BACKGROUND: Human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated cancers are vaccine preventable. In 2016, the previously recommended three-dose HPV vaccination series was changed to a two-dose series and nine-valent HPV vaccine (9vHPV) became the only HPV vaccine available in the United States. Data on longer-term duration of antibodies following a 9vHPV two-dose series are limited. We evaluated the immunogenicity and duration of antibodies up to three years after vaccination with a two-dose series of 9vHPV in a cohort of Alaska Native children. METHODS: We enrolled Alaska Native children aged 9-14 years who received 9vHPV in Anchorage, Alaska during 2017-2018. We collected sera at six months after dose one and at one month, one year, and three years after dose two to measure type-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) concentrations for the 9vHPV types (HPV6/11/16/18/31/33/45/52/58). Aggregate type-specific IgG concentrations were reported as geometric mean concentrations (GMC). RESULTS: A total of 227 children completed the two-dose series of 9vHPV and provided ≥ 1 blood sample. The median age at enrollment was 11.0 years (range: 9.0-14.6) and was similar between males and females (p = 0.11). At one month after dose two, all 197 participants with available serum were seropositive for all 9vHPV types. Among 145 participants who had a specimen available at three years after dose two, 134 (92%) remained seropositive for all 9vHPV types. GMC peaked for all types at one month post dose two and remained higher at three years post dose two compared to six months post dose one. CONCLUSIONS: We found high immunogenicity and antibody persistence after a two-dose series of 9vHPV in this cohort of Alaska Native children. Further follow-up will determine duration of antibody detection in this cohort.

We used polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to identify bacterial infections in culture-negative pleural fluid specimens from Alaska Native children hospitalized with empyema. PCR identified ≥1 organism in 11 (79%) of 14 specimens. Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 3 was detected in six specimens; all six participants had received 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine.

BACKGROUND: Persistent human papillomavirus (HPV) infection can cause anogenital and oropharyngeal cancers. Many HPV infections and HPV-associated cancers are vaccine-preventable. Studies suggest long-term persistence of vaccine-induced antibodies. However, data are limited among Alaska Native people. METHODS: During 2011-2014, we enrolled Alaska Native children aged 9-14 years who received a 3-dose series of quadrivalent HPV vaccine (4vHPV). We collected sera at 1 month and 1, 2, 3, and 5 years post-vaccination to evaluate trends in type-specific immunoglobulin G antibody concentrations for the 4vHPV types (HPV 6/11/16/18). RESULTS: All participants (N = 469) had detectable antibodies against all 4vHPV types at all timepoints post-vaccination. For all 4vHPV types, antibody levels peaked by 1 month post-vaccination and gradually declined in subsequent years. At 5 years post-vaccination, antibody levels were higher among children who received 4vHPV at a younger age. CONCLUSIONS: Alaska Native children maintained antibodies against all 4vHPV types at 5 years post-vaccination.

BACKGROUND: To control the global HIV epidemic targeted interventions to reduce the incidence of HIV infections are urgently needed until an effective HIV vaccine is available. This study describes HIV-1 incidence and associated risk factors in a general population cohort of adults from Mbeya Region, Tanzania, who participated in a vaccine preparedness study. METHODS: We conducted a closed prospective cohort study with six-monthly follow-up from 2002-2006, enrolling adults from the general population. HIV-1 incidence and risk factors for HIV-1 acquisition were analysed using Cox regression. RESULTS: We observed 2,578 sero-negative participants for a mean period of 3.06 PY (7,471 PY in total). Overall HIV-1 incidence was 1.35 per 100 PY (95% confidence interval [CI]=1.10-1.64/100 PY). The highest overall HIV-1 incidence was found in females from Itende village (1.55 per 100 PY, 95%CI=0.99-2.30/100 PY), the highest age-specific incidence was observed in semi-urban males aged 30-34 years (2.75 per 100 PY, 95%CI=0.75-7.04). HIV-1 acquisition was independently associated with female gender (hazard ratio [HR]=1.64, 95%CI=1.05-2.57), younger age at enrolment (age 18-19 vs. 35-39: HR=0.29, 95%CI=0.11-0.75), alcohol consumption (almost daily vs. none: HR 2.01, 95%CI=1.00-4.07), education level (secondary school vs. none: HR 0.39, 95%CI=0.17-0.89) and number of lifetime sex partners (more than five vs. one: HR 2.22, 95%CI=1.13-4.36). CONCLUSIONS: A high incidence of HIV was observed in this cohort, and incident infection was strongly associated with young age, alcohol consumption, low school education level and number of sex partners. Targeted interventions are needed to address the elevated risk associated with these factors.