Vaccines
Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent infection and the more severe outcomes associated with influenza viruses. The development and production of influenza vaccines, and planning for their supply and use, as well as the provision of other respective healthcare resources, are essential components of a comprehensive seasonal and pandemic influenza response. In order to design potential vaccine candidates against H1N1, a sequence-based target approach is needed. Available H1N1 vaccines that have been developed based on NA and HA do not provide long-term protection due to antigenic shift and viral reassortment. Viral nucleoproteins are potent epitopes for targeting with a universal vaccine.[12] A new and more promising approach is microneedle-based vaccination, which involves microneedles coated with inactivated influenza virus, which induces humoral and cellular immune responses that provide long-term protection.[13] Adjuvants also play an important role, in association with subunit vaccines that can induce appropriate immune response. DC-Chol/DPPC (cationic liposomes containing a cationic compound and a neutral phospholipid) have shown strong immunogenicity against H1N1 experimentally, suggesting that the physiochemical properties of cationic liposomes are necessary for efficient adjuvanticity for subunit vaccines.[14] Additionally, a monovalent vaccine such as MF59-adjuvanted vaccine is more immunogenic, and can provide persistent protection against infection.[15] A few adjuvanted monovalent vaccines are based on nanoparticles that possess Toll-like receptor ligands in combination with poly D, L-lactic-co-glycolic acid, and these provide efficient protection against H1N1.[16]
Future Virology. 2012;7(10):947-950. © 2012 Future Medicine Ltd.
