hepatitis A vaccine (Biovac A)

[Bucket-list destinations from an infectious disease perspective].

Grounauer Louise S LS, Prongué Estelle E, Zumbrunn Samuel K SK, Calamai Pietro P et al.

Tropical countries are among the most popular destinations for Swiss travelers and pose a health challenge in terms of infectious disease risk. Arboviral diseases are one of the major infectious risks, along with rabies, hepatitis A, and malaria. Several resurgences of vaccine-preventable diseases, such as polio and yellow fever, have also been identified. In light of these data, it would appear that the safest travel destinations from an infectious disease perspective are Cuba in Latin America, Hong Kong in Asia, and the Seychelles in Africa. However, these data are subject to change and may evolve rapidly.

Case Report: Acute liver failure in systemic lupus erythematosus with autoimmune hepatitis-primary biliary cholangitis overlap: a belimumab-containing regimen and longitudinal follow-up.

Zhang Lina L, Zhang Tong T, Zhang Jing J, Wang Xiuhong X et al.

Severe autoimmune liver injury as the first manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is rare, and concomitant autoimmune hepatitis-primary biliary cholangitis (AIH-PBC) overlap is uncommon. B-cell-activating factor (BAFF) provides a biological rationale for adjunctive therapy, although clinical evidence remains limited. A 72-year-old woman presented with 4 weeks of fatigue and anorexia and developed coagulopathy (international normalized ratio [INR] 1.8), ascites, and hepatic encephalopathy. Autoimmune testing showed antinuclear antibody 1:1280, high-titer anti-double-stranded DNA antibodies with hypocomplementemia, immunoglobulin G (IgG) 30.0 g/L, and antimitochondrial antibody positivity. Hepatitis B surface antigen, hepatitis C antibody, hepatitis E antibody, and Epstein-Barr virus and cytomegalovirus DNA tests were negative. Liver biopsy 42 days after corticosteroid initiation demonstrated interface hepatitis, destructive small-bile-duct injury, plasma cell-rich inflammation, and Batts-Ludwig stage 2 fibrosis without cirrhosis, supporting a clinicopathologic diagnosis of AIH-PBC overlap. Previously unrecognized chronic autoimmune liver disease could not be excluded. Prednisolone was started at 50 mg/day, followed 10 days later by intravenous belimumab, with concomitant ursodeoxycholic acid. Tacrolimus was added during maintenance. By 10 October 2025, liver biochemistry had improved, IgG was 9.42 g/L, and prednisolone had been reduced to 2.5 mg/day. Liver stiffness decreased from 21.5 to 9.7 kPa. Sustained biochemical improvement occurred during a belimumab-containing multidrug regimen. This observation does not establish the independent efficacy of belimumab or histological regression of fibrosis.

A subunit vaccine protects A129 mice from death and joint swelling against lethal Chikungunya virus challenge.

Li Jiangfan J, Fang Ting T, Song Liyuan L, Qiang Li L et al.

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is primarily transmitted to humans through bites of infected Aedes mosquitoes, causing febrile illness as well as acute or chronic arthritis. With increasing reports in previously non-endemic regions, it poses an emerging threat to public health and a growing risk to travelers. Despite the recent approval of live-attenuated and virus-like particle-based vaccines, a safe, efficacious, and cost-effective vaccine remains urgently needed. The envelope glycoproteins E1 and E2, which play crucial roles in viral attachment and entry, are the major immunodominant structural proteins and can effectively elicit protective antibodies. We engineered mammalian cells to produce the ectodomains of the E1 and E2 glycoproteins and evaluated the protective efficacy of the resulting vaccine formulations in vivo. A two-dose vaccination regimen elicited high levels of antibodies and provided full protection against lethal challenge in A129 mice, preventing both death and joint swelling. These findings demonstrate the potential of this vaccine candidate against CHIKV and warrant its further development.

[Strategies to address vaccine hesitancy in Brazil: evidence synthesis].

Marques Ana Paula da Costa APDC, Gubert Vanessa Terezinha VT, Dias Adriano da Costa ADC, Gasparoto Antonio Luiz Dal Bello ALDB et al.