Article
Immunology
Tor Kristian Andersen, Johanna Bodin, Fredrik Oftung, Bjarne Bogen, Siri Mjaaland, Gunnveig Grodeland
Summary: The 2009 swine flu pandemic exposed the limitations of egg-based vaccines in terms of global supply, prompting the urgent need for efficient new vaccine platforms; DNA vaccines have since been developed as a temperature stable, cost-effective option for pandemic responses, capable of inducing rapid protective immune responses without the need for adjuvants.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Nino Rcheulishvili, Jiawei Mao, Dimitri Papukashvili, Cong Liu, Ziqian Wang, Jiao Zhao, Fengfei Xie, Xuehua Pan, Yang Ji, Yunjiao He, Peng George Wang
Summary: Despite advances in prevention, treatment, and immunization, the influenza virus remains a global threat due to its unpredictable pandemics and evolving nature. Seasonal vaccine mismatches decrease efficacy and increase outbreak risks. Development of a universal vaccine covering all influenza A and B strains would reduce the pervasiveness of the virus. This study designed a potentially universal multi-epitope vaccine based on conserved T cell and B cell epitopes, and demonstrated its immunogenicity and stability through immune simulation and molecular docking experiments.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2023)
Review
Immunology
Steven Rockman, Beverly Taylor, John W. McCauley, Ian G. Barr, Ray Longstaff, Ranbir Bahra
Summary: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to rapid investigation and deployment of vaccine platforms never used before. Both new and existing vaccine platforms are likely to play a crucial role in combating future pandemics, especially influenza. The field of influenza vaccine manufacturing has a long history of successes and advancements in the past decade.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Longbo Hu, Geqi Lao, Rui Liu, Jin Feng, Fei Long, Tao Peng
Summary: Influenza virus is a significant health risk, causing flu and infecting millions of people worldwide. Seasonal vaccines often have low and unpredictable effectiveness due to virus variation and preexisting immunity. Developing a universal influenza vaccine requires innovative strategies and platforms to generate cross-protective immunity. This review discusses candidate vaccines that meet two criteria: providing protection against multiple viruses and passing regulatory evaluations. Different vaccine-production platforms, antigen selection, design, adjuvants, immunomodulators, and vaccine delivery routes in universal influenza vaccine development are discussed.
ANTIVIRAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Review
Virology
Hai Xu, Shanyuan Zhu, Roshini Govinden, Hafizah Y. Chenia
Summary: "Progress in research on avian influenza vaccines" reviews the recent progress and delivery systems of avian influenza vaccines. It provides ideas for the design and development of new vaccines in the avian influenza research community.
Article
Immunology
Matthew Newland, David Durham, Jason Asher, John J. Treanor, Jonathan Seals, Ruben O. Donis, Robert A. Johnson
Summary: BARDA addresses challenges in pandemic influenza response by implementing a strategy focused on accelerating vaccine development and production, as well as improving vaccine performance. This strategy involves increasing manufacturing and fill-finish capacity, improving release testing speed, and funding clinical trials to enhance current vaccine utilization. Continued investments in this strategy will further enhance the ability to respond to future emerging pandemic pathogens, as demonstrated by the response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
EXPERT REVIEW OF VACCINES
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Kelly A. S. da Costa, Joanne Marie M. Del Rosario, Matteo Ferrari, Sneha Vishwanath, Benedikt Asbach, Rebecca Kinsley, Ralf Wagner, Jonathan L. Heeney, George W. Carnell, Nigel J. Temperton
Summary: By using NA pseudoviruses and developing the pELLA assay, we successfully measured neuraminidase inhibition levels in different influenza sera and found that pELLA is more sensitive than the commercially available NA-Fluor(TM). These studies may lead to the design of more potent, longer-lasting, and broader protective vaccines that can be used in a pre-pandemic approach in combination with HA vaccines.
Article
Immunology
Alessio Muscillo, Gabriele Lombardi, Elena Sestini, Francesca Garbin, Vittoradolfo Tambone, Laura Leondina Campanozzi, Paolo Pin
Summary: In order to understand vaccine reluctance, it is important to evaluate people's perceptions and grasp the potential reasons for general apprehension. This study focuses on adolescents' impressions of anti-vaxxer behavior, aiming to explore students' opinions on vaccine reluctance and connect possible motivations for anti-vaxxer decisions with specific personality traits.
