Search API
Scientists from Duke-NUS Medical School (Duke-NUS) have developed a new approach using the Zika virus to destroy brain cancer cells and inhibit tumor growth while sparing healthy cells.
Using Zika virus vaccine candidates developed at Duke-NUS, the team discovered how these strains target rapidly proliferating cells over mature cells—making them an ideal option to target fast-growing cancerous cells in the adult brain.
Zika virus is one such option in early development. The Duke-NUS team used Zika virus live-attenuated vaccine (ZIKV-LAV) strains, which are "weakened" viruses with limited ability to infect healthy cells but can still increase and spread within a tumor mass.
"We selected Zika virus because it naturally infects rapidly multiplying cells in the brain, allowing us to reach cancer cells that are traditionally difficult to target. Our ZIKV-LAV strains also replicate themselves in brain cancer cells, making this a living therapy that can spread and attack neighboring diseased cells," said Dr. Carla Bianca Luena Victorio, first author of the paper and Senior Research Fellow at the Cancer & Stem Cell Biology Programme at Duke-NUS, in a press release on March 8, 2024.
Their study's findings, published in the Journal of Translational Medicine in February 2024, potentially offer a new treatment alternative for brain cancer patients who currently have a poor prognosis.
Glioblastoma multiforme is the most common malignant brain cancer, with more than 300,000 patients diagnosed annually worldwide. Survival rates for such patients are poor (around 15 months), mainly due to the high incidence of tumor recurrence and limited treatment options.
For such patients, oncolytic virotherapy—or the use of engineered viruses to infect and kill cancer cells—may address the current therapeutic challenges.
Separately, several Zika vaccine candidates are conducting clinical research as of March 2024.
A preventive vaccine targeting Zika is in demand since 36,738 Zika cases were reported in 2023.
In the Americas, the highest proportion of Zika cases was reported in Brazil (35,041), followed by Bolivia, Belize, Columbia, Paraguay, and Venezuela.
During the recent U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) vaccine committee meeting, changes to the adolescent meningococcal vaccination schedule were discussed to optimize protection against meningitis.
These discussions are very important since the number of meningococcal disease cases in the U.S. has increased sharply since 2021. In 2023, there were 416 confirmed and probable cases of meningitis.
Furthermore, outbreaks are unpredictable, and the outcomes can be devastating, according to the CDC.
For example, from June 2022 to March 2024, there have been 35 confirmed cases of meningococcal disease, including six deaths in Virginia.
On February 29, 2024, Jamie Loehr, M.D., the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) Meningococcal Work Group Chair, led the Introduction session, followed by presentations on 'Revising the Adolescent Meningococcal Vaccine Schedule: Term of Reference and Considerations' and 'GSK Pentavalent MenABCWY Vaccine: Term of Reference.'
Amy B. Middleman, M.D., M.P.H., M.S.Ed., FAAP, liaison from the Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine to ACIP, said a recent discussion showed many did not favor removing vaccine doses from the existing schedule.
"There was pretty clear concern about potentially eliminating the 11- to 12-year vaccination for multiple reasons," said Dr. Middleman in an article.
The ACIP is scheduled to continue these discussions during their June 2024 meeting.
The ACIP develops recommendations on how to use vaccines to control disease in the U.S.
The Committee's recommendations are forwarded to the CDC's Director and, once adopted, become official policy. They are then published in the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
The New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH), which has already confirmed one measles case in 2024, recently announced it is investigating eight suspected mumps cases in Hunterdon County, northwest New Jersey.
Mumps can become very serious and start with fever, headache, muscle aches, tiredness, and loss of appetite. Later, it appears as a swelling of the salivary glands or puffy cheeks and a tender, swollen jaw.
As of February 29, 2024, a total of 50 mumps cases have been reported by 21 U.S. jurisdictions, some related to international travel.
Last year, 436 mumps cases were reported in the U.S.
NJDOH is urging everyone to be aware of the symptoms of these highly contagious viruses and to stay up to date with the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccinations.
The MMR vaccine is a very effective way to avoid these illnesses.
“As a physician and mom, I understand what keeping your kids and your family healthy is like. The best way to keep you and your loved ones safe is to get the MMR shot. If you or your family have not gotten the shot, now is the time,” said Acting Health Commissioner Dr. Kaitlan Baston in a press release on March 5, 2024.
“These viruses are incredibly contagious, so if you suspect you may have measles, mumps, or rubella, it is important to call ahead before visiting any health care provider or facility so they can take special precautions.”
The cost of MMR vaccination is generally covered by insurance, and various vaccines are available at community pharmacies.
Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) recently announced it is gravely alarmed over the depletion of the global oral cholera vaccine (OCV) stockpile.
As of March 6, 2024, all cholera vaccine doses currently in production have already been allocated, and their demand keeps increasing.
The predicted shortfall of at least 50 million vaccine doses worldwide.
As countries report cholera outbreaks, MSF says that existing and new manufacturers must urgently step up their efforts to boost the global supply of cholera vaccines.
MSF says immediate action is necessary to address this pressing global health concern.
"The world's oral cholera vaccine stocks have dried up," said Dr. Daniela Garone, MSF's international medical coordinator, on February 26, 2024.
"We're very worried that people are at much greater risk of getting and potentially dying from a disease that's preventable if there's no vaccine available to respond to an outbreak in their community, nor to prevent one from starting in the first place," Dr. Garone added.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has recorded seven cholera pandemics over the past two centuries. The current (7th) cholera epidemic is considered to have started in 1961.
About 17 countries across four WHO regions reported over 40,000 cholera cases and 775 related deaths in January 2024.
The five countries reporting the most cases in 2024 are Zambia, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and Pakistan.
The U.S. CDC recommends that adults traveling to areas with active cholera transmission get vaccinated.
The WHO has pre-qualified three vaccines to address this need: Dukoral®, Shanchol™, and Euvichol®.
DUKORAL is authorized in Australia, Canada, Europe, New Zealand, Thailand, and the United Kingdom to protect people against cholera and Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli.
DUKORAL vaccine sales were reported to be €29.8 million in 2023 compared to €17.3 million in 2022, a 72% increase.
Many people are looking forward to Spring 2024, but the respiratory season still affects children's health in the United States.
On March 8, 2024, the U.S. CDC published an updated national outlook on respiratory diseases. According to the report, influenza percent positivity has remained stable compared to the previous week, but there have been flu outbreaks in some areas of the country.
In addition, last week, ten children died from influenza.
As of week #9 of 2024, the CDC has identified 103 influenza-associated pediatric deaths using underlying cause-of-death codes J09–J18. During the 2022-2023 flu season, 182 children died from influenza infections.
The vaccination status of these children was not disclosed.
The CDC continues to recommend a seasonal flu shot for anyone older than six months and suggests speaking with a doctor, nurse, or pharmacist about flu shot options (egg, cell, nasal) in March 2024.
Recently, the Republic of Indonesia generously donated 10 million polio vaccine doses to Afghanistan. This initiative is a significant step towards eradicating the disease and ensuring the health and well-being of the Afghan people.
Afghanistan is affected by ongoing endemic wild poliovirus transmission. In 2023, there were six cases confirmed.
According to the government's news agency, on March 8, 2024, Bio Farma, an Indonesian pharmaceutical company, manufactured these oral polio vaccines.
UNICEF is collaborating with Afghan officials to facilitate the transportation and distribution of the vaccines.
Bio Farma produces the nOPV2 vaccine, which has been administered in more than 35 countries.
The Global Polio Eradication Initiative reported on March 8, 2024, that at the Bost hospital, like every maternity facility in Afghanistan, babies are vaccinated in their first few hours of life.
In any 24 hours, the UNICEF-backed female vaccinators vaccinate dozens of babies in this hospital alone.
Some women are medically trained to administer intravenous vaccinations, and others are known as female mobilizer vaccinators (FMVs). They are not just vaccinators, but FMV are also the first-line advocates for polio eradication.
They are a familiar face to the local community who provides sound advice and information for good health of their children and family members.
Since the Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) season began in the United States in Florida last year and peaked over the winter months, pregnant women have had two immunization options available to protect their future infants.
In August 2023, the CDC recommended Beyfortus™ (Nirsevimab-alip), a single-dose, long-acting monoclonal antibody offering passive immunization, to protect infants aged <8 months against RSV-associated lower respiratory tract infection in their first RSV season.
The other option is maternal vaccination.
On March 7, 2023, the U.S. CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report offered encouraging news.
The CDC confirmed that Beyfortus was 90% (95% CI = 75%–96%) effective against RSV-associated hospitalization in infants in their first RSV season.
However, Beyfortus's effectiveness is expected to decrease after receipt because of antibody decay.
In clinical trials, nirsevimab remained highly efficacious against RSV-associated lower respiratory tract infection in infants through 150 days, consistent with an extended half-life of 63–73 days.
This early estimate supports the current CDC recommendation for the prevention of severe RSV disease in infants.
As of January 2024, among females with an infant <8 months, 40.5% reported that their infant received nirsevimab. An additional 21.7% said that they plan to get nirsevimab for their infant.
