PLoS One
http://www.plosone.org/
[Accessed 12 March 2016]

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Using Seroprevalence and Immunisation Coverage Data to Estimate the Global Burden of Congenital Rubella Syndrome, 1996-2010: A Systematic Review
Emilia Vynnycky, Elisabeth J. Adams, Felicity T. Cutts, Susan E. Reef, Ann Marie Navar, Emily Simons, Lay-Myint Yoshida, David W. J. Brown, Charlotte Jackson, Peter M. Strebel, Alya J. Dabbagh
Research Article | published 10 Mar 2016 | PLOS ONE
10.1371/journal.pone.0149160

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Research Article
Influenza Vaccine Manufacturing: Effect of Inactivation, Splitting and Site of Manufacturing. Comparison of Influenza Vaccine Production Processes
Theone C. Kon, Adrian Onu, Laurentiu Berbecila, Emilia Lupulescu, Alina Ghiorgisor, Gideon F. Kersten, Yi-Qing Cui, Jean-Pierre Amorij, Leo Van der Pol
Published: March 9, 2016
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0150700
Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of different inactivation and splitting procedures on influenza vaccine product composition, stability and recovery to support transfer of process technology. Four split and two whole inactivated virus (WIV) influenza vaccine bulks were produced and compared with respect to release criteria, stability of the bulk and haemagglutinin recovery. One clarified harvest of influenza H3N2 A/Uruguay virus prepared on 25.000 fertilized eggs was divided equally over six downstream processes. The main unit operation for purification was sucrose gradient zonal ultracentrifugation. The inactivation of the virus was performed with either formaldehyde in phosphate buffer or with beta-propiolactone in citrate buffer. For splitting of the viral products in presence of Tween®, either Triton™ X-100 or di-ethyl-ether was used. Removal of ether was established by centrifugation and evaporation, whereas removal of Triton-X100 was performed by hydrophobic interaction chromatography. All products were sterile filtered and subjected to a 5 months real time stability study. In all processes, major product losses were measured after sterile filtration; with larger losses for split virus than for WIV. The beta-propiolactone inactivation on average resulted in higher recoveries compared to processes using formaldehyde inactivation. Especially ether split formaldehyde product showed low recovery and least stability over a period of five months.

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HPV Serology Testing Confirms High HPV Immunisation Coverage in England
David Mesher, Elaine Stanford, Joanne White, Jamie Findlow, Rosalind Warrington, Sukamal Das, Richard Pebody, Ray Borrow, Kate Soldan
Research Article | published 09 Mar 2016 | PLOS ONE
10.1371/journal.pone.0150107

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Crippling Violence: Conflict and Incident Polio in Afghanistan
Alison Norris, Kevin Hachey, Andrew Curtis, Margaret Bourdeaux
Research Article | published 09 Mar 2016 | PLOS ONE
10.1371/journal.pone.0149074
Abstract
Background
Designing effective public health campaigns in areas of armed conflict requires a nuanced understanding of how violence impacts the epidemiology of the disease in question.
Methods
We examine the geographical relationship between violence (represented by the location of detonated Improvised Explosive Devices) and polio incidence by generating maps of IEDs and polio incidence during 2010, and by comparing the mean number of IED detonations in polio high-risk districts with non polio high-risk districts during 2004–2009.
Results
We demonstrate a geographic relationship between IED violence and incident polio. Districts that have high-risk for polio have highly statistically significantly greater mean numbers of IEDs than non polio high-risk districts (p-values 0.0010–0.0404).
Conclusions
The geographic relationship between armed conflict and polio incidence provides valuable insights as to how to plan a vaccination campaign in violent contexts, and allows us to anticipate incident polio in the regions of armed conflict. Such information permits vaccination planners to engage interested armed combatants to co-develop strategies to mitigate the effects of violence on polio.