Seasonal flu vaccines: the importance of being conscious
Interim estimates of this year’s influenza vaccine effectiveness (VE) from Southern Hemisphere countries reveal a decrease compared to the last season. This is what emerges from the researchers of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that report an overall effectiveness of the seasonal flu vaccine against hospitalization of 34,5% among high-risk g
Mpox Crisis in Africa: The Emergence of Clade 1b and the Race for Effective Vaccination
In a recent news article for Nature, Sara Reardon discussed the spread of Monkeypox in Africa and examined how vaccines might help improve the situation (https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-02793-9). Here’s a brief summary of her piece. The WHO declared a public health emergency due to the new Mpox variant, clade 1b, spreading in previously unaffec
Enhancing anti-HIV vaccine development: the immunogenic potential of the Minibody format
Advancements in medical research have not yet yielded an effective vaccine against different pathogens, with HIV prevention remaining one of the most crucial medical needs that the scientific community is striving to address. The identification of epitopes on gp120 recognized by broadly neutralizing antibodies is a key approach to vaccine development. By pinpoi
Advancing toward an HIV-free future: the imperative of vaccine development
The adage ‘An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure’ rings true, especially in the context of a widespread epidemic like HIV/AIDS. Despite the challenges inherent in its implementation, the urgency for comprehensive prevention and treatment strategies remains undeniable in our pursuit of an HIV-free future. The global HIV/AIDS epidemic cont
Avian Influenza virus infections in human
The CDC recently reported four human infections with the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A (H5N1) virus in Cambodia, with a mortality rate of 25%. There is no evidence of person-to-person transmission, and all patients were shown to have had recent exposure to sick or dead poultry. Different organizations are collaborating in a One Health […]
Pediatric Flu deaths in America
On March 8th, a CDC report declared that there have been 103 flu-related pediatric deaths in the 2023-2024 season in America. This data highlights the importance of the seasonal flu vaccination for all ages, and it emphasizes the necessity for research into the development of a ‘universal flu vaccine’ to ensure full protection. The concept […
The 31st annual CROI (Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections)
At the beginning of March, the 31st annual CROI, a prominent congress in the field of HIV research, was held in Denver. Notably, one of the engaging oral abstract sessions centered around HIV Immunology and Vaccines. The Bernard Field Lecture, delivered by Professor Barney Graham, former deputy director of the Vaccine Research Center (VRC), was […]
