Immune Response
Pseudomonas Vaccines
Category: Vaccines | Immunology
Vaccines to Combat Pseudomonas aeruginosa Infections in Immunocompromised Patients
from Jennifer M. Scarff and Joanna B. Goldberg writing in Vaccine Design: Innovative Approaches and Novel Strategies
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an important opportunistic pathogen that causes an array of nosocomial infections, such as ventilator-associated pneumonia and infections in cancer patients. P. aeruginosa infections are difficult to treat with antibiotics, making the need for other therapeutic options, such as vaccination, critical. The main target antigen for vaccines has been the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of P. aeruginosa and studies show that vaccination may be partially protective, but that a combination of vaccination with either antibiotic treatment or cell transfusion protocols typically works best. The efficacy of vaccination, particularly against LPS, has been investigated in human cancer patients. These patients were capable of mounting an immune response, but it was often short-lived or accompanied by severe side effects. An anti-Pseudomonas vaccine could be beneficial to aid in treatment of nosocomial infections caused by this bacterium, but would need optimization for better efficacy.
Further reading: Vaccine Design: Innovative Approaches and Novel Strategies | Pseudomonas: Genomics and Molecular Biology
from Jennifer M. Scarff and Joanna B. Goldberg writing in Vaccine Design: Innovative Approaches and Novel Strategies
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an important opportunistic pathogen that causes an array of nosocomial infections, such as ventilator-associated pneumonia and infections in cancer patients. P. aeruginosa infections are difficult to treat with antibiotics, making the need for other therapeutic options, such as vaccination, critical. The main target antigen for vaccines has been the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of P. aeruginosa and studies show that vaccination may be partially protective, but that a combination of vaccination with either antibiotic treatment or cell transfusion protocols typically works best. The efficacy of vaccination, particularly against LPS, has been investigated in human cancer patients. These patients were capable of mounting an immune response, but it was often short-lived or accompanied by severe side effects. An anti-Pseudomonas vaccine could be beneficial to aid in treatment of nosocomial infections caused by this bacterium, but would need optimization for better efficacy.
Further reading: Vaccine Design: Innovative Approaches and Novel Strategies | Pseudomonas: Genomics and Molecular Biology
Intralymphatic Vaccination
Category: Vaccines | Immunology
Intralymphatic Vaccination
from Thomas M. Kündig, Pal Johansen, and Gabriela Senti writing in Vaccine Design: Innovative Approaches and Novel Strategies
The immune response is initiated by dendritic cells (DCs) and other antigen-presenting cells. These cells are present in nearly all organs and tissues of the body, so that theoretically any organ or tissue could serve as a route for vaccine administration. The choice of route is therefore mainly based on practical aspects. Using conventional needle and syringe the subcutaneous or intramuscular route are standard. The dermis and especially the epidermis are technically more difficult to target, but are likely to gain more interest due to the recent development of micro-needle patches and needle free injection devices. Vaccine administration via mucosal surfaces such as nasal or oral vaccination represents another option for needle free vaccine administration. While all the above mentioned routes of administration have been proven to work and protect against childhood diseases, influenza and many other infectious agents, the discussion and comparison of these different routes usually focuses on patient convenience, reduction of pain and distress for children, cost and on the possibility for mass vaccination. However, the route of administration can enhance the efficacy of vaccination. Especially in therapeutic vaccination, i.e., in a smaller patient number that already suffers from a disease, vaccination efficiency rather than convenience is the main issue. This is particularly the case in therapeutic cancer vaccines and in allergen specific immunotherapy. Intralymphatic vaccination is a strategy to maximize immunogenicity and therefore vaccine efficacy.
Further reading: Vaccine Design: Innovative Approaches and Novel Strategies
from Thomas M. Kündig, Pal Johansen, and Gabriela Senti writing in Vaccine Design: Innovative Approaches and Novel Strategies
The immune response is initiated by dendritic cells (DCs) and other antigen-presenting cells. These cells are present in nearly all organs and tissues of the body, so that theoretically any organ or tissue could serve as a route for vaccine administration. The choice of route is therefore mainly based on practical aspects. Using conventional needle and syringe the subcutaneous or intramuscular route are standard. The dermis and especially the epidermis are technically more difficult to target, but are likely to gain more interest due to the recent development of micro-needle patches and needle free injection devices. Vaccine administration via mucosal surfaces such as nasal or oral vaccination represents another option for needle free vaccine administration. While all the above mentioned routes of administration have been proven to work and protect against childhood diseases, influenza and many other infectious agents, the discussion and comparison of these different routes usually focuses on patient convenience, reduction of pain and distress for children, cost and on the possibility for mass vaccination. However, the route of administration can enhance the efficacy of vaccination. Especially in therapeutic vaccination, i.e., in a smaller patient number that already suffers from a disease, vaccination efficiency rather than convenience is the main issue. This is particularly the case in therapeutic cancer vaccines and in allergen specific immunotherapy. Intralymphatic vaccination is a strategy to maximize immunogenicity and therefore vaccine efficacy.
Further reading: Vaccine Design: Innovative Approaches and Novel Strategies