Efficacy of an Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) Vaccine on the Incidence and Severity of Traveler's Diarrhea (TD): Evaluation of Alternative Endpoints and a TD Severity Score.

The efficacy of an Oral Whole Cell ETEC Vaccine (OEV) against Travelers' Diarrhea (TD) was reexamined using novel outcome and immunologic measures. More specifically, a recently developed disease severity score and alternative clinical endpoints were evaluated as part of an initial validation effort to access the efficacy of a vaccine intervention for the first time in travelers to an ETEC endemic area. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial followed travelers to Guatemala or Mexico up to 28 days after arrival in the country following vaccination (two doses two weeks apart) with an ETEC vaccine. Fecal samples were collected upon arrival, departure, and during TD for pathogen identification. Serum was collected in a subset of subjects to determine IgA cholera toxin B subunit (CTB) antibody titers upon their arrival in the country. The ETEC vaccine's efficacy, utilizing a TD severity score and other alternative endpoints, including the relationship between antibody levels and TD risk, was assessed and compared to the per-protocol primary efficacy endpoint. A total of 1435 subjects completed 7-28 days of follow-up and had available data. Vaccine efficacy was higher against more severe (≥5 unformed stools/24 h) ETEC-attributable TD and when accounting for immunologic take (PE ≥ 50%; p < 0.05). The vaccine protected against less severe (3 and 4 unformed stools/24 h) ETEC-attributable TD when accounting for symptom severity or change in activity (PE = 76.3%, p = 0.01). Immunologic take of the vaccine was associated with a reduced risk of infection with ETEC and other enteric pathogens, and with lower TD severity. Clear efficacy was observed among vaccinees with a TD score of ≥4 or ≥5, regardless of immunologic take (PE = 72.0% and 79.0%, respectively, p ≤ 0.03). The vaccine reduced the incidence and severity of ETEC, and this warrants accelerated evaluation of the improved formulation (designated ETVAX), currently undergoing advanced field testing. Subjects with serum IgA titers to CTB had a lower risk of infection with ETEC and Campylobacter jejuni/coli. Furthermore, the TD severity score provided a more robust descriptor of disease severity and should be included as an endpoint in future studies.

Human challenge study with a Shigella bioconjugate vaccine: Analyses of clinical efficacy and correlate of protection.

BACKGROUND: Shigellosis is a major cause of moderate to severe diarrhoea and dysentery in children under 5 years of age in low and middle-income countries. The Flexyn2a vaccine conjugates the O-polysaccharide of Shigella flexneri 2a to Pseudomonas aeruginosa exotoxin A. We describe a Phase 2b proof-of-concept challenge study that evaluated safety, immunogenicity, and efficacy of the Flexyn2a vaccine to protect against shigellosis. METHODS: In this randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled trial, healthy adults were randomized 1:1 to receive Flexyn2a (10 µg) or placebo intramuscularly, twice, 4 weeks apart, followed by challenge 4 weeks later with 1500 colony forming units (CFUs) of S. flexneri 2a strain 2457T. The primary outcome was vaccine-induced protection. S. flexneri 2a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-specific immune responses were assessed. FINDINGS: Sixty-seven subjects were enrolled, 34 received vaccine and 33 placebo. The vaccine was well tolerated; the majority of adverse events were mild in nature. Thirty vaccinees and 29 placebo recipients received the S. flexneri 2a challenge. Vaccination resulted in a 30.2% reduction in shigellosis compared with placebo (13/30 vs. 18/29; p = 0.11; 95% CI -15 to 62.6). Vaccine efficacy was more robust against severe disease, reaching 51.7% (p = 0.015, 95% CI 5.3 to 77.9) against moderate/severe diarrhoea or dysentery concurrent with fever or severe enteric symptoms and 72.4% (p = 0.07) against more severe diarrhoea (≥10 lose stools or ≥1000 g loose stools/24 h). Vaccinated subjects were less likely to need early antibiotic intervention following challenge (protective efficacy 51.7%, p = 0.01; 95% CI 9 to 76.8). In those who developed shigellosis, vaccinated subjects had a lower disease severity score (p = 0.002) than placebo-recipients. Additionally, LPS-specific serum IgG responses in Flexyn2a recipients were associated with protection against disease (p = 0.0016) and with a decreased shigellosis disease score (p = 0.002). INTERPRETATION: The Flexyn2a bioconjugate vaccine was immunogenic, well tolerated and protected against severe illness after Shigella challenge and is a promising Shigella vaccine construct. We identified a strong association between anti-S. flexneri 2a serum IgG and a reduction in disease outcomes. (Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT02646371.) FUNDING: Funding for this study was through a grant from the Wellcome Trust.

