Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
David F. Zeigler, Emily Gage, Christopher H. Clegg
Summary: The study introduced a nanoparticle-based vaccine platform for building broadly protective influenza vaccines targeting conserved epitopes, providing long-lasting immunity. Novel epitopes with higher protective potential were identified using protein sequence and structural information in combination, leading to improved antibody responses.
Article
Microbiology
Zhu-Nan Li, Feng Liu, F. Liaini Gross, Lindsay Kim, Jill Ferdinands, Paul Carney, Jessie Chang, James Stevens, Terrence Tumpey, Min Z. Levine
Summary: A new method for detecting influenza virus antibodies was developed, showing that adults have broader antibody responses, and both vaccination and infection can induce strong antibody responses, including cross-reactive antibodies to novel influenza viruses.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Anouk Smet, Joao Paulo Portela Catani, Tine Ysenbaert, Amanda Goncalves, Harry Kleanthous, Thorsten U. Vogel, Xavier Saelens, Emma R. Job
Summary: This study demonstrates that NA-specific antibodies can interfere with the replication of A(H1N1)pdm09 in human airway epithelial cells, blocking viral entry and egress. Furthermore, human sera with neuraminidase inhibition activity against A(H1N1)pdm09 N1 can also reduce H6N1 virus infection in HAE cells.
Article
Virology
Wentao Shen, Qian Wang, Zhengxiang Wang, Minxuan Liu, Yingying Du, Lvfeng Yuan, Lu Han, Krzysztof Smietanka, Hualan Chen, Shuai Xu, Qiyun Zhu
Summary: The H7N9 subtype influenza A viruses pose a serious threat to public health, and there is still a lack of vaccines or drugs for humans against H7N9 influenza viruses. In this study, two monoclonal antibodies (MAbs), 4H1E8 and 7H9A6, were identified to specifically recognize and neutralize the H7N9 virus. These antibodies inhibit the conformational change of HA and block the HA-mediated membrane fusion, showing promising prophylactic and therapeutic effects against H7N9 virus infection. These findings suggest that these antibodies could be potentially used for the prevention and treatment of H7N9 influenza virus infection.
JOURNAL OF VIROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Ruipeng Lei, Andrea Hernandez Garcia, Timothy J. C. Tan, Qi Wen Teo, Yiquan Wang, Xiwen Zhang, Shitong Luo, Satish K. Nair, Jian Peng, Nicholas C. Wu
Summary: Influenza neuraminidase (NA) has different levels of tolerance to mutations, with antigenic regions showing high mutational tolerance and solvent-exposed regions showing low mutational tolerance. Protein stability is an important factor affecting the fitness of NA mutations. The study's findings on NA's evolutionary potential and biophysical constraints provide insights for NA-based vaccine design.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Yu-Chen Cheng, Shih-Chung Chang
Summary: The study prepared two monoclonal antibodies, 7H6C and YC8, with subtype specificity for H5N8 and H5Nx avian influenza viruses, which can be used for specific detection of HA proteins.
APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Gwo-Yu Chuang, Chen-Hsiang Shen, Crystal Sao-Fong Cheung, Jason Gorman, Adrian Creanga, M. Gordon Joyce, Kwanyee Leung, Reda Rawi, Lingshu Wang, Eun Sung Yang, Yongping Yang, Baoshan Zhang, Yi Zhang, Masaru Kanekiyo, Tongqing Zhou, Brandon J. DeKosky, Barney S. Graham, John R. Mascola, Peter D. Kwong
Summary: Sequence signatures of multidonor broadly neutralizing influenza antibodies have been effectively improved through iterative informatics, biochemical, and structural analyses, leading to enhanced accuracy and neutralization capability. These enhanced signatures can identify HV6-1 class antibodies with higher neutralization potency.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Wen-Chun Liu, Raffael Nachbagauer, Daniel Stadlbauer, Shirin Strohmeier, Alicia Solorzano, Francesco Berlanda-Scorza, Bruce L. Innis, Adolfo Garcia-Sastre, Peter Palese, Florian Krammer, Randy A. Albrecht
Summary: The study demonstrated that sequential immunization with cHA-based vaccines induced durable antibody responses and provided better protection against the 2009 influenza A virus HA conserved stalk domain in ferrets.
Article
Microbiology
Zhiyun Wang, Qiuzi Zhao, Mengqian Huang, Yuqin Duan, Feifei Li, Tao Wang
Summary: This study established a method for detecting HA proteins of H1N1 and H5N1 influenza viruses using a fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) strategy and DNAase I-assisted cyclic enzymatic signal amplification. The method showed accuracy and stability in a complex detection environment.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Yanan Sheng, Jiangxue Wei, Zhengjun Li, Zhiguo Su, Guanghui Ma, Songping Zhang
Summary: In this study, ferritin nanoparticles were used as a carrier for influenza vaccine by chemically conjugating M2e and HA antigens on the outer surface. The dual-antigen vaccine candidate showed high levels of antigen-specific antibodies in immunized mice and provided effective protection against both homologous and heterologous influenza virus strains.
