Influenza vaccines: what do we want and how can we get it?

Adv Exp Med Biol. 2011:780:161-74. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4419-5632-3_13.

Abstract

Influenza vaccines have been in use for more than 60 years and have proven to be efficacious in protecting from influenza infections during epidemics and the recent H1N1 pandemic. The development of influenza vaccines has so far been largely based on empirical grounds, which leaves room for vaccine improvement by implementation of recent insights in innate and adaptive immunity. Also, evaluation and approval of new vaccines rely on rather broad correlates of protection such as the hemagglutination inhibition titre, thereby neglecting qualitative aspects of the immune response. Here we discuss how current inactivated influenza vaccine formulations differ in the type of immune response they elicit, their protective capacity, and what causes these differences. Finally, we will discuss how this knowledge can guide the development of new adjuvants that optimize the protective efficacy of influenza vaccines.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adaptive Immunity
  • Adjuvants, Immunologic / administration & dosage*
  • Adjuvants, Immunologic / chemistry
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • B-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • Cytokines / analysis
  • Cytokines / biosynthesis
  • Detergents / chemistry
  • Disease Outbreaks* / prevention & control
  • Europe
  • Hemagglutination Inhibition Tests
  • Hemagglutinins / analysis
  • Humans
  • Immunity, Innate*
  • Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype / physiology*
  • Influenza Vaccines / administration & dosage*
  • Influenza Vaccines / chemistry
  • Influenza, Human / epidemiology
  • Influenza, Human / immunology
  • Influenza, Human / prevention & control*
  • Influenza, Human / virology
  • Th1-Th2 Balance / drug effects
  • Vaccination*
  • Vaccines, Inactivated / administration & dosage*
  • Vaccines, Inactivated / chemistry
  • Vaccines, Subunit / administration & dosage*
  • Vaccines, Subunit / chemistry

Substances

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic
  • Cytokines
  • Detergents
  • Hemagglutinins
  • Influenza Vaccines
  • Vaccines, Inactivated
  • Vaccines, Subunit