Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Dan H. Barouch
Summary: This article reviews the protective effects of vaccination and prior infection on severe Covid-19, and proposes future research directions.
NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Haneen Imad Abufares, Leen Oyoun Alsoud, Mohammad A. Y. Alqudah, Mohd Shara, Nelson C. Soares, Karem H. Alzoubi, Waseem El-Huneidi, Yasser Bustanji, Sameh S. M. Soliman, Mohammad H. Semreen
Summary: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused global crises, and the development of vaccines has become a collaborative effort worldwide. WHO-approved vaccines have been shown to be safe and effective, enhancing immune response and reducing the risk of infection. However, the type of vaccine and individual health status have significant impacts on immune responses.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Zeli Zhang, Jose Mateus, Camila H. Coelho, Jennifer M. Dan, Carolyn Rydyznski Moderbacher, Rosa Isela Galvez, Fernanda H. Cortes, Alba Grifoni, Alison Tarke, James Chang, E. Alexandar Escarrega, Christina Kim, Benjamin Goodwin, Nathaniel Bloom, April Frazier, Daniela Weiskopf, Alessandro Sette, Shane Crotty
Summary: Multiple COVID-19 vaccines have successfully protected against symptomatic cases and deaths. Comparisons of T cell, B cell, and antibody responses to different vaccines can provide insights into protective immunity against COVID-19, particularly immune memory. mRNA vaccines and Ad26.COV2.S induced strong T cell responses, while mRNA vaccines showed substantial declines in antibodies.
Editorial Material
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Peter Hotez
Summary: To halt the spread of the coronavirus, a high-level counteroffensive against new destructive forces is necessary.
News Item
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Elie Dolgin
Summary: In the scramble to combat the pandemic, vaccine dosing decisions relied on past experience and best guesses, with modelling tools potentially playing a role.
Article
Immunology
Karolina Kuczborska, Ewelina Krzeminska, Piotr Buda, Edyta Heropolitanska-Pliszka, Barbara Piatosa, Janusz Ksiazyk
Summary: The study compared the seroconversion rates and changes of lymphocyte subsets during COVID-19 in immunocompetent children and those with secondary immunodeficiencies. The results showed that both groups had similar seroconversion rates, but the immunocompromised group had lower titers of anti-S antibodies. The immunocompetent group had a decrease in NK cells, while immunocompromised children had reduced CD4 + /CD 8 + T cell ratios, which may be a protective factor against severe COVID-19.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
News Item
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Heidi Ledford
Summary: Safety concerns have led to delays in the use of two COVID-19 vaccines, prompting scientists to seek answers to important questions.
News Item
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Heidi Ledford
Summary: Nature explores important questions about vaccines being rushed out by countries as viral variants continue to spread globally at a crucial moment in the pandemic.
Article
Immunology
Atefeh Vaezi, Alipasha Meysamie
Summary: This study investigated the cost-effectiveness of various COVID-19 vaccines compared to no vaccination. The results showed varying incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICER) among different vaccines, with Ad26.COV2.S having the lowest cost and CoronaVac having the highest cost. The recommended vaccines for Iran include ad26.cov2.s, chadox1-S, rAd26-S + rAd5-S, and BNT162b2 in that order.
News Item
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Smriti Mallapaty
Summary: Although studies show vaccines reduce the spread of SARS-CoV-2 by more than 80%, the Delta variant is introducing fresh uncertainties.
Review
Immunology
Yandi Zhang, Jo-Lewis Banga Ndzouboukou, Mengze Gan, Xiaosong Lin, Xionglin Fan
Summary: COVID-19 pandemic poses a serious threat to global public health and development, with various vaccines developed rapidly but the virus continues to evolve and produce multiple variants, some of which can evade pre-existing immunity.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Virology
Maria M. Plummer, Charles S. Pavia
Summary: HIV infects and destroys helper T cells to suppress the immune system, reproducing itself via a unique mechanism. HIV/AIDS patients are at higher risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection during the COVID-19 pandemic, but current vaccines have shown to be effective for them as well.
