Journal of Vaccines & Vaccination

Universally protective vaccines: A revolution in modern vaccinology

16^th Euro Global Summit and Expo on Vaccines & Vaccination

June 19-21, 2017 Paris, France

Geert Vanden Bossche

University Leuven, Belgium
Univac NV, Belgium

Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J Vaccines Vaccin

Abstract:

To eliminate safety risks related to infectivity, inactivated pathogens and more suitably, well-characterized pathogen-derived antigens (Ags) have increasingly been used as immunogens in modern vaccines. The selection of these Ags is usually based on their capacity to induce immune responses that correlate with natural protection. These Ags, however, are known to be antigenically variable or conformation-dependent (e.g., B cell epitopes) and/or subject to immunogenetic restriction (e.g., linear, T-cell epitopes). In addition, the immunogenicity of good vaccinal Ags is largely dependent on memory CD4+ T helper cells. However, activation of the latter upon natural infection or foreign Ag exposure of genetically predisposed subjects can occasionally lead to immune pathology. Priming of CD4+ T helper cells by adjuvanted vaccines is, therefore, increasingly raising safety concerns. On the other hand, Ags that are highly conserved and vulnerable because of their exposure on the surface of infected or pathologically altered host cells are either not immunogenic or subvert the host immune system. Hence, they are not used as vaccinal Ags in contemporary vaccines. We consider that new technologies enabling immune targeting of these Ags by natural, MHC allotype-independent immune effector memory cells is the new Holy Grail in modern vaccinology.

Biography :

Email: geert.vandenbossche@live.be