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Long-lasting insecticide-treated house screens and targeted treatment of productive breeding-sites for dengue vector control in Acapulco, Mexico
Conclusions These safe, simple affordable vector control tools were well-accepted by study participants and are potentially suitable in many regions at risk from dengue worldwide. (Source: Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene)
Source: Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene - January 20, 2015 Category: Tropical Medicine Authors: Che-Mendoza, A., Guillermo-May, G., Herrera-Bojorquez, J., Barrera-Perez, M., Dzul-Manzanilla, F., Gutierrez-Castro, C., Arredondo-Jimenez, J. I., Sanchez-Tejeda, G., Vazquez-Prokopec, G., Ranson, H., Lenhart, A., Sommerfeld, J., McCall, P. J., Kroeger, A Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLES Source Type: research

Entomological impact and social participation in dengue control: a cluster randomized trial in Fortaleza, Brazil
Conclusions Embedding social participation and environmental management for improved dengue vector control was feasible and significantly reduced vector densities. Such a participatory ecohealth approach offers a promising alternative to routine vector control measures. (Source: Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene)
Source: Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene - January 20, 2015 Category: Tropical Medicine Authors: Caprara, A., De Oliveira Lima, J. W., Rocha Peixoto, A. C., Vasconcelos Motta, C. M., Soares Nobre, J. M., Sommerfeld, J., Kroeger, A. Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLES Source Type: research

Eco-bio-social research on community-based approaches for Chagas disease vector control in Latin America
This article provides an overview of three research projects which designed and implemented innovative interventions for Chagas disease vector control in Bolivia, Guatemala and Mexico. The research initiative was based on sound principles of community-based ecosystem management (ecohealth), integrated vector management, and interdisciplinary analysis. The initial situational analysis achieved a better understanding of ecological, biological and social determinants of domestic infestation. The key factors identified included: housing quality; type of peridomestic habitats; presence and abundance of domestic dogs, chickens a...
Source: Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene - January 20, 2015 Category: Tropical Medicine Authors: Gurtler, R. E., Yadon, Z. E. Tags: REVIEW Source Type: research

Innovative community-based ecosystem management for dengue and Chagas disease prevention in low and middle income countries in Latin America and the Caribbean
In 2009, the WHO Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR) and the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) launched a call for innovative community-based ecosystem management research projects for dengue and Chagas disease prevention in low and middle income countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. Eight research institutions were selected. The outputs of these projects led to a better understanding of the interaction between ecological, biological, social and economic (eco-bio-social) determinants of dengue and Chagas disease in Latin America and the Caribbean. Both diseases are ...
Source: Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene - January 20, 2015 Category: Tropical Medicine Authors: Finkelman, J. Tags: COMMENTARY Source Type: research

Innovative community-based vector control interventions for improved dengue and Chagas disease prevention in Latin America: introduction to the special issue
(Source: Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene)
Source: Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene - January 20, 2015 Category: Tropical Medicine Authors: Sommerfeld, J., Kroeger, A. Tags: EDITORIAL Source Type: research

Sex-differential and non-specific effects of routine vaccinations in a rural area with low vaccination coverage: an observational study from Senegal
Conclusions The sequence of routine vaccinations is important for the overall impact on child survival and these vaccines are associated with sex-differential effects. (Source: Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene)
Source: Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene - January 8, 2015 Category: Tropical Medicine Authors: Aaby, P., Nielsen, J., Benn, C. S., Trape, J.-F. Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLES Source Type: research

Nanoparticles modify dendritic cell homeostasis and induce non-specific effects on immunity to malaria
Conclusions Intradermal administration of 40 nm PSNPs modifies DC homeostasis, which may at least in part explain the observed beneficial heterologous effects of current particulate vaccines. Further nanotechnological developments may exploit such strategies to promote beneficial non-specific effects. (Source: Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene)
Source: Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene - January 8, 2015 Category: Tropical Medicine Authors: Xiang, S. D., Kong, Y. Y., Hanley, J., Fuchsberger, M., Crimeen-Irwin, B., Plebanski, M. Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLES Source Type: research

Vaccination and heterologous immunity: educating the immune system
This review discusses three inter-related topics: (1) the immaturity of the neonatal and infant immune response; (2) heterologous immunity, where prior infection history with unrelated pathogens alters disease outcome resulting in either enhanced protective immunity or increased immunopathology to new infections, and (3) epidemiological human vaccine studies that demonstrate vaccines can have beneficial or detrimental effects on subsequent unrelated infections. The results from the epidemiological and heterologous immunity studies suggest that the immune system has tremendous plasticity and that each new infection or vacci...
Source: Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene - January 8, 2015 Category: Tropical Medicine Authors: Gil, A., Kenney, L. L., Mishra, R., Watkin, L. B., Aslan, N., Selin, L. K. Tags: REVIEWS Source Type: research

