Immunodiagnostic, Immunoprophylactic, and Immunotherapeutic Approaches against Infectious Diseases

A special issue of Vaccines (ISSN 2076-393X). This special issue belongs to the section "Vaccines against Infectious Diseases".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2021) | Viewed by 24483

Special Issue Editors

Cleveland Clinic Florida Research and Innovation Center, Port St. Lucie, FL 34987, USA
Interests: monoclonal antibodies; vaccines; hepatitis C virus; influenza virus; immunotherapy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Microbiology and Virology Laboratory, Vita-Salute University, San Raffaele, 20132 Milan, Italy
Interests: monoclonal antibodies; vaccines; hepatitis C virus; influenza virus; immunotherapy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Center for Vaccines and Immunology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
Interests: activation of humoral immune response to influenza infection or vaccination; antibody functionality and crosstalk with innate immune system; impact of pre-immunity during influenza infection or vaccination
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Immune-based tools have been extensively used in order to develop diagnostic, vaccinal, and therapeutic countermeasures to combat infectious diseases. As an example, the engineering of the immune system has always been exploited to improve the specificity and functional characteristics of immune cells and molecules, such as in the case of chimeric antigen receptors. Novel anti-infective monoclonal antibodies are also approaching the clinics in the next few years, and many more are currently under development. In particular, thanks to their high specificity, antibodies can also be very useful in the early diagnosis of infectious diseases. The availability of such specific reagents is thus pivotal to study host–pathogen interaction as well as to develop innovative approaches to eradicate infections. Recent high-throughput technologies are allowing to unravel the antibody repertoire in depth, such as in the context of certain infections or following immunization, for which it is important to understand what the key determinants conferring the protection are. In this Special Issue, we encourage the submission of papers on recent advances in the field, especially focusing on how we can exploit the immune system to understand new host–pathogen relationships as well as for the development of novel prophylactic, therapeutic, and diagnostic tools.

Dr. Giuseppe A. Sautto
Dr. Roberta Antonia Diotti
Dr. Rodrigo Bessa Abreu
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Vaccines is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • monoclonal antibodies
  • vaccines
  • immunotherapy
  • immunodiagnosis
  • immunoprophylaxis

