Immunization Rates Research Articles

Bioproduction and immunogenic evaluation of SARS-CoV-2 prototype vaccine in silkworm BmN cells

COVID-19, caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, has presented a significant challenge to global health, security, and the economy. Vaccination is considered a crucial measure in preventing virus transmission. The silkworm bioreactor has gained widespread usage in antigen presentation, monoclonal antibody preparation, and subunit vaccine development due to its safety, efficiency, convenience, and cost-effectiveness. In this study, we employed silkworm BmN cells and the silkworm MultiBac multigene co-expression system to successfully produce two prototype vaccines: a recombinant baculovirus vector vaccine (NPV) co-displaying the SARS-CoV-2 virus capsid protein and a capsid protein virus-like particle (VLP) vaccine. Following the purification of these vaccines, we immunized BALB/c mice to evaluate their immunogenicity. Our results demonstrated that both VLP and NPV prototype vaccines effectively elicited robust immune responses in mice. However, when equal inoculation doses between groups were compared, the recombinant NPV vaccine exhibited significantly higher serum antibody titers and increased expression of spleen cytokines and lymphocyte immune regulatory factors compared to the VLP group. These results suggested an increased immune efficacy of the recombinant NPV vaccine. Conversely, the VLP prototype vaccine displayed more pronounced effects on lymphocyte cell differentiation induction. This study successfully constructed two distinct morphological recombinant vaccine models and systematically elucidated their differences in humoral immune response and lymphocyte differentiation rate. Furthermore, it has fully harnessed the immense potential of silkworm bioreactors for vaccine research and development, providing valuable technical insights for studying mutated viruses like coronaviruses.

Overview of the Implementation of the First Year of Immunization against Human Papillomavirus across Different Administrative Units in Serbia and Montenegro.

Despite the availability of a safe and effective vaccination, uptake of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination remains low worldwide. We aimed to analyze the coverage of HPV immunization during the first year of the immunization program and the sociodemographic characteristics across different administrative units in Serbia and Montenegro. Coverage of HPV vaccination in Serbia for females aged 9-14 and 15-19 years was 5.5% and 5.9%, respectively. The coverage rate of immunization against HPV in Montenegro for girls aged 9-14 years was 22.1%. Within Serbia, only one administrative region (Moravica) had HPV immunization coverage in girls 9-19 years old above 10%, 11 districts had coverage from 5 to 10%, while 13 districts had coverage below 5%. As per Montenegro, two administrative units, Cetinje and Berane, reported the highest coverage, with 39% and 36.4% of vaccinated eligible girls, respectively. When we explored the coverage of HPV immunization among girls aged 9-19 years across different regions in Serbia, we observed that the level of coverage did not correlate with the number of pediatricians or with the population density. In Montenegro, we observed a similar situation. On the other hand, we noticed a statistically significant moderate negative correlation (r = -0.446; p = 0.026) between HPV immunization coverage and the percentage of illiterate women in the administrative units. Comparing the coverage between the two countries we found that the higher coverage in Montenegro corresponded with a smaller number of female populations aged 9-14 years, with higher average net monthly income, with smaller population density and smaller number of pediatricians, among divorced persons, and among those without formal education or incompletely primary education. Taking into account the experiences in Montenegro, increasing immunization coverage in Serbia could be achieved through a more vigorous educational campaign targeting schools, the general population, and healthcare workers as well as by additionally incentivizing those engaged in these activities.

Hybrid Immunity Protects against Antibody Fading after SARS-CoV-2mRNA Vaccination in Kidney Transplant Recipients, Dialysis Patients, and Medical Personnel: 9 Months Data from the Prospective, Observational Dia-Vacc Study.

