PRESS-NEWS.org - Press Release Distribution
PRESS RELEASES DISTRIBUTION

People who are immunocompromised may not produce enough protective antibodies against RSV after vaccination

Johns Hopkins Medicine says further research is needed to better understand the problem and find ways to enhance immune response in this high-risk population

People who are immunocompromised may not produce enough protective antibodies against RSV after vaccination
2024-12-30
(Press-News.org) FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers have shown that people 60 years or older with weakened immunity — primarily organ transplant recipients who take immunosuppressive medications to reduce the risk of rejection and others with immune system disorders — do not respond as strongly to vaccines against the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) as people in the same age group with normal immune function. 

The study, conducted by a research team at the Johns Hopkins Transplant Research Center, was published today in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). It parallels earlier work done at the center to better understand how the immune systems of people who are immunocompromised respond to vaccines against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. 

RSV is a contagious pathogen that causes infections of the respiratory tract. It is most commonly seen in infants and young children, but poses a threat to all age groups and may lead to more serious respiratory illnesses, such as pneumonia, in the elderly and those who are immunocompromised. 

“We found that on average, older adults who are immunocompromised developed fewer antibodies against RSV following vaccination as compared with the very strong responses for healthy people over age 60 seen in the clinical trials used to validate the vaccines,” says study lead author Andrew Karaba, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor of medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. “Additionally, antibody levels in people who are immunocompromised were highly variable, with some study participants showing strong increases in immunity because of the vaccines while others barely responded.” 

The researchers used an ongoing, Johns Hopkins Medicine-led national study — the Emerging Pathogens of Concern in Immunocompromised Persons (EPOC) — to follow 38 people (between ages 64 and 72) who self-reported that they are immunocompromised and received either the RSVPreF3-AS01 (also known as Arexvy) or RSVpreF (also known as Abrysvo) vaccine. The study group was evenly split between males and females, with 82% being solid organ transplant recipients and 74% taking two or more immunosuppressive medications. 

The two vaccines induce the immune system to target a critical protein on the surface of RSV, the F protein, in its pre-infection form, known as pre-fusion F. High levels of antibodies against pre-fusion F, particularly those that neutralize and block RSV from entering cells, are a major contributor in preventing RSV infections. Although most people are infected by RSV many times in their lives, natural infections do not lead to a sufficient level of virus-neutralizing, anti-pre-fusion F antibodies to prevent reinfections, and perhaps, prevent serious illness. 

Both RSV vaccines were designed to solve that shortcoming, and in fact, they have been shown to successfully generate large amounts of pre-fusion F antibodies in trials with healthy adults. So why, the authors of the JAMA study asked, do immune responses to the vaccines vary in people who are immunocompromised? 

“We suspected that a fundamental difference in the two vaccines —the presence or absence of an immune-stimulating chemical called an adjuvant — might play a role in the variance in immunity, so we looked at that,” says study senior author William Werbel, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor of medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. 

Arexvy contains an adjuvant while Abrysvo does not. 

“When we compared the antibody responses between those study participants who received Arexvy with those who got Abrysvo, we found that the group receiving the adjuvanted vaccine tended to have higher levels of RSV-neutralizing, anti-pre-fusion F antibodies,” says Werbel. “So, adjuvant-enhanced vaccines as a means of improving immune response in people who are immunocompromised merits further investigation in larger, more comprehensive studies.” 

However, both Karaba and Werbel point out that this study does not suggest RSV vaccines will not reduce RSV disease in people who are immunocompromised. 

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) currently recommends that everyone 75 and older receive a single dose of an RSV vaccine, as well as people 60 or older in groups at high risk of infection by the virus — including people who are immunocompromised. 

“As with our previous work with COVID-19 vaccines [which led to recommendation that people who are immunocompromised getting additional vaccine doses to improve protection], we look forward to additional research on RSV vaccine responses that will provide guidance for optimized timing and vaccine selection for people who are immunocompromised,” says Karaba. 

Along with Karaba and Werbel, the other members of the research team from Johns Hopkins Medicine are Prasanthy Balasubramanian, Sc.M.; Camille Hage, M.D.; Isabella Sengsouk; and Aaron Tobian, M.D., Ph.D. The study co-author from the New York University Grossman School of Medicine is Dorry Segev, M.D., Ph.D., formerly with Johns Hopkins Medicine. 

