Influenza is a viral infection that affects millions of people worldwide each year, leading to significant morbidity and mortality. Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent influenza infection, but the virus has a high mutation rate, making it challenging to develop vaccines that can provide long-lasting protection.
While promising advances have been made in influenza vaccine development, several challenges remain. Factors that can affect vaccine efficacy include the match between the vaccine and circulating strains, the age and health status of the individual receiving the vaccine, and the timing of vaccination. The effectiveness of influenza vaccines can vary from year to year and among different age groups.
The nature of immune response generated due to vaccination can depend on several diverse factors including host responses and host microbiota. Therefore, it is pertinent to assess novel vaccine approaches and their efficacy with insights into the role of genetics, age, and microbiota in modulating the immune responses.
We welcome submissions of Original Research, Brief Research Reports, Methods, Opinions, Reviews, Mini-Reviews, and Perspectives articles that center around the following subthemes:
• Improving vaccine effectiveness: Although current influenza vaccines are effective, their effectiveness can vary from year to year and among different age groups. Research investigating ways to improve the effectiveness of the vaccine, such as using adjuvants to enhance the immune response, optimizing vaccine dose and timing, and developing new vaccine delivery methods will be appreciated in this issue.
• Studying the immune response to influenza: Another subtheme we are considering for this issue is the study of the immune response to influenza virus to better understand how the virus interacts with the immune system and how the immune system responds to vaccination. The microbiota can also modulate the innate immune response to influenza virus infection. This issue encourages research that explores the role of microbiota in enhancing the effectiveness of influenza virus vaccination and in improving protection against infection.
• Developing novel vaccine delivery methods: We are also looking forward to receiving manuscripts exploring novel vaccine delivery methods such as microneedles, nasal sprays, and oral vaccines to increase vaccine uptake and coverage, particularly in populations where traditional vaccines are less effective.
• Universal influenza vaccine development: The current influenza vaccines are designed to target the surface proteins of the virus, which can mutate rapidly, leading to the need for yearly updates to the vaccine. This issue welcomes research that focusses on developing a universal influenza vaccine that could provide long-lasting protection against multiple strains of the virus.
Influenza is a viral infection that affects millions of people worldwide each year, leading to significant morbidity and mortality. Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent influenza infection, but the virus has a high mutation rate, making it challenging to develop vaccines that can provide long-lasting protection.
While promising advances have been made in influenza vaccine development, several challenges remain. Factors that can affect vaccine efficacy include the match between the vaccine and circulating strains, the age and health status of the individual receiving the vaccine, and the timing of vaccination. The effectiveness of influenza vaccines can vary from year to year and among different age groups.
The nature of immune response generated due to vaccination can depend on several diverse factors including host responses and host microbiota. Therefore, it is pertinent to assess novel vaccine approaches and their efficacy with insights into the role of genetics, age, and microbiota in modulating the immune responses.
We welcome submissions of Original Research, Brief Research Reports, Methods, Opinions, Reviews, Mini-Reviews, and Perspectives articles that center around the following subthemes:
• Improving vaccine effectiveness: Although current influenza vaccines are effective, their effectiveness can vary from year to year and among different age groups. Research investigating ways to improve the effectiveness of the vaccine, such as using adjuvants to enhance the immune response, optimizing vaccine dose and timing, and developing new vaccine delivery methods will be appreciated in this issue.
• Studying the immune response to influenza: Another subtheme we are considering for this issue is the study of the immune response to influenza virus to better understand how the virus interacts with the immune system and how the immune system responds to vaccination. The microbiota can also modulate the innate immune response to influenza virus infection. This issue encourages research that explores the role of microbiota in enhancing the effectiveness of influenza virus vaccination and in improving protection against infection.
• Developing novel vaccine delivery methods: We are also looking forward to receiving manuscripts exploring novel vaccine delivery methods such as microneedles, nasal sprays, and oral vaccines to increase vaccine uptake and coverage, particularly in populations where traditional vaccines are less effective.
• Universal influenza vaccine development: The current influenza vaccines are designed to target the surface proteins of the virus, which can mutate rapidly, leading to the need for yearly updates to the vaccine. This issue welcomes research that focusses on developing a universal influenza vaccine that could provide long-lasting protection against multiple strains of the virus.
