Project description:This trial will evaluate whether relatively non-immune populations in endemic countries can effectively generate significant cellular and humoral immune responses that confer protection against P. falciparum infection after inoculation of aseptic, purified, vialed, metabolically active, non-replicating (live, radiation attenuated) Plasmodium falciparum sporozoites (PfSPZ Vaccine) administered intravenously (IV).
Project description:The Sanaria® PfSPZ Vaccine can confer sterilizing protection against liver stage infection by Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) in malaria naïve individuals. The vaccine consists of aseptically purified irradiated Pf sporozoites. The PfSPZ Vaccine trial in Mali was the first to evaluate the safety and efficacy of this vaccine in a malaria endemic region. Vaccinees received five doses of 2.7 X 105 irradiated sporozoites and the efficacy was measured against naturally occurring Pf Infections in Malian adults during the malaria transmission season.
Project description:We report a first-in-human trial evaluating safety and immunogenicity of a recombinant BCG, AERAS-422, over-expressing TB antigens Ag85A, Ag85B, and Rv3407 and expressing mutant perfringolysin. Interpretation: The unexpected development of VZV in two of eight healthy adult vaccine recipients resulted in discontinuation of AERAS-422 vaccine development. Immunological and transcriptomal data identified correlations with the development of TB immunity and VZV that require further investigation.
Project description:Safety issues of human iPSC-derived kidney organoids as a regenerative therapy need to be evaluated. Therefore, we studied the immunogenicity of human iPSC-derived kidney organoids. We subcutaneously implanted kidney organoids in immune-deficient IL2Ry-/-RAG2-/- mice for 1 month and hereafter performed adoptive transfer of healthy allogeneic human PBMC. We used single cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) to analyze the diversity of kidney organoid cells and immune cell profiles. We investigated whether innate and adaptive immune cells invade kidney organoids, evoke an immune response, and influence the kidney organoid differentiation and functional capacity. Understanding the immunogenicity of kidney organoids will advance studies in the applicability of kidney organoids for regenerative medicine. Furthermore, it can serve as an in-vivo transplantation model to study solid organ transplantation.
Project description:Despite the importance of immunity against neuraminidase (NA), NA content and immunogenicity is neglected in current influenza vaccines. To address this, a novel recombinant N1/N2 NA vaccine (NAV) was developed. Stability assays were used to determine optimal temperature and buffer conditions for vaccine storage. The effect of calcium-related enhancement of NA stability and activity on N1 and N2 immunogenicity and efficacy against viral challenge was assessed. Differences in activity between N1 and N2 and calcium-related activity enhancement did not translate into differences in immunogenicity or efficacy. NAV vaccinated mice showed robust antibody titers against N1 and N2, decreased viral titers, and decreased antiviral and inflammatory responses by transcriptomic analysis.
Project description:Nine Anopheles gambiae populations were sampled in three areas of Tanzania showing contrasting agriculture activity, urbanization and usage of insecticides for vector control. Insecticide resistance levels were measured in larvae and adults through bioassays with deltamethrin, DDT and bendiocarb. A microarray approach was used for identifying transcription level variations associated to different environments and insecticide resistance. the Ifakara strain originating from central Tanzania and susceptible to all insecticides was used as a reference strain.