Immunological Features and Clinical Benefits of Conjugate Vaccines against Bacteria
1University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
2University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
3University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
Immunological Features and Clinical Benefits of Conjugate Vaccines against Bacteria
Description
Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis, and Haemophilus influenzae are causative agents of invasive and noninvasive diseases with high burden in terms of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The cornerstone for the prevention of these pathologies is vaccination. First generation vaccines were based on bacterial capsular polysaccharides and showed significant gaps in terms of immunologic efficacy and on-field effectiveness. Recently, conjugation technologies have allowed the development of novel vaccines that have demonstrated higher immunogenicity, optimal antibody persistence, and good efficacy in both children and adults. Consequently, the wide use of these formulations determined the control of diseases sustained by the pneumococcus, Haemophilus type b, and groups A, C, Y, and W meningococcus and a radical change of their epidemiological and ecological pictures. We invite investigators to contribute original research articles as well as review articles.
Potential topics include, but are not limited to:
- Immunological and microbiological features of Streptococcus pneumoniae
- Immunological and microbiological features of Neisseria meningitidis
- Immunological and microbiological features of Haemophilus influenzae
- Immunological features and problems in the use of polysaccharide vaccines
- History and development of the conjugation technology
- Immunology of conjugate vaccines (cell-mediated and humoral responses)
- Conjugate vaccines and immunologic memory
- Conjugates vaccines and correlates of protection
- Real world and hypothetical issues in the development of higher valent conjugate vaccines
- Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine efficacy and effectiveness
- Streptococcus pneumoniae conjugate vaccine efficacy and effectiveness
- Neisseria meningitidis conjugate vaccine efficacy and effectiveness (MenACYW, MenB, MenC)
- Novel strategies against group BNeisseria meningitidis
- Immunization strategies across Europe and/or worldwide
- Immunization strategies for prevention of bacterial infection in immunocompromised children