“Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 33G: genetic, serological, and structural analysis of a new capsule type”
Published: Microbiol Spectr 12:e03579-23.
https://doi.org/10.1128/spectrum.03579-23
Editorial comment: Streptococcus pneumoniae is a bacterial pathogen with the greatest burden of disease in Asia and Africa. The pneumococcal capsular polysaccharide has biological relevance as a major virulence factor as well as public health importance as it is the target for currently licensed vaccines. These vaccines have limited valency, covering up to 23 of the >100 known capsular types (serotypes) with higher valency vaccines in development. Here, authors characterized a new pneumococcal serotype, which we have named 33G. They detected serotype 33G in nasopharyngeal swabs (n = 20) from children and adults hospitalized with pneumonia, as well as healthy children in Mongolia; showing show that the genetic, serological, and biochemical properties of 33G differ from existing serotypes, satisfying the criteria to be designated as a new serotype. Future studies should focus on the geographical distribution of 33G and any changes in prevalence following vaccine introduction.
“Epidemiology of Pertussis After the COVID-19 Pandemic: Analysis of the Factors Involved in the Resurgence of the Disease in High-, Middle-, and Low-Income Countries”
Published: Vaccines 2024, 12(12), 1346
https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines12121346
Editorial Comment: After COVID-19 pandemic it was observed a higher number of pertussis cases, that can be associated with several factors. In 2024, > 3,000 pertussis confirmed cases and 13 deaths in Brazil, most in the cities where there is better access to PCR. In this paper, we discussed relevant topics about pertussis vaccines and pertussis vaccination, based on the most recent publications about this relevant health problem.
Effectiveness of rVSV-ZEBOV vaccination during the 2018–20 Ebola virus disease epidemic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: a retrospective test-negative study.
Published: Lancet Infect Dis 2024; 24: 1357-65.
https://doi.org/10.1016/S1473-3099(24)00419-5
Editorial comment: The findings of this study confirm that rVSV-ZEBOV is highly effective in protecting against Ebola virus disease, supporting its use during outbreaks, including in challenging settings like the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
“Entomological investigation after an outbreak of dengue at the riverside of Rio Doce, Espírito Santo State, Brazil.”
Published: Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 2024; trae213
https://doi.org/10.1093/trstmh/trae123
Editorial comment: Through mosquito collection using traps and subsequent molecular analysis, this study strongly emphasizes the importance of entomological surveillance. The findings highlight the presence of Aedes albopictus and Aedes aegypti in rural areas, underscoring the need for effective vector control strategies to prevent the spread of arboviruses.
“Safety and efficacy of the blood-stage malaria vaccine RH5.1/Matrix-M in Burkina Faso: interim results of a double-blind, randomised, controlled, phase 2b trial in children”
Published: Lancet Infect Dis 2024; Dec 10, 2024,
https://doi.org/10.1016/S1473-3099(24)00752-7
Editorial comment: RH5.1/Matrix-M appears safe and highly immunogenic in African children and shows promising efficacy against clinical malaria when given in a delayed third-dose regimen. This trial is ongoing to further monitor efficacy over time.
“Understanding the unprecedented 2023 dengue outbreak in Bangladesh: a data-driven analysis”
Published: IJID Regions 2024; 12: 100406.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijregi.2024.100406
Editorial comment: This retrospective analysis conducted in Bangladesh revealed a dramatic surge in dengue cases and deaths in 2023, with cases increasing fivefold (from 62,382 to 320,835) and deaths nearly sixfold (from 281 to 1,699) compared to 2022. This unprecedented outbreak underscores the urgent need for a multifaceted approach, with a strong emphasis on prioritizing vector control.
“Perinatal and Neonatal Chikungunya Virus Transmission: A Case Series”
Published: J Pediatric Infect Dis Soc 2024; 13: 576-84.
https://doi.org/10.1093/jpids/piae102
Editorial comment: This ambispective case series investigated newborns with confirmed exposure to CHIKV either in utero or during the neonatal period. Among viremic individuals during delivery, the transmission rate was approximately 62% (18/29). Key indicators of neonatal chikungunya included fever, irritability, rash, and poor feeding within the first week of life, underscoring its severity.
These findings highlight the importance of closely monitoring healthy newborns during the first week of life in CHIKV-affected areas and among infants born to pregnant travelers returning from outbreak zones. This case series aims to raise neonatologists’ awareness of the potential for mother-to-child transmission of CHIKV, especially in newborns presenting with sepsis-like symptoms. Additionally, prioritizing CHIKV vaccination for women of childbearing age should be strongly considered to mitigate this risk.
“Vaccination Promotion Strategies in the Elderly: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis”
Published: Vaccines 2024; 12: 1395
https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines12121395
Editorial comment: In this meta-analysis, a total of 20 studies were identified, including 17 on influenza vaccines and 3 on other vaccines. Educational strategies demonstrated an odds ratio (OR) of 1.63 (95% CI: 1.22–2.19, I² = 0.59), indicating their effectiveness. Medical counseling yielded an OR of 3.13 (95% CI: 0.60–16.37, I² = 0.95), while writing strategies had an OR of 1.14 (95% CI: 0.99–1.32, 𝐼² = 0.93). Only a few studies evaluated the impact of free vaccination.