Review
Immunology
Alessia Bignucolo, Lucia Scarabel, Silvia Mezzalira, Jerry Polesel, Erika Cecchin, Giuseppe Toffoli
Summary: A systematic review and meta-analysis on COVID-19 vaccines investigated the influence of sex on vaccine efficacy, finding that men had significantly higher efficacy compared to women in the vaccine group, while women showed increased toxicity. These findings highlight the importance of considering sex as a core variable in the design of clinical trials for COVID-19 vaccines.
Article
Immunology
Daniel Mrak, Felix Kartnig, Daniela Sieghart, Elisabeth Simader, Helga Radner, Peter Mandl, Lisa Goeschl, Philipp Hofer, Thomas Deimel, Irina Gessl, Renate Kain, Stefan Winkler, Josef S. Smolen, Thomas Perkmann, Helmuth Haslacher, Daniel Aletaha, Leonhard X. Heinz, Michael Bonelli
Summary: A study found that patients under immunosuppression experienced a rapid decline in antibodies after the third COVID-19 vaccine dose, and it remains unclear whether immunosuppressive therapy affects immune responses. Monitoring the immune response and adverse events in 50 immunosuppressed patients and 42 healthy controls, it was observed that immunosuppressed patients had significantly lower antibody levels, suggesting the need for an early fourth vaccination.
JOURNAL OF AUTOIMMUNITY
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Protim Sarker, Evana Akhtar, Rakib Ullah Kuddusi, Mohammed Mamun Alam, Md Ahsanul Haq, Md Biplob Hosen, Bikash Chandra Chanda, Farjana Haque, Muntasir Alam, Abdur Razzaque, Mustafizur Rahman, Faruque Ahmed, Md Golam Kibria, Mohammed Zahirul Islam, Shehlina Ahmed, Rubhana Raqib
Summary: This study investigated the immune response of the Bangladeshi population to four different COVID-19 vaccines. The results showed that mRNA vaccines generated a higher antibody response, while different vaccine types had differential cellular responses.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Andrea Matucci, Emanuele Vivarelli, Margherita Perlato, Valentina Mecheri, Matteo Accinno, Lorenzo Cosmi, Paola Parronchi, Oliviero Rossi, Alessandra Vultaggio
Summary: Eosinophils are an important biomarker in eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) and are associated with extrapulmonary involvement.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Irene Veneziani, Claudia Alicata, Lorenzo Moretta, Enrico Maggi
Summary: Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) that activate innate immunity by recognizing pathogens. They are found on tumor cells, tumor microenvironment (TME) cells, and natural killer (NK) cells. TLRs on the cell surface recognize extracellular ligands, while TLRs in endosomes recognize microbial DNA or RNA. Engagement of TLRs activates intracellular pathways, leading to the production of inflammatory molecules. Endosomal TLR agonists have been shown to modify the TME and may be used as immunotherapeutic adjuvants to improve anti-tumor immunity.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Vanessa Desantis, Maria Assunta Potenza, Luca Sgarra, Carmela Nacci, Antonietta Scaringella, Sebastiano Cicco, Antonio Giovanni Solimando, Angelo Vacca, Monica Montagnani
Summary: The pathophysiology of atrial fibrillation (AF) may involve atrial fibrosis/remodeling and dysfunctional endothelial activities. miRNAs regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level and may represent novel and attractive biomarker candidates in AF due to their ease of accessibility in biofluids and prognostic and diagnostic properties.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Review
Oncology
Ilaria Saltarella, Concetta Altamura, Carmen Campanale, Paola Laghetti, Angelo Vacca, Maria Antonia Frassanito, Jean-Francois Desaphy
