Viral mutation and its influence in the time evolution of the immunizations

In this paper, we study the behavior of immune memory against antigenic mutation. Using a dynamic model proposed by one of the authors in a previous study (A. de Castro [Phys. J. Appl. Phys. 33, 147 (2006) and Simul. Mod. Pract. Theory. 15, 831 (2007)]), we have performed simulations of several inoculations, where in each virtual sample the viral population undergoes mutations. Our results suggest that the sustainability of the immunizations is dependent on viral variability and that the memory lifetimes are not random, what contradicts what was suggested by Tarlinton et al. [Curr. Opin. Immunol. 20, 162 (2008)]. We show that what may cause an apparent random behavior of the immune memory is the antigenic variability.

2014 Immunizations in Iowa, Iowa Immunization Program Annual Report, January 11, 2016

The Bureau of Immunization is part of the Division of Acute Disease Prevention and Emergency Response (ADPER) at the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH). The ADPER division provides support, technical assistance and consultation to local hospitals, public health agencies, community health centers, emergency medical service programs and local health care providers regarding infectious diseases, disease prevention and control, injury prevention and public health and health care emergency preparedness and response. The division encompasses the Center for Acute Disease Epidemiology (CADE), the Bureau of Immunization and Tuberculosis (ITB), the Bureau of Emergency Medical Services (EMS), the Bureau of Communication and Planning (CAP), the Office of Health Information Technology (HIT), and the Center for Disaster Operations and Response (CDOR). The Bureau of Immunization and Tuberculosis includes the Immunization Program, the Tuberculosis Control Program, and the Refugee Health Program. The mission of the Immunization Program is to decrease vaccine‐preventable diseases through education, advocacy and partnership. While there has been major advancement in expanding immunizations to many parts of Iowa’s population, work must continue with public and private health care providers to promote the program’s vision of healthy Iowans living in communities free of vaccine‐preventable diseases. Accomplishing this goal will require achieving and maintaining high vaccination coverage levels, improving vaccination strategies among under‐vaccinated populations, prompt reporting and thorough investigation of suspected disease cases, and rapid institution of control measures. The Immunization Program is comprised of multiple programs that provide immunization services throughout the state: Adolescent Immunization Program, Adult Immunization Program, Immunization Registry Information System (IRIS), Vaccines for Children Program (VFC), Perinatal Hepatitis B Program, and Immunization Assessment Program.

Impact of orthologous melan-A peptide immunizations on the anti-self melan-A/HLA-A2 T cell cross-reactivity.

In HLA-A2 individuals, the CD8 T cell response against the differentiation Ag Melan-A is mainly directed toward the peptide Melan-A26-35. The murine Melan-A24-33 sequence encodes a peptide that is identical with the human Melan-A26-35 decamer, except for a Thr-to-Ile substitution at the penultimate position. Here, we show that the murine Melan-A24-33 is naturally processed and presented by HLA-A2 molecules. Based on these findings, we compared the CD8 T cell response to human and murine Melan-A peptide by immunizing HLA-A2 transgenic mice. Even though the magnitude of the CTL response elicited by the murine Melan-A peptide was lower than the one elicited by the human Melan-A peptide, both populations of CTL recognized the corresponding immunizing peptide with the same functional avidity. Interestingly, CTL specific for the murine Melan-A peptide were completely cross-reactive against the orthologous human peptide, whereas anti-human Melan-A CTL recognized the murine Melan-A peptide with lower avidity. Structurally, this discrepancy could be explained by the fact that Ile32 of murine Melan-A24-33 created a larger TCR contact area than Thr34 of human Melan-A26-35. These data indicate that, even if immunizations with orthologous peptides can induce strong specific T cell responses, the quality of this response against syngeneic targets might be suboptimal due to the structure of the peptide-TCR contact surface.

The facial affective scale as a predictor for pain unpleasantness when children undergo immunizations.

