Viruses and Vaccines : Past Successes and New Approaches

A special issue of Viruses (ISSN 1999-4915). This special issue belongs to the section "Viral Immunology, Vaccines, and Antivirals".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2021) | Viewed by 24193

Special Issue Editors


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
CIC Cochin Pasteur, AP-HP, Paris, France
Interests: vaccine; respiratory diseases; pregnancy; vaccine hesitancy; infectious disease

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
CIC Cochin Pasteur, AP-HP, Paris, France
Interests: vaccine; respiratory diseases; pregnancy; vaccine hesitancy; infectious disease

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We will review the current advancements against vaccine-preventable viral diseases (e.g., HPV, influenza, and RSV), and perspectives against emerging viral diseases such as COVID-19, Ebola, Dengue, etc. The field of vaccinology is changing more quickly than ever before. The lessons learned from HPV, measles, poliomyelitis, and hepatitis B vaccination programs show that their efficacies can give us hope for significant reductions of the burden of vaccine-preventable viral diseases. However, elimination can only be achieved by overcoming the challenges of timely delivery to key populations, including out of cold chain strategies, in utero immunization, and fight against vaccine hesitancy. Finally, emerging viral diseases such as the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic give us opportunities to discuss and test the whole process of vaccine research, from the new vaccine platforms (mRNA or viral vectors) in preclinical phases to human challenges in clinical research and public engagement in vaccine program implementation.

Prof. Dr. Odile Launay
Dr. Liem Luong
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • COVID-19
  • Emerging infectious diseases
  • Influenza
  • Vaccine hesitancy
  • RSV
  • HPV

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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8 pages, 1748 KiB  
Article
Response to Vaccination against Mumps in Medical Students: Two Doses Are Needed
by Andrea Trevisan, Angelo Moretto, Chiara Bertoncello, Annamaria Nicolli, Stefano Maso, Maria Luisa Scapellato and Paola Mason
Viruses 2021, 13(7), 1311; https://doi.org/10.3390/v13071311 - 7 Jul 2021
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2092
Abstract
Mumps is a vaccine-preventable infectious disease diffuse worldwide. The implementation of mumps vaccination reduced largely the spread of infection. On 11,327 Medical School students the prevalence of mumps positive antibodies was evaluated according to dose/doses of vaccine, year of birth and sex. Compliance [...] Read more.
Mumps is a vaccine-preventable infectious disease diffuse worldwide. The implementation of mumps vaccination reduced largely the spread of infection. On 11,327 Medical School students the prevalence of mumps positive antibodies was evaluated according to dose/doses of vaccine, year of birth and sex. Compliance to mumps vaccine was low in students born before 1990 but increased consistently after this year, above all compliance to two doses, due to the implementation of the vaccine offer. Positivity of mumps antibodies is significantly (p < 0.0001) lower in students vaccinated once (71.2%) compared to those vaccinated twice (85.4%). In addition, students born after 1995, largely vaccinated twice, showed a seropositivity near to 90%. Further, females had a significantly (p < 0.0001) higher proportion of positive antibodies after vaccination than males, both one (74.6% vs. 64.7%) and two doses (86.8% vs. 82.9%). Finally, seropositivity after two vaccine doses remains high (86.1%) even 15 years after the second dose. In conclusion, the research highlighted that vaccination against mumps reaches a good level of coverage only after two doses of vaccine persisting at high levels over 15 years and induces a more significant response in females. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Viruses and Vaccines : Past Successes and New Approaches)
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11 pages, 1289 KiB  
Article
Attitudes towards Anti-SARS-CoV2 Vaccination among Healthcare Workers: Results from a National Survey in Italy
by Francesco Di Gennaro, Rita Murri, Francesco Vladimiro Segala, Lorenzo Cerruti, Amina Abdulle, Annalisa Saracino, Davide Fiore Bavaro and Massimo Fantoni
Viruses 2021, 13(3), 371; https://doi.org/10.3390/v13030371 - 26 Feb 2021
Cited by 131 | Viewed by 7744
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has afflicted tens of millions of people, fostering and unprecedent effort in vaccine development and distribution. Healthcare workers (HCW) play a key role in vaccine promotion and patient guidance, and it is likely that hesitancy among this population will [...] Read more.
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has afflicted tens of millions of people, fostering and unprecedent effort in vaccine development and distribution. Healthcare workers (HCW) play a key role in vaccine promotion and patient guidance, and it is likely that hesitancy among this population will have a major impact on the adoption of a successful immunization policy. To investigate HCW attitudes towards anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2) vaccination, we developed an anonymous online cross-sectional survey. 1723 Italian HCW responded. Overall, 1155 (67%) intended to be vaccinated, while 443 (26%) were not sure and 125 (7%) declared refusal. In multivariate analysis, factors associated with hesitancy were using Facebook as the main information source and being a non-physician HCW, while predictors of acceptance included younger age, being in close contact with high-risk groups and having received flu vaccination during the 2019–2020 season. Reasons for hesitancy included lack of trust in vaccine safety (85%) and receiving little (78%) or conflicting (69%) information about vaccines. According to our results, adequate investment in vaccine education for healthcare personnel appears to be urgently needed, prioritizing non-physicians and information quality spread through social media. We hope that our data could help governments and policy-makers to target communication in the ongoing COVID-19 vaccination campaign. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Viruses and Vaccines : Past Successes and New Approaches)
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Review

