Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Lorena Sanchez-Felipe, Thomas Vercruysse, Sapna Sharma, Ji Ma, Viktor Lemmens, Dominique Van Looveren, Mahadesh Prasad Arkalagud Javarappa, Robbert Boudewijns, Bert Malengier-Devlies, Laurens Liesenborghs, Suzanne J. F. Kaptein, Carolien De Keyzer, Lindsey Bervoets, Sarah Debaveye, Madina Rasulova, Laura Seldeslachts, Li-Hsin Li, Sander Jansen, Michael Bright Yakass, Babs E. Verstrepen, Kinga P. Boszormenyi, Gwendoline Kiemenyi-Kayere, Nikki van Driel, Osbourne Quaye, Xin Zhang, Sebastiaan ter Horst, Niraj Mishra, Ward Deboutte, Jelle Matthijnssens, Lotte Coelmont, Corinne Vandermeulen, Elisabeth Heylen, Valentijn Vergote, Dominique Schols, Zhongde Wang, Willy Bogers, Thijs Kuiken, Ernst Verschoor, Christopher Cawthorne, Koen Van Laere, Ghislain Opdenakker, Greetje Vande Velde, Birgit Weynand, Dirk E. Teuwen, Patrick Matthys, Johan Neyts, Hendrik Jan Thibaut, Kai Dallmeier
Summary: The candidate vaccine YF-S0, utilizing the YF17D vaccine as a vector to express noncleavable prefusion form of the SARS-CoV-2 spike antigen, showed excellent safety, immunogenicity, and efficacy in animal models. It induced high levels of neutralizing antibodies, provided protective immunity against SARS-CoV-2, and prevented infection in hamsters and macaques. A single dose was able to confer protection from lung disease in most vaccinated hamsters within 10 days, highlighting the potential of YF-S0 as a potent SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidate.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ying Wang, Chen Yang, Yutong Song, J. Robert Coleman, Marcin Stawowczyk, Juliana Tafrova, Sybil Tasker, David Boltz, Robert Baker, Liliana Garcia, Olivia Seale, Anna Kushnir, Eckard Wimmer, Steffen Mueller
Summary: COVI-VAC is an attenuated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine currently in development, which was engineered by recoding a segment of the viral spike protein and deleting the furin cleavage site for added safety. Studies have shown that intranasal vaccination with COVI-VAC in Syrian golden hamsters resulted in lower tissue viral loads, milder lung pathology, and reduced weight loss compared to those inoculated with wild-type virus. Additionally, COVI-VAC generated similar levels of spike IgG antibodies and plaque reduction neutralization titers as wild-type virus inoculation, and provided protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection in hamsters.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Sanjay S. Patel, Martina Rauscher, Maria Kudela, Hang Pang
Summary: This study evaluated the safety of TAK-003 vaccine in participants aged 4-60 years. The results showed that the rates of local and systemic adverse events were similar between the TAK-003 and placebo groups. Injection site pain was the most common adverse event and resolved within 1-3 days. Vaccine-related serious adverse events were more common in the placebo group. Subgroup analyses showed different rates of local reactogenicity among different age groups.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Rajeev Mehla, Prasad Kokate, Sarika R. Bhosale, Vivek Vaidya, Shridhar Narayanan, Radha. K. Shandil, Mayas Singh, Gudepalya R. Rudramurthy, Chakenahalli N. Naveenkumar, Kumaraswamy Bharathkumar, Rob Coleman, Steffen Mueller, Rajeev M. Dhere, Leena R. Yeolekar
Summary: New-born infants are at risk of COVID-19 as passively transferred maternal antibodies wane within 6 months. We developed a live attenuated vaccine that induced high levels of neutralizing antibodies in hamsters and provided complete protection against SARS-CoV-2 variants. The vaccine formulated with the measles-rubella vaccine could potentially enable early immunization in children without an additional injection.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yuexiu Zhang, Mijia Lu, K. C. Mahesh, Eunsoo Kim, Mohamed M. Shamseldin, Chengjin Ye, Piyush Dravid, Michelle Chamblee, Jun-Gyu Park, Jesse M. Hall, Sheetal Trivedi, Supranee Chaiwatpongsakorn, Adam D. Kenny, Satyapramod Srinivasa Murthy, Himanshu Sharma, Xueya Liang, Jacob S. Yount, Amit Kapoor, Luis Martinez-Sobrido, Purnima Dubey, Prosper N. Boyaka, Mark E. Peeples, Jianrong Li
Summary: This study developed a recombinant mumps virus (rMuV)-based SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidate and demonstrated its high immunogenicity and protective efficacy. In animal experiments, the vaccine candidate induced immune responses, generated neutralizing antibodies, and provided protection against SARS-CoV-2 variants.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Fisheries
Hiroaki Saito, Takumi Okamura, Tomoya Shibata, Goshi Kato, Motohiko Sano
Summary: The study aimed to attenuate the pathogenicity of CyHV-2 through serial subculture in order to develop a live attenuated vaccine as a preventive measure against herpesviral hematopoietic necrosis in goldfish farming.
