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

Tan P. T., KHAN M. A., August J. T.

HUMAN VACCINES, vol.7, no.4, pp.402-409, 2011 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Review
  • Volume: 7 Issue: 4
  • Publication Date: 2011
  • Doi Number: 10.4161/hv.7.4.13845
  • Journal Name: HUMAN VACCINES
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.402-409
  • Keywords: T cell epitopes-based vaccine, pan-influenza, immunoinformatics, altered peptide ligands, high conservation, immunodominance, pandemic H1N1, MHC CLASS-II, VIRUS PB1 PROTEIN, IN-VITRO, IMMUNODOMINANCE HIERARCHIES, ANTIGENIC DRIFT, CTL EPITOPES, PA SUBUNIT, HLA-DR, RESPONSES, NUCLEOPROTEIN
  • Bezmialem Vakıf University Affiliated: Yes

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 potential T cell epitopes-based vaccine targets for broad protection and lasting immunity against variant influenza strains.