(1) Background: Compared to medical personnel, SARS-CoV-2mRNA vaccination-related positive immunity rates, levels, and preservation over time in dialysis and kidney transplant patients are reduced. We hypothesized that COVID-19 pre-exposure influences both vaccination-dependent immunity development and preservation in a group-dependent manner. (2) Methods: We evaluated 2- and 9-month follow-up data in our observational Dia-Vacc study, exploring specific cellular (interferon-γ release assay = IGRA) and/or humoral immune responses (IgA/IgG/RBD antibodies) after two SARS-CoV-2mRNA vaccinations in 2630 participants, including medical personnel (301-MP), dialysis patients (1841-DP), and kidney transplant recipients (488-KTR). Study participants were also separated into COVID-19 pre-exposure (hybrid immunity) positive (n = 407) versus negative (n = 2223) groups. (3) Results: COVID-19 pre-exposure improved most vaccination-related positive immunity rates in KTR and DP at 2 months but not in MP, where rates reached almost 100% independent of hybrid immunity. In the COVID-19-negative study, patients' immunity faded between two and nine months, evaluated via the percentage of patients with an RBD antibody decrease >50%, and was markedly group- (MP-17.8%, DP-52.2%, and KTR-38.6%) and vaccine type-dependent. In contrast, in all patient groups with COVID-19, pre-exposure RBD antibody decreases of >50% were similarly rare (MP-4.3%, DP-7.2%, and KTR-0%) but still vaccine type-dependent, with numerically reduced numbers in mRNA-1273- versus BNT162b2mRNA-treated patients. Multivariable regression analysis of RBD antibody changes between two and nine months by interval scale categorization confirmed COVID-19 pre-exposure as a factor in inhibiting strong RBD Ab fading. COVID-19 pre-exposure in MP and DP also numerically reduced T-cell immunity fading. In DP, symptomatic (versus asymptomatic) COVID-19 pre-exposure was identified as a factor in reducing strong RBD Ab fading after vaccination. (4) Conclusions: After mRNA vaccination, immunity positivity rates in DP and KTR but not MP, as well as immunity preservation in MP/DP/KTR, are markedly improved via prior COVID-19 infection. In DP, prior symptomatic compared to asymptomatic COVID-19 disease was particularly effective in blocking immunity fading after mRNA vaccination.

The Impact of Social Determinants of Health on Vaccination Uptake

This review sought to establish the impact of social determinants of health on vaccination uptake. The analysis established that the link between SDH and vaccination uptake is multifaceted with different factors affecting the uptake rates. For instance, economic stability affected vaccination uptake because it affected people’s ability to access insurance coverage or keep up with vaccination schedule. Healthcare access was also a key determinant factor to vaccination uptake. Lack of access limited individuals’ abilities to access vaccines. Other factors that played a role are education levels, social and community context, and built environment. The interaction between these factors contributed to disparities, inequities, and lower immunization rates. Addressing the disparities and inequities in vaccination uptake is important because it derails efforts that have already been made in addressing communicable diseases. It affects herd immunity, leads to strain of healthcare systems, and affects resource utilization. Due to these negative effects, it is important to take measures that can address the disparities. Collaboration with the community, policy reforms, and community interventions are some of the measures that can be used to increase uptake. These measures can address the underlying factors that cause disparities and affect vaccination uptake. Keywords: Social determinants of health (SDH), vaccination uptake, health outcomes, access, economic stability, health disparities

Impact of integrated child development scheme on nutritional and health status of children

The Indian government’s centerpiece initiative, the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) project, aims to improve the overall growth, wellness, and nutrition of children under six years old and pregnant and breastfeeding mothers’ nutritional and physical well-being. KanyaKumari (KK) district, located in the southern state of Tamil Nadu, has also benefited from this program. Using a questionnaire survey method, valid data were collected from 120 participants, and interviews were subsequently conducted with 52 individuals to gain deeper insights into the research topic. SPSS statistical software was utilized. The program under assessment, the ICDS, targets children under six and pregnant and lactating mothers, offering services like nutrition, healthcare, and early childhood education to improve their health and Nutritional Status (NS). The indicators being assessed include nutritional and Health Status (HS) (e.g., malnutrition, immunization rates) to decrease malnutrition and improve overall health outcomes. The findings of this study indicate that the prevalence of child malnutrition has decreased, suggesting that the ICDS has been effective in improving the NHC. The novelty of this research lies in its specific focus on the KK district, its evaluation of a government program’s impact, and its emphasis on child welfare and development. The study’s insights on integrated child development programs can inform policymakers, healthcare providers, and community groups globally, aiding efforts to improve child health and nutrition implications. The ICDS has had a positive impact on the NHC in the KK district. However, continuous efforts are required to overcome challenges and ensure the sustained success of the program in the district.

