Featured Publications
Cytokinopathy with aberrant cytotoxic lymphocytes and profibrotic myeloid response in SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine–associated myocarditis
Barmada A, Klein J, Ramaswamy A, Brodsky N, Jaycox J, Sheikha H, Jones K, Habet V, Campbell M, Sumida T, Kontorovich A, Bogunovic D, Oliveira C, Steele J, Hall E, Pena-Hernandez M, Monteiro V, Lucas C, Ring A, Omer S, Iwasaki A, Yildirim I, Lucas C. Cytokinopathy with aberrant cytotoxic lymphocytes and profibrotic myeloid response in SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine–associated myocarditis. Science Immunology 2023, 8: eadh3455-eadh3455. PMID: 37146127, PMCID: PMC10468758, DOI: 10.1126/sciimmunol.adh3455.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMRNA vaccinesSARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccinesSARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccinationC-reactive protein levelsB-type natriuretic peptidePeripheral blood mononuclear cellsCardiac tissue inflammationDeep immune profilingSerum soluble CD163Vaccine-associated myocarditisCohort of patientsBlood mononuclear cellsCytotoxic T cellsLate gadolinium enhancementHypersensitivity myocarditisElevated troponinMRNA vaccinationImaging abnormalitiesNK cellsImmune profilingKiller cellsMyeloid responseNatriuretic peptideHumoral mechanismsInflammatory cytokinesSARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines decouple anti-viral immunity from humoral autoimmunity
Jaycox J, Lucas C, Yildirim I, Dai Y, Wang E, Monteiro V, Lord S, Carlin J, Kita M, Buckner J, Ma S, Campbell M, Ko A, Omer S, Lucas C, Speake C, Iwasaki A, Ring A. SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines decouple anti-viral immunity from humoral autoimmunity. Nature Communications 2023, 14: 1299. PMID: 36894554, PMCID: PMC9996559, DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-36686-8.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsVaccine-associated myocarditisAutoimmune patientsAutoantibody reactivitySARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccinationVaccine-related adverse effectsSARS-CoV-2 immunitySARS-CoV-2 infectionAcute COVID-19Development of autoantibodiesCOVID-19 patientsAnti-viral immunityVirus-specific antibodiesCOVID-19 vaccineCOVID-19Humoral autoimmunityMRNA vaccinationAutoantibody responsePost vaccinationAutoantibody developmentAutoimmune diseasesHumoral responseHealthy individualsPatientsAntigen profilingAdverse effectsNonsystematic Reporting Biases of the SARS-CoV-2 Variant Mu Could Impact Our Understanding of the Epidemiological Dynamics of Emerging Variants
Petrone M, Lucas C, Menasche B, Breban M, Yildirim I, Campbell M, Omer S, Holmes E, Ko A, Grubaugh N, Iwasaki A, Wilen C, Vogels C, Fauver J. Nonsystematic Reporting Biases of the SARS-CoV-2 Variant Mu Could Impact Our Understanding of the Epidemiological Dynamics of Emerging Variants. Genome Biology And Evolution 2023, 15: evad052. PMID: 36974986, PMCID: PMC10113931, DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evad052.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchEvidence of leaky protection following COVID-19 vaccination and SARS-CoV-2 infection in an incarcerated population
Lind M, Dorion M, Houde A, Lansing M, Lapidus S, Thomas R, Yildirim I, Omer S, Schulz W, Andrews J, Hitchings M, Kennedy B, Richeson R, Cummings D, Ko A. Evidence of leaky protection following COVID-19 vaccination and SARS-CoV-2 infection in an incarcerated population. Nature Communications 2023, 14: 5055. PMID: 37598213, PMCID: PMC10439918, DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-40750-8.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSARS-CoV-2 infectionPrior infectionHybrid immunityInfection riskCOVID-19 vaccinationNon-pharmaceutical interventionsInfected residentsVaccinationInfectionDocumented exposureDelta periodCell exposureIncarcerated populationsExposureImmunityRiskAssociationPotential benefitsCorrectional facilitiesCrowded settingsResidentsPeriodPneumococcal infections in children with sickle cell disease before and after pneumococcal conjugate vaccines