Review
Immunology
Jue Hou, Weijian Ye, Jianzhu Chen
Summary: Dengue is a common mosquito-borne disease caused by four closely related viruses. Developing a vaccine that can protect against all four virus strains without adverse effects is a challenge. Several tetravalent live attenuated vaccine candidates have entered clinical trials.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Jongsuk Mo, Stivalis Cardenas-Garcia, Jefferson J. S. Santos, Lucas M. Ferreri, C. Joaquin Caceres, Ginger Geiger, Daniel R. Perez, Daniela S. Rajao
Summary: IBV is a major respiratory pathogen of humans, and vaccines are the most effective way to control it. Mutations in the PB1 segment of IBV have led to the development of a safe and effective attenuated strain. The compensatory effect of the E48K mutation in stabilizing the K391E mutation has resulted in a safer, yet still protective, IBV LAIV vaccine.
Article
Microbiology
Hui Yan, Guige Xu, Yanli Zhu, Zhijing Xie, Ruihua Zhang, Shijin Jiang
Summary: Novel duck reovirus (NDRV) causes high morbidity in ducklings and stunted growth. The N20 strain, a naturally attenuated strain, was found to provide 100% protection against the virulent NDRV N19 infection. This makes N20 a promising live attenuated vaccine candidate.
VETERINARY MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
J. Wayne Conlan, Anders Sjostedt, H. Carl Gelhaus, Perry Fleming, Kevan McRae, Ronald R. Cobb, Roberto De Pascalis, Karen L. Elkins
Summary: This study explores the potential biological threat posed by Francisella tularensis subspecies tularensis (Ftt) and the development of a novel live vaccine against Ftt. The research identified a mutant strain, SCHU S4 Delta clpB, that outperformed the current unlicensed live vaccine strain (LVS) in a mouse model. SCHU S4 Delta clpB has undergone manufacturing, safety, and efficacy testing, and the necessary steps for further development are detailed in the study.
Article
Immunology
Wei-Xin Chin, Regina Ching Hua Lee, Parveen Kaur, Tian Sheng Lew, Thinesshwary Yogarajah, Hao Yuin Kong, Zi-Yun Teo, Cyrill Kafi Salim, Rong-Rong Zhang, Xiao-Feng Li, Sylvie Alonso, Cheng-Feng Qin, Justin Jang Hann Chu
Summary: VacDZ, a chimeric dengue/Zika virus vaccine candidate, demonstrates key markers of attenuation and induces a protective immune response against Zika virus in animal models, showcasing its potential as a safe and effective vaccine against Zika virus.
Article
Immunology
Munish Puri, Socorro Miranda-Hernandez, Selvakumar Subbian, Andreas Kupz
Summary: Tuberculosis (TB) is a deadly infectious disease, and the only approved vaccine, BCG, provides limited protection against pulmonary TB in adults. Delivering BCG directly into the lungs has shown enhanced immune responses and greater protection against TB. This article discusses the repurposing of existing inhalation devices for mucosal delivery of live attenuated TB vaccines and outlines the challenges and research questions that need to be addressed for their use in TB endemic countries.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Jingao Guo, Youbin Zhang, Yan Zhang, Chao Zhang, Caihong Zhu, Man Xing, Xiang Wang, Dongming Zhou
Summary: This study demonstrates that deletion of E3 genes weakens adenovirus, and single immunization with a bivalent vaccine candidate can protect mice against viral challenge, resulting in significantly decreased viral loads and lung pathology.
