BACKGROUND: Little is known about the immunogenicity of live-attenuated Oka/Merck varicella zoster virus (VZV)-containing vaccine (hereafter, "varicella vaccine") in frail nursing homes residents nor about immune phenotypes associated with a response. METHODS: A cohort of 190 frail nursing home residents aged 80-102 years and a cohort of 50 community-dwelling seniors aged 60-75 years (a comparison group) received varicella vaccine. Interferon γ (IFN-γ) enzyme-linked immunospot assays were performed before and 6 weeks after vaccination. Cellular markers of immunosenescence were measured in the nursing home elderly. RESULTS: The average number of IFN-γ spot-forming cells at baseline was significantly lower in the elderly nursing home residents than in the community-dwelling seniors. However, following vaccination, the VZV immune response increased in both cohorts, and no difference was noted in the fold difference of the response between the 2 cohorts. Upon further examination of the elderly nursing home residents, we found that higher frequencies of regulatory T cells and cytomegalovirus-specific CD4+ T cells correlated negatively with the magnitude of VZV-specific responses. CONCLUSIONS: The Oka/Merck varicella vaccine induces VZV immunity in elderly nursing home residents that is similar to that produced in community-dwelling seniors. CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION: NCT01328548.
BACKGROUND: Little is known about the immunogenicity of live-attenuated Oka/Merck varicella zoster virus (VZV)-containing vaccine (hereafter, "varicella vaccine") in frail nursing homes residents nor about immune phenotypes associated with a response. METHODS: A cohort of 190 frail nursing home residents aged 80-102 years and a cohort of 50 community-dwelling seniors aged 60-75 years (a comparison group) received varicella vaccine. Interferon γ (IFN-γ) enzyme-linked immunospot assays were performed before and 6 weeks after vaccination. Cellular markers of immunosenescence were measured in the nursing home elderly. RESULTS: The average number of IFN-γ spot-forming cells at baseline was significantly lower in the elderly nursing home residents than in the community-dwelling seniors. However, following vaccination, the VZV immune response increased in both cohorts, and no difference was noted in the fold difference of the response between the 2 cohorts. Upon further examination of the elderly nursing home residents, we found that higher frequencies of regulatory T cells and cytomegalovirus-specific CD4+ T cells correlated negatively with the magnitude of VZV-specific responses. CONCLUSIONS: The Oka/Merck varicella vaccine induces VZV immunity in elderly nursing home residents that is similar to that produced in community-dwelling seniors. CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION: NCT01328548.
Authors: Chris P Verschoor; Alina Lelic; Robin Parsons; Carole Evelegh; Jonathan L Bramson; Jennie Johnstone; Mark B Loeb; Dawn M E Bowdish Journal: J Infect Dis Date: 2017-07-15 Impact factor: 5.226
Authors: Adriana Weinberg; Jane Lindsey; Ronald Bosch; Deborah Persaud; Paul Sato; Anthony Ogwu; Aida Asmelash; Mutsa Bwakura-Dangarambezi; Benjamin H Chi; Jennifer Canniff; Shahin Lockman; Simani Gaseitsiwe; Sikhulile Moyo; Christiana Elizabeth Smith; Natasha O Moraka; Myron J Levin Journal: Front Immunol Date: 2018-01-19 Impact factor: 7.561
Authors: Marieke van der Heiden; Guy A M Berbers; Susana Fuentes; Menno C van Zelm; Annemieke M H Boots; Anne-Marie Buisman Journal: Front Immunol Date: 2018-01-11 Impact factor: 7.561
Authors: Marieke van der Heiden; Lia G H de Rond; Menno C van Zelm; Guy A M Berbers; Annemieke M H Boots; Anne-Marie Buisman Journal: Front Immunol Date: 2018-01-23 Impact factor: 7.561