Adamkiewicz T, Yee M, Thomas S, Tunali A, Lai K, Omole F, Lane P, Yildirim I. Pneumococcal infections in children with sickle cell disease before and after pneumococcal conjugate vaccines. Blood Advances 2023, 7: 6751-6761. PMID: 37698500, PMCID: PMC10660014, DOI: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2022009643.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsInvasive pneumococcal diseaseSickle cell diseaseCell diseasePCV13-serotype invasive pneumococcal diseaseSerotype invasive pneumococcal diseaseNon-PCV13 serotypesPneumococcal polysaccharide vaccinePneumococcal conjugate vaccineIncidence rate ratiosYears of vaccinationReference populationLife-threatening risksIPD episodesIPD serotypesPneumococcal diseasePneumococcal infectionPolysaccharide vaccineConjugate vaccineHemoglobin SSVaccine licensureEffective vaccinePenicillin resistanceDisease controlVaccineAfrican American childrenDistinguishing features of long COVID identified through immune profiling
Klein J, Wood J, Jaycox J, Dhodapkar R, Lu P, Gehlhausen J, Tabachnikova A, Greene K, Tabacof L, Malik A, Silva Monteiro V, Silva J, Kamath K, Zhang M, Dhal A, Ott I, Valle G, Peña-Hernández M, Mao T, Bhattacharjee B, Takahashi T, Lucas C, Song E, McCarthy D, Breyman E, Tosto-Mancuso J, Dai Y, Perotti E, Akduman K, Tzeng T, Xu L, Geraghty A, Monje M, Yildirim I, Shon J, Medzhitov R, Lutchmansingh D, Possick J, Kaminski N, Omer S, Krumholz H, Guan L, Dela Cruz C, van Dijk D, Ring A, Putrino D, Iwasaki A. Distinguishing features of long COVID identified through immune profiling. Nature 2023, 623: 139-148. PMID: 37748514, PMCID: PMC10620090, DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06651-y.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsLong COVIDSARS-CoV-2Infection syndromeExaggerated humoral responseSoluble immune mediatorsEpstein-Barr virusPost-exertional malaiseCross-sectional studyHigher antibody responseImmune mediatorsImmune phenotypingImmune profilingHumoral responseAntibody responseLymphocyte populationsCOVID statusUnbiased machineCortisol levelsLC statusRelevant biomarkersViral pathogensSyndromeCOVIDFuture studiesBiological featuresInvasive Pneumococcal Disease After 2 Decades of Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine Use.
Yildirim I, Lapidot R, Shaik-Dasthagirisaheb Y, Hinderstein S, Lee H, Klevens M, Grant L, Arguedas Mohs A, Cane A, Madoff L, Johnson H, Ivanof C, Burns M, Pelton S. Invasive Pneumococcal Disease After 2 Decades of Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine Use. Pediatrics 2023, 153 PMID: 38087952, DOI: 10.1542/peds.2023-063039.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsInvasive pneumococcal diseaseIPD casesPCV13 eraPneumococcal diseaseCases of IPDIncidence of IPDRates of IPDPneumococcal conjugate vaccine useSerotype 15B/CImplementation of PCV13Non-PCV13 serotypesPneumococcal conjugate vaccineConfidence intervalsStatewide surveillance systemIPD incidence ratesIPD ratesPenicillin nonsusceptibilityConjugate vaccineVaccine serotypesSerotype 19ASterile sitesIncidence rateVaccine useLower incidenceVaccine formulationsRelationship between the use of nonpharmaceutical interventions and COVID-19 vaccination among U.S. child care providers: A prospective cohort study
Patel KM, Shafiq M, Malik AA, Cobanoglu A, Klotz M, Eric Humphries J, Lee A, Murray T, Wilkinson D, Yildirim I, Elharake JA, Diaz R, Rojas R, Kuperwajs Cohen A, Omer SB, Gilliam WS. Relationship between the use of nonpharmaceutical interventions and COVID-19 vaccination among U.S. child care providers: A prospective cohort study. Vaccine 2022, 40: 4098-4104. PMID: 35660329, PMCID: PMC9135692, DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2022.05.064.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCOVID-19 vaccinationProspective cohort studyCare providersNonpharmaceutical interventionsChild care providersCohort studyLikelihood of vaccinationPreventative health behaviorsVaccinationHealth behaviorsCare programMandatory vaccinationSignificant associationVaccine mandatesDistrict of ColumbiaLarge healthInterventionPandemic controlCOVID-19Child care programsProvidersEmail surveyNonadherenceMeasuresFactors influencing the decision to receive seasonal influenza vaccination among US corporate non-healthcare workers
