Potential Use of Salivary Markers for Longitudinal Monitoring of Inflammatory Immune Responses to Vaccination

Side effects of CoronaVac® COVID-19 vaccination: Investigation in North Jakarta district public health center communities in Indonesia

Background

The decreasing prevalence of COVID-19 has highlighted the value of vaccinations. CoronaVac® vaccine was one of the most widely used vaccines in Indonesia, in other Southeast Asian countries, as well as in Latin America. However, to date the safety and side effect profiles of CoronaVac® vaccine among the Indonesian population have not been reported.

Objective

In this study, the CoronaVac® safety profiles were determined in a community of a public health center in North Jakarta, Indonesia.

Method

This is a descriptive cross-sectional questionnaire-based study on vaccine side effects as recorded in the yellow form (MESO). Patients (n = 300) who received CoronaVac® vaccinations between July and August 2021 were enrolled. SPSS was used to analyze the descriptive data.

Results

Most respondents were women (72.7 %) between the ages of 17 and 21 years. A significantly (p = 0.009) positive correlation was established between the vaccine side effects (namely pain at the injection site) with the female gender. Other side effects such as fatigue (p = 0.034) and headache (p < 0.001) were also correlated with disease comorbidity.

Conclusion

Overall, the side effects following the first and the second doses were generally mild and included fever, pain in the injection area, fatigue, headache, drowsiness, diarrhea, cough, and nausea. Regarding vaccine efficacy, CoronaVac® confers better protection following the second dose administration where the percentage of respondents affected with COVID-19 (26.7 %) decreased to only 20.3 % following the second dose.

Pre-Clinical Evaluation of the Nanoliposomal antiPCSK9 Vaccine in Healthy Non-Human Primates

BACKGROUND

Our previous studies showed the safe preventive and therapeutic effects of immunization using the nanoliposomal antiPCSK9 vaccine called "Liposomal Immunogenic Fused PCSK9-Tetanus plus Alum adjuvant" (L-IFPTA), in mouse models of atherosclerosis. Here we aimed to ascertain the immunogenicity and safety of the L-IFPTA vaccine in a pre-clinical study in healthy non-human primates.

METHODS

Five male rhesus macaque monkeys were subcutaneously immunized with the L-IFPTA vaccine, four times with bi-weekly intervals. To evaluate immunogenicity, the plasma antiPCSK9 antibody in immunized monkeys was detected and quantified using the ELISA method. The functionality of the induced antiPCSK9 antibodies was determined by the PCSK9/LDLR in vitro binding assay kit. The safety of the vaccine was tested using the evaluation of several major circulating indicators including plasma lipid alterations, inflammatory biomarkers and organ injury biomarkers.

RESULTS

The resultant data indicated that the L-IFPTA vaccine significantly and highly induced the generation of functional and safe antiPCSK9 antibodies in immunized monkeys. Plasma levels of specific biomarkers indicating organ performance including creatinine, urea, uric acid, bilirubin, ALP, AS, ALT and TSH were not significantly altered. After immunization in healthy monkeys, non-prespecified endpoints (plasma levels of TC, LDL-C, VLDL-C and TG) were non-significantly reduced by 11.6 ± 36%; 16 ± 28%; 22 ± 53% and 24 ± 51%, respectively, while HDL-C was slightly increased by 2 ± 64%. There were also no significant changes in plasma levels of pro- and anti-inflammatory biomarkers.

CONCLUSION

The L-IFPTA vaccine could efficiently stimulate the host humoral immune response to produce active antibodies that inhibit plasma PCSK9 while not provoking systemic inflammation and not adversely affecting organ performance.

