D I AGN OSTI C TESTI NG
TUESDAY 7 DECEMBER 2021
#ESWI VIRAL TIMES
CO N F E R E N C E N E W S PA P E R
PAN DE MI C THREATS FR O M THE AN I MAL WO R LD
Influenza as a zoonotic threat for future pandemics THE CURRENTLY ONGOING COVID-19 PANDEMIC HAS SHOWN US THAT POSSIBLE ZOONOTIC VIRUS SPILL-OVERS SHOULD CONCERN THE HUMAN POPULATION. ONLY A HUNDRED YEARS AFTER THE DEVASTATING SPANISH FLU, A CORONAVIRUS IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CURRENT PANDEMIC. HOWEVER, AVIAN INFLUENZA VIRUSES ARE STILL A THREAT FROM THE ANIMAL WORLD THAT MIGHT CAUSE A FUTURE PANDEMIC. Within domestic poultry, low pathogenic avian Influenza A (LPAI) virus subtypes H5 and H7 can evolve to high pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) viruses which then show a systemic infection of the poultry with high virulence. The main difference between LPAI and HPAI is the cleavage site within the glycoprotein Hemagglutinin (HA). If humans are infected with the HPAI the case fatality rate can be very high. Lauren E Steele from the University of Queensland investigated, why LPAI evolve to HPAI in chicken but not ducks. She presented Neuropilin-1 as a possible new receptor for HPAI. As the LPAI HA might show a lower affinity to Neuropilin-1 compared to the HPAI HA, Neuropilin-1 could cause a positive pressure on the evolution of the HPAI. As Neuropilin-1 is expressed to higher levels in chicken endothelial cells compared to ducks endothelial cells this might contribute to the emergence of HPAI viruses in poultry but not in wild aquatic birds.
The transmission of HPAI from poultry to wild migrating birds poses a continuous threat to the global spread of HPAI viruses. Susanne Koethe from the FriedrichLöffler Institute presented data about the susceptibility of ducks to the HPAI H7N9 virus. She showed, that the infection of duck eggs with HPAI resulted in systemic infection of the embryo. Further, she demonstrated that even though ducklings infected with the HPAI showed only mild symptoms, the viruses could be transmitted to sentinel animals. Thus, HPAI H7 viruses anchor the risk of a global spread via wild migrating birds. Denys Muzyka from the Institute of Experimental and Clinical Veterinary medicine in Ukraine highlighted the importance of the surveillance of infected wild birds. He pointed out that Ukraine is a very unique region, where many migrating birds pass by and therefore constitutes a possible hotspot for viral transmission between wild birds. The detection of
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several LPAI H7 subtypes from clinically healthy ducks especially shows that close surveillance of wild birds is important for the early detection of Influenza viruses with zoonotic potential. El-Sayed Abdel-Whab from the FriedrichLöffler Institute demonstrated that not only the HA can determine the virulence of HPAI viruses. Indeed, he investigated two clades of HPAI H5N8 viruses and found, that the evolution of the more virulent Clade A favours shorter variants of the viral NS1 gene compared to the less virulent Clade B. He showed that a longer NS1 resulted in stunted virulence and transmissibility while shortening the NS1 gene in Clade B had no impact on the virulence. The session “Pandemic threats from the animal world” clearly underlined the importance of surveillance and analysis of avian influenza viruses as they might be the cause of the next pandemic.
#ESWI VIRAL TIMES
TUESDAY 7 DECEMBER 2021
S T RAT EGI ES FO R FUTUR E I N F LU E N ZA VACCI N ATI O N
Forging the Future of Influenza Vaccines IN THE SESSION, “STRATEGIES FOR FUTURE INFLUENZA VACCINATION” CHAIRED BY FLORIAN KRAMMER AND NICHOLAS WU,EXPLORED VACCINATION STRATEGIES AND NEXT-GENERATION INFLUENZA VACCINES. Clinical Observations of Co-administered COVID-19 and Influenza Vaccines
Tetrabrachion Improves Immune Response to Neuraminidase Vaccination
As we enter flu season in the Northern hemisphere during the third year of the COVID-19 pandemic, administering vaccines against both diseases is critical for positive public health outcomes. Novavax’s Seth Toback studied the effect of the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine co-administered with a seasonal influenza vaccine. The covaccination group experienced mainly mild adverse effects. There was no significant difference in immune response between the co-administration group compared to groups that received either vaccine alone. To improve public health outcomes, it appears that co-administration of both vaccines would likely result in improved vaccine uptake.