Aguolu OG, Willebrand K, Elharake JA, Qureshi HM, Kiti MC, Liu CY, Mesa A, Nelson K, Jenness S, Melegaro A, Ahmed F, Yildirim I, Malik FA, Lopman B, Omer SB. Factors influencing the decision to receive seasonal influenza vaccination among US corporate non-healthcare workers. Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics 2022, 18: 2122379. PMID: 36136345, PMCID: PMC9746537, DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2022.2122379.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsInfluenza vaccinationNon-healthcare workersInfluenza vaccinePromotion messagesWorkplace vaccination programsSeasonal influenza vaccinationInfluenza vaccine acceptancePublic health authoritiesLogistic regression modelsInfluenza seasonPhysician recommendationVaccination acceptanceVaccine accessibilityVaccine acceptanceSevere outcomesVaccination programPromotion interventionsUS adultsWork absenceVaccinationVaccination decisionsHealth authoritiesSignificant mortalityUnderstanding predictorsSignificant predictorsPrevalence of Chronic Diseases, Depression, and Stress Among US Childcare Professionals During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Elharake JA, Shafiq M, Cobanoglu A, Malik AA, Klotz M, Humphries JE, Murray T, Patel KM, Wilkinson D, Yildirim I, Diaz R, Rojas R, Cohen A, Lee A, Omer SB, Gilliam WS. Prevalence of Chronic Diseases, Depression, and Stress Among US Childcare Professionals During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Preventing Chronic Disease 2022, 19: e61. PMID: 36137183, PMCID: PMC9541678, DOI: 10.5888/pcd19.220132.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPhysical health conditionsMental healthHealth conditionsChronic diseasesDepression ratesCOVID-19 pandemicSex/gender disparityPublic health officialsChildcare professionalsSevere asthmaHeart diseaseUS adultsAsthma ratesSociodemographic characteristicsHealth officialsDepressionDiseaseNational representativenessLinear regression modelsPrevalenceHealthRegression modelsPandemicProfessionalsGender disparitiesAssessing the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines in Pakistan: A test-negative case-control study
Nisar M, Ansari N, Malik A, Shahid S, Lalani K, Chandna M, Younus A, Hasan Z, Khan U, Khalid F, Mahesar M, Farrukh Qazi M, Yildirim I, Jehan F, Omer S. Assessing the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines in Pakistan: A test-negative case-control study. Journal Of Infection 2023, 86: e144-e147. PMID: 36708775, PMCID: PMC9876011, DOI: 10.1016/j.jinf.2023.01.016.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCOVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance and Hesitancy Among Health Care Workers in Lebanon
Youssef N, Tfaily N, Moumneh M, Boutros C, Elharake J, Malik A, McFadden S, Galal B, Yildirim I, Khoshnood K, Omer S, Memish Z, Dbaibo G. COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance and Hesitancy Among Health Care Workers in Lebanon. Journal Of Epidemiology And Global Health 2023, 13: 55-66. PMID: 36735184, PMCID: PMC9896451, DOI: 10.1007/s44197-023-00086-4.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHealth care workersCOVID-19 vaccine acceptanceVaccine acceptancePrevious infectionCare workersPrevious SARS-CoV-2 infectionSARS-CoV-2 infectionMethodsA cross-sectional studyCOVID-19 vaccination ratesCOVID-19 vaccinationCross-sectional studyCOVID-19 vaccineHealth care authoritiesVaccine uptakeVaccination ratesOrder of PhysiciansVaccine hesitancyGeneral populationHealthcare providersVaccineCare authoritiesInfectionCOVID-19 informationTrusted sourceCOVID-19 pandemic
2024
BK polyomavirus DNAemia, allograft rejection, and de novo donor‐specific antibodies after lowering target tacrolimus levels in pediatric kidney transplant recipients
