Perspectives on replication-incompetent nasal influenza virus vaccines

Abstract

Influenza is an emerging as well as resurging contagious disease with a worldwide impact on public health. Although broad administration of the licensed influenza virus (IFV) vaccines has mitigated the disease in many countries over the years, there are intrinsic problems associated with them. The study under evaluation reports that a novel PB2-knockout nonreplicating nasal IFV vaccine has been generated with the capacity to confer protection of mice against live IFV challenges. Moreover, an exogenous gene expressed from the bioengineered PB2-knockout IFV could elicit an immune response against the exogenous protein, showing its potential to deliver transgenes as a vector. The risk-benefit ratio of this new influenza vaccine vector is discussed.

Development and applications of single-cycle infectious influenza A virus (sciIAV)

“…Due to safety concerns in the young and asthmatics, and limited efficacy in the elderly, LAIV is only recommended for immunocompetent, non-asthmatic patients between the ages of 2–49 (Ambrose et al, 2012; Belshe et al, 2008; Powers et al, 1991). One study has found that combining inactivated and LAIVs is well-tolerated and efficacious in elderly individuals (Tang, 2012; Treanor and Betts, 1998). Therefore, there is great interest and need to improve the immunogenicity of IIV and RIV or the safety of LAIV, and implement new vaccination strategies that prevent infection in susceptible populations.…”

Improving influenza vaccines

“…Two Key Paper Evaluation articles bring the issue up-tothe-minute with critical reviews of recently published primary work from the field [14,15].…”