PURPOSE: SA14-14-2 live attenuated Japanese encephalitis (JE) vaccine has been administered safely and effectively to more than 100 million children in China since 1988, and recently licensure of the vaccine in Korea has been sought. Immune response to the vaccine was investigated. MEHTODS: In the first clinical evaluation of the vaccine outside of China, we monitored side effects in 93 children and evaluated plaque reduction neutralizing test (PRNT) antibody and IgM antibody responses to a single dose given as primary JE vaccination in 74 children, 1-3 years old (mean age 27 months). RESULTS: No significant adverse events were noted. PRNT antibodies (geometric mean titer [GMT] of 183) were produced in 96% of the 74 subjects. In 10 other children who previously had been immunized with two or three doses of inactivated JE vaccine, the booster administration of SA14-14-2 vaccine produced an anamnestic response in all, with a GMT of 3378. In a comparison group of 25 children previously immunized with two doses of inactivated vaccine, neutralizing antibody titers were detected in 16 (64%). Viral specific IgM was detected in nine primary vaccinees (13%) but in others, IgM may have declined to undetectable levels in the four week postimmunization sample. CONCLUSION: Live attenuated SA14-14-2 JE vaccine is a promising alternative to the only commercially available live attenuated JE vaccine for national childhood immunization programs in Asia.
Antibodies ; Antibodies, Neutralizing ; Antibody Formation ; Asia ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group* ; Child ; China ; Encephalitis, Japanese* ; Humans ; Immunization Programs ; Immunoglobulin M ; Korea ; Licensure ; Vaccination

Background:Excessive drinkers(ED)and patients with alcoholic liver disease(ALD)are several times more susceptible to bacterial and viral infections and have a decrease in antibody responses to vacci-nations.Follicular helper T(TFH)cells are essential to select B cells in the germinal center and to produce antibodies.TFH cells express both a membrane-associated and a soluble form of CD40 ligand(sCD40L),in which the latter form is released to circulation upon T cell activation.The effect of alcohol on TFH cells has not been studied. Objectives:The goals of this study are to determine the levels of TFH and T helper 1(Th1)cells in ED and those with alcoholic cirrhosis(AC)when compared to healthy controls and to determine the prognostic significance of sCD40L in a cohort of patients with AC. Methods:Controls,ED,and those with AC were enrolled.Baseline demographic,laboratory tests,and peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMCs)were isolated and assessed via flow cytometry for TFH cells.In vitro study was performed to determine the ability of PBMCs to secrete interferon(IFN)-? upon stimulation.Serum sCD40L was also determined and its prognostic significance was tested in a cohort of AC patients. Results:The levels of circulating TFH(cTFH)cells were significantly lower in peripheral blood of subjects with ED and AC compared to controls(P＜0.05).IFN-? secretion from PBMCs upon stimulation was also lower in ED and those with cirrhosis.Serum sCD40L was significantly lower in ED and AC when compared to that in controls(P＜0.0005).Its level was an independent predictor of mortality. Conclusions:Patients with AC had significantly lower level of cTFH and sCD40L.The level of sCD40L was an independent predictor of mortality in these patients.