Huang H, Xiang Y, George R, Winterberg P, Serluco A, Liverman R, Yildirim I, Garro R. BK polyomavirus DNAemia, allograft rejection, and de novo donor‐specific antibodies after lowering target tacrolimus levels in pediatric kidney transplant recipients. Pediatric Transplantation 2024, 28: e14791. PMID: 38808701, DOI: 10.1111/petr.14791.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsDe novo donor-specific antibodiesTarget tacrolimus levelsDevelopment of de novo donor-specific antibodiesBiopsy-proven rejectionDonor-specific antibodiesMonths post-KTTacrolimus levelsTime of transplantationPediatric KT recipientsBK polyomavirusBKV-DNAemiaPost-KTPost-intervention cohortAllograft rejectionRecipient ageKT recipientsKidney transplantationPediatric kidney transplant recipientsLow tacrolimus levelsReduction of immunosuppressionKaplan-Meier survival analysisYounger recipient ageIndividualized immunosuppressive regimensKidney transplant recipientsRetrospective chart reviewDevelopment and comparison of immunologic assays to detect primary RSV infections in infants
Anderson L, Jadhao S, Hussaini L, Ha B, McCracken C, Gibson T, Yildirim I, Yi J, Stephens K, Korski C, Kao C, Sun H, Lee C, Jaunarajs A, Rostad C, Anderson E. Development and comparison of immunologic assays to detect primary RSV infections in infants. Frontiers In Immunology 2024, 14: 1332772. PMID: 38283339, PMCID: PMC10811012, DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1332772.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsRespiratory syncytial virusIgG enzyme immunoassayNeutralizing antibody assaysELISPOT assayAntibody assayRSV antibodiesEnzyme immunoassayRSV infectionSubgroup ARespiratory syncytial virus seasonDocumented RSV infectionPrimary RSV infectionEffective respiratory syncytial virusVaccine clinical trialsEvidence of past infectionEpidemiological studiesRed cell lysisYoung childrenMaternal microchimerismPBMC specimensPregnant womenIFN-gSyncytial virusAntibody enzyme immunoassayELISPOT
2023
Incidence of cytomegalovirus DNAemia in pediatric kidney, liver, and heart transplant recipients: Efficacy and risk factors associated with failure of weight‐based dosed valganciclovir prophylaxis
Liverman R, Serluco A, Nance G, George R, Rodriguez D, Deshpande S, Mao C, Garro R, Yildirim I. Incidence of cytomegalovirus DNAemia in pediatric kidney, liver, and heart transplant recipients: Efficacy and risk factors associated with failure of weight‐based dosed valganciclovir prophylaxis. Pediatric Transplantation 2023, 27: e14493. PMID: 36945819, DOI: 10.1111/petr.14493.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSolid organ transplant recipientsPediatric solid organ transplant recipientsCytomegalovirus DNAemiaValganciclovir prophylaxisDose reductionRisk factorsTransplant recipientsImpact of dose adjustmentsRisk factors associated with failureFactors associated with failureOrgan transplant recipientsHeart transplant recipientsIndependent risk factorRetrospective cohort studyAssociated with morbidityCMV DNAemiaCytomegalovirus eventsValganciclovir dosingImmunosuppressive therapyDose adjustmentYounger age groupsDNAemiaValganciclovirRisk stratificationAdverse eventsAge-dependent impairment in antibody responses elicited by a homologous CoronaVac booster dose
Filardi B, Monteiro V, Schwartzmann P, do Prado Martins V, Zucca L, Baiocchi G, Malik A, Silva J, Hahn A, Chen N, Pham K, Pérez-Then E, Miric M, Brache V, Cochon L, Larocca R, Della Rosa Mendez R, Silveira D, Pinto A, Croda J, Yildirim I, Omer S, Ko A, Vermund S, Grubaugh N, Iwasaki A, Lucas C, Initiative Y, Vogels C, Breban M, Koch T, Chaguza C, Tikhonova I, Castaldi C, Mane S, De Kumar B, Ferguson D, Kerantzas N, Peaper D, Landry M, Schulz W. Age-dependent impairment in antibody responses elicited by a homologous CoronaVac booster dose. Science Translational Medicine 2023, 15: eade6023. PMID: 36791210, DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.ade6023.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsBooster doseAntibody responseNeutralization titersVirus-specific IgG titersOlder adultsAntiviral humoral immunityPlasma antibody responsesHigh-risk populationSARS-CoV-2 spikeYears of ageAge-dependent impairmentHeterologous regimensBooster dosesBooster vaccineCoronaVac vaccineIgG titersProtective immunityHumoral immunityHumoral responseCoronaVacOmicron waveBooster strategyAge groupsEarly controlVaccine
2022
No evidence of fetal defects or anti-syncytin-1 antibody induction following COVID-19 mRNA vaccination
