Doudou Diop

Background/Objectives: Following previous successful Phase I clinical trials conducted in men and women in a non-endemic area for schistosomiasis in Brazil, the Sm14 vaccine was evaluated in an endemic region in Senegal. We report successful clinical trials in adults (Phase IIa) and school children (Phase IIb), respectively, of a Schistosoma mansoni 14 kDa fatty acid-binding protein (Sm14) vaccine + a glucopyranosyl lipid A (GLA-SE) adjuvant. Methods: Participants were evaluated based on clinical assessments, laboratory tests (including hematologic and biochemical analyses of renal and hepatic functions), and immunological parameters (humoral and cellular responses) up to 12 months after the first vaccination dose in the Phase IIa trial and after 120 days in the Phase IIb trial. Results: The results showed strong immunogenic responses and good tolerance in both adults and children, with no major adverse effects. Importantly, significant increases in Sm14-specific total IgG (IgG1 and IgG3) were observed as early as 30 days after the first vaccination, with high titres remaining at least 120 days afterwards. Sm14-specific total IgG serum levels were also significantly enhanced in adults and in both infected and non-infected, vaccinated children and elicited robust cytokine responses with increased TNFα, IFN-γ, and IL-2 profiles. Conclusions: Overall, the Sm14+GLA-SE vaccine is safe and highly immunogenic, with a clearly protective potential against schistosomiasis, supporting progression to the next Phase III clinical trials.

In the original version of our article [1], insufficient acknowledgement was given to the organizers of the medical survey.

This study contributes to the literature about the effects of space and place on health by introducing a socio-territorial approach to urban health disparities in West Africa. It explores how urban spaces, specifically neighbourhoods, are shaped by social and economic relations and strategies of territorial control. We examine the potential influence of socio-territorial processes on vulnerability to disease, access to medical care, healthscapes, and illness experiences. Our research was conducted in Senegal and relied on a mixed methods design. We identified four neighbourhoods that represent the socio-spatial heterogeneity of the city of Saint-Louis and utilized the following methods: geographic and anthropological field research, household surveys, health knowledge and behaviour surveys, clinical exams, and illness interviews. Our results highlight the socio-territorial processes at work in each neighbourhood, clinical findings on three health measures (overweight, high blood pressure, and hyperglycaemia) and health experiences of individuals with hypertension or type II diabetes. We found significant differences in the prevalence of the three health measures in the study sites, while experiences managing hypertension and diabetes were similar. We conclude that a socio-territorial approach offers insight into the complex constellation of forces that produce health disparities in urban settings.