Needle fear is a common problem in children undergoing immunization. To ensure that the individual child's needs are met during a painful procedure it would be beneficial to be able to predict whether there is a need for extra support. The self-reporting instrument facial affective scale (FAS) could have potential for this purpose. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the FAS can predict pain unpleasantness in girls undergoing immunization. Girls, aged 11-12 years, reported their expected pain unpleasantness on the FAS at least two weeks before and then experienced pain unpleasantness immediately before each vaccination. The experienced pain unpleasantness during the vaccination was also reported immediately after each immunization. The level of anxiety was similarly assessed during each vaccination and supplemented with stress measures in relation to the procedure in order to assess and evaluate concurrent validity. The results show that the FAS is valid to predict pain unpleasantness in 11-12-year-old girls who undergo immunizations and that it has the potential to be a feasible instrument to identify children who are in need of extra support to cope with immunization. In conclusion, the FAS measurement can facilitate caring interventions.

The Facial Affective Scale (FAS) as a predictor for pain unpleasantness when children undergo immunizations

Needle fear is a common problem in children undergoing immunization. To ensure that the individual child’s needs are met during a painful procedure it would be beneficial to be able to predict whether there is a need for extra support. The self-reporting instrument facial affective scale (FAS) could have potential for this purpose. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the FAS can predict pain unpleasantness in girls undergoing immunization. Girls, aged 11-12 years, reported their expected pain unpleasantness on the FAS at least two weeks before and then experienced pain unpleasantness immediately before each vaccination. The experienced pain unpleasantness during the vaccination was also reported immediately after each immunization. The level of anxiety was similarly assessed during each vaccination and supplemented with stress measures in relation to the procedure in order to assess and evaluate concurrent validity. The results show that the FAS is valid to predict pain unpleasantness in 11-12-year-old girls who undergo immunizations and that it has the potential to be a feasible instrument to identify children who are in need of extra support to cope with immunization. In conclusion, the FAS measurement can facilitate caring interventions.

Active Learning – Teaching Immunizations

Introduction or Statement of Problem: It is often challenging to get students in a large classroom setting actively involved in a classroom discussion. In order to help students appreciate the effects of low immunization rates, a classroom activity was developed using active learning techniques. This allowed the students to identify and appreciate the complexity of the issues concerning childhood immunizations. [See PDF for complete abstract]

Bringing the Community into the Classroom: Teaching Immunizations Skills via a Community-based Project

Introduction or Statement of Problem Health care profession educators are challenged in their efforts to bring clinical experiences into the class room and to introduce students to community settings early in their didactic training. An immunization program directed at improving childhood immunization rates can introduce students to the community, to students of other disciplines and reinforce the knowledge and skills needed for immunization interventions. Successful interventions increase community demand for immunizations, improve access to services, and educate providers about immunization services and disease. Interventions serve to mold attitudes among health care professionals that foster commitment to universal immunization coverage and low disease rates. [See PDF for complete abstract]

INFLUENCE OF A CLINIC BASED IMMUNIZATION INFORMATION SYSTEM ON INFANT IMMUNIZATIONS

This study focuses on the impact of a clinic-based intervention program on the immunization status of limited-income urban children. The intervention program consisted of an information session for clinic health care providers and the placement of individualized immunization information labels on clinic notes at the time of each visit. The degree of impact of the intervention on immunization administration was ascertained through a comparison of two similar groups of infants born in the same months of the year immediately before (N = 201) and after (N = 203) the information session and initiation of the labeling system. The timeliness of administration of each diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus and trivalent oral polio vaccine (DPT/TOPV) in the first year series of three was compared pre- to postintervention. Significantly more third immunizations were given the postintervention subjects within ten days of the recommended time of application ( p = .0361). Life table analysis indicated that the probability of an infant's passing one year of age without the administration of the third immunization decreased for postintervention infants (p = .0515). The intervention was most successful in assuring administration of the series of immunizations in those infants who were seen by the health care provider for at least 50% of their first year visits. Results indicate that minor changes in the format of information given a relatively continuous provider can increase completion of immunization series in infants. ^

Effect of immunizations on blood group antibody production; progress report,

Mode of access: Internet.

2016 recommended immunizations for children from 7 through 18 years old

This sheet tells what immunizations children should have at various ages. It also lists vaccine-preventable diseases and the vaccines that prevent them.