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12 pages, 706 KiB  
Review
COVID-19 Vaccines against Omicron Variant: Real-World Data on Effectiveness
by Yousra Kherabi, Odile Launay and Liem Binh Luong Nguyen
Viruses 2022, 14(10), 2086; https://doi.org/10.3390/v14102086 - 20 Sep 2022
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 2994
Abstract
The efficacy of vaccines against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has now been well established in phase III clinical trials. However, clinical studies based on real-world data remain critical to assess vaccines effectiveness (VE), especially in specific populations and against variants of concern (VOC). [...] Read more.
The efficacy of vaccines against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has now been well established in phase III clinical trials. However, clinical studies based on real-world data remain critical to assess vaccines effectiveness (VE), especially in specific populations and against variants of concern (VOC). This review presents the principles and methods of VE studies and the main available results on VE of COVID-19 vaccines at the time of Omicron circulation. References for this narrative review were identified through searches of PubMed database up to 13 September 2022. The results of phase III clinical trials have been globally confirmed by VE in real-life studies, including in the elderly. Emergence of VOC Omicron emphasized the importance of booster doses to maintain a high level of protection against severe forms. There are still numerous challenges regarding booster(s) and duration of immunity, particularly in specific subpopulations, and regarding the need for adapted vaccines. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Viruses and Vaccines : Past Successes and New Approaches)
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16 pages, 15529 KiB  
Review
The Input of Structural Vaccinology in the Search for Vaccines against Bunyaviruses
by Alexandra Serris
Viruses 2021, 13(9), 1766; https://doi.org/10.3390/v13091766 - 4 Sep 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2825
Abstract
A significant increase in the number of viruses causing unexpected illnesses and epidemics among humans, wildlife and livestock has been observed in recent years. These new or re-emerging viruses have often caught the scientific community off-guard, without sufficient knowledge to combat them, as [...] Read more.
A significant increase in the number of viruses causing unexpected illnesses and epidemics among humans, wildlife and livestock has been observed in recent years. These new or re-emerging viruses have often caught the scientific community off-guard, without sufficient knowledge to combat them, as shown by the current coronavirus pandemic. The bunyaviruses, together with the flaviviruses and filoviruses, are the major etiological agents of viral hemorrhagic fever, and several of them have been listed as priority pathogens by the World Health Organization for which insufficient countermeasures exist. Based on new techniques allowing rapid analysis of the repertoire of protective antibodies induced during infection, combined with atomic-level structural information on viral surface proteins, structural vaccinology is now instrumental in the combat against newly emerging threats, as it allows rapid rational design of novel vaccine antigens. Here, we discuss the contribution of structural vaccinology and the current challenges that remain in the search for an efficient vaccine against some of the deadliest bunyaviruses. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Viruses and Vaccines : Past Successes and New Approaches)
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11 pages, 277 KiB  
Review
Human Papilloma Virus Vaccination
by Kendal Rosalik, Christopher Tarney and Jasmine Han
Viruses 2021, 13(6), 1091; https://doi.org/10.3390/v13061091 - 8 Jun 2021
Cited by 31 | Viewed by 7539
Abstract
Human papilloma virus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection worldwide causing a variety of benign and malignant conditions. A significant portion of the global population is infected with HPV, with the virus attributed to causing up to 5% of cancers worldwide. [...] Read more.
Human papilloma virus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection worldwide causing a variety of benign and malignant conditions. A significant portion of the global population is infected with HPV, with the virus attributed to causing up to 5% of cancers worldwide. Bivalent, quadrivalent, and nine-valent vaccinations exist to aid in the prevention of these diseases and have been proven to be effective at preventing both benign and malignant disease. While vaccination is readily accessible in more developed countries, barriers exist to worldwide distribution and acceptance of vaccination. Vaccination and screening of HPV infection when used in combination are proven and predicted to decrease HPV related pathology. Improvements in vaccination formulations, for treatment as well as prevention, are actively being sought from a variety of mechanisms. Despite these advancements, and the data supporting their efficacy, there has been substantial delay in obtaining adequate vaccination coverage. In reviewing these challenges and looking forward to new vaccine development—especially within the current pandemic—it is clear from the challenges of HPV we require methods to more effectively encourage vaccination, ways to dispel vaccination myths as they occur, and implement better processes for vaccine distribution globally. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Viruses and Vaccines : Past Successes and New Approaches)
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