased over time in all age groups., Conclusions: Most HZ/su recipients developed robust immune responses persisting for 3 years following vaccination., Clinical Trials Registration: NCT01165177; NCT01165229.

Introduction: Adjuvant platinum-based chemotherapy is standard treatment for surgically resected stage II to IIIA NSCLC, but the relapse rate is high. The preferentially expressed antigen of melanoma (PRAME) tumor antigen is expressed in two-thirds of NSCLC and offers an attractive target for antigen-specific immunization. A phase I dose escalation study assessed the safety and immunogenicity of a PRAME immunotherapeutic consisting of recombinant PRAME plus proprietary immunostimulant AS15 in patients with surgically resected NSCLC (NCT01159964)., Methods: Patients with PRAME-positive resected stage IB to IIIA NSCLC were enrolled in three consecutive cohorts to receive up to 13 injections of PRAME immunotherapeutic (recombinant PRAME protein dose of 20 μg, 100 μg, or 500 μg, with a fixed dose of AS15). Adverse events, predefined dose-limiting toxicity, and the anti-PRAME humoral response (measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) were coprimary end points. Anti-PRAME cellular responses were assessed., Results: A total of 60 patients were treated (18 received 20 μg of PRAME, 18 received 100 μg of PRAME, and 24 received 500 μg of PRAME). No dose-limiting toxicity was reported. Adverse events considered by the investigator to be causally related to treatment were grade 1 or 2, and most were injection site reactions or fever. All patients had detectable anti-PRAME antibodies after four immunizations. The percentages of patients with PRAME-specific CD4-positive T cells were higher at the dose of 500 μg compared with lower doses. No predefined CD8-positive T-cell responses were detected., Conclusion: The PRAME immunotherapeutic had an acceptable safety profile. All patients had anti-PRAME humoral responses that were not dose related, and 80% of those treated at the highest dose showed a cellular immune response. The dose of 500 μg was selected. However, further development was stopped after negative results with a similar immunotherapeutic in patients with NSCLC., (Copyright © 2016 International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) regulate the function of several immune cells, but their role in promoting CD8(+) T cell immunity remains unknown. Here we report that miRNA-155 is required for CD8(+) T cell responses to both virus and cancer. In the absence of miRNA-155, accumulation of effector CD8(+) T cells was severely reduced during acute and chronic viral infections and control of virus replication was impaired. Similarly, Mir155(-/-) CD8(+) T cells were ineffective at controlling tumor growth, whereas miRNA-155 overexpression enhanced the antitumor response. miRNA-155 deficiency resulted in accumulation of suppressor of cytokine signaling-1 (SOCS-1) causing defective cytokine signaling through STAT5. Consistently, enforced expression of SOCS-1 in CD8(+) T cells phenocopied the miRNA-155 deficiency, whereas SOCS-1 silencing augmented tumor destruction. These findings identify miRNA-155 and its target SOCS-1 as key regulators of effector CD8(+) T cells that can be modulated to potentiate immunotherapies for infectious diseases and cancer., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Protein and peptide-based vaccines provide rigorously formulated antigens. However, these purified products are only weakly immunogenic by themselves and therefore require the addition of immunostimulatory components or adjuvants in the vaccine formulation. Various compounds derived from pathogens, minerals or plants, possess pro-inflammatory properties which allow them to act as adjuvants and contribute to the induction of an effective immune response. The results presented here demonstrate the adjuvant properties of novel saponins derived from the Spanish saffron Crocus sativus. In vivo immunization studies and tumor protection experiments unambiguously establish the value of saffron saponins as candidate adjuvants. These saponins were indeed able to increase both humoral and cellular immune responses to protein-based vaccines, ultimately providing a significant degree of protection against tumor challenge when administered in combination with a tumor antigen. This preclinical study provides an in depth immunological characterization of a new saponin as a vaccine adjuvant, and encourages its further development for use in vaccine formulations., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)