Article
Immunology
James D. Allen, Ted M. Ross
Summary: The study found that broadly-reactive influenza virus vaccine antigens targeting A(H3N2) influenza viruses are more effective at producing cross-reactive antibodies than traditional vaccines, with higher neutralizing capabilities against historical, contemporary, and future drifted influenza strains.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Nan Zhang, Keji Quan, Zixuan Chen, Qun Hu, Maoshun Nie, Nuo Xu, Ruyi Gao, Xiaoquan Wang, Tao Qin, Sujuan Chen, Daxin Peng, Xiufan Liu
Summary: Vaccination is a crucial measure against H9N2 avian influenza viruses in China, but continuous antigenic drift of the virus threatens its effectiveness. This study identified molecular markers and antibody escape residues of the virus, and revealed the emergence of a new antigenic branch since 2015.
EMERGING MICROBES & INFECTIONS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Zishu Chen, Christina Bancej, Liza Lee, David Champredon
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the association between the genetic drift of seasonal influenza viruses and the epidemiological severity of seasonal epidemics in Canada. The results showed no statistical relationship between antigenic distance and influenza severity in Canada. Future studies should consider additional factors that may affect the severity of seasonal influenza.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Letter
Immunology
Wenming Jiang, Chunxia Dong, Shuo Liu, Cheng Peng, Xin Yin, Shaobo Liang, Lin Zhang, Jinping Li, Xiaohui Yu, Yang Li, Jingjing Wang, Guangyu Hou, Zheng Zeng, Hualei Liu
Summary: A novel highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N6) clade 2.3.4.4b virus was isolated from a poultry market in China that a person with a confirmed case had visited. Most genes of the avian and human H5N6 isolates were closely related. The virus also exhibited distinct antigenicity to the Re-11 vaccine strain.
EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Aafke Aartse, Dirk Eggink, Mathieu Claireaux, Sarah van Leeuwen, Petra Mooij, Willy M. Bogers, Rogier W. Sanders, Gerrit Koopman, Marit J. van Gils
Summary: The study focuses on antibody responses against the influenza A virus hemagglutinin (HA)-protein, revealing a majority of HA-trimer B cells tend to bind exclusively to HA-trimer probe, suggesting potential relevance of unexplored specific antibody types.
Article
Allergy
Sharifa Nasreen, Piotr Wilk, Tara Mullowney, Igor Karp
ANNALS OF ALLERGY ASTHMA & IMMUNOLOGY
(2019)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Sharifa Nasreen, Piotr Wilk, Tara Mullowney, Igor Karp
ANNALS OF EPIDEMIOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Pavani K. Ram, Farzana Begum, Christina Crabtree-Ide, Mohammad Rofi Uddin, Anne M. Weaver, Md Golam Dostogir Harun, Jelena Allen, Swapna Kumar, Sharifa Nasreen, Stephen P. Luby, Shams El Arifeen
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TROPICAL MEDICINE AND HYGIENE
(2020)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Sharifa Nasreen, Piotr Wilk, Tara Mullowney, Igor Karp
Summary: The study found that gestational diabetes mellitus increases the risk of asthma in the offspring.
ANNALS OF EPIDEMIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Maria Sundaram, Sharifa Nasreen, Andrew Calzavara, Siyi He, Hannah Chung, Susan E. Bronskill, Sarah A. Buchan, Mina Tadrous, Peter Tanuseputro, Kumanan Wilson, Sarah Wilson, Jeffrey C. Kwong
Summary: This study reports the monthly mortality, hospitalization, and emergency department visit incidence rates among nursing home residents in Ontario from 2010 to 2020. The findings suggest marked differences in these rates in 2020 compared to previous years, which coincide with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Hannah Chung, Siyi He, Sharifa Nasreen, Maria E. Sundaram, Sarah A. Buchan, Sarah E. Wilson, Branson Chen, Andrew Calzavara, Deshayne B. Fell, Peter C. Austin, Kumanan Wilson, Kevin L. Schwartz, Kevin A. Brown, Jonathan B. Gubbay, Nicole E. Basta, Salaheddin M. Mahmud, Christiaan H. Righolt, Lawrence W. Svenson, Shannon E. MacDonald, Naveed Z. Janjua, Mina Tadrous, Jeffrey C. Kwong
Summary: The study demonstrates that two doses of mRNA covid-19 vaccines are highly effective against symptomatic infection and severe outcomes. However, the effectiveness of one dose is lower, particularly for older adults shortly after the first dose. For adults aged >=70 years, vaccine effectiveness estimates were observed to be lower for intervals shortly after one dose but were comparable to those for younger people for all intervals after 28 days.
BMJ-BRITISH MEDICAL JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Sharifa Nasreen, Andrew J. Calzavara, Maria E. Sundaram, Shannon E. MacDonald, Christiaan H. Righolt, Menaka Pai, Thalia S. Field, Lily W. Zhou, Sarah E. Wilson, Jeffrey C. Kwong
Summary: The objective of this study was to estimate the background rates of selected thromboembolic and coagulation disorders in Ontario, Canada. The study found differences in the incidence rates of these diseases in different populations, which helps to understand observed adverse events and detect potential safety signals related to COVID-19 vaccines.
