title: Highly conserved influenza A sequences as T cell epitopes-based vaccine targets to address the viral variability.
abstract: Vaccines are the only proven effective method for prevention of human infectious diseases. Almost all traditional vaccines require activating immunological memory B cells to secrete neutralizing antibodies against invading pathogens. The complication with influenza viruses is the high viral mutation rate that results in immune escape through modification of the B cell epitopes. Studies of T-cell immunity to influenza infection provide an alternative vaccine strategy based on highly conserved T-cell epitopes. In this review, we discuss the importance of T cell-mediated immunity in influenza infection and the need for a targeted vaccine approach focused on highly conserved T-cell epitopes to mitigate immune escape. We propose 15 highly conserved pan-influenza sequences as possible T cell epitopes-based vaccine targets for broad protection and lasting immunity against variant influenza strains.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA. paultantj@gmail.com
authors.forename: Paul Thiamjoo
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Asif M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: J Thomas
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: August
mesh_terms: D017124:Conserved Sequence; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006801:Humans; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte; D007252:Influenza Vaccines