M. Rauscher was involved in analysis of safety data, manuscript writing, and critically reviewed the manuscript. M.R.Z. Capeding was the principal investigator and E. Alberto co-investigator, and both were involved in data collection, manuscript

writing and critical review. All authors approved the final version of the manuscript. Role of the funding source: Crucell Switzerland AG was involved in study design, analysis and interpretation of data, writing of the report and in the decision to submit the article for publication. “
“Human papillomavirus (HPV) genotypes 16 and 18 are estimated to cause 70% of cervical cancers worldwide [1]. Over 85% of the global burden of cervical cancer occurs in developing EPZ-6438 mw countries and Tanzania reports one of highest rates of cervical cancer JQ1 in vivo in Africa [2]. Potent, durable HPV vaccine efficacy will be essential if the vaccine is introduced for the control of

cervical cancer. Endemic infections in sub-Saharan Africa, such as malaria and helminth infections, act as immunological modulators, and have been found to adversely impact immune response to standard immunizations, such as antituberculosis vaccine bacillus Calmette–Guerin (BCG), typhoid fever, tetanus and polio vaccines [3], [4], [5], [6], [7], [8] and [9]. Studies to evaluate the effect of HPV vaccines in populations whose immunological system may be challenged by multiple co-infections such as malaria and helminth infections are needed [10] and [11]. We conducted a study to measure the influence of malaria parasitaemia and helminth infection on the immunogenicity of HPV-16/18 vaccine (GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Biologicals SA). This study was nested within a cohort recruited for a Phase IIIb immunogenicity and safety trial of the HPV-16/18 vaccine (the HPV 021 trial) conducted in Tanzania and Senegal among HIV-negative girls and young women aged 10–25 years [12]. The HPV 021 trial

(NCT00481767) and the malaria/helminth study were conducted from October 2007 to July 2010 in Mwanza, Tanzania, one of the two participating HPV-021 trial centres. GSK Biologicals was the funding source for the studies. Both studies were approved by the ethics committees of the National Institute PD184352 (CI-1040) for Medical Research (NIMR), Tanzania and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), United Kingdom. The helminth/malaria study was registered under ControlledTrials.com (ISRCTN90378590). The HPV 021 trial was a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled phase IIIb trial. Eligible participants were randomly assigned (2:1) to receive either three doses of HPV-16/18 AS04-adjuvanted vaccine (vaccine group) or Al(OH)3 (placebo group) at 0,1 and 6 months. After enrolment (Month 0), participants returned to the clinic at Months 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 10 and 12 for follow-up visit procedures.