EMERGING MICROBES & INFECTIONS
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Hyunjin Shin, Tae-Min La, Hong-Jae Lee, Taesoo Kim, Seung-un Song, Eunjin Park, Gyu-Hyung Park, In-Soo Choi, Seung-Yong Park, Joong-Bok Lee, Sang-Won Lee
Summary: This study evaluated the immune responses and protective efficacy of a temperature-sensitive attenuated S. Enteritidis mutant as a potential vaccine candidate for controlling Salmonella infection in chicken flocks. The Oral/IM group showed stronger immune responses and better protection compared to the IM/Oral group. These results indicate that the S. Enteritidis mutant strain is a promising live attenuated vaccine candidate with good efficacy.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yang Liu, Xianwen Zhang, Jianying Liu, Hongjie Xia, Jing Zou, Antonio E. Muruato, Sivakumar Periasamy, Jessica A. Plante, Nathen E. Bopp, Birte Kalveram, Chaitanya Kurhade, Alexander Bukreyev, Ping Ren, Tian Wang, Vineet D. Menachery, Kenneth S. Plante, Xuping Xie, Scott C. Weaver, Pei-Yong Shi
Summary: In this study, a live-attenuated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidate was engineered by modifying viral transcription regulator sequences and deleting specific open-reading-frames. The resulting increment 3678 virus showed significantly reduced replication in human airway cultures but restored replication in interferon-deficient cells. It exhibited high attenuation in animal models and provided protection against wild-type virus challenge and transmission. Additionally, an mNeonGreen reporter increment 3678 virus was developed for neutralization and antiviral testing.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Maha Alqahtani, Zhuo Ma, Harshada Ketkar, Ragavan Varadharajan Suresh, Meenakshi Malik, Chandra Shekhar Bakshi
JOURNAL OF BACTERIOLOGY
(2018)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Zhuo Ma, Erica Lasek-Nesselquist, Jackson Lu, Ryan Schneider, Riddhi Shah, George Oliva, Janice Pata, Kathleen McDonough, Manjunath P. Pai, Warren E. Rose, George Sakoulas, Meenakshi Malik
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Arwa Alharbi, Seham M. Rabadi, Maha Alqahtani, Dina Marghani, Madeline Worden, Zhuo Ma, Meenakshi Malik, Chandra Shekhar Bakshi
Article
Microbiology
Erica Lasek-Nesselquist, Jackson Lug, Ryan Schneiders, Zhuo Ma, Vincenzo Russo, Smruti Mishra, Manjunath P. Pai, Janice D. Pata, Kathleen A. McDonough, Meenakshi Malik
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2019)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Zhuo Ma, Kayla King, Maha Alqahtani, Madeline Worden, Parthasarathy Muthuraman, Christopher L. Cioffi, Chandra Shekhar Bakshi, Meenakshi Malik
Article
Microbiology
Tarani Kanta Barman, Rachael Racine, Jesse L. Bonin, Danielle Califano, Sharon L. Salmon, Dennis W. Metzger
Summary: Bacterial co-infections are a common and challenging clinical complication of influenza. This study found that mice lacking both type-I and type-II interferon (IFN) pathways demonstrated minimal lung pathology and increased survival in a pneumococcal-influenza virus superinfection model. Therapeutic neutralization of both type-I and type-II IFN pathways provided optimal protection to superinfected wild-type mice.
Article
Immunology
Maha Alqahtani, Zhuo Ma, Kayla Fantone, Meenakshi Malik, Chandra Shekhar Bakshi
Summary: This study found that both AIM2 and NLRP3 are dispensable for vaccination-induced immunity against respiratory tularemia caused by F. tularensis, as even deficient mice were fully protected against lethal challenge doses of the bacteria and displayed unaffected production of antibody and cell-mediated responses.
INFECTION AND IMMUNITY
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Dina Marghani, Zhuo Ma, Anthony J. Centone, Weihua Huang, Meenakshi Malik, Chandra Shekhar Bakshi
Summary: This study elucidates the role of the osrR transcriptional regulator in the pathogenesis of tularemia caused by F. tularensis. The osrR regulator specifically regulates the oxidative and global stress response, virulence, metabolism, and other key pathways genes required by Francisella when exposed to oxidative stress. Understanding such regulatory mechanisms will help identify potential targets for developing effective therapies and vaccines to prevent tularemia.