Lu-Culligan A, Tabachnikova A, Pérez-Then E, Tokuyama M, Lee HJ, Lucas C, Monteiro V, Miric M, Brache V, Cochon L, Muenker MC, Mohanty S, Huang J, Kang I, Dela Cruz C, Farhadian S, Campbell M, Yildirim I, Shaw AC, Ma S, Vermund SH, Ko AI, Omer SB, Iwasaki A. No evidence of fetal defects or anti-syncytin-1 antibody induction following COVID-19 mRNA vaccination. PLOS Biology 2022, 20: e3001506. PMID: 35609110, PMCID: PMC9129011, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3001506.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCOVID-19 mRNA vaccinationMRNA vaccinationEarly pregnancyFetal sizeCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) mRNA vaccinationSevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2Acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2Respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2Maternal antibody statusAdverse neonatal outcomesSyndrome coronavirus 2Birth defectsPolyinosinic-polycytidylic acidCrown-rump lengthGross birth defectsUnvaccinated adultsMaternal illnessNeonatal outcomesVaccinated adultsAntibody statusTLR3 agonistEarly immunizationMurine pregnancyAntibody inductionCoronavirus 2The balancing role of distribution speed against varying efficacy levels of COVID-19 vaccines under variants
Kim D, Keskinocak P, Pekgün P, Yildirim İ. The balancing role of distribution speed against varying efficacy levels of COVID-19 vaccines under variants. Scientific Reports 2022, 12: 7493. PMID: 35523832, PMCID: PMC9075929, DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-11060-8.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsOverall public health impactInfection attack rateCOVID-19 vaccineSARS-CoV-2Public health impactVaccine effectivenessAdverse outcomesMultiple vaccinesInitial efficacySuccessful immunization strategyImmunization strategiesVaccineLow-income countriesAttack rateEfficacyCOVID-19COVID-19 pandemicHealth impactsInfection spreadRecovered-deceased [SI(Q/F)RD] modelEfficacy levelsPandemicHospitalizationVaccinationVariantsNeutralizing antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 Delta and Omicron variants following heterologous CoronaVac plus BNT162b2 booster vaccination
Pérez-Then E, Lucas C, Monteiro VS, Miric M, Brache V, Cochon L, Vogels CBF, Malik AA, De la Cruz E, Jorge A, De los Santos M, Leon P, Breban MI, Billig K, Yildirim I, Pearson C, Downing R, Gagnon E, Muyombwe A, Razeq J, Campbell M, Ko AI, Omer SB, Grubaugh ND, Vermund SH, Iwasaki A. Neutralizing antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 Delta and Omicron variants following heterologous CoronaVac plus BNT162b2 booster vaccination. Nature Medicine 2022, 28: 481-485. PMID: 35051990, PMCID: PMC8938264, DOI: 10.1038/s41591-022-01705-6.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsTwo-dose regimenOmicron variantVaccine boosterMRNA vaccinesNeutralization activityDelta variantTwo-dose mRNA vaccinesVirus-specific antibody levelsSARS-CoV-2 Omicron variantMRNA vaccine boosterNeutralization of OmicronNumerous spike mutationsSARS-CoV-2 DeltaPotent neutralization activityInfection-induced immunityCOVID-19 vaccineBNT162b2 boosterBooster vaccinationPrime vaccinationAntibody levelsAntibody titersHumoral immunityImmune escapeInactivated vaccinesVaccineVaccination in pediatric solid organ transplant: A primer for the immunizing clinician
Chen JK, Cheng J, Liverman R, Serluco A, Corbo H, Yildirim I. Vaccination in pediatric solid organ transplant: A primer for the immunizing clinician. Clinical Transplantation 2022, 36: e14577. PMID: 34997642, DOI: 10.1111/ctr.14577.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsVaccine-preventable illnessesPediatric solid organ transplant recipientsSolid organ transplant recipientsPediatric solid organ transplantCorrect immunization schedulesPrevention's Advisory CommitteeOrgan transplant recipientsSolid organ transplantsInfectious Diseases SocietyTime of transplantTransplant recipientsDiseases SocietyVaccine recommendationsIncomplete immunizationImmunization scheduleAntibody titersInadequate responseOrgan transplantsElevated riskPreventable illnessMultiple guidelinesVaccine managementRapid catchDisease controlAmerican Society