Post-Vaccination Anaphylaxis in Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Published: Vaccines 2025; 13: 37. https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines13010037
Editorial comment: A comprehensive meta-analysis reviewed 37 studies examining anaphylaxis related to non-COVID vaccines in adults. The findings clearly demonstrated that anaphylaxis is a very rare event following immunization. Among the vaccines studied, the Influenza vaccine had the highest rate of anaphylaxis, while Td/Tdap vaccines showed the lowest.
Measles Among the Foreign-Born Population Residing in Spain, 2014–2022: Missed Opportunities for Vaccination
Published: Vaccines 2024; 12: 1452. https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines12121452
Editorial comment: In this Spanish cross-sectional study, researchers found that the incidence of measles is 40% higher among Spain’s foreign-born population compared to its native-born population. Considering the growing migrant population in Spain, the authors emphasize the need for targeted public health initiatives to address susceptibility within these groups.
Do We Need a Lyme Disease Vaccine?
Published: Pediatr Infect Dis J 2025; 44: 32. https://doi.org/10.1097/INF.0000000000004537
Editorial comment: This month’s Pediatric Infectious Disease feature, Stanley Plotkin’s Corner, highlights the critical need for a Lyme Disease vaccine, offering insights from one of the most brilliant and influential minds in the field of vaccinology.
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Virus Infections in Humans.
Published: NEJM 2024; December 31. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2414610
Editorial comment: This study examines 46 human cases of avian influenza (AH5N1) in the United States between March and October 2024, detailing the origins of infection, clinical symptoms, outcomes, and proposed recommendations.
A low pre-existing anti-NS1 humoral immunity to DENV is associated with microcephaly development after gestational ZIKV exposure
Published: Plos Neglected Tropical Diseases January 6, 2025 https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0012193
Editorial Comment: The impact of preexisting DENV anti-NS1 antibodies on the outcome of prenatal ZIKV infection in viral cocirculation areas is a critical and unsolved issue. Here, we show that DENV and ZIKV IgG-NS1, but not NS1-IgM, are placentally transferred to infants. The efficiency and lasting of transferred NS1 antibodies depend on the magnitude of circulating NS1-IgG in mothers. A low or absent DENV NS1-IgG was the most critical characteristic of mothers and children with CZS-related microcephaly, supporting a protective role of preexisting DENV NS1 humoral immunity. These findings will be helpful for future vaccine designs, risk population identification, and updated medical guidelines.
Concurrent outbreaks of Mpox in Africa—an update
Published: The Lancet, Volume 405, Issue 10472, 86-96 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(24)02353-5
Editorial Comment: This review focuses on the concurrent outbreaks of mpox in Africa, focusing on clade 1a, the newly emerged clade 1b, and clade 2b lineage A, and how they differ from the 2022 global outbreak caused by clade 2b lineage B.1. The severity of the disease is higher for clade 1a (case fatality rate up to 12%) compared with other clades (case fatality rates 0–3·6%). Diagnostic challenges include false negative results for clade 1b with existing PCR assays and poor testing access in remote areas. Tecovirimat, the primary antiviral during the 2022 outbreak, has shown reduced effectiveness against clade 1a in preliminary study results, whereas its efficacy against other clades is still under investigation. The modified vaccinia Ankara–Bavarian Nordic vaccine has been shown to be up to 90% effective against clade 2b after two doses and is safe for children, although its effectiveness drops to 20% when used as post-exposure prophylaxis. Given the evolving nature of the monkeypox virus, ongoing research and strong public health responses are key to managing potential future outbreaks.
A systematic review to identify research gaps in studies modeling MenB vaccinations against Neisseria infections
Published: PLoS One. 2025 Jan 2;20(1):e0316184. doi: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0316184
Editorial Comment: Authors identified options for future research, including the combination of both meningococcal and gonococcal infections in studies to have better estimates for vaccine benefits, and the spillover of gonorrhoea infections from the heterosexual to the MSM community and vice versa. Cost-effectiveness studies looking at at-risk and the wider populations can then be used to inform vaccine policies on gonorrhoea, as they have for meningococcal disease.