JOURNAL OF BACTERIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Virology
Amit K. Singh, Kathleen A. Stellrecht, Thilaka Arunachalam, Tarani K. Barman, Michael D. Robek, Michael J. Waxman, Sarah L. Elmendorf, Dennis W. Metzger
Summary: This study found active SARS-CoV-2 virus in only a small percentage of samples from congregate care patients, primarily in those with high viral loads/low antibody titers and early in the disease progression.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL VIROLOGY
(2021)
Review
Virology
Tarani Kanta Barman, Dennis W. Metzger
Summary: This review discusses the role of disease tolerance in viral-bacterial co-infection, focusing on host cytokines and cells that promote tissue protection and damage control.
Article
Microbiology
Ragavan V. Suresh, Elizabeth W. Bradley, Matthew Higgs, Vincenzo C. Russo, Maha Alqahtani, Wiehua Huang, Chandra Shekhar Bakshi, Meenakshi Malik
Summary: Francisella tularensis is a Gram-negative intracellular bacterium that causes tularemia. Classified as a Tier 1 Category A select agent due to its ease of aerosolization and low infectious dose, Francisella has a unique replication cycle where it escapes into the cytosol after uptake. The recognition of Francisella by cytosolic pattern recognition receptors Aim2 and Nlrp3 triggers the assembly and activation of the inflammasome, with Nlrp3 potentially modulating the host's susceptibility to infection.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Smruti Mishra, Erica Lasek-Nesselquist, Anarv Mathur, Zhuo Ma, Kanpong Boonthaworn, Nicholas O'Donnell, Haixin Sui, Janice D. Pata, Kathleen A. McDonough, Pradeepa Jayachandran, Meenakshi Malik
Summary: In this study, the researchers successfully produced and characterized the seesaw effect in MRSA strain N315 using a unique bioreactor model. Although daptomycin resistance conferred enhanced susceptibility to oxacillin, oxacillin treatment of DAP-NS strains was accompanied by a lowered minimum inhibitory concentration for daptomycin. Additionally, there was a reduction in relative positive cell surface charge and cell wall thickness. However, the mutations acquired in our DAP-NS populations were not accompanied by additional genomic changes after treatment with oxacillin, implicating alternative mechanisms for the seesaw effect.
JOURNAL OF GLOBAL ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Zhuo Ma, Matthew Higgs, Maha Alqahtani, Chandra Shekhar Bakshi, Meenakshi Malik
Summary: This study reveals the important role of thioredoxin TrxA1 in the oxidative stress response of Francisella tularensis and its regulation of the master regulator oxyR. TrxA1 is also essential for the intracellular survival and growth of Francisella. These findings provide novel insights into the oxidative stress defense mechanisms of Francisella tularensis.
JOURNAL OF BACTERIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Tarani Kanta Barman, Victor C. Huber, Jesse L. Bonin, Danielle Califano, Sharon L. Salmon, Andrew N. J. McKenzie, Dennis W. Metzger
Summary: This study reveals the interplay between host interferon (IFN)-gamma and viral PB1-F2 virulence protein in regulating the functions of innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) and T cells during influenza virus infection. In the absence of IFN-gamma, lung ILC2s initiate a robust IL-5 response, leading to improved tissue integrity and increased survival. However, the presence of functional PB1-F2 suppresses ILC2 responses and induces a dominant IL-13 CD8 T cell response. This study also demonstrates the importance of IFN-gamma in host resistance against lethal doses of the influenza virus.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Tarani Kanta Barman, Amit K. Singh, Jesse L. Bonin, Tanvir Noor Nafiz, Sharon L. Salmon, Dennis W. Metzger
Summary: This study found that coinfection of SARS-CoV-2 and Streptococcus pneumoniae leads to lung inflammation and death, and the treatment methods differ. Treatment with murine GM-CSF can reduce bacteria and pathology, partially protecting from death, but therapeutic targeting of IFNs does not work. Combined vaccination provides 100% protection against subsequent coinfection.