Immune response characterization in a human challenge study with a Shigella flexneri 2a bioconjugate vaccine.

BACKGROUND: Diarrheal diseases are a leading cause of global morbidity and mortality affecting all ages, but especially children under the age of five in resource-limited settings. Shigella is a leading contributor to diarrheal diseases caused by bacterial pathogens and is considered a significant antimicrobial resistance threat. While improvements in hygiene, and access to clean water help as control measures, vaccination remains one of the most viable options for significantly reducing morbidity and mortality. METHODS: Flexyn2a is a bioconjugate vaccine manufactured using novel conjugation methodologies enzymatically linking the O-polysaccharide of S. flexneri 2a to exotoxin A of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The protective capacity of Flexyn2a was assessed in a controlled human infection model after two intramuscular immunizations. Immune responses pre- and post-immunization and/or infection were investigated and are described here. FINDINGS: Flexyn2a induced lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-specific serum IgG responses post-immunization which were associated with protection against shigellosis. Additionally, several other immune parameters, including memory B cell responses, bactericidal antibodies and serum IgA, were also elevated in vaccinees protected against shigellosis. Immunization with Flexyn2a also induced gut-homing, LPS-specific IgG and IgA secreting B cells, indicating the vaccine induced immune effectors functioning at the site of intestinal infection. INTERPRETATION: Collectively, the results of these immunological investigations provide insights into protective immune mechanisms post-immunization with Flexyn2a which can be used to further guide vaccine development and may have applicability to the larger Shigella vaccine field. FUNDING: Funding for this study was provided through a Wellcome Trust grant.

Oral sexual behaviors associated with prevalent oral human papillomavirus infection.

Oral human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is a cause of oropharyngeal cancer. We investigated whether sexual behaviors that elevated the odds of oropharyngeal cancer developing in a case-control study similarly elevated the odds of oral HPV infection developing among control patients. HPV infection was detected in 4.8% of 332 control patients from an outpatient clinic and in 2.9% of 210 college-aged men (age range, 18-23 years). Among control patients, the odds of infection developing independently increased with increases in the lifetime number of oral (P = .007, for trend) or vaginal sex partners (P = .003, for trend). Among college-aged men, the odds of oral HPV infection developing increased with increases in the number of recent oral sex partners (P = .046, for trend) or open-mouthed kissing partners (P = .023, for trend) but not vaginal sex partners. Oral sex and open-mouthed kissing are associated with the development of oral HPV infection.

Use of a patch containing heat-labile toxin from Escherichia coli against travellers' diarrhoea: a phase II, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled field trial.

