Volume 12, Number 1—January 2006
THEME ISSUE
Influenza
Prevention
Vaccines for Pandemic Influenza
Catherine J. Luke* and Kanta Subbarao*
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.
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