Neuraminidase (NA) is highly conserved across influenza strains, thus vaccines designed using NA could have prolonged efficacy compared to current influenza vaccines. João Paulo Portela Catani explored stabilised tetrameric NA as a vaccine candidate for influenza. Tetrabrachion (tet) was used to boost immune response to NA. Tet was found to improve anti-NA antibody responses, both when used in pre-vaccination and when bound to NA. The use of tet for pre-vaccination and follow-up tet-NA vaccine could improve immune induction and ultimately increase the efficacy of influenza vaccines.
Next Generation Split Inactivated Virus Vaccine A universal influenza vaccine could confer long-lasting immunity to a range of influenza strains. Eduard PuenteMassaguer’s work involved designing inactivated split influenza viruses that expressed chimeric hemagglutinin (HA) proteins, made from the head of one HA and stalk of another. Capture ELISA was used to determine that each HA maintained the proper confirmation following split inactivation and to quantify the correctly folded HA. In a H3N2 challenge study, mice that received adjuvanted chimeric vaccines had a 100% survival rate, confirming the proper protein form and demonstrating the potential for a future universal stalk-based vaccine candidate.
Adjuvants Improve Balanced Immune Response to Influenza Vaccination The HA head of influenza, the immunodominant epitope, is composed of 5 antigenic sites that are highly variable. Laura Sanchez de Prada studied the effect of adjuvants on the immunodominance of each antigenic site following vaccination. Adjuvants augmented immune dominance, leading to a more balanced response, whereas, without adjuvant, the response was primarily generated against the antigenic sites Sb and Ca2. These data highlight the importance of using adjuvants for influenza vaccination, as they induce a more balanced and effective immune response.
Young Scientist Innovative Award winner and co-chair of this session Nicholas Wu $
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Effective T Cell Response with Computationally Designed Hemagglutinin Vaccines Lenny Moise presented computational work that designs flu antigens for vaccine candidates that enhances T cell immunity. Two HA vaccines were designed against H7N9 virus, an avian influenza strain with a high mortality rate. OPT1 was H7N9 virus HA where a Treg epitope was replaced with a H3N2 virus Teff epitope. OPT2 was similar, with the addition of 5 H3N2 virus Teff epitopes. In a mouse H7N9 virus challenge model OPT2 vaccination had 100% survival, better health outcomes, and the highest Teff response. This modelling system could be used to improve vaccine efficacy for potential pandemic influenza viruses and to improve seasonal influenza virus vaccines.
