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Volume 12, Number 1—January 2006
THEME ISSUE
Influenza
Prevention

Vaccines for Pandemic Influenza

Catherine J. Luke* and Kanta Subbarao*Comments to Author 
Author affiliations: *National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA

Main Article

Table 2

Challenges for developing vaccines for pandemic influenza: knowns and unknowns*

What we know from experience with human influenza viruses What we don’t know
Antibodies against the HA (and to a lesser extent NA) are critical for protection.
Systemic immune response is strain specific.
Mucosal immune response provides broader cross-protection.
Cellular immunity is needed for viral clearance.
Vaccine strain must closely match the circulating strain. Which avian influenza virus will cross species barrier to cause a pandemic
Importance of antigenic drift among avian influenza viruses
Immunogenicity of HA of avian viruses in humans (unknown or poor)

*HA, hemagglutinin; NA, neuraminidase.

Main Article

Page created: February 16, 2012
Page updated: February 16, 2012
Page reviewed: February 16, 2012
The conclusions, findings, and opinions expressed by authors contributing to this journal do not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Public Health Service, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the authors' affiliated institutions. Use of trade names is for identification only and does not imply endorsement by any of the groups named above.
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