Related Special Issue

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 3929 KiB  
Article
SnoRNAs and miRNAs Networks Underlying COVID-19 Disease Severity
by Aijaz Parray, Fayaz Ahmad Mir, Asmma Doudin, Ahmad Iskandarani, Ibn Mohammed Masud Danjuma, Rahim Ayadathil Thazhhe Kuni, Alaaedin Abdelmajid, Ibrahim Abdelhafez, Rida Arif, Mohammad Mulhim, Mohammad Abukhattab, Shoukat Rashhid Dar, Ala-Eddin Al Moustafa, Eyad Elkord, Abdul Latif Al Khal, Abdel-Naser Elzouki and Farhan Cyprian
Vaccines 2021, 9(10), 1056; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/vaccines9101056 - 23 Sep 2021
Cited by 21 | Viewed by 2651
Abstract
There is a lack of predictive markers for early and rapid identification of disease progression in COVID-19 patients. Our study aims at identifying microRNAs (miRNAs)/small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs) as potential biomarkers of COVID-19 severity. Using differential expression analysis of microarray data (n = [...] Read more.
There is a lack of predictive markers for early and rapid identification of disease progression in COVID-19 patients. Our study aims at identifying microRNAs (miRNAs)/small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs) as potential biomarkers of COVID-19 severity. Using differential expression analysis of microarray data (n = 29), we identified hsa-miR-1246, ACA40, hsa-miR-4532, hsa-miR-145-5p, and ACA18 as the top five differentially expressed transcripts in severe versus asymptomatic, and ACA40, hsa-miR-3609, ENSG00000212378 (SNORD78), hsa-miR-1231, hsa-miR-885-3p as the most significant five in severe versus mild cases. Moreover, we found that white blood cell (WBC) count, absolute neutrophil count (ANC), neutrophil (%), lymphocyte (%), red blood cell (RBC) count, hemoglobin, hematocrit, D-Dimer, and albumin are significantly correlated with the identified differentially expressed miRNAs and snoRNAs. We report a unique miRNA and snoRNA profile that is associated with a higher risk of severity in a cohort of SARS-CoV-2 infected patients. Altogether, we present a differential expression analysis of COVID-19-associated microRNA (miRNA)/small nucleolar RNA (snoRNA) signature, highlighting their importance in SARS-CoV-2 infection. Full article
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13 pages, 1292 KiB  
Article
Immunization of Chickens with the Enterobactin Conjugate Vaccine Reduced Campylobacter jejuni Colonization in the Intestine
by Yifang Cui, Fangfang Guo, Jie Guo, Xiaoya Cao, Huiwen Wang, Bing Yang, Hongzhuan Zhou, Xia Su, Ximin Zeng, Jun Lin and Fuzhou Xu
Vaccines 2020, 8(4), 747; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/vaccines8040747 - 09 Dec 2020
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 2654
Abstract
Campylobacter jejuni is the leading bacterial cause of human enteritis in developed countries. Chicken is the major animal reservoir of C. jejuni and a powerful infection model for human campylobacteriosis. No commercial vaccine against C. jejuni is available to date. The high affinity [...] Read more.
Campylobacter jejuni is the leading bacterial cause of human enteritis in developed countries. Chicken is the major animal reservoir of C. jejuni and a powerful infection model for human campylobacteriosis. No commercial vaccine against C. jejuni is available to date. The high affinity iron acquisition mediated through enterobactin (Ent), a small siderophore, plays a critical role in the colonization of C. jejuni in the intestine. Recently, an innovative Ent conjugate vaccine has been demonstrated to induce high-level of Ent-specific antibodies in rabbits; the Ent-specific antibodies displayed potent binding ability to Ent and inhibited Ent-dependent growth of C. jejuni. In this study, using specific-pathogen-free (SPF) chickens, we performed three trials to evaluate the immunogenicity of the Ent conjugate vaccine and its efficacy to control C. jejuni colonization in the intestine. The purified Ent was conjugated to the carrier keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH). Intramuscular immunization of chickens with the Ent–KLH conjugate for up to three times did not affect the body weight gain, the development of major immune organs and the gut microbiota. In the first two trials, immunizations of chickens with different regimens (two or three times of vaccination) consistently induced strong Ent-specific immune response when compared to control group. Consistent with the high-level of systemic anti-Ent IgG, C. jejuni colonization was significantly reduced by 3–4 log10 units in the cecum in two independent vaccination trials. The third trial demonstrated that single Ent–KLH vaccination is sufficient to elicit high level of systemic Ent-specific antibodies, which could persist for up to eight weeks in chickens. Taken together, the Ent–KLH conjugate vaccine could induce high-level of Ent-specific antibodies in chickens and confer host protection against C. jejuni colonization, which provides a novel strategy for Campylobacter control in poultry and humans. Full article
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20 pages, 3760 KiB  
Article
High-Yield Expression and Purification of Recombinant Influenza Virus Proteins from Stably-Transfected Mammalian Cell Lines
by Jeffrey W. Ecker, Greg A. Kirchenbaum, Spencer R. Pierce, Amanda L. Skarlupka, Rodrigo B. Abreu, R. Ethan Cooper, Dawn Taylor-Mulneix, Ted M. Ross and Giuseppe A. Sautto
Vaccines 2020, 8(3), 462; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/vaccines8030462 - 21 Aug 2020
Cited by 30 | Viewed by 6669
Abstract
Influenza viruses infect millions of people each year, resulting in significant morbidity and mortality in the human population. Therefore, generation of a universal influenza virus vaccine is an urgent need and would greatly benefit public health. Recombinant protein technology is an established vaccine [...] Read more.
Influenza viruses infect millions of people each year, resulting in significant morbidity and mortality in the human population. Therefore, generation of a universal influenza virus vaccine is an urgent need and would greatly benefit public health. Recombinant protein technology is an established vaccine platform and has resulted in several commercially available vaccines. Herein, we describe the approach for developing stable transfected human cell lines for the expression of recombinant influenza virus hemagglutinin (HA) and recombinant influenza virus neuraminidase (NA) proteins for the purpose of in vitro and in vivo vaccine development. HA and NA are the main surface glycoproteins on influenza virions and the major antibody targets. The benefits for using recombinant proteins for in vitro and in vivo assays include the ease of use, high level of purity and the ability to scale-up production. This work provides guidelines on how to produce and purify recombinant proteins produced in mammalian cell lines through either transient transfection or generation of stable cell lines from plasmid creation through the isolation step via Immobilized Metal Affinity Chromatography (IMAC). Collectively, the establishment of this pipeline has facilitated large-scale production of recombinant HA and NA proteins to high purity and with consistent yields, including glycosylation patterns that are very similar to proteins produced in a human host. Full article
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Review