BACKGROUND: Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) is a major cause of travellers' diarrhoea. We investigated the rate of diarrhoea attacks, safety, and feasibility of a vaccine containing heat-labile enterotoxin (LT) from ETEC delivered to the skin by patch in travellers to Mexico and Guatemala. METHODS: In this phase II study, healthy adults (aged 18-64 years) who planned to travel to Mexico or Guatemala and had access to a US regional vaccination centre were eligible. A centralised randomisation code was used for allocation, which was masked to participants and site staff. Primary endpoints were to investigate the field rate of ETEC diarrhoea, and to assess the safety of heat-labile toxins from E coli (LT) delivered via patch. Secondary endpoints included vaccine efficacy against travellers' diarrhoea and ETEC. Participants were vaccinated before travel, with two patches given 2-3 weeks apart. Patches contained either 37.5 mug of LT or placebo. Participants tracked stool output on diary cards in country and provided samples for pathogen identification if diarrhoea occurred. Diarrhoea was graded by the number of loose stools in 24 h: mild (three), moderate (four or five), and severe (at least six). Analysis was per protocol. The trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00516659. FINDINGS: Recruitment closed after 201 participants were assigned patches. 178 individuals received two vaccinations and travelled and 170 were analysed. 24 (22%) of 111 placebo recipients had diarrhoea, of whom 11 (10%) had ETEC diarrhoea. The vaccine was safe and immunogenic. The 59 LT-patch recipients were protected against moderate-to-severe diarrhoea (protective efficacy [PE] 75%, p=0.0070) and severe diarrhoea (PE 84%, p=0.0332). LT-patch recipients who became ill had shorter episodes of diarrhoea (0.5 days vs 2.1 days, p=0.0006) with fewer loose stools (3.7 vs 10.5, p<0.0001) than placebo. INTERPRETATION: Travellers' diarrhoea is a common ailment, with ETEC diarrhoea illness occurring in 10% of cases. The vaccine patch is safe and feasible, with benefits to the rate and severity of travellers' diarrhoea.

A randomized, double-blind, multicenter study of rifaximin compared with placebo and with ciprofloxacin in the treatment of travelers' diarrhea.

Rifaximin was compared with placebo and ciprofloxacin for treatment of travelers' diarrhea in a randomized, double-blind clinical trial. Adult travelers (N = 399) consulting travel clinics in Mexico, Guatemala, and India were randomized to receive rifaximin 200 mg three times a day, ciprofloxacin (500 mg two times a day and placebo once a day), or placebo three times a day for 3 days. Patients recorded in daily diaries the time and consistency of each stool and documented symptoms for 5 days after treatment. Stool samples were collected for microbiologic evaluations before and after treatment. The median time to last unformed stool (TLUS) in the rifaximin group (32.0 hours) was less than one half that in the placebo group (65.5 hours; P = 0.001; risk ratio 1.6; 95% confidence interval 1.2, 2.2; primary efficacy endpoint). The median TLUS in the ciprofloxacin group was 28.8 hours (P = 0.0003 versus placebo; P = 0.35 versus rifaximin). Rifaximin was less effective than ciprofloxacin for invasive intestinal bacterial pathogens. Oral rifaximin is a safe and effective treatment of travelers' diarrhea caused by noninvasive pathogens.

Prevalence of norovirus among visitors from the United States to Mexico and Guatemala who experience traveler's diarrhea.

Traveler's diarrhea (TD) is the most common infectious illness acquired by visitors to developing nations. The purpose of this study was to utilize molecular diagnostic techniques to determine the prevalence of norovirus (NoV) in TD occurring among visitors from the United States to Guatemala and Mexico. Stool samples (n = 54) were collected from 34 TD cases and analyzed for NoV by reverse transcription-PCR and oligoprobe confirmation. The overall prevalence of NoV was 65%. Interestingly, all NoV-positive stool samples were identified as genogroup I NoVs, and time spent at travel destinations was found to be an important factor in determining the frequency of infection (P = 0.003). Eleven NoV-positive stool samples also tested positive for enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli, indicating that dual infections with this leading bacterial cause of TD were very common. Results of this study suggest that NoV infection is a frequent occurrence among travelers to Mexico and Guatemala who experience episodes of TD. In addition, the simple molecular detection method utilized here will serve to facilitate more in-depth epidemiological studies of this emergent viral pathogen in travelers and other at-risk populations.