The work was supported by National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases grants 3U01A11338897-04S1, K08A1156021 and K23A1157893; and subaward 3UM1AI109565 from the COVID Protection After Transplant Data Coordinating Center, Immune Tolerance Network at the Benaroya Research Institute at the Virginia Mason Medical Center. 

Karaba reports receiving consulting fees from Hologic Inc. and speaking fees from PRIME Education. Werbel reports receiving consulting fees from the CDC/Infectious Diseases Society of America and AstraZeneca; and advisory board fees from AstraZeneca and Novavax. Segev reports receiving consulting fees from AstraZeneca, CareDx, Moderna Therapeutics, Novavax, Regeneron and Springer Publishing; and speaker fees and honoraria from AstraZeneca, CareDx, Houston Methodist, Northwell Health, Optum Health Education, Sanofi and WebMD. 

No other authors had disclosures to report.

END

[Attachments] See images for this press release:
People who are immunocompromised may not produce enough protective antibodies against RSV after vaccination

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

Does coffee prevent head and neck cancer?

2024-12-30
In a new analysis of data from more than a dozen studies, coffee and tea consumption was linked with lower risks of developing head and neck cancers, including cancers of the mouth and throat. Cancers of the head and neck are the seventh most common forms of cancer worldwide, and rates are rising in low- and middle-income countries. Many studies have assessed whether drinking coffee or tea is associated with head and neck cancer, with inconsistent results. To provide additional insight, investigators led by the University of Utah’s Huntsman Cancer Institute examined data from ...

AI replaces humans in identifying causes of fuel cell malfunctions

AI replaces humans in identifying causes of fuel cell malfunctions
2024-12-30
Dr. Chi-Young Jung's research team from the Hydrogen Research & Demonstration Center at the Korea Institute of Energy Research (KIER) has successfully developed a method to analyze the microstructure of carbon fiber paper, a key material in hydrogen fuel cells, at a speed 100 times faster than existing methods. This was achieved by utilizing digital twin technology and artificial intelligence (AI) learning. Carbon fiber paper is a key material in hydrogen fuel cell stacks, playing a crucial role in facilitating water discharge ...

Pitfalls of FDA-approved germline cancer predisposition tests

Pitfalls of FDA-approved germline cancer predisposition tests
2024-12-30
“The FDA approval on September 29, 2023, for ‘class III de novo’ blood tests to assess hereditary cancer risk make widely available tests that may be obtained through a Direct to Consumer (DTC) path.” BUFFALO, NY – December 30, 2024 – A new editorial was published in Oncotarget’s Volume 15 on December 24, 2024, titled “Pitfalls and perils from FDA-approved germ-line cancer predisposition tests.“ Authored by Dr. Wafik S. El-Deiry, Editor-in-Chief of Oncotarget, and Dr. Eli Y. Adashi from Brown University, the article highlights concerns about the risks ...

A rising trend of 'murderous verbs' in movies over 50 years

2024-12-30
The amount of murdering and killing in movies has increased overall over the past 50 years, according to a new study that analyzed a massive database of film dialogue.   Researchers used machine learning to search a database of subtitles from more than 160,000 English-language movies produced from 1970 to 2000.  They calculated the amount of dialogue from characters using variations of the words “murder” or “kill” in each of the films.   While the total use of these “murderous verbs” varied widely from year to year, there was a clear increasing trend over the five-decade ...

Brain structure differences are associated with early use of substances among adolescents

2024-12-30
A study of nearly 10,000 adolescents funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has identified distinct differences in the brain structures of those who used substances before age 15 compared to those who did not. Many of these structural brain differences appeared to exist in childhood before any substance use, suggesting they may play a role in the risk of substance use initiation later in life, in tandem with genetic, environmental, and other neurological factors. “This adds to some emerging evidence ...

Pain coping skills training for patients receiving hemodialysis

2024-12-30
About The Study: In this randomized clinical trial of patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis, pain coping skills training had benefits on pain interference and other pain-associated outcomes. While the effect on the overall cohort was of modest magnitude, the intervention resulted in a clinically meaningful improvement in pain interference for a substantial proportion of participants.  Corresponding Author: To contact the corresponding author, Laura M. Dember, MD, email ldember@pennmedicine.upenn.edu. To ...

