Review

Highly conserved influenza A sequences as T cell epitopes-based vaccine targets to address the viral variability

Volume 7, Issue 4   April 2011
Pages 402 - 409
http://dx.doi.org/10.4161/hv.7.4.13845
Authors: Paul ThiamJoo Tan, Asif M. Khan and J. Thomas August

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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.

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