Hepatitis Rebound after Infection with Yellow Fever Virus.

In 2018, yellow fever with hepatitis was diagnosed for 2 unvaccinated travelers returning to France from Brazil. Hepatitis persisted for >6 months; liver enzyme levels again increased 2 months after disease onset with no detection of yellow fever virus RNA or other pathogens. Persistent hepatitis with hepatic cytolysis rebound probably resulted from immune response.

Immunogenicity and Safety of Yellow Fever Vaccine in Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Recipients After Withdrawal of Immunosuppressive Therapy.

As a live attenuated vaccine, yellow fever vaccine (YFV) is not routinely performed after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) despite it being the only efficient preventive therapy. We retrospectively identified 21 HSCT recipients immunized with YFV at a median of 39 months after HSCT and a median of 33 months after withdrawal of immunosuppression without any side effects. Eighteen evaluable patients had protective immunity after YFV. We also observed that a third of the recipients vaccinated with YFV before HSCT had persistent protective immunity after HSCT.

Intensification of antiretroviral therapy through addition of enfuvirtide in naive HIV-1-infected patients with severe immunosuppression does not improve immunological response: results of a randomized multicenter trial (ANRS 130 Apollo).

We studied whether addition of enfuvirtide (ENF) to a background combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) would improve the CD4 cell count response at week 24 in naive patients with advanced HIV disease. ANRS 130 Apollo is a randomized study, conducted in naive HIV-1-infected patients, either asymptomatic with CD4 counts of <100/mm(3) or stage B/C disease with CD4 counts of <200/mm(3). Patients received tenofovir-emtricitabine with lopinavir-ritonavir (LPV/r) or efavirenz and were randomized to receive ENF for 24 weeks (ENF arm) or not (control arm). The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients with CD4 counts of ≥ 200/mm(3) at week 24. A total of 195 patients were randomized: 73% had stage C disease, 78% were male, the mean age was 44 years, the median CD4 count was 30/mm(3), and the median HIV-1 RNA load was 5.4 log(10) copies/ml. Eighty-one percent of patients received LPV/r. One patient was lost to follow-up, and eight discontinued the study (four in each arm). The proportions of patients with CD4 counts of ≥ 200/mm(3) at week 24 were 34% and 38% in the ENF and control arms, respectively (P = 0.53). The proportions of patients with HIV-1 RNA loads of <50 copies/ml were 74% and 58% at week 24 in the ENF and control arms, respectively (P < 0.02), and the proportion reached 79% in both arms at week 48. Twenty (20%) and 12 patients (13%) in the ENF and control arms, respectively, experienced at least one AIDS event during follow-up (P = 0.17). Although inducing a more rapid virological response, addition of ENF to a standard cART does not improve the immunological outcome in naive HIV-infected patients with severe immunosuppression.

Safety and immunogenicity of a monovalent 2009 influenza A/H1N1v vaccine adjuvanted with AS03A or unadjuvanted in HIV-infected adults: a randomized, controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients have decreased immune response to vaccines. Few data are available about pandemic flu vaccination in this population. METHODS: We conducted a multicenter, patient-blinded, randomized trial in a cohort of HIV-infected adults. Patients received 2 injections 21 days apart of a AS03(A)-adjuvanted H1N1v vaccine containing 3.75 µg hemagglutinin (HA) or a nonadjuvanted H1N1v vaccine containing 15 µg HA to assess hemagglutination inhibition (HI) response and safety. RESULTS: A total of 309 patients were randomized, and 306 were vaccinated. After the first vaccine dose, HI titers ≥1:40 were observed in 93.4% of the patients in the adjuvanted group (A group) (n = 155) and in 75.5% in the nonadjuvanted group (B group) (n = 151) (P < .001); seroconversion rates were 88.8% and 71.2%, and factor increases in geometric mean titers (GMT) of 21.9 and 15.1, respectively. After 2 injections, 98.6% of patients of the A group and 92.1% of the B group demonstrated HI titers ≥1:40 (P = .018); seroconversion rates were 96.5% and 87.1%, respectively, and factor increases in GMT were 45.5 and 21.2, respectively. The majority of adverse events were mild to moderate in severity; no impact on CD4+ cell count or viral load has been detected. CONCLUSIONS: In HIV-1-infected adults, the AS03(A)-adjuvanted H1N1v vaccine yielded a higher immune response than did the nonadjuvanted one, with no impact on HIV infection.

Safety and immunogenicity of 4 intramuscular double doses and 4 intradermal low doses vs standard hepatitis B vaccine regimen in adults with HIV-1: a randomized controlled trial.