Bexsero can be cost effective if gonorrhea is added to the analysis. The future for vaccination against Neisseria infections looks promising though: for MC, a pentavalent MenABCWY vaccine for individuals aged 10 to 25 has recently been approved in the USA, and could increase MC vaccination coverage for all five serogroups. This vaccine uses Trumenba for the B component and thus its effectiveness against gonorrhoea infection is yet unclear. Another pentavalent vaccine currently in phase III clinical trials uses Bexsero for the B component and could thus also offer some protection against gonorrhoea should it be approved. That said, vaccines specifically against GC are also under development, including a vaccine currently being developed by INTRAVACC, and the aforementioned vaccine by GSK that in turn might offer some level of cross protection against MenB.
Bangladesh’s 2023 Dengue outbreak – age/gender-related disparity in morbidity and mortality and geographic variability of epidemic burdens
Published: IJID 2024; 136: 1-4. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2023.08.026
Editorial comment: This study examines the dynamics of dengue epidemics in Bangladesh, highlighting geographic variations in disease patterns and differences in severity. The findings reveal a higher incidence and greater disease severity among women and older individuals.
Cervical Cancer
Published: January 1, 2025 – N Engl J Med 2025;392:56-71 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMra2404457
Editorial Comment: In 2020, an estimated 604,127 new cases of cervical cancer were reported worldwide, with 341,831 related deaths.1 Low-resource regions of Latin America, sub-Saharan Africa, and Southeast Asia, including India, have a high disease burden . There is a clear correlation between socioeconomic status and the incidence of cervical cancer and mortality rates, with progressively lower rates of both incidence and mortality as the mean national Human Development Index increases. In 2024, a total of 13,820 new cases and 4360 related deaths were expected to occur in the United States2; in the European Union, 58,169 cases were anticipated (56% from central and eastern Europe), with 22,989 related deaths.1 The median age at diagnosis is 50 years. An effective vaccine is available and it is highly effective even a single dose schedule.
Association between Congenital Zika Syndrome and hospitalizations during early childhood: a nationwide cohort study
Published: IJID 2025: 107780. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2025.107780
Editorial comment: A retrospective cohort study conducted in Brazil found that children born with Congenital Zika Syndrome (CZS) experienced hospitalization rates 3 to 7 times higher and faced overall greater morbidity compared to children without CZS.
Time trends in malaria incidence from 1992 to 2021 in high-risk regions: an age‑period‑cohort analysis based on the Global Burden of Disease study 2021
Published: IJID 2024: 107770. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2024.107770
Editorial comment: From 1992 to 2021, age-standardized malaria incidence rates generally declined across highest-risk regions, although Sub-Saharan Africa saw the smallest decline, with a net drift of -0.74% (95% confidence interval [CI]: -1.32 to 0.17). The 0-4 age group faces the highest risk, which decreases with age.
Marburg Virus Reaches Rwanda: How Close Are We to a Vaccine Solution?
Published: IJID 2024: 107371. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2024.107371
Editorial comment: This review examines the current MVD outbreak in Rwanda and the progress toward developing a long-term vaccine solution.
Systems Vaccinology: Navigating the Future of Personalized Immunity and Next-Generation Vaccines
Published: JID 2024: 230. https://doi.org/10.1093/infdis/jiae505
Editorial comment: This perspective article explores systems vaccinology as an integrated approach leveraging various “omics” technologies to identify critical immune signatures and advance vaccine development. The authors highlight how this methodology enhances understanding of immune response variations influenced by factors such as genetics, health status, and the microbiome. By addressing these differences, systems vaccinology holds promise for developing personalized vaccination strategies tailored to the needs of diverse populations.
The role of artificial intelligence in pandemic responses: from epidemiological modeling to vaccine development.
Published: Molecular Biomedicine 2025; 6:1. https://doi.org/10.1186/s43556-024-00238-3
Editorial comment: This compelling review delves into the multifaceted role of artificial intelligence (AI) in addressing pandemics as global health crises. It explores AI’s contributions to preparedness and response efforts, including advanced epidemiological modeling, accelerated vaccine development, and improved methods for screening, forecasting, contact tracing, and virus monitoring. The article also emphasizes the importance of sustained research, real-world applications, ethical use, and the strategic integration of AI technologies to enhance our collective capacity to tackle and mitigate the impacts of global health challenges. A must-read for those interested in the intersection of technology and public health.