# Chair Florian Krammer
#ESWI VIRAL TIMES
TUESDAY 7 DECEMBER 2021
YO UN G SCI ENTI ST AWAR D S
Today is a special day! TODAY, THE WINNERS OF THE CLAUDE HANNOUN PRIZE FOR BEST BODY OF WORK AND THE YOUNG SCIENTIST INNOVATIVE AWARD SUPPORTED BY SEQIRUS WILL OFFICIALLY RECEIVE THEIR PRIZE! TUNE IN AT 10 AM TODAY FOR AN INTERESTING SESSION CELEBRATING THE WORK OF YOUNG SCIENTISTS WHERE SETH ZOST, LAUREATE OF THE 2021 CLAUDE HANNOUN PRIZE FOR BEST BODY OF WORK, AND NICHOLAS WU, PRIZEWINNER OF THIS YEAR’S YOUNG SCIENTIST INNOVATIVE AWARD WILL PRESENT THEIR RESEARCH AND INTERACT WITH OUR CHAIRS. A BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE AND CONGRATULATIONS TO THEM BOTH! CLAUDE HA N N O U N PR I Z E F OR BEST OF BO DY O F WO R K THE FIRST VOICE OF ESWI The Claude Hannoun prize for Best Body of Work is named in honour of Prof Em. Claude Hannoun, one of the founding fathers and Chairman of ESWI from 1992 until 1998. He co-organised three ESWI Conferences, which all pointed to the importance of controlling influenza in Europe. Prof Hannoun is now retired from scientific activity but still follows with great interest the scientific developments in virology and influenza. His life work focused on virological and epidemiological studies on arboviruses and influenza. WHAT STANDS BEHIND THE PRIZE? The goal of this prize is to advance research by young scientists in the field of influenza by granting them a cash prize of €10,000 and an invitation to speak at this year’s Conference. It is a way for ESWI to encourage the most promising young body of work in flu research. The prize is open to all young scientists in possession of a PhD for no longer than 7 years throughout the world. CLAUDE HANNOUN PRIZE’S HERITAGE No later than a few years ago, in 2017, this year’s Young Scientist ambassador, Dr Debby van Riel received the Prize during the Sixth ESWI Conference in Riga. Today she still sees it as a great honour and "a great recognition of my scientific work. Also, the attention that it brought me enabled me to connect to many scientists world-
wide. It also encouraged me to continue my research and to further establish a research team of young and enthusiastic scientists.” At last year's Virtual edition of the ESWI Influenza Conference, the Young Scientist Best Body of Work prize went to Dr. Robert de Vries from the Utrecht University in the Netherlands. He mentioned that “Receiving the award was an amazing honour, and importantly recognised the significance of glycobiology to study influenza A viruses. The prize enabled my lab to expand our studies and contributed to the visibility of my lab, and it also enlarged my network and resulted in new and exciting collaborations.” In 2014 the prize for Best Body of Work was given to Dr. Damian Ekiert at the Fifth ESWI Influenza Conference. Looking back at receiving the prize, he mentions that he "felt very lucky to have been granted this recognition and support, and it remains one of the awards that I am most proud to have received. The award came at a critical 3
stage during my career, as I was beginning to develop my own research program and launch my independent career. I appreciated the support of the award to attend the ESWI conference in Riga that year, where I had a chance to meet many of my European colleagues in person for the first time, and present my latest research”. Previous winner Dr. Gülsah Gabriel (2009) is a current member of the ESWI Board of Directors and the Vice-President. She described receiving the award as a great motivation in her early career.
YO UNG SC I ENT I ST I NNOVAT I V E AWARD This year is the second edition ESWI launches this award with the support of Seqirus. This new Prize focuses on innovative vaccine research and recognises exceptional research conducted by a promising young scientist in the field of influenza vaccine development. The Young Scientist Innovative Award Winner will receive a cash prize of €10,000 and an invitation to speak at this year’s ESWI Conference.
#ESWI VIRAL TIMES
TUESDAY 7 DECEMBER 2021
YO UN G SCI ENTI ST PO STE R I N THE P I CTU R E
BY RIT IKA KHATR I
The Systemic Inflammatory Response to Influenza A Virus Infection is fueled by endothelial cells by Lisa Bauer CHECK THE POSTER
Influenza Infection in Endothelial Cells Influenza A virus causes infection mostly in humans' upper respiratory tract with mild symptoms, whereas severe infection in the lower tract is of concern. Severe infection in the lower respiratory tract has been associated with dysregulated systemic inflammatory response, in which endothelial cells play a crucial role. Lisa Bauer from Erasmus Medical Center, Netherlands, investigated the contribution of endothelial cells to the systemic inflammatory responses after inoculation with seasonal or pandemic influenza A viruses. She used an in-vitro model for this investigation where primary lung epithelial cells were co-cultured on the apical side with primary lung microvascular endothelial cells (LMEC) on the basolateral side. With the immunofluorescence staining, the author showed that LMECs could be infected from either apical and basolateral side with pH1N1, H1N1 2009 and H3N2 viruses. All three kinds of interferon and proinflammatory cytokines like IL-8 and IP-10 were detected in the infected endothelial cells, and the level was even higher in some cases than in epithelial cells. Lisa mentioned that a strong immune response was seen in the endothelial-epithelial co-cultured infected cells with influenza. Later she concluded that "In vivo, cytokines and chemokines produced by endothelial cells will directly enter the circulation, thereby contributing to the systemic cytokine response".