2016 Recommended Immunizations for Adults: By Age

These charts show which vaccinations you should have at what ages and by what health condition.

Vaccine-induced Th1-type responses are dominant over Th2-type responses in the short term whereas pre-existing Th2 responses are dominant in the longer term

The effect of adjuvant on induction of human papillomavirus type 16 E7 protein-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) and immunoglobulin G (IgG)(2a) antibody was studied in C57BL/6 J mice immunized with various adjuvants and E7 protein. Quil-A adjuvant, but not complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) or Algammulin, induced a T-helper 1 (Th1)-type response to E7, which was characterized by CTL activity against a tumour cell line transfected with E7 protein and by E7-specific IgG(2a). All tested adjuvants elicited comparable levels of E7-specific IgG(1). The longest duration and greatest magnitude of CTL response was seen following two immunizations with the highest dose of E7 and Quil-A. Simultaneous immunization with a Th1 and a T helper 2 (Th2)-promoting adjuvant gave a Th1-type response. However, E7 and Quil-A were unable to induce a Th1-type response (as measured by the inability to generate anti-E7 IgG(2a) antibody) in animals with a pre-existing Th2-type response to E7. These results suggest that saponin adjuvants may be suitable for immunotherapy in humans where a Th1-type response is sought, provided that there is no pre existing Th2-type response to the antigen.

CpG-Induced Th1-Type Response in the Downmodulation of Early Development of Allergy and Inhibition of B7 Expression on T Cells of Newborn Mice

Several differences have been described between neonatal and adult immune responses. The predisposition in early life to Th2-type response or tolerance makes it a susceptible period for infections and allergic sensitization. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effects of CpG-containing oligodeoxynucleotides on neonatal and adult immunization with ovalbumin and Blomia tropicalis extract and compare the CpG effects on B and T cells of neonatal and adult mice. Mice that received CpG showed reduced immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibody production in both neonatal and adult periods, in parallel to increased IgG2a antibody levels. We observed that spleen cells of mice that received CpG in early life produced increased amounts of interferon-gamma upon anti-CD3 stimulation. Negative regulation of IgE response was more pronounced in adult than neonate mice; further, CpG decreased anaphylactic antiovalbumin IgG1 only in adults. Also, an upregulation of toll-like receptor 9 expression was detected in adult B cells, but not in neonatal, upon CpG stimuli. Neonatal B cells showed enhanced interleukin (IL)-10 expression and decreased IL-6 levels than adult B cells in response to CpG. When we analyzed in vitro activation of CD4+ T cells, an increased expression of B7 molecules on T cells in neonates was suppressed by CpG. Altogether, we verified qualitative and quantitative evidences regarding CpG effect on neonatal and adult allergens immunizations, which points to the importance of understanding neonatal immune system to establish immunomodulatory strategies for prevention of allergic diseases.

A DNA vaccine candidate expressing dengue-3 virus prM and E proteins elicits neutralizing antibodies and protects mice against lethal challenge

In an effort to develop a suitable DNA vaccine candidate for dengue, using dengue-3 virus (DENV-3) as a prototype, the genes coding for premembrane (prM) and envelope proteins (E) were inserted into an expression plasmid. After selecting recombinant clones containing prM/E genes, protein expression in the cell monolayer was detected by indirect immunofluorescence and immunoprecipitation assays. After selecting three vaccine candidates (pVAC1DEN3, pVAC2DEN3 and pVAC3DEN3), they were analyzed in vivo to determine their ability to induce a DENV-3-specific immune response. After three immunizations, the spleens of the immunized animals were isolated, and the cells were cultivated to measure cytokine levels by ELISA and used for lymphoproliferation assays. All of the animals inoculated with the recombinant clones induced neutralizing antibodies against DENV-3 and produced a T cell proliferation response after specific stimuli. Immunized and control mice were challenged with a lethal dose of DENV-3 and observed in order to assess their survival capability. The groups that presented the best survival rate after the challenge were the animals vaccinated with the pVAC3DEN3 clones, with an 80% survival rate. Thus, these data show that we have manufactured a vaccine candidate for DENV-3 that is able to induce a specific immune response and protects mice against a lethal challenge.