Summary: Angiogenesis is a critical factor in multiple myeloma, affecting patients' prognosis, survival, and drug resistance. Various anti-angiogenic drugs targeting angiogenic cytokines and their receptors have been developed, along with standard antimyeloma drugs that also exhibit anti-angiogenic effects. This review examines the pharmacological profile and in vitro and in vivo anti-angiogenic effects of these therapies. Although direct targeting of angiogenic cytokines/receptors has shown limited efficacy, there is a need for a deeper understanding of the bone marrow angiogenic niche to develop novel multi-targeting anti-angiogenic therapies.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Andrea Matucci, Emanuele Vivarelli, Margherita Perlato, Valentina Mecheri, Matteo Accinno, Lorenzo Cosmi, Paola Parronchi, Oliviero Rossi, Alessandra Vultaggio
Summary: This study retrospectively analyzed the clinical characteristics of EGPA patients and found that blood eosinophil count (BEC) could predict different phenotypes of EGPA. BEC <= 1500 cells/mL was associated with asthma, chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps, and lung opacities (respiratory-limited phenotype); BEC > 3500 cells/mL was associated with extrapulmonary organ involvement (systemic phenotype). It was also found that ANCA positivity was associated with extrapulmonary involvement.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Valli De Re, Maria Lina Tornesello, Vito Racanelli, Marcella Prete, Agostino Steffan
Summary: Several studies are being conducted to investigate the role of immunity in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma and to identify individuals who would benefit most from systemic therapy based on the etiology of their tumor. Human leukocyte antigens (HLAs) are crucial for antigen presentation to T cells and play a crucial role in the defense against pathogens and tumor cells. Interactions between HLA and innate lymphoid cell receptors, such as natural killer cells and innate lymphoid cell type 2, have been found to activate immune function in liver diseases. Recent studies have highlighted the importance of non-classical HLA-Ib molecules and FAT10, a transcript adjacent to the HLA-F locus, in hepatocarcinoma.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Roberto Paganelli, Michela Di Lizia, Marika D'Urbano, Alessia Gatta, Alessia Paganelli, Paolo Amerio, Paola Parronchi
Summary: Immunodeficiency with thymoma, named after R.A. Good, was first described in 1954. It is characterized by hypogammaglobulinemia, recurrent infections (bacterial, viral, fungal, and parasitic), and commonly associated with autoimmune diseases and other hematological disorders. We report a typical case with detailed immunophenotypic assessment and detection of positive autoantibodies against three cytokines, adding to the understanding of immune abnormalities in this rare condition. A review of published literature offers insights into the unresolved issues of this syndrome.
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Margherita Zen, Mariele Gatto, Roberto Depascale, Francesca Regola, Micaela Fredi, Laura Andreoli, Franco Franceschini, Maria Letizia Urban, Giacomo Emmi, Fulvia Ceccarelli, Fabrizio Conti, Alessandra Bortoluzzi, Marcello Govoni, Chiara Tani, Marta Mosca, Tania Ubiali, Maria Gerosa, Enrica P. Bozzolo, Valentina Canti, Paolo Cardinaletti, Armando Gabrielli, Giacomo Tanti, Elisa Gremese, Ginevra De Marchi, Salvatore De Vita, Serena Fasano, Francesco Ciccia, Giulia Pazzola, Carlo Salvarani, Simone Negrini, Andrea Di Matteo, Rossella De Angelis, Giovanni Orsolini, Maurizio Rossini, Paola Faggioli, Antonella Laria, Matteo Piga, Alberto Cauli, Salvatore Scarpato, Francesca Wanda Rossi, Amato De Paulis, Enrico Brunetta, Angela Ceribelli, Carlo Selmi, Marcella Prete, Vito Racanelli, Angelo Vacca, Elena Bartoloni, Roberto Gerli, Elisabetta Zanatta, Maddalena Larosa, Francesca Saccon, Andrea Doria, Luca Iaccarino
Summary: This study assessed the efficacy of belimumab in treating joint and skin manifestations in a nationwide cohort of SLE patients. The results showed that belimumab significantly improved joint and skin symptoms and reduced the use of glucocorticoids. A significant proportion of patients who did not achieve complete remission initially achieved remission during follow-up.