Longitudinal saliva omics responses to immune perturbation: a case study

Saliva omics has immense potential for non-invasive diagnostics, including monitoring very young or elderly populations, or individuals in remote locations. In this study, multiple saliva omics from an individual were monitored over three periods (100 timepoints) involving: (1) hourly sampling over 24 h without intervention, (2) hourly sampling over 24 h including immune system activation using the standard 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine, (3) daily sampling for 33 days profiling the post-vaccination response. At each timepoint total saliva transcriptome and proteome, and small RNA from salivary extracellular vesicles were profiled, including mRNA, miRNA, piRNA and bacterial RNA. The two 24-h periods were used in a paired analysis to remove daily variation and reveal vaccination responses. Over 18,000 omics longitudinal series had statistically significant temporal trends compared to a healthy baseline. Various immune response and regulation pathways were activated following vaccination, including interferon and cytokine signaling, and MHC antigen presentation. Immune response timeframes were concordant with innate and adaptive immunity development, and coincided with vaccination and reported fever. Overall, mRNA results appeared more specific and sensitive (timewise) to vaccination compared to other omics. The results suggest saliva omics can be consistently assessed for non-invasive personalized monitoring and immune response diagnostics.

Discrimination and systemic inflammation: A critical review and synthesis

Exposure to discrimination or unfair treatment has emerged as an important risk factor for illness and disease that disproportionately affects racial and ethnic minorities. Discriminatory experiences may operate like other stressors in that they activate physiological responses that adversely affect the maintenance of homeostasis. Research suggests that inflammation plays a critical role in the pathophysiology of stress-related diseases. Recent findings on discrimination and inflammation are discussed. We highlight limitations in the current evidence and provide recommendations for future studies that seek to examine the association between discrimination and inflammation.

The how's and what's of vaccine reactogenicity

Reactogenicity represents the physical manifestation of the inflammatory response to vaccination, and can include injection-site pain, redness, swelling or induration at the injection site, as well as systemic symptoms, such as fever, myalgia, or headache. The experience of symptoms following vaccination can lead to needle fear, long-term negative attitudes and non-compliant behaviours, which undermine the public health impact of vaccination. This review presents current knowledge on the potential causes of reactogenicity, and how host characteristics, vaccine administration and composition factors can influence the development and perception of reactogenicity. The intent is to provide an overview of reactogenicity after vaccination to help the vaccine community, including healthcare professionals, in maintaining confidence in vaccines by promoting vaccination, setting expectations for vaccinees about what might occur after vaccination and reducing anxiety by managing the vaccination setting.

Young Children Display Diurnal Patterns of Salivary IgA and Alpha-Amylase Expression Which Are Independent of Food Intake and Demographic Factors

BACKGROUND

Salivary alpha-amylase (sAA) and salivary immunoglobulin A (sIgA) have been proposed as biomarkers for research on the mucosal immune system and on stress. Expression of both sAA and sIgA has been described to follow opposing diurnal patterns. This knowledge is crucial for the interpretation of studies using these biomarkers.

AIM

It was hypothesized that sAA and sIgA display diurnal patterns in children and that this is independent of food intake or demographic factors.

METHODS

Whole saliva was collected from 78 healthy children (15-39 months old) in the morning and evening for two random nonconsecutive days. The samples have been analysed for sAA and sIgA. The total daily energy, fat, saturated fat, protein, carbohydrate and fibre, mineral, and vitamin consumption were analysed based on the two-day weighed food records collected by the parents.

RESULTS

It was demonstrated that most young children followed the diurnal pattern when sAA increased and sIgA decreased from morning to evening. No correlation was observed between the intake of any of the nutrients and morning or evening values for both salivary proteins. The morning and evening values of sAA and sIgA did not correlate with age, sex, Asian ethnicity, and BMI of the children.

CONCLUSION

Diurnal patterns of sAA and sIgA exist in healthy young children and are not affected by their nutrient intake, sex, Asian ethnicity, and BMI. Scientists including sIgA and sAA in their research must consider the diurnal pattern that these markers exhibit and design the study accordingly.