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31 pages, 2466 KiB  
Review
Risk Factors Associated with the Clinical Outcomes of COVID-19 and Its Variants in the Context of Cytokine Storm and Therapeutics/Vaccine Development Challenges
by John Hanna, Padmavathi Tipparaju, Tania Mulherkar, Edward Lin, Victoria Mischley, Ratuja Kulkarni, Aliyah Bolton, Siddappa N. Byrareddy and Pooja Jain
Vaccines 2021, 9(8), 938; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/vaccines9080938 - 23 Aug 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 4635
Abstract
The recent appearance of SARS-CoV-2 is responsible for the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and has brought to light the importance of understanding this highly pathogenic agent to prevent future pandemics. This virus is from the same single-stranded positive-sense RNA family, Coronaviridae, [...] Read more.
The recent appearance of SARS-CoV-2 is responsible for the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and has brought to light the importance of understanding this highly pathogenic agent to prevent future pandemics. This virus is from the same single-stranded positive-sense RNA family, Coronaviridae, as two other epidemic-causing viruses, SARS-CoV-1 and MERS-CoV. During this pandemic, one crucial focus highlighted by WHO has been to understand the risk factors that may contribute to disease severity and predict COVID-19 outcomes. In doing so, it is imperative to understand the virology of SARS-CoV-2 and the immunological response eliciting the clinical manifestation and progression of COVID-19. In this review, we provide clinical data-based analyses of how multiple risk factors (such as sex, race, HLA genotypes, blood groups, vitamin D deficiency, obesity, smoking, and asthma) contribute to the inflammatory overactivation and cytokine storm (frequently seen in COVID-19 patients) with a focus on the IL-6 pathway. We also draw comparisons to the virulence and pathophysiology of SARS and MERS to establish parallels in immune response and discuss the potential for therapeutic approaches that may limit disease progression in patients with higher risk profiles than others. Moreover, we cover the latest information on approved or upcoming COVID-19 vaccines. This paper also provides perspective on emerging variants and associated opportunistic infections such as black molds and fungus that have added to mortality in some parts of the world, such as India. This compilation of existing COVID-19 studies and data will provide an excellent referencing tool for the research, clinical, and public health communities. Full article
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26 pages, 731 KiB  
Review
Development of Diagnostic Tests Provides Technical Support for the Control of African Swine Fever
by Zilong Qiu, Zhaoyao Li, Quanhui Yan, Yuwan Li, Wenjie Xiong, Keke Wu, Xiaowen Li, Shuangqi Fan, Mingqiu Zhao, Hongxing Ding and Jinding Chen
Vaccines 2021, 9(4), 343; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/vaccines9040343 - 02 Apr 2021
Cited by 25 | Viewed by 4786
Abstract
African swine fever is a highly contagious global disease caused by the African swine fever virus. Since African swine fever (ASF) was introduced to Georgia in 2007, it has spread to many Eurasian countries at an extremely fast speed. It has recently spread [...] Read more.
African swine fever is a highly contagious global disease caused by the African swine fever virus. Since African swine fever (ASF) was introduced to Georgia in 2007, it has spread to many Eurasian countries at an extremely fast speed. It has recently spread to China and other major pig-producing countries in southeast Asia, threatening global pork production and food security. As there is no available vaccine at present, prevention and control must be carried out based on early detection and strict biosecurity measures. Early detection should be based on the rapid identification of the disease on the spot, followed by laboratory diagnosis, which is essential for disease control. In this review, we introduced the prevalence, transmission routes, eradication control strategies, and diagnostic methods of ASF. We reviewed the various methods of diagnosing ASF, focusing on their technical characteristics and clinical test results. Finally, we give some prospects for improving the diagnosis strategy in the future. Full article
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Other

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6 pages, 645 KiB  
Case Report
Immune Thrombocytopenia Induced by the Chimpanzee Adenovirus-Vectored Vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 Infection
by Po-Wei Liao, Chieh-Lin Jerry Teng and Cheng-Wei Chou
Vaccines 2021, 9(12), 1486; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/vaccines9121486 - 16 Dec 2021
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2131
Abstract
We present a case of immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) induced by the chimpanzee adenovirus-vectored vaccine, without evidence of thrombosis, eight days after vaccine administration. The thrombocytopenia condition improved after administering steroid treatment. This adenovirus vaccine had been reported to induce rare side effects, such [...] Read more.
We present a case of immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) induced by the chimpanzee adenovirus-vectored vaccine, without evidence of thrombosis, eight days after vaccine administration. The thrombocytopenia condition improved after administering steroid treatment. This adenovirus vaccine had been reported to induce rare side effects, such as immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia. This case report showed that it could also induce immune thrombocytopenia without the presence of thrombosis. Therefore, we should be cautious of this rare side effect as global vaccine administrations against coronavirus disease increase. Full article
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