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Esposito S, Abu Raya B, Baraldi E, Flanagan K, Martinon Torres F, Tsolia M, Zielen S. RSV Prevention in All Infants: Which Is the Most Preferable Strategy? Front Immunol 2022; 13:880368. [PMID: 35572550 PMCID: PMC9096079 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.880368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) causes a spectrum of respiratory illnesses in infants and young children that may lead to hospitalizations and a substantial number of outpatient visits, which result in a huge economic and healthcare burden. Most hospitalizations happen in otherwise healthy infants, highlighting the need to protect all infants against RSV. Moreover, there is evidence on the association between early-life RSV respiratory illness and recurrent wheezing/asthma-like symptoms As such, RSV is considered a global health priority. However, despite this, the only prevention strategy currently available is palivizumab, a monoclonal antibody (mAb) indicated in a subset of preterm infants or those with comorbidities, hence leaving the majority of the infant population unprotected against this virus. Therefore, development of prevention strategies against RSV for all infants entering their first RSV season constitutes a large unmet medical need. The aim of this review is to explore different immunization approaches to protect all infants against RSV. Prevention strategies include maternal immunization, immunization of infants with vaccines, immunization of infants with licensed mAbs (palivizumab), and immunization of infants with long-acting mAbs (e.g., nirsevimab, MK-1654). Of these, palivizumab use is restricted to a small population of infants and does not offer a solution for all-infant protection, whereas vaccine development in infants has encountered various challenges, including the immaturity of the infant immune system, highlighting that future pediatric vaccines will most likely be used in older infants (>6 months of age) and children. Consequently, maternal immunization and immunization of infants with long-acting mAbs represent the two feasible strategies for protection of all infants against RSV. Here, we present considerations regarding these two strategies covering key areas which include mechanism of action, "consistency" of protection, RSV variability, duration of protection, flexibility and optimal timing of immunization, benefit for the mother, programmatic implementation, and acceptance of each strategy by key stakeholders. We conclude that, based on current data, immunization of infants with long-acting mAbs might represent the most effective approach for protecting all infants entering their first RSV season.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanna Esposito
- Pediatric Clinic, Pietro Barilla Children’s Hospital, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Bahaa Abu Raya
- Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Eugenio Baraldi
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Department of Woman’s and Child’s Health, Padova University Hospital, Padova, Italy
| | - Katie Flanagan
- School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Tasmania, Launceston, TAS, Australia
- School of Health and Biomedical Science, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Department of Immunology and Pathology, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Tasmanian Vaccine Trial Centre, Clifford Craig Foundation, Launceston General Hospital, Launceston, TAS, Australia
| | - Federico Martinon Torres
- Genetics, Vaccines, Infections and Pediatrics Research group (GENVIP), Hospital Clínico Universitario de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Maria Tsolia
- Second Department of Pediatrics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, “A&P Kyriakou” Children’s Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Stefan Zielen
- Department for Children and Adolescents, Division of Allergology, Pulmonology and Cystic Fibrosis, Goethe-University Hospital, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
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Citron MP, McAnulty J, Callahan C, Knapp W, Fontenot J, Morales P, Flynn JA, Douglas CM, Espeseth AS. Transplacental Antibody Transfer of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Specific IgG in Non-Human Primate Mother-Infant Pairs. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10111441. [PMID: 34832599 PMCID: PMC8624788 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10111441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Revised: 10/30/2021] [Accepted: 11/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
One approach to protect new-borns against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is to vaccinate pregnant women in the last trimester of pregnancy. The boosting of circulating antibodies which can be transferred to the foetus would offer immune protection against the virus and ultimately the disease. Since non-human primates (NHPs) have similar reproductive anatomy, physiology, and antibody architecture and kinetics to humans, we utilized this preclinical species to evaluate maternal immunization (MI) using an RSV F subunit vaccine. Three species of NHPs known for their ability to be infected with human RSV in experimental challenge studies were tested for RSV-specific antibodies. African green monkeys had the highest overall antibody levels of the old-world monkeys evaluated and they gave birth to offspring with anti-RSV titers that were proportional to their mother. These higher overall antibody levels are associated with greater durability found in their offspring. Immunization of RSV seropositive AGMs during late pregnancy boosts RSV titers, which consequentially results in significantly higher titers in the vaccinated new-borns compared to the new-borns of unvaccinated mothers. These findings, accomplished in small treatment group sizes, demonstrate a model that provides an efficient, resource sparing and translatable preclinical in vivo system for evaluating vaccine candidates for maternal immunization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael P. Citron
- Infectious Disease & Vaccines, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ 07033, USA; (J.M.); (C.C.); (J.A.F.); (C.M.D.); (A.S.E.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Jessica McAnulty
- Infectious Disease & Vaccines, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ 07033, USA; (J.M.); (C.C.); (J.A.F.); (C.M.D.); (A.S.E.)
| | - Cheryl Callahan
- Infectious Disease & Vaccines, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ 07033, USA; (J.M.); (C.C.); (J.A.F.); (C.M.D.); (A.S.E.)
| | - Walter Knapp
- Safety Assessment and Laboratory Animal Resources, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ 07033, USA;
| | - Jane Fontenot
- The New Iberia Research Center, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, New Iberia, LA 70560, USA;
| | - Pablo Morales
- The Mannheimer Foundation, Homestead, FL 33034, USA;
| | - Jessica A. Flynn
- Infectious Disease & Vaccines, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ 07033, USA; (J.M.); (C.C.); (J.A.F.); (C.M.D.); (A.S.E.)
| | - Cameron M. Douglas
- Infectious Disease & Vaccines, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ 07033, USA; (J.M.); (C.C.); (J.A.F.); (C.M.D.); (A.S.E.)
| | - Amy S. Espeseth
- Infectious Disease & Vaccines, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ 07033, USA; (J.M.); (C.C.); (J.A.F.); (C.M.D.); (A.S.E.)