Saliva in the "Omics" era: A promising tool in paediatrics

In vulnerable populations, such as infants and children, saliva makes the perfect diagnostic medium because of its noninvasive collection, easy handling and storage of samples. Its unique biomarker profiles help tremendously in the diagnosis of many diseases and conditions. In fact, saliva genomics, proteomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics and microbiome-based discoveries have led to complementary and powerful diagnostic information. In children and neonates, saliva is the preferred medium not only for diagnosis of caries and aggressive periodontitis but also for a number of systemic conditions, metabolic diseases, cognitive functions, stress assessment and evaluation of immunological and inflammatory responses to vaccination. In this review, we provide an overview of current and future applications of saliva diagnostics to various diseases and conditions and highlight studies in paediatrics across the "omic" spectrum. Emerging frontiers in salivary diagnostics research that may significantly advance the field are also highlighted.

Ecological Context and Human Variation: Applying the Principles of Biological Anthropology to Psychoneuroimmunology

There is considerable research interest overlap between biological anthropology and psychoneuroimmunology (PNI), particularly given recent anthropological interest in endocrine and immune system functioning over the life span and in different environmental contexts. In this chapter, I argue that conducting research on non-WEIRD populations and applying an anthropological, evolutionary approach to PNI can greatly strengthen our understanding of immune-endocrine-behavior connections. This chapter reviews population-level variation in the human immune and endocrine systems, as well as genetic and environmental contributions to this variation. The effects of culture on shaping health outcomes and stress responses are also considered. Finally, this chapter discusses some noninvasive sampling methodologies appropriate to field research and alternatives to laboratory-based research designs. By confronting variable social and environmental contexts, PNI can greatly expand on its existing contributions to the treatment and understanding of depression, mood disorders, stress, and other aspects of health and well-being.

Salivary uric acid and C-reactive protein associations with hypertension in Midwestern Latino preadolescents and their parents

Latino families face increased risk for hypertension. Serum-based uric acid and C-reactive protein have been linked to hypertension. However, a paucity of salivary biomarker data exists in this area for Latino families. Using salivary biomarkers enables less invasive options for biomedical and biosocial research, which is especially important among vulnerable populations facing increased health disparities. This study examined the associations between salivary uric (sUA) acid, salivary C-reactive protein (sCRP), and hypertension among 151 participants (57 children, 57 mothers, 37 fathers) from 57 Midwestern Latino families. Participants self-administered the salivary samples, and blood pressure was measured by researchers. Results showed sUA was associated across family members, and child hypertension was related to parents' hypertension. sCRP was only related to sUA in fathers. Findings highlight the family-level health connections, along with the importance for further investigations using salivary biomarkers with Latinos, and the need for a robust sUA cut-off for hyperuricemia.

Evaluation of the relationship between salivary concentration of anti-heat shock protein immunoglobulin and clinical manifestations of Behçet's disease

OBJECTIVE

This study investigated the relationship between the concentration of anti-heat shock protein (HSP) 60 antibody in resting saliva and the severity of Behçet's disease (BD).

METHOD

Sixty-five patients diagnosed with BD at Tokyo Medical and Dental University Hospital were enrolled in this study. Based on clinical severity scores, patients were categorized as having mild, moderate, or severe BD. Periodontal status was evaluated with the Community Periodontal Index (CPI), and anti-HSP60 antibody concentrations in resting saliva were measured with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

RESULTS

The mean antibody concentration in patients in the moderate group was significantly higher than concentrations in the mild and severe groups. No significant difference was found between the mild and severe groups. Gingival inflammation, identified with the CPI, was associated with a higher antibody concentration. The antibody concentration in patients who had stomatitis for more than 2 weeks was significantly higher than in those with stomatitis for less than 2 weeks. The antibody concentration in patients who had taken colchicine was significantly lower than that in subjects who had not.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that the concentration of anti-HSP60 antibody in resting saliva may be effective as a non-invasive indicator for the diagnosis (screening) and prognostication of BD.