The immunization questionnaire for understanding unwellness (TIQUU): Fun learning about vaccination using an innovative storytelling approach

BackgroundVaccination is a pivotal tool in public health. In LMICs like Pakistan, challenges hinder high immunization rates. This study addresses gaps in vaccination knowledge among school children through innovative educational interventions. The study aims to enhance vaccination awareness and contribute to health education discourse. MethodologyThis quasi-experimental study was conducted in 4 private schools in Karachi, Pakistan, from February to May 2021. Children aged 8–12 years in grades 2–5 were enrolled. An interactive discussion on vaccine safety and immunization was conducted using a bilingual pictorial storybook. Group-I experienced traditional Urdu book reading, while Group-II engaged with a digital animated video in English. A pre-test was conducted to assess baseline knowledge about immunization followed by an interactive discussion and immediately a post-test. Test scores were analyzed using paired sample t-test using Stata 17.0 version. ResultsThe study enrolled 400 students in Karachi, Pakistan. Both groups exhibited significant knowledge shifts regarding vaccine-related topics. Group-I (Analog Urdu) showed changes in understanding sickness reasons, vaccine timing, newborn protection, sports injury response, and memory impact. Group-II (Digital English) displayed shifts in illness understanding, recommended actions, injection and vaccine knowledge, safety perceptions, measles prevention, and management during sports injury. A statistically significant improvement in mean scores was observed. ConclusionAs a proactive and early strategy to alleviate the societal burden of under-immunization, cost-effective educational interventions can be integrated into school curricula. Our approach through bilingual pictorial storybooks and animated videos has been proven effective and helps one grasp immunization's importance.

Exploring Vaccine Hesitancy Among Parents in a Rural Pediatric Clinic System: A Statistical Study.

Vaccine hesitancy has been a growing concern in the United States, particularly in rural areas where access to healthcare services may be limited. A rural pediatric clinic system in central Louisiana serves a population with historically low childhood immunization rates. This study explored the prevalence and determinants of vaccine hesitancy among parents of pediatric patients at the organization's clinics. A qualitative survey was conducted among parents who declined vaccines for their children at the organization's clinics. The survey collected information on parents' attitudes, beliefs, decision-making processes regarding childhood vaccinations, and demographic information about the parents, including income and education levels. Thematic analysis was used to identify key themes and patterns in the survey responses. Thirty out of 47 parents (response rate: 64%) completed the survey. Most respondents (n=24, 80%) expressed concerns about vaccine safety and potential side effects. Many parents (n=16, 60%) cited information from social media and alternative health sources as influencing their decision to decline vaccines. Religious and philosophical beliefs were also common reasons for vaccine refusal (n=13, 43%). Another significant theme was the lack of trust in healthcare providers and the pharmaceutical industry (n=17, 53%). No significant differences in responses were observed based on the parent's race or the child's sex. Ninety percent of participants (n=27) reported a household income of under $50,000, and 87% of participants (n=26) had a high school education or less. Vaccine hesitancy among parents in this rural pediatric population appears to be driven by concerns about vaccine safety, exposure to misinformation, religious and philosophical beliefs, and distrust in the healthcare system. Addressing these factors through targeted education, provider communication, and community engagement may be essential for improving childhood immunization rates in this vulnerable population. The findings highlight the need for culturally sensitive, evidence-based interventions to combat vaccine hesitancy in rural communities.