JOURNAL OF PERSONALIZED MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Linda Di Pietro, Fabio Chiccoli, Lorenzo Salvati, Emanuele Vivarelli, Alessandra Vultaggio, Andrea Matucci, Chelsea Bentow, Michael Mahler, Paola Parronchi, Boaz Palterer
Summary: Anti-RuvBL1/2 autoantibodies have been detected in SSc patients, indicating a newly emerging clinical-serological syndrome. A case study of a 48-year-old man with characteristic symptoms and a distinct ANA pattern was used to define this syndrome, with a total of 52 cases reported so far. These autoantibodies are highly specific for SSc and are associated with SSc/PM overlaps, often involving myopathy, gastrointestinal, and pulmonary symptoms (94% and 88%, respectively).
Article
Allergy
Alessandra Vultaggio, Matteo Accinno, Emanuele Vivarelli, Valentina Mecheri, Giandomenico Maggiore, Lorenzo Cosmi, Paola Parronchi, Olivero Rossi, Enrico Maggi, Oreste Gallo, Andrea Matucci
Summary: This study investigates the correlation between blood CD62Llow inflammatory eosinophils (iEos) and clinical severity of severe eosinophilic asthma (SEA) and evaluates the impact of mepolizumab on iEos.
Article
Immunology
Irene Veneziani, Claudia Alicata, Lorenzo Moretta, Enrico Maggi
Summary: Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are described as homo- or heterodimeric proteins mainly in antigen presenting cells like dendritic cells (DCs), but recent studies have discovered their expression and role also in natural killer (NK) cells. The activation and function of TLRs can be modulated directly or indirectly by TLR agonists. The interplay between DCs and NK cells, mediated by cell-to-cell contact and soluble factors, promotes DC maturation and NK cell activation. Based on this concept, TLR-based immunotherapy targeting the NK-DC axis has been proposed to modulate the tumor microenvironment, improve DC antigen presentation, and enhance NK cell cytotoxicity against tumor cells.
IMMUNOLOGY LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Rheumatology
Marcella Prete, Nicola Susca, Patrizia Leone, Andrea De Giacomo, Antonella Bray, Giuliano Brunori, Elvira Favoino, Federico Perosa, Vito Racanelli
Summary: Belimumab treatment improves the quality of life in SLE patients, reduces disease activity and corticosteroid dosage, and enhances health-related quality of life.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Sebastiano Cicco, Marialuisa Sveva Marozzi, Carmen Alessandra Palumbo, Elisabetta Sturda, Antonio Fusillo, Flavio Scarilli, Federica Albanese, Claudia Morelli, Davide Fiore Bavaro, Lucia Diella, Annalisa Saracino, Fabrizio Pappagallo, Antonio Giovanni Solimando, Gianfranco Lauletta, Roberto Ria, Angelo Vacca
Summary: Lung ultrasound (LUS) can effectively evaluate and follow lung involvement in COVID-19 patients, and early treatment leads to better recovery and reduced lung involvement after three months.
MEDICINA-LITHUANIA
(2023)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Nicola Susca, Antonio Giovanni Solimando, Paola Borrelli, Donatello Marziliano, Francesco Monitillo, Pasquale Raimondo, Domenico Vestito, Agostino Lopizzo, Gaetano Brindicci, Mohammad Abumayyaleh, Ibrahim El-Battrawy, Annalisa Saracino, Salvatore Grasso, Natale Daniele Brunetti, Vito Racanelli, Francesco Santoro
Summary: This retrospective cohort study investigates the use of ECG as a screening tool to predict the severity of COVID-19 upon admission to the emergency department. The study finds that abnormal ECG rhythm is associated with decreased survival and increased risk of death. This finding suggests the potential for using ECG as a cheap and simple procedure to identify high-risk patients.
JOURNAL OF CARDIOVASCULAR DEVELOPMENT AND DISEASE
(2023)