Research on smallpox vaccines published by scientists at University Hospital
2007 OCT 23 -- Fresh data on smallpox are presented in the report 'Real time PCR for the assessment of CD8+ T cellular immune response after prophylactic vaccinia vaccination.' According to a study from Lausanne, Switzerland, "' The magnitude of specific CD8+ T cell reactivity responsible for vaccine-induced protection against smallpox infection has not yet been fully elucidated. Among other techniques, RT-PCR for the monitoring of cytokine release in effector T cells against tumor and viral antigens has demonstrated a novel promising method." "To determine the functional status of antigen specific CD8+ T cells in healthy participants before and 4 weeks after prophylactic vaccination (Lister strain) against smallpox using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Changes of interferon-gamma (IFNgamma) mRNA expression levels on short term ex vivo peptide antigen stimulation were measured. The corresponding specific CD8+ T cell reactivity was then displayed as CD8-normalized IFN-gamma levels (IFN-gamma/CD8 ratio). We found a 5-9 fold increase of CD8+ T cell reactivity in three out of four vaccinated individuals. The kinetics and strength determined in responders reveal a virus specific T cell effector repertoire pre-vaccination and a corresponding functional state after immunization comparable also to data obtained from tetramer-and ELISPOT analysis. Apart from protective vaccinia-specific neutralizing antibodies, the presence of antigen-specific CD8+ T-cells has been demonstrated after vaccinia vaccination," wrote A. Trojan and colleagues, University Hospital. The researchers concluded: "In concordance with others, results from this PCR-based study indicate that this smallpox vaccine induces strong vaccinia virus-specific CD8+ and IFN-gamma producing T cell responses." Trojan and colleagues published the results of their research in the Journal of Clinical Virology (Real time PCR for the assessment of CD8+ T cellular immune response after prophylactic vaccinia vaccination. Journal of Clinical Virology, 2007;40(1):80-3). For additional information, contact A. Trojan, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Multidisciplinary Oncology Centre, CHUV, CH-1011 Lausanne, Switzerland. The publisher of the Journal of Clinical Virology can be contacted at: Elsevier Science BV, PO Box 211, 1000 AE Amsterdam, Netherlands. Keywords: Switzerland, Lausanne, Smallpox Vaccines, Biotechnology, Clinical Virology, Diagnosis, Diagnostics, Immunization, Prophylactic Vaccines, Prophylaxis, Vaccination, Vaccines, Vaccinia Virus, Virology. This article was prepared by Health Risk Factor Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2007, Health Risk Factor Week via NewsRx.com.
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