CONTEXT: Alternative schedules more immunogenic than the standard hepatitis B vaccine regimen are needed in patients with human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) infection. OBJECTIVE: To compare the safety and immunogenicity of 4 intramuscular double-dose and 4 intradermal low-dose regimens vs the standard hepatitis B vaccine regimen. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: An open-label, multicenter, 1:1:1 parallel-group, randomized trial conducted between June 28, 2007, and October 23, 2008 (date of last patient visit, July 3, 2009) at 33 centers in France with patients enrolled in French National Agency for Research on AIDS and Viral Hepatitis trials in adults with HIV-1 infection who were hepatitis B virus (HBV) seronegative and having CD4 cell counts of more than 200 cells/µL. INTERVENTION: Patients were randomly assigned to receive 3 intramuscular injections of the standard dose (20 µg) of recombinant HBV vaccine at weeks 0, 4, and 24 (IM20 × 3 group, n = 145); 4 intramuscular double doses (40 µg [2 injections of 20 µg]) of recombinant HBV vaccine at weeks 0, 4, 8, and 24 (IM40 × 4 group, n = 148); or 4 intradermal injections of low doses (4 µg [1/5 of 20 µg]) of recombinant HBV vaccine at weeks 0, 4, 8, and 24 (ID4 × 4 group, n = 144). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Percentage of responders at week 28, defined as patients with hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs) of at least 10 mIU/mL in patients who received at least 1 dose of vaccine. Patients with missing anti-HBs titer measurement at the final follow-up visit at week 28 were considered as nonresponders in the primary (efficacy) analysis. RESULTS: A total of 437 patients were randomized to the 3 study groups, of whom 11 did not receive any vaccine. Of these, 396 had available anti-HBs titers at week 28. The percentage of responders at week 28 was 65% (95% confidence interval [CI], 56%-72%) in the IM20 × 3 group (n = 91), 82% (95% CI, 77%-88%) in the IM40 × 4 group (n = 119) (P < .001 vs IM20 × 3 group), and 77% (95% CI, 69%-84%) in the ID4 × 4 group (n = 108) (P = .02 vs IM20 × 3 group). No safety signal and no effect on CD4 cell count or viral load were observed. CONCLUSION: In adults with HIV-1, both the 4 intramuscular double-dose regimen and the 4 intradermal low-dose regimen improved serological response compared with the standard HBV vaccine regimen. TRIAL REGISTRATION: clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00480792.

Immunogenicity and safety of yellow fever vaccine in HIV-1-infected patients.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study is to investigate immunogenicity and safety of the yellow fever vaccine (YFV) in HIV-infected (HIV+) patients with high CD4 T-cell counts. DESIGN: In this prospective, comparative study of YFV-naive adults: 40 HIV+ under antiretroviral therapy (ART) with CD4 T-cell count above 350 cells/µl and plasma HIV-RNA less than 50 copies/ml for at least 6 months and 31 HIV-negative (HIV-) received one injection of the YF-17D strain vaccine. METHODS: Serologic response was assessed by using a plaque reduction neutralizing test and YFV-specific T cells by using an INFγ-Elispot assay. RESULTS: YFV was well tolerated in both groups. Most participants had asymptomatic YFV viremia at day (D) 7 after vaccination (77% of HIV- and 82% of HIV+, P = 0.58), with higher plasma level of YFV RNA in HIV+ than in HIV- (median 2.46 log10 copies/ml (range: 1.15-4.16) and 1.91 log10 copies/ml (1.15-3.19), respectively, P = 0.011). A significant but transient decrease in CD4 cell counts was seen at D7 in both groups, more pronounced in HIV- than in HIV+ patients (-261.5 versus -111.5 cells/µl, respectively, P = 0.0003), but no HIV breakthrough was observed in plasma. All participants developed protective neutralizing antibody levels from D28 and up to 1 year after injection. At D91, fewer HIV+ than HIV- participants exhibited YFV T-cell response (20 versus 54%, respectively, P = 0.037). CONCLUSION: At 1 year, YFV was immunogenic and well tolerated in HIV-infected adults under ART with CD4 T-cell counts above 350 cells/µl. However, a lower immunity of YFV T cells in HIV-infected patients was observed as compared with HIV- participants. CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION: NCT01426243.

Screening test for neutralizing antibodies against yellow fever virus, based on a flavivirus pseudotype.

Given the possibility of yellow fever virus reintroduction in epidemiologically receptive geographic areas, the risk of vaccine supply disruption is a serious issue. New strategies to reduce the doses of injected vaccines should be evaluated very carefully in terms of immunogenicity. The plaque reduction test for the determination of neutralizing antibodies (PRNT) is particularly time-consuming and requires the use of a confinement laboratory. We have developed a new test based on the use of a non-infectious pseudovirus (WN/YF17D). The presence of a reporter gene allows sensitive determination of neutralizing antibodies by flow cytometry. This WN/YF17D test was as sensitive as PRNT for the follow-up of yellow fever vaccinees. Both tests lacked specificity with sera from patients hospitalized for acute Dengue virus infection. Conversely, both assays were strictly negative in adults never exposed to flavivirus infection or vaccination, and in patients sampled some time after acute Dengue infection. This WN/YF17D test will be particularly useful for large epidemiological studies and for screening for neutralizing antibodies against yellow fever virus.