Review
Immunology
Christopher L. D. McMillan, Paul R. Young, Daniel Watterson, Keith J. Chappell
Summary: Current influenza virus vaccines mainly induce antibodies against the highly variable head domain of the hemagglutinin protein, but these antibodies are often strain-specific, resulting in limited cross-protection. Therefore, the annual update of vaccine formulations to counteract the challenge of influenza virus evolution is crucial.
Article
Immunology
Norman W. W. Baylor, Jesse L. L. Goodman
Summary: The response to SARS-CoV-2 demonstrated the potential of vaccine research and development, but there is still room for improvement in combating pandemics. This review focuses on enhancing research and evaluation processes and emphasizes the importance of moving vaccine development and evaluation to the pre-pandemic period.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Walter N. Harrington, Christina M. Kackos, Richard J. Webby
Summary: The long history of preparing for and fighting influenza pandemics can inform the response to novel coronaviruses like SARS-Cov-2. Global influenza surveillance networks and detailed risk assessment tools have proven successful in containing outbreaks, such as the H7N9 influenza in 2013, and could serve as models for managing coronaviruses with pandemic potential. Containment efforts must continually adapt and incorporate new research and information gathered from global crises.
EXPERIMENTAL AND MOLECULAR MEDICINE
(2021)
Review
Virology
Wen-Chien Wang, Ekramy E. Sayedahmed, Suryaprakash Sambhara, Suresh K. Mittal
Summary: Influenza viruses are a major cause of millions of cases globally and pose a significant threat to public health. Current seasonal influenza vaccines provide limited protection and are less effective against mismatched strains. The development of a universal influenza vaccine targeting conserved antigen domains is underway to provide broader protection.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Eduardo Alfredo Adami, Stefanni Liliane Chavez Rico, Milena Apetito Akamatsu, Cosue Miyaki, Isaias Raw, Dourival de Oliveira, Priscila Comone, Ricardo das Neves Oliveira, Maria Leonor Sarno de Oliveira, Patricia Antonia Estima Abreu, Carolina Yumi Takano, Mauricio Meros, Alessandra Soares-Schanoski, Paulo Lee Ho
Summary: This study presents the production of active antigen under current Good Manufacturing Practices for the pandemic influenza vaccine candidate against A(H7N9). The formulated H7N9 vaccine is poorly immunogenic and requires adjuvanted to achieve an optimal immune response. These data are important for initial production planning and preparedness in the case of a H7N9 pandemic.
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Jeremy C. Jones, Hui-Ling Yen, Peter Adams, Kimberly Armstrong, Elena A. Govorkova
Summary: Effective antivirals play a crucial role in the early phase of an influenza pandemic, before vaccines are available. Currently, two classes of antiviral drugs are approved for influenza treatment, but resistance has been observed. Therefore, it is important to develop novel antiviral options that target both the virus and the host. This review explores the drawbacks of current antivirals and ongoing research on new agents or combination therapies to address these limitations.
ANTIVIRAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Mojtaba Taheri, Mehran Nemattalab, Mohammad Mahjoob, Elham Hasan-Alizadeh, Nina Zamani, Iraj Nikokar, Mehdi Evazalipour, Bahram Soltani Tehrani, Mohammad Shenagari
Summary: This study aimed to develop a universal influenza vaccine, with new bicistronic DNA vaccines and the use of cytokine adjuvants. The research revealed that vaccines encoding NPm have greater ability to induce potent cross-cellular immune response and protective immunity compared to those encoding NP.
