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1.
Int J Mol Sci ; 25(13)2024 Jun 28.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39000206

ABSTRACT

The development of vaccines has drastically reduced the mortality and morbidity of several diseases. Despite the great success of vaccines, the immunological processes involved in protective immunity are not fully understood and several issues remain to be elucidated. Recently, the advent of high-throughput technologies has enabled a more in-depth investigation of the immune system as a whole and the characterization of the interactions of numerous components of immunity. In the field of vaccinology, these tools allow for the exploration of the molecular mechanisms by which vaccines can induce protective immune responses. In this review, we aim to describe current data on transcriptional responses to vaccination, focusing on similarities and differences of vaccine-induced transcriptional responses among vaccines mostly in healthy adults, but also in high-risk populations, such as the elderly and children. Moreover, the identification of potential predictive biomarkers of vaccine immunogenicity, the effect of age on transcriptional response and future perspectives for the utilization of transcriptomics in the field of vaccinology will be discussed.


Subject(s)
Precision Medicine , Vaccination , Vaccines , Humans , Precision Medicine/methods , Vaccines/immunology , Gene Expression Profiling/methods , Transcriptome , Transcription, Genetic , Animals
2.
Vaccines (Basel) ; 11(7)2023 Jun 25.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37514964

ABSTRACT

mRNA vaccines have been instrumental in controlling the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, but the short-lived protection mediated by Receptor Binding Domain (RBD)-specific antibodies necessitates frequent revaccinations to enhance vaccine-induced immunity. The development of RBD-specific B cell memory is critical for improving the qualitative and quantitative characteristics of the immune response. However, the effect of additional doses of mRNA vaccines on the composition of the RBD-specific B cell memory pool remains unclear. In this study, we found that dual BNT162b2 vaccination significantly increased both total RBD-specific and memory RBD-specific B cells and neutralizing antibodies. Following the second BNT162b2 dose, we showed a trend for the enrichment of CD27+IgM- memory RBD-specific B cells, which are known to correlate with a strong humoral response upon re-challenge. Repeated Measures Correlation (rmcorr) analysis revealed a significant correlation between antibody titers and both total and memory RBD-specific B cells, demonstrating that B cell and antibody responses are generated in a coordinated manner following BNT162b2 mRNA immunization. Our findings indicate that additional doses of the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine enhance the qualitative and quantitative enrichment of the memory B cell pool against the vaccine antigens and collectively demonstrate the induction of a coordinated immune response to mRNA vaccination.

3.
Vaccines (Basel) ; 11(1)2023 Jan 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36679948

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: mRNA vaccines have played a crucial role in controlling the SARS-CoV-2 global pandemic. However, the immunological mechanisms involved in the induction, magnitude and longevity of mRNA-vaccine-induced protective immunity are still unclear. METHODS: In our study, we used whole-RNA sequencing along with detailed immunophenotyping of antigen-specific T cells and humoral RBD-specific response to dual immunization with the Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA vaccine (BNT162b2) and correlated them with response to an additional dose, administered 10 months later, in order to comprehensively profile the immune response of healthy volunteers to BNT162b2. RESULTS: Primary dual immunization induced upregulation of the Type I interferon pathway and generated spike protein (S)-specific IFN-γ+ and TNF-α+ CD4 T cells, S-specific memory CD4 T cells, and RBD-specific antibodies against SARS-CoV-2. S-specific CD4 T cells induced by the primary series correlated with the RBD-specific antibody titers to a third dose. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates the induction of both innate and adaptive immunity in response to the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine in a coordinated manner and identifies the central role of primarily induced CD4+ T cells as a predictive biomarker of the magnitude of anamnestic immune response.

4.
Vaccines (Basel) ; 10(11)2022 Nov 18.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36423047

ABSTRACT

Pregnancy is characterized by immunological alterations in pregnant women that permit the growth of a semi-allogenic fetus, resulting in greater susceptibility of childbearing women to infections. Furthermore, due to the immaturity of the immune system of neonates, a protection gap is present in early life, leaving neonates and infants vulnerable to infectious diseases with increased morbidity and mortality. Maternal immunization against influenza, pertussis, and, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, SARS-CoV-2 has been implemented in several countries, with beneficial effects on both the mother and the offspring. The main protective mechanism of vaccination during pregnancy is transplacental transfer of maternal antibodies. However, recent evidence has implied that the fetal immune system may be influenced beyond passive immunity. This review sheds light on the current status of the routinely administered vaccinations during pregnancy, focusing on the impact of maternal immunization on the priming of the fetal immune system and suggesting future perspectives for the optimization of vaccination strategies.

