Blood test can predict how long vaccine immunity will last

Good news!

"... Scientists have long been stymied by why some vaccines can coax the body to produce antibodies for decades, while others last mere months. ... “The question of why some vaccines induce durable immunity while others do not has been one of the great mysteries in vaccine science,” ...

Now, a study ... by researchers ... has shown that variation in vaccine durability can, in part, be pinned on a surprising type of blood cell called megakaryocytes, typically implicated in blood clotting. ...

“Our study defines a molecular signature in the blood, induced within a few days of vaccination, that predicts the durability of vaccine responses and provides insights into the fundamental mechanisms underlying vaccine durability.” ...

Further experiments showed that activated megakaryocytes produce key molecules that increase the survival of the bone marrow cells responsible for making antibodies, or plasma cells. When these molecules were blocked, plasma cells survived less in the presence of megakaryocytes. ..."

From the abstract:

"We performed a systems vaccinology analysis to investigate immune responses in humans to an H5N1 influenza vaccine, with and without the AS03 adjuvant, to identify factors influencing antibody response magnitude and durability. Our findings revealed a platelet and adhesion-related blood transcriptional signature on day 7 that predicted the longevity of the antibody response, suggesting a potential role for platelets in modulating antibody response durability.

As platelets originate from megakaryocytes, we explored the effect of thrombopoietin (TPO)-mediated megakaryocyte activation on antibody response longevity. We found that TPO administration enhanced the durability of vaccine-induced antibody responses. TPO-activated megakaryocytes also promoted survival of human bone-marrow plasma cells through integrin β1/β2-mediated cell–cell interactions, along with survival factors APRIL and the MIF–CD74 axis.

Using machine learning, we developed a classifier based on this platelet-associated signature, which predicted antibody response longevity across six vaccines from seven independent trials, highlighting a conserved mechanism for vaccine durability."

Blood test can predict how long vaccine immunity will last | Stanford Report "A surprising class of blood cell not typically associated with immunity plays a role in shaping the durability of immunity to vaccination, new research suggests."

System vaccinology analysis of predictors and mechanisms of antibody response durability to multiple vaccines in humans (no public access)

The worm in the bud: Do parasites interfere with immunization?

Recommendable! Very timely research! Probably a subject that needs much more research! This article also mentions viruses, but it does not expound much! 

"... but not everyone responds to vaccination in the same way.Parasites such as worms and viruses change the way a person or animal’s immune system functions, and this can affect their ability to respond to vaccines. ... Since the 1960s, a steady stream of studies examined whether parasites might be interfering with immunization. Some have shown that they do, while others have been inconclusive. ... Overall, we found that parasitic worms, protozoa and viruses do tend to interfere with immunization. ... We found that the timing of infection relative to vaccination is important: For example, chronic worm infections were more likely to result in worse immunization outcomes than acute worm infections. "

The worm in the bud: Do parasites interfere with immunization?  | Office of the Dean for Research

On Mandatory Child Immunization

Posted: 6/11/2017

Trigger

Recently read: Null Toleranz für die Impfgegner Das Verhalten der Impfgegner ist irrational und ideologisch. Freilich muss auch irrationales Handeln erlaubt sein, doch ihr Verhalten bedroht das Leben anderer. Da hilft nur noch Zwang. (Partial translation: Zero tolerance for immunization opponents … only government coercion can help)

It appears there are more efforts in some western countries by governments to enforce more strict childhood immunization programs, e.g. in the U.S. and Germany.

Voluntary Or Government Compulsion?

Presumably, most parents would voluntarily agree to have their children properly immunised for the love of their children. Only immunized children are protected, most parents probably understand this very well.

Presumably, only a minority of parents believe in exaggerated or false claims of vaccines being dangerous for their children. Here better education by private and government institutions would certainly help.

I would argue that there is no compelling reason for government mandated compulsion of child or any other group immunization unless a severe crisis presents itself. General Government compulsion is based on or exploits exaggerated fears.

Government forced immunization is totally outdated in the 21st century!

Herd Immunization

Apparently, not 100% of the population need to be immunized to prevent an outbreak of a contagious disease (see e.g. here, here). For e.g. measles it is reported that a 95% coverage of immunization would be sufficient.

However, a less than 100% immunization rate increases the risk that vulnerable members of the population (e.g. children, who for medical reasons cannot be immunized or older adults etc.) get infected. However, what is the probability?

Immunization Schedules For Adults

This could be indeed a neglected subject of public health. How many adults realize that they need to be vaccinated again?

More private and public education on this subject would not hurt!

Victim Of Their Own Success

Beautiful argument! It goes like this “Vaccines prevent serious infections so effectively that many parents mistakenly believe the diseases are no longer a threat in the United States” (source).

This would call for more and better education of parents by private and public institutions about the real risk that long, largely controlled child diseases could come back to haunt if childhood immunizations keep dropping.

This would also call for private and government efforts to spread more childhood immunizations around the world. Or to achieve complete eradication!

More Research To Defeat These Pathogens Once And For All!

Like with antibiotic resistance it is high time to devote more private and public funding to diagnose and defeat these pathogens as early and thoroughly as possible with least side effects. Finally, in the early 21st century, humans have the technological means to do it. Just do it! (pardon me Nike)

Where are Bill & Melinda Gates or other billionaires to step forward!

Big Disclaimer

I am not a doctor nor have I ever had any significant training in medicine! I am a lay person on medical topics.