Influenza vaccine: Where are we and where do we go?

SummaryThe alarming rise of morbidity and mortality caused by influenza pandemics and epidemics has drawn attention worldwide since the last few decades. This life ‐threatening problem necessitates the development of a safe and effective vaccine to protect against incoming pandemics. The currently available flu vaccines rely on inactivated viral particles, M2e‐based vaccine, live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) and virus like particle (VLP). While inac tivated vaccines can only induce systemic humoral responses, LAIV and VLP vaccines stimulate both humoral and cellular immune responses. Yet, these vaccines have limited protection against newly emerging viral strains. These strains, however, can be targeted by universal vaccines consisting of conse rved viral proteins such as M2e and capable of inducing cross‐reactive immune response. The lack of viral genome in VLP and M2e‐based vaccines addresses safety concern associated with existing attenuated vaccines. With the emergence of new recombinant viral strains each year, additional effort t owards developing improved universal vaccine is warranted. Besides various types of vaccines, microRNA and exosome‐based vaccines have been emerged as new types of influenza vaccines which are associated with new and effective properties. Hence, development of a new generation of vaccines could co ntribute to better treatment of influenza.

Source: Reviews in Medical Virology - November 8, 2018 Category: Virology Authors: Mohsen Keshavarz, Hamed Mirzaei, Maryam Salemi, Fatemeh Momeni, Mohammad Javad Mousavi, Mona Sadeghalvad, Yaser Arjeini, Farid Solaymani ‐Mohammadi, Javid Sadri Nahand, Haideh Namdari, Talat Mokhtari‐Azad, Farhad Rezaei Tags: REVIEW Source Type: research