Confronting the avian influenza threat: vaccine development for a potential pandemic.
Sporadic human infection with avian influenza viruses has raised concern that reassortment between human and avian subtypes could generate viruses of pandemic potential. Vaccination is the principal means to combat the impact of influenza. During an influenza pandemic the immune status of the population would differ from that which exists during interpandemic periods. An emerging pandemic virus will create a surge in worldwide vaccine demand and new approaches in immunisation strategies may be needed to ensure optimum protection of unprimed individuals when vaccine antigen may be limited. The manufacture of vaccines from pathogenic avian influenza viruses by traditional methods is not feasible for safety reasons as well as technical issues. Strategies adopted to overcome these issues include the use of reverse genetic systems to generate reassortant strains, the use of baculovirus-expressed haemagglutinin or related non-pathogenic avian influenza strains, and the use of adjuvants to enhance immunogenicity. In clinical trials, conventional surface-antigen influenza virus vaccines produced from avian viruses have proved poorly immunogenic in immunologically naive populations. Adjuvanted or whole-virus preparations may improve immunogenicity and allow sparing of antigen.
Influenza Branch, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA. istephen@globalnet.co.uk
Iain
I
Stephenson
Karl G
KG
Nicholson
John M
JM
Wood
Maria C
MC
Zambon
Jacqueline M
JM
Katz
D000818:Animals; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000276:immunology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005585:Influenza in Birds / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D011200:Poultry; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D016865:Reassortant Viruses / Q000276:immunology; D014611:Vaccination; D014613:Vaccines, Attenuated / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use
D007252:Influenza Vaccines; D014613:Vaccines, Attenuated