Showing papers by "Michael J. Caulfield published in 2011"

Major Depressive Disorder and Immunity to Varicella-Zoster Virus in the Elderly

Abstract: Major depressive disorder has been associated with activation of inflammatory processes as well as with reductions in innate, adaptive and non-specific immune responses. The objective of this study was to evaluate the association between major depression and a disease-relevant immunologic response, namely varicella-zoster virus (VZV)-specific immunity, in elderly adults. A cross-sectional cohort study was conducted in 104 elderly community dwelling adults ≥ 60years of age who were enrolled in the depression substudy of the shingles prevention study, a double blind, placebo-controlled vaccine efficacy trial. Fifty-two subjects had a current major depressive disorder, and 52 age- and sex-matched controls had no history of depression or any mental illness. VZV-specific cell-mediated immunity (VZV-CMI) was measured by VZV responder cell frequency (VZV-RCF) and interferon-γ enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) assays, and antibody to VZV was measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay against affinity-purified VZV glycoproteins (gpELISA). VZV-CMI, measured by VZV-RCF, was significantly lower in the depressed group than in the controls (p<0.001), and VZV-RCF was inversely correlated with the severity of depressive symptoms in the depressed patients. In addition, an age-related reduction in VZV-RCF was observed in the depressed patients, but not in the controls. Furthermore, there was a trend for depressive symptom severity to be associated with lower ELISPOT counts. Finally, VZV-RCF was higher in depressed patients treated with antidepressant medications as compared to untreated depressed patients. Since lower levels of VZV-RCF appear to explain the increased risk and severity of herpes zoster observed in older adults, these findings suggest that, in addition to increasing age, depression may increase the risk and severity of herpes zoster.

15-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide-protein conjugate vaccine composition

Abstract: The present invention provides a multivalent immunogenic composition having 15 distinct polysaccharide-protein conjugates. Each conjugate consists of a capsular polysaccharide prepared from a different serotype of Streptococcus pneumoniae (1, 3, 4, 5, 6A, 6B, 7F, 9V, 14, 18C, 19A, 19F, 22F, 23F or 33F) conjugated to a carrier protein, preferably CRM197. The immunogenic composition, preferably formulated as a vaccine on an aluminum-based adjuvant, provides broad coverage against pneumococcal disease, particularly in infants and young children.

Composition vaccinale anti-pneumococcique à conjugué protéine-polysaccharide de valence 15

Abstract: La presente invention porte sur une composition immunogene multivalente ayant 15 conjugues distincts proteine-polysaccharide. Chaque conjugue comprend un polysaccharide capsulaire prepare a partir d'un serotype different de Streptococcus pneumoniae (1, 3, 4, 5, 6A, 6B, 7F, 9V, 14, 18C, 19A, 19F, 22F, 23F ou 33F) conjugue a une proteine porteuse, de preference CRM197. La composition immunogene, formulee de preference comme vaccin sur un adjuvant a base d'aluminium, fournit une large couverture contre une maladie pneumococcique, en particulier chez les bebes et les jeunes enfants.