The Future of Flu: A Review of the Human Challenge Model and Systems Biology for Advancement of Influenza Vaccinology

Conclusions: Human challenge studies and systems biology approaches are important tools that should be used in concert to advance our understanding of influenza infection and provide targets for novel therapeutics and immunizations. Introduction Although influenza virus was recognized as an important pathogen over a century ago, influenza continues to cause a significant burden of disease. In the United States alone, it's estimated that in the 2017–2018 season there were 959,000 hospitalizations related to influenza illness, and 79,400 deaths (CDC, 2018). Worldwide, WHO estimates that annual influenza epidemics cause 3–5 million cases of severe disease, with 290,000–650,000 of these severe cases resulting in death (Influenza (Seasonal), 2018). Although annual influenza immunizations are recommended and antivirals are available, both have several limitations. The efficacy of the seasonal influenza vaccine is compromised by several factors: antigenic changes over time (requiring a strain specific match each year), slow manufacturing processing, vaccine strain egg-adapted changes, short duration of protection, lack of cross-reactivity, and poor immunogenicity in certain populations (e.g., the elderly) (Goodwin et al., 2006; Soema et al., 2015; Raymond et al., 2016). Antiviral agents such as neuraminidase inhibitors are most effective if administered early in the disease course, and even then have only a modest impact upon the duration of c...
Source: Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology - Category: Microbiology Source Type: research