Stephen J. Kent
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View article: A novel chimeric coronavirus spike vaccine combining SARS-CoV-2 RBD and scaffold domains from HKU-1 elicits potent neutralising antibody responses
A novel chimeric coronavirus spike vaccine combining SARS-CoV-2 RBD and scaffold domains from HKU-1 elicits potent neutralising antibody responses Open
The SARS-CoV-2 spike receptor binding domain (RBD) is the major target for neutralising antibodies. However, subdomains like RBD may constrain the availability of CD4 T follicular helper (TFH) cells and impact immunogenicity. We engineered…
View article: Impact of serum versus anticoagulant-containing plasma on influenza virus neuraminidase-based serological assays
Impact of serum versus anticoagulant-containing plasma on influenza virus neuraminidase-based serological assays Open
The influenza virus neuraminidase (NA) is a promising target for next-generation influenza vaccines but standardised protocols for NA-based serological assays are lacking. Previous studies have demonstrated discordant results from haemaggl…
View article: Understanding mechanistic relationships between IgG titers and Fc effector functions: a computational framework to assess polyfunctionality
Understanding mechanistic relationships between IgG titers and Fc effector functions: a computational framework to assess polyfunctionality Open
Introduction Recent vaccine and infectious disease studies have highlighted the importance of antibodies that activate cellular Fc functions, including antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis (ADCP) and antibody-dependent cellular cytotox…
View article: Altered Corneal T-Cell Motility and Sensory Nerve Features in Older Adults With Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection
Altered Corneal T-Cell Motility and Sensory Nerve Features in Older Adults With Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection Open
Among older individuals with well-controlled HIV infection and clinically-normal ocular surface health, this study identifies subclinical group differences in corneal immune cells (potentially indicative of a heightened, pro-inflammatory a…
View article: HLA-B*15:01-positive severe COVID-19 patients lack CD8 <sup>+</sup> T cell pools with highly expanded public clonotypes
HLA-B*15:01-positive severe COVID-19 patients lack CD8 <sup>+</sup> T cell pools with highly expanded public clonotypes Open
Understanding host factors driving asymptomatic versus severe disease outcomes is of key importance if we are to control emerging and re-emerging viral infections. HLA-B*15:01 has been associated with asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection in n…
View article: Historic 1994 influenza vaccine cohorts reveal breadth of antibody and B cell responses towards three decades of future influenza A and B viruses
Historic 1994 influenza vaccine cohorts reveal breadth of antibody and B cell responses towards three decades of future influenza A and B viruses Open
Influenza vaccination is the best way to combat annual influenza epidemics, yet the breadth of vaccine-induced humoral immunity towards decades of future differentially-evolving influenza A and B viruses is unclear. Using historic 1994 inf…
View article: A novel chimeric coronavirus spike vaccine combining SARS-CoV-2 RBD and scaffold domains from HKU-1 elicits potent neutralising antibody responses
A novel chimeric coronavirus spike vaccine combining SARS-CoV-2 RBD and scaffold domains from HKU-1 elicits potent neutralising antibody responses Open
The receptor binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike is the major target for neutralising antibodies elicited by current vaccines. Using small domains such as the RBD as vaccine immunogens, however, may constrain the availability of C…
View article: Genetic markers of enhanced functional antibody responses to COVID-19 vaccination
Genetic markers of enhanced functional antibody responses to COVID-19 vaccination Open
Primary COVID-19 vaccination induced increased S2-specific IgG in G1m1,17+/+ vaccinees, facilitating enhanced anti-viral FcγR engagement and suggesting immunogenetics may be a valuble consideration for next-generation vaccine design.
View article: Impact of serum versus anticoagulant-containing plasma on influenza virus neuraminidase-based serological assays
Impact of serum versus anticoagulant-containing plasma on influenza virus neuraminidase-based serological assays Open
The influenza virus neuraminidase (NA) is a promising target for next-generation influenza vaccines but standardized protocols for NA-based serological assays are lacking. Previous studies have demonstrated discordant results from haemaggl…
View article: Dysregulated inflammation in solid tumor malignancy patients shapes polyfunctional antibody responses to COVID-19 vaccination
Dysregulated inflammation in solid tumor malignancy patients shapes polyfunctional antibody responses to COVID-19 vaccination Open
Solid tumor malignancy (STM) patients experience increased risk of breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 infection owing to reduced COVID-19 vaccine immunogenicity. However, the underlying immunological causes of impaired neutralization remain poorly ch…
View article: Memory T and B cells with recognition of avian influenza hemagglutinins are poorly responsive to existing seasonal influenza vaccines
Memory T and B cells with recognition of avian influenza hemagglutinins are poorly responsive to existing seasonal influenza vaccines Open
Immunisation remains the most cost-effective mechanism to combat global influenza infection and is widely employed against seasonal influenza viruses. Zoonotic transmission of avian influenza A viruses represents a significant threat to hu…
View article: Deconvoluting TCR-dependent and -independent activation is vital for reliable Ag-specific CD4 <sup>+</sup> T cell characterization by AIM assay
Deconvoluting TCR-dependent and -independent activation is vital for reliable Ag-specific CD4 <sup>+</sup> T cell characterization by AIM assay Open
Activation-induced marker (AIM) assays identify antigen (Ag)–specific T cells, but recent studies revealed AIM + T helper cell 17 (T H 17)–like (CCR6 + ) and circulating T follicular helper cells (cTfh) were not associated with peptide/HLA…
View article: Bivalent mRNA booster vaccination recalls cellular and antibody immunity against antigenically divergent SARS-CoV-2 spike antigens