TAKE A LOOK AT ALL THE EXCITING POSTERS ON THE VIRTUAL PLATFORM TO THE POSTER AREA
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POSTER SESSIONS
#ESWI VIRAL TIMES
TUESDAY 7 DECEMBER 2021
G EN ERATI O N ESWI
Young Scientists contributing to the global challenges viruses pose
B Y N I CO L E N G AI YU N G T SA NG
PROFILE PAGE
PROFILE PAGE
PROFILE PAGE
Hyder Manzoor
Jurre Siegers
WHO ARE YOU?
WHO ARE YOU?
Marco Del Riccio
I have recently completed a PhD and am currently working as a Research Scientist in the Influenza division of the Sheri Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences. I have more than 9 years of public health experience in epidemiological surveillance of Influenza and other respiratory viruses. Previously, I worked in close collaboration with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta (USA) and I'm now working with the Global Influenza Hospital Surveillance Network (GIHSN) in Spain. I have published 17 research articles on Influenza and have an RG score of 23.94.
I am a 32-year-old, junior (first year) postdoc in the Virology Unit at Institute Pasteur Cambodia. My main project focuses on emerging respiratory viruses at the human-animal interface in Cambodia and includes influenza and coronaviruses in birds, pigs, and bats. Originally I’m from the Netherlands, I did my PhD training at the department of Viroscience at the Erasmus Medical Center in Rotterdam on the pathogenesis of influenza virus extra-respiratory tract complications.
HOW DID YOU EXPERIENCE THE COVID PANDEMIC
PANDEMIC AS AN UPCOMING SCIENTIST IN
AS AN UPCOMING SCIENTIST IN THE FIELD OF
THE FIELD OF INFLUENZA, COVID-19 OR RSV?
INFLUENZA, COVID-19 OR RSV?
Both pleasant and unpleasant. Pleasant to be able to help my family, friends and sometimes complete strangers with virology and/or vaccine-related questions. But at the same time unpleasant in some ways due to the arguing with COVID, vaccine and climate denialist individuals on a frequent basis.
We did experience negligible circulation of Influenza and other respiratory viruses in 2020-21, greatly thanks to social distancing and using face masks. Working as a virologist in a developing country like India where the Influenza vaccine is yet to find its place in the National immunization program. I believe it would be a tedious task to convince people to get the jab of the COVID vaccine or a booster in the coming times. In my opinion, creating awareness among the masses about the safety and effectiveness of a vaccine is the key. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO ACCOMPLISH AS A SCIENTIST IN THE NEAR FUTURE?
As we are well aware now that every virus has the potential to create a pandemic. It would be an accomplishment for me to contribute to the global challenges viruses pose by studying their nature and how they behave so differently..
HOW DID YOU EXPERIENCE THE COVID
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO ACCOMPLISH AS A SCIENTIST IN THE NEAR FUTURE?
Continuously improving on becoming a better mentor and landing my first successful (co-)PI grant would be at the top of my list for the near future whilst maintaining a healthy work-life balance.
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WHO ARE YOU?
I am a medical doctor, and I am currently working as a research intern at the Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research (Nivel) as part of my four-year residency training in Hygiene, Preventive Medicine and Public Health at the University of Florence. HOW DID YOU EXPERIENCE THE COVID PANDEMIC AS AN UPCOMING SCIENTIST IN THE FIELD OF INFLUENZA, COVID-19 OR RSV?
