Clinical and Experimental Vaccine Research  2014;3(1):12-28

doi:10.7774/cevr.2014.3.1.12

New vaccines against influenza virus.

Young Tae LEE 1 ; Ki Hye KIM ; Eun Ju KO ; Yu Na LEE ; Min Chul KIM ; Young Man KWON ; Yinghua TANG ; Min Kyoung CHO ; Youn Jeong LEE ; Sang Moo KANG

Affiliations

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Keywords

Universal vaccines; M2 protein; Stalk domain; T cell immunity; Supplemented vaccination

Country

Republic of Korea

Language

English

Abstract

Vaccination is one of the most effective and cost-benefit interventions that prevent the mortality and reduce morbidity from infectious pathogens. However, the licensed influenza vaccine induces strain-specific immunity and must be updated annually based on predicted strains that will circulate in the upcoming season. Influenza virus still causes significant health problems worldwide due to the low vaccine efficacy from unexpected outbreaks of next epidemic strains or the emergence of pandemic viruses. Current influenza vaccines are based on immunity to the hemagglutinin antigen that is highly variable among different influenza viruses circulating in humans and animals. Several scientific advances have been endeavored to develop universal vaccines that will induce broad protection. Universal vaccines have been focused on regions of viral proteins that are highly conserved across different virus subtypes. The strategies of universal vaccines include the matrix 2 protein, the hemagglutinin HA2 stalk domain, and T cell-based multivalent antigens. Supplemented and/or adjuvanted vaccination in combination with universal target antigenic vaccines would have much promise. This review summarizes encouraging scientific advances in the field with a focus on novel vaccine designs.