Researchers tested a new mucosal vaccine that uses cell-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) to carry inverted forms of influenza hemagglutinin (HA). The team aims for a vaccine that works in the nose and protects the respiratory tract to reduce spread in epidemics or pandemics.
In the inverted design the HA stalk is more visible to the immune system while the variable HA head is less visible. The stalk has parts shared by many influenza strains. In mouse tests, intranasal immunization with multiple HA-EV vaccines produced antibodies and cellular immune responses and showed broad protection. The researchers say more mucosal vaccine options are still needed.
Difficult words
- mucosal — related to the lining of the nose and throat
- vesicle — small sac that carries material between cellsvesicles
- hemagglutinin — surface protein on the influenza virusHA
- intranasal — given into the nose as a vaccine
- antibody — protein the immune system makes to fight germsantibodies
- stalk — a part of a protein that many strains share
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Discussion questions
- Would you prefer a vaccine given in the nose or by injection? Why?
- Why might protecting the respiratory tract reduce disease spread?
- Why do you think researchers say more mucosal vaccine options are needed?
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