5.
Vaccines (Basel) ; 10(8)2022 Jul 29.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36016097

ABSTRACT

Humoral immunity after SARS-CoV-2 immunization or natural infection is thought to be evanescent. In our study, we aimed to longitudinally characterize the kinetics of antibody titers after dual BNT162b2 immunization or wild-type infection. Vaccinated and recovered individuals displayed distinct antibody kinetics, as convalescents had detectable RBD-, S1-specific, and neutralizing IgG antibody titers two weeks post-infection that gradually increased longitudinally, while RBD-, S1-specific, and neutralizing IgG were detected in vaccinees after the first dose, increased significantly 3 weeks post the second dose and decreased significantly 4-5 months thereafter. Neutralizing IgG was significantly higher initially in convalescent individuals; however, vaccines displayed significantly higher neutralizing antibodies 4-5 months post the second dose. In both groups, there was a strong negative association between elapsed time and antibody levels. The avidity of anti-RBD antibody titers increased significantly in patients longitudinally, while in vaccinees initially increased, with subsequent decrease, remaining however higher than antibody avidity of recovered individuals at all time-points. Anti-RBD antibodies were strongly correlated with neutralizing and anti-S1 antibodies in both groups at all time-points. This study facilitates our further understanding of immune response to SARS-CoV-2 and vaccines.

6.
Acta Med Hist Adriat ; 17(1): 55-64, 2019 07 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31315408

ABSTRACT

In an era when medicine in Greece was dominated by men, at the end of the 19th and during the first decades of 20th century, two women, Maria Kalapothakes [in Greek: Μαρία Καλαποθάκη] (1859-1941) and Angélique Panayotatou [in Greek: Αγγελική Παναγιωτάτου] (1878-1954), managed to stand out and contribute to the evolution of medicine. Maria Kalapothakes received medical education in Paris and then she returned to Greece. Not only did she contribute to several fields of medicine, but also exercised charity and even undertook the task of treating war victims on many occasions. Angélique Panayotatou studied medicine at the University of Athens and then moved to Alexandria in Egypt, where she specialized in tropical medicine and also engaged in literature. Panayotatou became the first female professor of the Medical School of Athens and the first female member of the Academy of Athens. In recognition for their contributions, Kalapothakes and Panayotatou received medals and honors for both their scientific work and social engagement.


Subject(s)
Academies and Institutes/history , Physicians, Women/history , Schools, Medical/history , Egypt , Greece , History, 19th Century , History, 20th Century , Paris
7.
Hellenic J Cardiol ; 60(3): 152-164, 2019.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30273645

ABSTRACT

Medical advances in pediatric oncology have led to increases in survival but the long-term adverse effects of treatment in childhood cancer survivors have not yet been examined in depth. In this systematic review, we aimed to study the prevalence and risk factors of late-onset cardiomyopathy (LOCM) among survivors of childhood lymphoma treated with anthracyclines. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines we searched Pubmed/Medline, abstracted data and rated studies on quality regarding late-onset (>1 year following treatment) cardiotoxicity of anthracyclines in survivors of childhood lymphoma. Across 22 identified studies, the prevalence of anthracycline-induced LOCM among survivors of childhood lymphoma ranges from 0 to 40%. Anthracycline dose, administration and dose of mediastinal radiation, patient's age and era of diagnosis and evaluation, follow-up duration as well as disease relapse have been reported as risk factors for LOCM, whereas administration of dexrazoxane seems to act protectively. There was significant between-study heterogeneity with regards to lymphoma subtypes, follow-up duration, definition of outcomes, and anthracycline-based treatment protocols. The rates of anthracycline-induced LOCM among survivors of childhood lymphoma are high and dependent on study design. Future studies should explore whether modifying risk factors and suggested supportive care could decrease its prevalence among childhood lymphoma survivors. Until then, lifelong follow-up of these patients aiming to determinate the earliest signs of cardiac dysfunction is the most important measure towards primordial prevention of LOCM.


Subject(s)
Anthracyclines/adverse effects , Cancer Survivors/statistics & numerical data , Cardiomyopathies/chemically induced , Lymphoma/drug therapy , Age of Onset , Cardiomyopathies/epidemiology , Cardiotoxicity , Child , Global Health , Humans , Incidence , Risk Factors , Survival Rate/trends , Time Factors
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