Trends of violence in movies during the past half century

2024-12-30
About The Study: The results of this study suggest that speech about committing murder in movies is increasing over time, even in non-crime movies, regardless of character gender. These results are consistent with previous findings that highlighted increasing trends of violence using smaller datasets. Corresponding Author: To contact the corresponding author, Brad J. Bushman, PhD, email bushman.20@osu.edu. To access the embargoed study: Visit our For The Media website at this link https://media.jamanetwork.com/ (doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2024.5741) Editor’s Note: Please see the article for additional information, including other authors, ...

Major depressive disorder and driving behavior among older adults

2024-12-30
About The Study: In this longitudinal cohort study of older drivers, adults with major depressive disorder demonstrated distinct and riskier driving behaviors than those in the control group without depression, with higher rates of hard braking, cornering, and unpredictability in driving patterns over time. Routine depression screening and tailored interventions are essential for enhancing driving safety and maintaining independence among older adults with major depressive disorder. Corresponding Author: To contact the corresponding author, Ganesh M. Babulal, PhD, OTD, email babulalg@wustl.edu. To access the ...

John Howington, MD, MBA, FCCP, to become the 87th President of the American College of Chest Physicians

2024-12-30
Glenview, IL– Effective January 1, John Howington, MD, MBA, FCCP, is the new President of the American College of Chest Physicians® (CHEST). Neil S. Freedman, MD, FCCP, steps into the role of President-Elect; Lisa Moores, MD, FCCP, is the new President-Designate; and Jack D. Buckley, MD, MPH, FCCP, completes his term as President to become Immediate Past President of CHEST. John Howington, MD, MBA, FCCP, is a practicing thoracic surgeon currently at Virginia Mason Franciscan Health, St. Michael Medical Center, in Silverdale, Washington. Dr. Howington ...

Preclinical study finds surges in estrogen promote binge drinking in females

2024-12-30
The hormone estrogen regulates binge drinking in females, causing them to “pregame” – consume large quantities of alcohol in the first 30 minutes after it’s offered, according to a preclinical study led by scientists at Weill Cornell Medicine. The study establishes–for what is thought to be the first time–that circulating estrogen increases binge alcohol consumption in females and contributes to known sex differences in this behavior. The findings, published Dec. 30 in the journal Nature Communications, could lead to novel approaches for treating alcohol use disorder. “We know a lot less about what drives alcohol ...

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:

Are lifetimes of big appliances really shrinking?

Pink skies

Monkeys are world’s best yodellers - new research

Key differences between visual- and memory-led Alzheimer’s discovered

% weight loss targets in obesity management – is this the wrong objective?

An app can change how you see yourself at work

NYC speed cameras take six months to change driver behavior, effects vary by neighborhood, new study reveals

New research shows that propaganda is on the rise in China

Even the richest Americans face shorter lifespans than their European counterparts, study finds

Novel genes linked to rare childhood diarrhea

New computer model reveals how Bronze Age Scandinavians could have crossed the sea

Novel point-of-care technology delivers accurate HIV results in minutes

Researchers reveal key brain differences to explain why Ritalin helps improve focus in some more than others

Study finds nearly five-fold increase in hospitalizations for common cause of stroke

Study reveals how alcohol abuse damages cognition

Medicinal cannabis is linked to long-term benefits in health-related quality of life

Microplastics detected in cat placentas and fetuses during early pregnancy

Ancient amphibians as big as alligators died in mass mortality event in Triassic Wyoming

Scientists uncover the first clear evidence of air sacs in the fossilized bones of alvarezsaurian dinosaurs: the "hollow bones" which help modern day birds to fly

Alcohol makes male flies sexy

TB patients globally often incur "catastrophic costs" of up to $11,329 USD, despite many countries offering free treatment, with predominant drivers of cost being hospitalization and loss of income

Study links teen girls’ screen time to sleep disruptions and depression

Scientists unveil starfish-inspired wearable tech for heart monitoring

Footprints reveal prehistoric Scottish lagoons were stomping grounds for giant Jurassic dinosaurs

AI effectively predicts dementia risk in American Indian/Alaska Native elders

First guideline on newborn screening for cystic fibrosis calls for changes in practice to improve outcomes

Existing international law can help secure peace and security in outer space, study shows

Pinning down the process of West Nile virus transmission

UTA-backed research tackles health challenges across ages

In pancreatic cancer, a race against time

[Press-News.org] People who are immunocompromised may not produce enough protective antibodies against RSV after vaccination
Johns Hopkins Medicine says further research is needed to better understand the problem and find ways to enhance immune response in this high-risk population