Article
Virology
E. R. Job, M. Schotsaert, L. I. Ibanez, A. Smet, T. Ysenbaert, K. Roose, M. Dai, C. A. M. de Haan, H. Kleanthous, T. U. Vogel, X. Saelens
JOURNAL OF VIROLOGY
(2018)
Article
Immunology
D. G. Eliasson, A. Omokanye, K. Schon, U. A. Wenzel, V. Bernasconi, M. Bemark, A. Kolpe, K. El Bakkouri, T. Ysenbaert, L. Deng, W. Fiers, X. Saelens, N. Lycke
MUCOSAL IMMUNOLOGY
(2018)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Lutz Nuhn, Lien Van Hoecke, Kim Deswarte, Bert Schepens, Yupeng Li, Bart N. Lambrecht, Stefaan De Koker, Sunil A. David, Xavier Saelens, Bruno G. De Geest
Review
Immunology
Bert Schepens, Dorien De Vlieger, Xavier Saelens
CURRENT OPINION IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2018)
Article
Immunology
Joanne M. Langley, Lisa D. MacDonald, Genevieve M. Weir, Donna MacKinnon-Cameron, Lingyun Ye, Shelly McNeil, Bert Schepens, Xavier Saelens, Marianne M. Stanford, Scott A. Halperin
JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2018)
Article
Virology
Annelies Leemans, Marlies Boeren, Winke Van der Gucht, Isabel Pintelon, Kenny Roose, Bert Schepens, Xavier Saelens, Dalan Bailey, Wim Martinet, Guy Caljon, Louis Maes, Paul Cos, Peter Delputte
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Lien Van Hoecke, Sandra Van Lint, Kenny Roose, Alexander Van Parys, Peter Vandenabeele, Johan Grooten, Jan Tavernier, Stefaan De Koker, Xavier Saelens
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2018)
Review
Virology
Marlies Ballegeer, Xavier Saelens
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Eline Soetens, Marlies Ballegeer, Xavier Saelens
Article
Virology
Nidhi Mittal, Nayanika Sengupta, Sameer Kumar Malladi, Poorvi Reddy, Madhuraj Bhat, Raju S. Rajmani, Koen Sedeyn, Xavier Saelens, Somnath Dutta, Raghavan Varadarajan
Summary: Research indicates that the genetic fusions of H1-H3 hemagglutinin ectodomains can enhance influenza vaccine efficacy while reducing manufacturing complexity and cost. These fusion immunogens induce H1 and H3-specific immune responses and offer protection. Mice immunized with these fusions show higher neutralizing antibody titers against challenging H1N1 and H3N2 viruses.
Review
Virology
Tessa Van Royen, Iebe Rossey, Koen Sedeyn, Bert Schepens, Xavier Saelens
Summary: RSV infection inhibits host's innate immune response through multiple proteins, including suppression of interferon production and signaling, reduction of immune cell recruitment and cytokine production, and negative effects on mitochondrial proteins.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Bram van den Eeckhout, Marlies Ballegeer, Jozefien De Clercq, Elianne Burg, Xavier Saelens, Linos Vandekerckhove, Sarah Gerlo
Summary: IL-1R plays an important role in CD8 T cells by regulating cell proliferation and acquisition of an effector phenotype, and its absence can impair antiviral effector and tissue-resident CD8 T cell responses. Therefore, exploiting IL-1 activity may be a potential approach in T cell vaccination strategies.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Laura A. E. Van Poelvoorde, Francois E. Dufrasne, Steven Van Gucht, Xavier Saelens, Nancy H. C. Roosens
Summary: Monitoring antiviral-resistant influenza virus strains is crucial for public health due to the use of antivirals for treatment. The E119V-NA mutation in seasonal H3N2 influenza virus is associated with oseltamivir resistance. Traditional neuraminidase inhibition assay has limited sensitivity, so PCR-based genotypic assays are used to identify the prevalence of such mutant influenza viruses. In this study, a reverse transcriptase droplet digital PCR assay (RT-ddPCR) was developed to detect and quantify the E119V-NA mutation.
CURRENT ISSUES IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Immunology
Dorien De Vlieger, Marlies Ballegeer, Iebe Rossey, Bert Schepens, Xavier Saelens
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Simon Van Herck, Lien Van Hoecke, Benoit Louage, Lien Lybaert, Ruben De Coen, Sabah Kasmi, Aaron P. Esser-Kahn, Sunil A. David, Lutz Nuhn, Bert Schepens, Xavier Saelens, Bruno G. De Geest
BIOCONJUGATE CHEMISTRY
(2018)