BCG-associated heterologous immunity, a historical perspective: intervention studies in animal models of infectious diseases
The WHO Special Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) review of the available epidemiological and trial evidence in humans concluded that bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination leads to beneficial heterologous (‘non-specific’) effects, specifically on all-cause mortality. Randomized controlled trials showing this beneficial effect suggest improved survival is the result of enhanced protection against infection. This paper reviews the available evidence for the attenuating effects of BCG vaccine on experimental infections in animal models, including protection from bacteria, viruses, parasites and fungi. T...
Source: Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene - January 8, 2015 Category: Tropical Medicine Authors: Freyne, B., Marchant, A., Curtis, N. Tags: REVIEWS Source Type: research

BCG-associated heterologous immunity, a historical perspective: experimental models and immunological mechanisms
Randomized controlled trials indicate that bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) has beneficial heterologous (‘non-specific’) effects on mortality in high mortality settings. These findings have stimulated interest in understanding the immunological mechanisms underlying these effects in the hope of harnessing them to reduce all-cause mortality. This line of investigation is especially important in light of BCG being discontinued in some countries as the prevalence of TB falls. Stopping routine BCG in this situation may have the unintended consequence of depriving children of the beneficial immune modulating effects of...
Source: Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene - January 8, 2015 Category: Tropical Medicine Authors: Freyne, B., Marchant, A., Curtis, N. Tags: REVIEWS Source Type: research

Heterologous and sex differential effects of administering vitamin A supplementation with vaccines
WHO recommends high-dose vitamin A supplementation (VAS) to children from 6 months to 5 years of age in low-income countries, in order to prevent and treat vitamin A deficiency-associated morbidity and mortality. The current policy does not discriminate this recommendation either by sex or vaccination status of the child. There is accumulating evidence that the effects of VAS on morbidity, mortality and immunological parameters depend on concomitant vaccination status. Moreover, these interactions may manifest differently in males and females. Certain vaccines administered through the Expanded Program on Immunization have ...
Source: Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene - January 8, 2015 Category: Tropical Medicine Authors: Jensen, K. J., Ndure, J., Plebanski, M., Flanagan, K. L. Tags: REVIEWS Source Type: research

Trained immunity: consequences for the heterologous effects of BCG vaccination
A growing body of evidence from epidemiologic and immunologic studies have shown that in addition to target disease-specific effects, vaccines have heterologous effects towards unrelated pathogens. Like some other vaccines, bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) has shown in observational studies and randomized clinical trials to increase survival beyond the disease burden of the target disease. The immunologic substrate for these non-specific protective effects have been ascertained to heterologous T cell effects on the one hand, and to priming of innate immunity on the other hand. The term ‘trained immunity’ has been ...
Source: Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene - January 8, 2015 Category: Tropical Medicine Authors: Kleinnijenhuis, J., van Crevel, R., Netea, M. G. Tags: REVIEWS Source Type: research

Is early measles vaccination better than later measles vaccination?
WHO recommends delaying measles vaccination (MV) until maternal antibody has waned. However, early MV may improve child survival by reducing mortality from conditions other than measles infection. We tested whether early MV improves child survival compared with later MV. We found 43 studies comparing measles-vaccinated and measles-unvaccinated children; however, only 16 studies had specific information that MV had been provided at 4–13 months of age, many before 9 months of age. In the 10 best studies (4 randomized trials and 6 observational studies) control children did not receive MV during follow-up. In eight of t...
Source: Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene - January 8, 2015 Category: Tropical Medicine Authors: Aaby, P., Martins, C. L., Ravn, H., Rodrigues, A., Whittle, H. C., Benn, C. S. Tags: REVIEWS Source Type: research

Sex-based differences in immune function and responses to vaccination
Females typically develop higher antibody responses and experience more adverse reactions following vaccination than males. These differences are observed in response to diverse vaccines, including the bacillus Calmette-Guerin vaccine, the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine, the yellow fever virus vaccine and influenza vaccines. Sex differences in the responses to vaccines are observed across diverse age groups, ranging from infants to aged individuals. Biological as well as behavioral differences between the sexes are likely to contribute to differences in the outcome of vaccination between the sexes. Immunological, hormo...
Source: Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene - January 8, 2015 Category: Tropical Medicine Authors: Klein, S. L., Marriott, I., Fish, E. N. Tags: REVIEWS Source Type: research

The heterologous (non-specific) effects of vaccines: implications for policy in high-mortality countries
There are important interactions between vaccines, and between vaccines and unrelated (heterologous) infections. In high-mortality regions, until the next vaccine is given, live vaccines such as bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) and measles vaccines reduce mortality from infections such as pneumonia and sepsis. However, non-live vaccines such as diphtheria, tetanus and whole-cell pertussis vaccine (DTP) may increase mortality from infections other than diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis. All-cause mortality might be reduced if an extra dose of Edmonston-Zagreb measles vaccine were given at 20 weeks of age, 4–6 wee...
Source: Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene - January 8, 2015 Category: Tropical Medicine Authors: Shann, F. Tags: COMMENTARIES Source Type: research