title: Return of inactivated whole-virus vaccine for superior efficacy.
abstract: The swine, influenza, H1N1 outbreak in 2009 highlighted the inadequacy of the currently used antibody-based vaccine strategies as a preventive measure for combating influenza pandemics. The ultimate goal for successful control of newly arising influenza outbreaks is to design a single-shot vaccine that will provide long-lasting immunity against all strains of influenza A virus. A large amount of data from animal studies has indicated that the cross-reactive cytotoxic T (Tc) cell response against conserved influenza virus epitopes may be the key immune response needed for a universal influenza vaccine. However, decades of research have shown that the development of safe T-cell-based vaccines for influenza is not an easy task. Here, I discuss the overlooked but potentially highly advantageous inactivation method, namely, γ-ray irradiation, as a mean to reach the Holy Grail of influenza vaccinology.
authors.affiliation: Center for Immunology and Microbial Disease, Albany Medical College, Albany, NY 12208-3479, USA. furuyay@mail.amc.edu
authors.forename: Yoichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Furuya
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D056738:Cross Protection; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology; D005720:Gamma Rays; D006801:Humans; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype / Q000276:immunology / Q000528:radiation effects; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000276:immunology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000821:virology; D051379:Mice; D009976:Orthomyxoviridae Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology*; D015164:Vaccines, Inactivated / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000939:Epitopes; D007252:Influenza Vaccines; D015164:Vaccines, Inactivated