During the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, I contributed to the organization of the response to COVID-19 and the organization of the influenza and COVID-19 vaccination campaign in the Florence local Health Unit. Since May 2021, I've been working at Nivel and contributed to the project FluCov, which aims to document and communicate on the impact of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on influenza activity. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO ACCOMPLISH AS A SCIENTIST IN THE NEAR FUTURE?
For my future, I am motivated to complete my residency training this year, and then I would like to start a PhD focused on influenza epidemiology.
#ESWI VIRAL TIMES
TUESDAY 7 DECEMBER 2021
BEH IN D THE SCENES
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#ESWI VIRAL TIMES
TUESDAY 7 DECEMBER 2021
BEN EFIT S O F VACCI NATI N G HE ALTHCAR E WO R KE R S A ND OT H ER R IS K G R O U P S
Time to think about Influenza vaccine coverage among high-risk groups!
SCIENCE POLICY INTERFACE
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B Y SH IYAMA LE E A RUNA S A LA M
INDIVIDUALS AGED OVER 65 YEARS ARE AT HIGHER RISK OF DEVELOPING SERIOUS INFLUENZA COMPLICATIONS COMPARED WITH YOUNG HEALTHY ADULTS. IT IS ESTIMATED THAT MORE THAN 50% OF SEASONAL INFLUENZARELATED DEATHS HAVE OCCURRED IN THE ELDERLY IN 2019/20 IN THE UNITED STATES. THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION RECOMMENDS THE ANNUAL VACCINATION OF ELDERLY INDIVIDUALS TO PREVENT INFLUENZA INFECTIONS, REDUCE THE SEVERITY OF DISEASE AND COMPLICATIONS OR DEATHS. “Those at greater risk of severe diseases and complications are often groups that have lower vaccine efficacy and effectiveness. Poor influenza vaccine effectiveness in the elderly was observed because of immunosenescence, presence of comorbidities and attenuated immunological response from repeated vaccinations. Higher doses, adjuvants and different vaccine manufacturing systems may help to overcome this, but evidence of efficacy and effectiveness over standard vaccines are limited. Vaccination strategies have expanded to consider indirect protection through vaccinating children and healthcare workers” said Antonia Ho, University of Glasgow, United Kingdom in her introductory lecture. Marco Del Riccio, from the Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research (Nivel), presented the findings of his “FluCov” project which includes a collection of data and communication on influenza vaccination coverage rate (VCRs) towards the elderly during pandemic and prepandemic vaccination campaigns. The COVID-19 pandemic was associated with a large increase in VCRs in the elderly in different countries worldwide. Only two countries managed to reach the coverage rate of 75% recommended by WHO (the UK and USA). The reason behind this increase in VCRs may be the higher risk perception
towards influenza infection due to the COVID-19 pandemic and strong advocation of influenza vaccination by national governments. Two consecutive studies on attitude and beliefs about the seasonal influenza vaccination among healthcare workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Kashmir, India were carried out by Hyder Manzoor. His study suggests that the uptake of vaccines enhanced significantly during the past decade with the highest increase recorded when the vaccines were provided free of charge. Creating awareness regarding influenza vaccination among HCV’s is of utmost importance in order to eliminate the fear of vaccine-related severe adverse effects and misconceptions regarding its effectiveness.
The cost-effectiveness of the High-Dose Quadrivalent Influenza Vaccine (HD-QIV) compared to standard Adjuvanted Quadrivalent Influenza Vaccine (AQIV) in the Italian elderly population was analysed by Filippo Rumi. His findings highlight that vaccination strategy with HD-QIV would be cost-effective when taking into account the full burden of influenza as it would reduce the overall cost that influenza has on the economy and overall population. Therefore, since there is solid data to support the benefits of HD-QIV for the prevention of influenza-related hospitalisations it is hoped that this alternative will be increasingly used for the over 65 years old population in Italy.
! Introductory lecture on Benefits of vaccinating healthcare workers and other risk groups
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TUESDAY 7 DECEMBER 2021
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