Bivalent mRNA booster vaccination recalls cellular and antibody immunity against antigenically divergent SARS-CoV-2 spike antigens Open
The ongoing rollout of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines lags behind rapid viral evolution. Updated vaccine immunogens elicit neutralising antibodies against the component strain. However, protection against future SARS-CoV-2 variants is unclear. Here, …
View article: Modulation of germinal center and antibody dynamics via ipsilateral versus contralateral immunization against SARS-CoV-2
Modulation of germinal center and antibody dynamics via ipsilateral versus contralateral immunization against SARS-CoV-2 Open
Human clinical trials have reported immunological outcomes can differ between ipsilateral (same side) and contralateral (alternate sides) prime-boost vaccination. However, our mechanistic understanding of how keeping or shifting the anatom…
View article: Increased SARS-CoV-2 IgG4 has variable consequences dependent upon Fc function, Fc receptor polymorphism, and viral variant
Increased SARS-CoV-2 IgG4 has variable consequences dependent upon Fc function, Fc receptor polymorphism, and viral variant Open
Repeated mRNA COVID-19 vaccination increases spike-specific immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4) titers. Here, we characterized the influence of increased IgG4 titers on a range of Fc-mediated responses. Elevated spike-specific IgG4 reduced binding to…
View article: Genetic markers of enhanced functional antibody responses to COVID-19 vaccination
Genetic markers of enhanced functional antibody responses to COVID-19 vaccination Open
Introduction Substantial population-level variation in vaccine-specific antibody responses has been observed following global coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination efforts. Beyond the influence of clinical and demographic feature…
View article: Randomized trial of same- versus opposite-arm coadministration of inactivated influenza and SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines
Randomized trial of same- versus opposite-arm coadministration of inactivated influenza and SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines Open
BACKGROUNDThe immunogenicity of current influenza vaccines needs improvement. Inactivated influenza and COVID-19 mRNA vaccines can be coadministered, but randomized controlled trial data are lacking on whether the 2 vaccines are more immun…
View article: Low‐level human memory T and B cells recognising avian influenza hemagglutinins are poorly responsive to existing seasonal influenza vaccines
Low‐level human memory T and B cells recognising avian influenza hemagglutinins are poorly responsive to existing seasonal influenza vaccines Open
Objectives Immunisation remains the most cost‐effective mechanism to combat influenza infection and is widely employed against seasonal influenza viruses. Zoonotic transmission of avian influenza A viruses represents a significant threat t…
View article: Influence of hydrophilic polymers on the accelerated blood clearance of mRNA lipid nanoparticles upon repeated administration
Influence of hydrophilic polymers on the accelerated blood clearance of mRNA lipid nanoparticles upon repeated administration Open
The ABC effect causes rapid clearance of repeat PEG–LNP doses, while polymer–LNPs show reduced or variable clearance, suggesting alternative polymers may overcome this limitation.
View article: Mucosal vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 using recombinant influenza viruses delivering self-assembling nanoparticles
Mucosal vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 using recombinant influenza viruses delivering self-assembling nanoparticles Open
Recombinant influenza viruses are promising vectors that can bolster antibody and resident lymphocyte responses within mucosal sites. This study evaluates recombinant influenza viruses with SARS-CoV-2 RBD genes in eliciting mucosal and sys…
View article: Deconvoluting TCR-dependent & -independent activation is vital for reliable Ag-specific CD4<sup>+</sup>T cell characterization by AIM assay
Deconvoluting TCR-dependent & -independent activation is vital for reliable Ag-specific CD4<sup>+</sup>T cell characterization by AIM assay Open
AIM assays are thought to detect antigen (Ag)-specific T cell responses in an HLA- and cytokine-independent manner. Recent studies using AIM assays identified prominent Th17-like (CCR6 + ) CD4 + T cells and circulating follicular T helper …
View article: Polyfunctionality and breadth of HIV-1 antibodies are associated with delayed disease progression
Polyfunctionality and breadth of HIV-1 antibodies are associated with delayed disease progression Open
HIV-1 infection leads to chronic disease requiring life-long treatment and therefore alternative therapeutics, a cure and/or a protective vaccine are needed. Antibody-mediated effector functions could have a role in the fight against HIV-1…
View article: Performance of Oak Ridge National Laboratory spallation neutron source proton power upgrade cavities and cryomodule production
Performance of Oak Ridge National Laboratory spallation neutron source proton power upgrade cavities and cryomodule production Open
The Proton Power Upgrade initiative at Oak Ridge National Lab’s Spallation Neutron Source aims to greatly boost the capability of proton beam power. This upgrade involves the integration of seven additional cryomodules, each housing four s…
View article: Patient-Specific Nanoparticle Targeting in Human Leukemia Blood
Patient-Specific Nanoparticle Targeting in Human Leukemia Blood Open
Antibody-directed targeting of chemotherapeutic nanoparticles to primary human cancers holds promise for improving efficacy and reducing off-target toxicity. However, clinical responses to targeted nanomedicines are highly variable. Herein…
View article: Predicting COVID-19 booster immunogenicity against future SARS-CoV-2 variants and the benefits of vaccine updates
Predicting COVID-19 booster immunogenicity against future SARS-CoV-2 variants and the benefits of vaccine updates Open
The ongoing evolution of the SARS-CoV-2 virus has led to a move to update vaccine antigens in 2022 and 2023. These updated antigens were chosen and approved based largely on in vitro neutralisation titres against recent SARS-CoV-2 variants…