Article
Microbiology
Sharifa Nasreen, Hannah Chung, Siyi He, Kevin A. Brown, Jonathan B. Gubbay, Sarah A. Buchan, Deshayne B. Fell, Peter C. Austin, Kevin L. Schwartz, Maria E. Sundaram, Andrew Calzavara, Branson Chen, Mina Tadrous, Kumanan Wilson, Sarah E. Wilson, Jeffrey C. Kwong
Summary: The study conducted in Ontario, Canada, analyzed the effectiveness of BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech Comirnaty), mRNA-1273 (Moderna Spikevax), and ChAdOx1 (AstraZeneca Vaxzevria) vaccines against different variants of SARS-CoV-2. The findings suggest that two doses of the vaccines provide higher protection, and the effectiveness against hospitalization or death is similar to or higher than against symptomatic infection.
NATURE MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Sharifa Nasreen, Yossi Febriani, Hector Alexander Velasquez Garcia, Geng Zhang, Mina Tadrous, Sarah A. Buchan, Christiaan H. Righolt, Salaheddin M. Mahmud, Naveed Zafar Janjua, Mel Krajden, Gaston De Serres, Jeffrey C. Kwong
Summary: Based on the test-negative study design conducted in Canada, it is estimated that two doses of mRNA or ChAdOx1 vaccine provide excellent protection against severe outcomes like hospitalization and death due to COVID-19.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Sarah A. Buchan, Chi Yon Seo, Caitlin Johnson, Sarah Alley, Jeffrey C. Kwong, Sharifa Nasreen, Andrew Calzavara, Diane Lu, Tara M. Harris, Kelly Yu, Sarah E. Wilson
Summary: This population-based cohort study conducted in Ontario, Canada, investigated the rates of myocarditis or pericarditis following COVID-19 mRNA vaccination, as well as the impact of vaccine products, age, sex, dose number, and interdose interval on the risk of these conditions. The study found that vaccine products and interdose intervals, in addition to age and sex, may be associated with the risk of myocarditis or pericarditis after vaccination. Vaccination program strategies, such as age-based product considerations and longer interdose intervals, may help reduce this risk.
Article
Immunology
Hannah Chung, Peter C. Austin, Kevin A. Brown, Sarah A. Buchan, Deshayne B. Fell, Cindy Fong, Jonathan B. Gubbay, Sharifa Nasreen, Kevin L. Schwartz, Maria E. Sundaram, Mina Tadrous, Kumanan Wilson, Sarah E. Wilson, Jeffrey C. Kwong
Summary: Before the emergence of the Omicron variant, the protection provided by two doses of COVID-19 vaccines decreased over time against any infection and symptomatic infection, but remained high against severe outcomes.
OPEN FORUM INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Sarah C. J. Jorgensen, Alejandro Hernandez, Deshayne B. Fell, Peter C. Austin, Rohan D'Souza, Astrid Guttmann, Kevin A. Brown, Sarah A. Buchan, Jonathan B. Gubbay, Sharifa Nasreen, Kevin L. Schwartz, Mina Tadrous, Kumanan Wilson, Jeffrey C. Kwong
Summary: This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of maternal mRNA covid-19 vaccination during pregnancy against Delta and Omicron SARS-CoV-2 infection and hospital admission in infants. The results showed that maternal vaccination with two doses during pregnancy provided high protection against Delta and moderate protection against Omicron infection and hospital admission in infants, with the third trimester and third dose being the most effective. The effectiveness of two doses decreased as infants age beyond eight weeks.
BMJ-BRITISH MEDICAL JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Pediatrics
Sarah C. J. Jorgensen, Samantha S. M. Drover, Deshayne B. Fell, Peter C. Austin, Rohan D'Souza, Astrid Guttmann, Sarah A. Buchan, Sarah E. Wilson, Sharifa Nasreen, Kevin L. Schwartz, Mina Tadrous, Kumanan Wilson, Jeffrey C. Kwong
Summary: Maternal mRNA COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy reduces the risk of severe neonatal morbidity, neonatal death, and neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission. This study aimed to evaluate the safety outcomes of this vaccine in newborns and early infants and compare limited epidemiological evidence.
Article
Respiratory System
Sharifa Nasreen, Jun Wang, Manish Sadarangani, Jeffrey C. Kwong, Caroline Quach, Natasha S. Crowcroft, Sarah E. Wilson, Allison McGeer, Shaun K. Morris, James D. Kellner, Beate Sander, Julianne Kus, Linda Hoang, Fawziah Marra, Shaza A. Fadel
Summary: A population-based study in Ontario and British Columbia, Canada, found a substantial burden of CAP and AOM in the region. The incidence rates of CAP and AOM varied across different age groups and provinces.
BMJ OPEN RESPIRATORY RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Health Policy & Services
Sharifa Nasreen, Ramanpreet Brar, Samanpreet Brar, Alana Maltby, Piotr Wilk
COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH JOURNAL
(2018)