In conclusion, educational strategies were found to be the most effective intervention in this study. Factors such as free vaccination and age may also play significant roles, but further research is required as this area remains underexplored.
“Undernutrition and antibody response to measles, tetanus and Haemophilus Influenzae type b (Hib) vaccination in pre-school south African children: The VHEMBE birth cohort study”
Published: Vaccine; December 10, 2024: 126564.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2024.126564
Editorial comment: In this study, children who were stunted or showed any indicator of impaired growth at 3.5 years exhibited an average reduction in measles antibody titers of 24.1% (95% CI: -44.2, 0.6) and 27.2% (95% CI: -45.1, −1.3), respectively, compared to children with normal growth. The authors conclude that early-life undernutrition may be associated with reduced induction or persistence of antibody responses to certain vaccines.
“Use of social media and its influence on HPV vaccine hesitancy: US National Online Survey of mothers of adolescents, 2023”
Published: Vaccine 2024; December 5, 2024: 126571.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2024.126571
Editorial comment: This study utilized a national online survey conducted in August 2023, targeting mothers of adolescents aged 9–17 years. Participants were recruited from an online research panel of U.S. residents. The study explored socio-demographic factors, social media usage patterns, and the influence of social media on HPV vaccine hesitancy. The survey sample included 3,968 mothers of adolescents. Among social media-related variables, multivariable analysis revealed that influence from Facebook was negatively associated with HPV vaccine hesitancy (β = −0.016, 95% CI: −0.029 to −0.003, p = 0.019). Conversely, uncertainty about the veracity of social media messages was positively associated with increased vaccine hesitancy (β = 0.067, 95% CI: 0.021 to 0.113, p = 0.004). No significant associations were found between HPV vaccine hesitancy and the number of daily-used social media platforms or influence from other platforms.
“Oropouche virus: A re-emerging arbovirus of clinical significance”
Published: IJID 2024; 149: 107251.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2024.107251
Editorial comment: An insightful editorial highlights the significance of Oropouche fever as an emerging disease, emphasizing the need for preventive measures and the urgency of research and development efforts for vaccine R&D.
“Addressing the rise of autochthonous vector-borne diseases in a warming Europe”
Published: IJID 2024; 149: 107275.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2024.107275
Editorial comment: This perspective examines the growing emergence of autochthonous tropical diseases in Europe, driven by climate change and its impact on vector-borne disease dynamics. Rising temperatures, coupled with changes in humidity and rainfall patterns, have significantly altered the activity, distribution, and diversity of vectors such as mosquitoes and ticks. Species like Aedes albopictus and Aedes aegypti, primary vectors of dengue, have established self-sustaining populations across Europe, contributing to an increase in cases of dengue fever, West Nile virus, and tick-borne encephalitis in temperate regions.
Predicting these outbreaks is challenging due to factors such as vector diapause, serological cross-reactivity, and land-use changes. This perspective emphasizes the urgent need for enhanced surveillance systems, weather-linked predictive models, and robust vector control strategies to address the public health risks posed by the spread of these diseases. As climate change progresses, Europe faces escalating health threats once confined to tropical regions, underscoring the critical importance of proactive and adaptive public health measures to safeguard populations.
“HIV/AIDS and COVID-19: Shared Lessons from Two Pandemics”
Published: Clinical Infectious Diseases, ciae585, 27 November, 2024.
https://doi.org/10.1093/cid/ciae585
Editorial comment: Consideration of the commonality of lessons learned from HIV/AIDS and COVID-19, the two most devastating pandemics over the past half century, will help us—and those who follow us— to minimize the impact of future outbreaks and prevent them from becoming global pandemics.
“Who to Boost When: The Effect of Age and Dosing Interval on Delta and Omicron COVID-19 Incidence in the Open Label Phase of the COVE Trial”
Published: Open Forum Infectious Diseases, ofae689, 25 November, 2024
Editorial comment: These data demonstrate a clinical benefit of additional mRNA-1273 vaccination for SARS-CoV-2 naïve adults against mild to moderate Delta and BA.1 Omicron COVID-19 with an increased benefit in those ≥65 years of age. Additionally, while the research suggests there was a benefit of a longer dosing interval between the primary COVID-19 vaccination and booster dose, the clinical impact of a longer interval is complex. A longer interval may have led to a reduction in Omicron COVID-19, but this is countered by an increased risk of COVID-19 while remaining unboosted.
This modeling suggests similar benefits of 8- or 14-month interval unless one times a boost just before a surge, in which case a longer interval has greater benefit. While updated research is needed on the impact of age and timing of additional boosters on the efficacy of variant-targeting vaccines, these data could be used to inform vaccination policies.