Creating the vaccination improvement potential index

BackgroundNumerous social and behavioral factors have been implicated in vaccination coverage. There is no single measure that describes a country's ability to improve or maintain its immunization coverage. MethodsWe estimated the “Vaccination Improvement Potential” (VIP) by taking the geometric mean of 13 different indicators on health financing, vaccine confidence, and socio-demographics for more than 200 countries across 30 years. Potential VIP Index values range from 0 to 1, with a higher score indicating greater potential to improve or maintain high vaccination rates. FindingsIn 1990, the mean VIP score was 0.49 (range = 0.13 to 0.86). In 2019, the mean score was 0.59 (range = 0.25 to 0.84). Consistent high performers included countries in Western Europe and high-income North America and East Asia. Important differences in subcomponents of the index drove major trends including vaccine hesitancy in Western Europe and Asia as well as lower levels of per capita health spending and development assistance in sub-Saharan Africa. InterpretationThe VIP Index is a first-of-its-kind tool for understanding the capacity that exists in a country to realize improved immunization rates. It is a new resource that can guide researchers, policymakers, and health officials to more effectively deploy resources to realize improvements in vaccination coverage, assess the impact of those improvements, and identify countries that might require additional support to improve vaccine coverage. FundingMerck Sharp & Dohme Corp.

Stability analysis of a fractional-order [formula omitted] epidemic model for the COVID-19 pandemic

To explore the impact of the COVID-19 vaccination rate and immune loss rate on the pandemic, this paper proposes a fractional-order SIV1V2S epidemic model with vaccination ineffectiveness and infection differences. And we compare and analyze the dynamic differences between integer-order and Caputo fractional-order operators. First, we show the non-negativity and boundedness of solutions for the Caputo fractional-order model. Based on the basic reproduction number, we use the fractional-order matrix eigenvalue method and the Routh–Hurwitz criterion to determine the local asymptotic stability of disease-free equilibrium points and endemic equilibrium points, construct Lyapunov functions, and use the fractional-order Barbalat’s Lemma to prove the global asymptotic stability of the two equilibrium points. Second, real data from India were used to fit the model parameters and get the optimal fractional-order parameter, and then sensitivity analysis was performed on the basic reproduction number. Further, through numerical simulation of different fractional-order parameter epidemic models, we verify the global asymptotic stability of the equilibrium point of the fractional-order SIV1V2S COVID-19 model. The comparison shows that the fractional-order model is more closely related to actual virus transmission than the integer-order model. In the case of the SIV1V2S model, which only considers vaccination measures, simultaneously increasing the vaccination rate of susceptible individuals and reducing the rate of immunization loss can effectively control epidemic transmission.

COVID-19 Pandemic: Challenges, Controversies and What we have Learned

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic put us in a very difficult situation and created a lot of challenges for both diagnostics and follow-up of patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). We also had difficult problems understanding the virus-host interactions and the progression of the immune response. Objectives: We aimed to point out our experience in the diagnostics of SARS-CoV-2 in patients admitted to Fundeni Clinical Institute. We have also investigated the healthcare personnel in order to have some epidemiologic data about the transmission of the new coronavirus in our institute. Methods: Three different real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assays were used to screen for the new coronavirus infection. The immunization rate against SARS-CoV-2 was detected by assessing the IgG antibodies in both patients and clinical staff. We have used the chemiluminescence method to assess the anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies. Results: Most of the diagnosed patients with SARS-CoV-2 infections were admitted to the surgery wards for hematology and gastroenterology. Our data showed that all the diagnosed patients developed IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, but we have noticed that the immunization against SARS-CoV-2 did not last. Conclusions: Our experience with the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic emphasized that molecular diagnostics by RT-PCR was essential, together with the study of IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, thus enabling us to better interpret PCR test results.