The F4/AS01B HIV-1 Vaccine Candidate Is Safe and Immunogenic, But Does Not Show Viral Efficacy in Antiretroviral Therapy-Naive, HIV-1-Infected Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

The impact of the investigational human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) F4/AS01B vaccine on HIV-1 viral load (VL) was evaluated in antiretroviral therapy (ART)-naive HIV-1 infected adults.This phase IIb, observer-blind study (NCT01218113), included ART-naive HIV-1 infected adults aged 18 to 55 years. Participants were randomized to receive 2 (F4/AS01B_2 group, N = 64) or 3 (F4/AS01B_3 group, N = 62) doses of F4/AS01B or placebo (control group, N = 64) at weeks 0, 4, and 28. Efficacy (HIV-1 VL, CD4 T-cell count, ART initiation, and HIV-related clinical events), safety, and immunogenicity (antibody and T-cell responses) were evaluated during 48 weeks.At week 48, based on a mixed model, no statistically significant difference in HIV-1 VL change from baseline was demonstrated between F4/AS01B_2 and control group (0.073 log10 copies/mL [97.5% confidence interval (CI): -0.088; 0.235]), or F4/AS01B_3 and control group (-0.096 log10 copies/mL [97.5% CI: -0.257; 0.065]). No differences between groups were observed in HIV-1 VL change, CD4 T-cell count, ART initiation, or HIV-related clinical events at intermediate timepoints. Among F4/AS01B recipients, the most frequent solicited symptoms were pain at injection site (252/300 doses), fatigue (137/300 doses), myalgia (105/300 doses), and headache (90/300 doses). Twelve serious adverse events were reported in 6 participants; 1 was considered vaccine-related (F4/AS01B_2 group: angioedema). F4/AS01B induced polyfunctional F4-specific CD4 T-cells, but had no significant impact on F4-specific CD8 T-cell and anti-F4 antibody levels.F4/AS01B had a clinically acceptable safety profile, induced F4-specific CD4 T-cell responses, but did not reduce HIV-1 VL, impact CD4 T-cells count, delay ART initiation, or prevent HIV-1 related clinical events.

Spontaneous hepatic decompensation in patients coinfected with HIV and hepatitis C virus during interferon-ribavirin combination treatment.

Spontaneous hepatic decompensation was observed in 7 of 383 patients coinfected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) who were receiving treatment with interferon and ribavirin. Multivariate analysis identified the following risk factors: didanosine use (odds ratio [OR], 8.8; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.2-102.3; P < .02), cirrhosis, (OR, 8.8; 95% CI, 1.2-104.2; P<.02), and elevated total bilirubin level (OR, 7.9; 95% CI, 1.08-93.3; P<.03). Didanosine should thus not be given to patients with cirrhosis, particularly when treatments for HCV and HIV infections have to be administered concomitantly.

Molecular characterization of the 17D-204 yellow fever vaccine.

INTRODUCTION: The worldwide use of yellow fever (YF) live attenuated vaccines came recently under close scrutiny as rare but serious adverse events have been reported. The population identified at major risk for these safety issues were extreme ages and immunocompromised subjects. Study NCT01426243 conducted by the French National Agency for AIDS research is an ongoing interventional study to evaluate the safety of the vaccine and the specific immune responses in HIV-infected patients following 17D-204 vaccination. As a preliminary study, we characterized the molecular diversity from E gene of the single 17D-204 vaccine batch used in this clinical study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eight vials of lyophilized 17D-204 vaccine (Stamaril, Sanofi-Pasteur, Lyon, France) of the E5499 batch were reconstituted for viral quantification, cloning and sequencing of C/prM/E region. RESULTS: The average rate of virions per vial was 8.68 ± 0.07 log10 genome equivalents with a low coefficient of variation (0.81%). 246 sequences of the C/prM/E region (29-33 per vials) were generated and analyzed for the eight vials, 25 (10%) being defective and excluded from analyses. 95% of sequences had at least one nucleotide mutation. The mutations were observed on 662 variant sites distributed through all over the 1995 nucleotides sequence and were mainly non-synonymous (66%). Genome variability between vaccine vials was highly homogeneous with a nucleotide distance ranging from 0.29% to 0.41%. Average p-distances observed for each vial were also homogeneous, ranging from 0.15% to 0.31%. CONCLUSION: This study showed a homogenous YF virus RNA quantity in vaccine vials within a single lot and a low clonal diversity inter and intra vaccine vials. These results are consistent with a recent study showing that the main mechanism of attenuation resulted in the loss of diversity in the YF virus quasi-species.