Trend of Vaccine R&D in an Effort to Fight against Influenza Pandemic

Mei-Mei, Kuan

2007 Vol.23 NO.6

Correspondence Author： Mci-Mci, Kuan

Abstract：

Not until recently, the main strategy for the manufacture of modem influenza vaccinations has always followed an ancient technology from many decades ago with protocols based on two essentials: “candidate vaccine strains selection” and “chicken embryo culture”, which were both time-consuming and labor-intensive. The essence or the active ingredients of these past vaccines were mainly focused on some surface glycoproteins such as hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase A) and the aimed-at target was to induce anti-HA responses. However, selected candidate vaccine strains often turned out to be quite disappointing in their protective performance due to an over exaggerated assumption of antigen drift taking place earlier in that season, causing an unexpected large drop in the immune titer of the vaccine. As a result, the newest approach of vaccine development has now shifted to adopt those rather slowly evolving NA or MA as the major components of the influenza vaccines, in an attempt to lower down its susceptibility to the potential antigen drift. Another new direction in vaccine development is to study and acquire other alternative manufacturing techniques, such as developing DNA vaccines, making use of recombinant baculovirus paired