Worth a Shot: Experience and Lessons From an Unsuccessful Pediatric Immunization Quality Improvement Effort in a Large Health System During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

During the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, routine childhood immunization rates dropped dramatically across the world, and the Military Health System (MHS) was no exception. In the MHS, which is a large, universally covered, low-to-no-cost health system, the immunization rates with the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine remain below the rate necessary to prevent community transmission of measles. We aimed to improve childhood immunization rates in the MHS with an expansive quality improvement project. Measles, mumps, and rubella immunization rates served as proxy outcome measures for routine immunization rates tracked by the Center for Disease Control multi-immunization combination measures. The tracked measure was the percentage of 16- to 18-month olds and 6-year olds who had received MMR #1 and MMR #2, respectively. Various countermeasures were implemented throughout the study period, and standard quality improvement analyses informed the effect of countermeasures. By January 2023, the percentage of 16- to 18-month olds and 6-year olds who had received MMR #1 and MMR #2 was 85% and 91%, respectively, with no positive shift in immunization rates despite various countermeasures introduced during the study period. For reference, the MMR immunization rates of commercial health maintenance organization and commercial preferred provider organization for 24-month-old populations were 92% and 90.3%, respectively. On chart review, the most common cause for under-immunization (55%) was vaccine abandonment. MMR #1 rates rose to 92% in 24-month olds. Measles, mumps, and rubella immunization rates within the MHS remained below commercial health system rates and below public health standards required for herd immunity despite various countermeasures throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Immunization rates increased with age, suggesting that children within the MHS eventually catch up despite potential barriers.

Development and evaluation of self-assembling nanovaccine for immune protection against spring viremia of carp

Self-assembled peptides have become a hot topic in research on new fishery-immersed nanovaccines due to their physical and chemical properties and efficient carrying capacity. Using solid-phase synthesis, this study constructed the self-assembled nanovaccine SVG-Q11 for SVCV, assessing its safety at cellular and individual levels and comprehensively evaluating its preventive efficacy through immunization and immune challenge tests. Experimental results show that the constructed SVG-Q11 nanovaccine can be formed by self-assembly. At the cellular level, the survival rates of carp macrophages and EPC cells in each treatment group were higher than 90%. At the individual level, at the highest treatment concentration of 40 mg/L, there was no significant difference in the growth indicators and organ health of carps after immersion in SVG-Q11. The expression levels of non-specific immunity and immune-related genes in the SVG-Q11 group were significantly higher than those in the other groups. After challenge, the SVG-Q11 vaccine at the highest concentration (20 mg/L) achieved a 73% immune protection rate. The SVG-Q11 self-assembled nanovaccine can also effectively penetrate biological barriers, enhance antigen presentation, and improve immune efficacy. This study innovatively provides a theoretical basis for the research on self-assembled nanovaccines in aquaculture.

Biosynthetic MnSe nanobomb with low Mn content activates the cGAS-STING pathway and induces immunogenic cell death to enhance antitumour immunity