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3
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Adenovirus and RSV infections during pregnancy and their relationship to orofacial clefts. Biologia (Bratisl) 2020. [DOI: 10.2478/s11756-019-00404-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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Broor S, Campbell H, Hirve S, Hague S, Jackson S, Moen A, Nair H, Palekar R, Rajatonirina S, Smith PG, Venter M, Wairagkar N, Zambon M, Ziegler T, Zhang W. Leveraging the Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System for global respiratory syncytial virus surveillance-opportunities and challenges. Influenza Other Respir Viruses 2019; 14:622-629. [PMID: 31444997 PMCID: PMC7578328 DOI: 10.1111/irv.12672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2019] [Accepted: 07/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)-associated acute lower respiratory infection is a common cause for hospitalization and hospital deaths in young children globally. There is urgent need to generate evidence to inform immunization policies when RSV vaccines become available. The WHO piloted a RSV surveillance strategy that leverages the existing capacities of the Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS) to better understand RSV seasonality, high-risk groups, validate case definitions, and develop laboratory and surveillance standards for RSV. METHODS The RSV sentinel surveillance strategy was piloted in 14 countries. Patients across all age groups presenting to sentinel hospitals and clinics were screened all year-round using extended severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) and acute respiratory infection (ARI) case definitions for hospital and primary care settings, respectively. Respiratory specimens were tested for RSV at the National Influenza Centre (NIC) using standardized molecular diagnostics that had been validated by an External Quality Assurance program. The WHO FluMart data platform was adapted to receive case-based RSV data and visualize interactive visualization outputs. RESULTS Laboratory standards for detecting RSV by RT-PCR were developed. A review assessed the feasibility and the low incremental costs for RSV surveillance. Several challenges were addressed related to case definitions, sampling strategies, the need to focus surveillance on young children, and the data required for burden estimation. CONCLUSIONS There was no evidence of any significant adverse impact on the functioning of GISRS which is primarily intended for virologic and epidemiological surveillance of influenza.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shobha Broor
- Medicine and Health Sciences, Shree Guru Gobind Singh Tricentenary University, Gurugram, India
| | - Harry Campbell
- Usher Institute of Population Health Research and Informatics, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Siddhivinayak Hirve
- Global Influenza Program, Influenza Preparedness and Response, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Siri Hague
- Department of Influenza, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Sandra Jackson
- Global Influenza Program, Influenza Preparedness and Response, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Ann Moen
- Global Influenza Program, Influenza Preparedness and Response, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Harish Nair
- Usher Institute of Population Health Research and Informatics, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | | | | | - Peter G Smith
- MRC Tropical Epidemiology Group, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Marietjie Venter
- Center for Viral Zoonosis, Department of Medical Virology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | | | - Maria Zambon
- Virus Reference Department, Public Health England, London, UK
| | - Thedi Ziegler
- Research Center for Child Psychiatry, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Wenqing Zhang
- Global Influenza Program, Influenza Preparedness and Response, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
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Abstract
Respiratory syncytial virus remains a major cause of infantile respiratory illness globally. Infants in the developing world experience the highest burden of mortality and morbidity. Risk factors associated with respiratory syncytial virus infection and progression to severe disease include household crowding, preterm birth and low birth weight. Maternally-derived antibody has a role in protection of infants through transplacental antibody transfer and breast milk antibody. Promising prevention strategies that are under development include vaccination during pregnancy and monoclonal antibody administration at birth.
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Aranda SS, Polack FP. Prevention of Pediatric Respiratory Syncytial Virus Lower Respiratory Tract Illness: Perspectives for the Next Decade. Front Immunol 2019; 10:1006. [PMID: 31134078 PMCID: PMC6524688 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.01006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2018] [Accepted: 04/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The landscape of infant bronchiolitis and viral pneumonia may be altered by preventive interventions against respiratory syncytial virus under evaluation today. Pediatric wards in 2018 in developing countries may differ from those attended by future generation pediatricians who may not witness the packed emergency rooms, lack of available beds, or emergency situations that all physicians caring for children with RSV experience every year. In this review, we describe and discuss different prevention strategies under evaluation to protect pediatric patients. Then, we outline a number of potential challenges, benefits, and concerns that may result from successful interventions after licensure.
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The BeWo cell line derived from a human placental choriocarcinoma is permissive for respiratory syncytial virus infection. Virus Genes 2019; 55:406-410. [PMID: 30758769 DOI: 10.1007/s11262-019-01646-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2018] [Accepted: 02/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the main pathogen associated with upper respiratory tract infections during early childhood. Vertical transmission of this virus has been suggested in humans, based on observations recorded during animal studies that revealed an association of RSV with persistent structural and functional changes in the developing lungs of the offspring. However, human placentas have not yet been evaluated for susceptibility to RSV infection. In this study, we examined the capacity of RSV to infect a human trophoblast model, the BeWo cell line. Our results suggest that BeWo cells are susceptible to RSV infection since they allow RNA viral replication, viral protein translation, leading to the production of infectious RSV particles. In this report, we demonstrate that a human placenta model system, consisting of BeWo cells, is permissive to RSV infection. Thus, the BeWo cell line may represent a useful model for studies that aim to characterize the events of a possible RSV infection at the human maternal-fetal interface.
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