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a relatively “cold” tumour with low immunogenicity compared to other tumour types. Especially, the immune checkpoint inhibitors to treat metastatic TNBC only shows the modest immune response rates. Here, we used Chlorella vulgaris as a bioreactor to synthesize an efficient nanobomb (Bio-MnSe) aimed at eliciting systemic anti-tumour immune response. Despite possessing extremely low Mn content, Bio-MnSe effectively produced more ROS and activated stronger cGAS-STING signal pathway compared to pure Se nanoparticles and free Mn2+ ions, promoting the infiltration of natural killer (NK) cells, cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) in tumour, effectively turning “cold” tumour into “hot” tumour, and achieving strong antitumour immunotherapy. Additionally, the use of αPD-L1 as an immune checkpoint antagonist further increased the anti-tumour immune response of Bio-MnSe, resulting in enhanced anti-tumour effects. Doxorubicin (Dox), an immunogenic cell death (ICD) inducer, was combined with Bio-MnSe to form Bio-MnSe@Dox. This Bio-MnSe@Dox not only directly damaged tumour cells and induced tumour ICD but also promoted dendritic cell maturation, cytotoxic T lymphocyte infiltration, and NK cell recruitment, synergistically intensifying anti-tumour immune responses and suppressing tumour relapse and lung metastasis. Collectively, our findings propose an effective strategy for transforming ‘cold’ tumours to ‘hot’ ones, thereby advancing the development of anti-tumour immune drugs. Statement of significanceA biogenic MnSe (Bio-MnSe) nanocomposite was synthesized using Chlorella vulgaris as a bioreactor for enhanced immunotherapy of TNBC. Bio-MnSe demonstrated a stronger ability to activate the cGAS-STING signalling pathway and generate more ROS compared to pure Se nanoparticles and free Mn2+ ions. Apoptotic cells induced by Bio-MnSe released a significant amount of interferon, leading to the activation of T and natural killer (NK) cells, ultimately transforming immunologically ‘cold’ breast tumours to ‘hot’ tumours and enhancing the tumour's response to immune checkpoint inhibitors. The combination of Bio-MnSe with Dox or αPD-L1 further enhanced the anti-tumour immune response, fostering dendritic cell maturation, infiltration of cytotoxic T lymphocytes, and recruitment of NK cells, thereby enhancing the anti-tumour immunotherapy of TNBC.

Exploring the Impact of Socioeconomic Factors on Special Immunization Rates: A Study in Türkiye

Exploring the Impact of Socioeconomic Factors on Special Immunization Rates: A Study in Türkiye

A 25 Mbps 15 ns Propagation Delay 150 kV/μs CMTI Configurable Dual-Channel Capacitive Digital Isolation Driver.

Electrical isolation devices are essential components for safeguarding the reliability of electronic systems under harsh conditions. Digital isolators are widely used in low-power circuits due to their high immunity to disturbances. In this paper, a capacitive digital isolator for high-efficiency power supply scenarios is proposed with a high common-mode transient immunity (CMTI) and high data transmission rate. The on-off keying (OOK) modulation technique is used to ensure a high speed and accurate signal transmission. A fully integrated high-voltage level-shift driver with an ns-scale delay is proposed for increasing the drive capacity. Post-simulation results in Cadence IC 6.1.7 with the standard 0.18 μm CMOS process show that the proposed architecture achieves a 25 Mbps data transmission rate and 15 ns typical propagation delay with output peak currents of 2 A/4 A, respectively. Meanwhile, a CMTI of more than 150 kV/μs is realized.

Unpacking the impact of COVID-19 on child immunization: evidence from Ghana

BackgroundWith the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, governments implemented social distancing regulations to limit the spread of the disease. Some health experts warned that these measures could negatively affect access to essential health services, such as routine childhood immunizations. Others noted that without these regulations, COVID-19 cases would increase, leading to overburdened health systems.MethodsWe analyze four years (2018–2021) of monthly administrative data on childhood immunizations in all administrative districts in Ghana and exploit variations in social distancing regulations across districts. Given variations in social distancing regulations across Ghanaian districts, we can further differentiate between the effect of public lockdowns and the effect of the pandemic.ResultsWe find that child immunizations in Ghana declined by 6% during the public lockdown in April 2020, but the country compensated with higher vaccination rates starting in June, and immunization services recovered to pre-pandemic growth levels by 2021. Time-critical vaccines, such as polio, were not affected at all. We do find a substantially larger disruption in April 2020 (14%) and a slower recovery in 2020 in the 40 lockdown-affected districts. Interestingly, vaccination rates already decreased in February and March by about 5% before the public lockdown and before the pandemic had reached Ghana, but with the pandemic already spreading globally and in the news.ConclusionOur results indicate that the negative effect on child immunization was less severe and shorter than predicted by experts. Fear of COVID-19 and delayed vaccination campaigns had a substantial impact on childhood immunization while rising COVID-19 cases and moderate social distancing regulations did not seem to affect immunization rates.

Identification of a G-protein coupled receptor-related gene signature through bioinformatics analysis to construct a risk model for ovarian cancer prognosis

BackgroundOvarian cancer (OV) is a common malignant tumor of the female reproductive system with a 5-year survival rate of ∼30 %. Inefficient early diagnosis and prognosis leads to poor survival in most patients. G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs, the largest family of human cell surface receptors) are associated with OV. We aimed to identify GPCR-related gene (GPCRRG) signatures and develop a novel model to predict OV prognosis. MethodWe downloaded data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases. Prognostic GPCRRGs were screened using least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) Cox regression analysis, and a prognostic model was constructed. The predictive ability of the model was evaluated by Kaplan–Meier (K-M) survival analysis. The levels of GPCRRGs were examined in normal and OV cell lines using quantitative reverse-Etranscription polymerase chain reaction. The immunological characteristics of the high- and low-risk groups were analyzed using single-sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA) and CIBERSORT. ResultsBased on the risks scores, 17 GPCRRGs were associated with OV prognosis. CXCR4, GPR34, LGR6, LPAR3, and RGS2 were significantly expressed in three OV datasets and enabled accurate OV diagnosis. K-M analysis of the prognostic model showed that it could differentiate high- and low-risk patients, which correspond to poorer and better prognoses, respectively. GPCRRG expression was correlated with immune infiltration rates. ConclusionsOur prognostic model elaborates on the roles of GPCRRGs in OV and provides a new tool for prognosis and immune response prediction in patients with OV.

A Mathematical Model to Investigate How Vaccination Affect the Reproduction Number for COVID-19

In this paper a mathematical model that investigates how vaccination affects the dynamics of COVID-19 was considered. More particularly the model takes into account the waning rate of immunity after vaccination as well as administration of booster vaccine. Posititivity and boundedness of solutions of the model were proved. The disease free equilibrium of the model was determined and by using the next generation matrix method both the basic and effective reproduction numbers of the model were determined. Further, from the effective reproduction number, the minimum critical value of individuals to be vaccinated for containment of the diseases was determined. It was found that the value is less for a perfect vaccine compared to an imperfect vaccine. Numerical simulation of the model was done to determine how the parameters of interest in the study (waning rate of immunity, vaccination rate, administration of booster vaccine and efficacy of the vaccine) affect the effective reproduction number. The results show that increasing the rates of vaccination, administering booster vaccine will decrease the effective reproduction number while an increase in waning rate of immunity increases the effective reproduction number. The disease persist in the population due to the declining of immunity after vaccination which increases the effective reproduction number.

Within-Host Viral Growth and Immune Response Rates Predict Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus Transmission Dynamics for African Buffalo.

AbstractInfectious disease dynamics operate across biological scales: pathogens replicate within hosts but transmit among populations. Functional changes in the pathogen-host interaction thus generate cascading effects across organizational scales. We investigated within-host dynamics and among-host transmission of three strains (SAT-1, -2, -3) of foot-and-mouth disease viruses (FMDVs) in their wildlife host, African buffalo. We combined data on viral dynamics and host immune responses with mathematical models to ask the following questions: How do viral and immune dynamics vary among strains? Which viral and immune parameters determine viral fitness within hosts? And how do within-host dynamics relate to virus transmission? Our data reveal contrasting within-host dynamics among viral strains, with SAT-2 eliciting more rapid and effective immune responses than SAT-1 and SAT-3. Within-host viral fitness was overwhelmingly determined by variation among hosts in immune response activation rates but not by variation among individual hosts in viral growth rate. Our analyses investigating across-scale linkages indicate that viral replication rate in the host correlates with transmission rates among buffalo and that adaptive immune activation rate determines the infectious period. These parameters define the virus's relative basic reproductive number (ℛ0), suggesting that viral invasion potential may be predictable from within-host dynamics.

Exploring the role of the social vulnerability index in understanding COVID-19 immunization rates

Exploring the role of the social vulnerability index in understanding COVID-19 immunization rates