Journal of Vaccines & Vaccination

Abstract

The Future of Influenza Vaccines: Developing Tools to Match Glycosylation Patterns Relevant for Protection

Vega-Sánchez José Carlos, Flores-Valdez Mario Alberto and Bravo-Madrigal Jorge

Influenza is a viral disease that is easily transmissible, and it is found around the world and can affect anyone regardless of their age group. There are 3 types of influenza viruses: A, B and C. Influenza viruses A and B are usually responsible for causing outbreaks of influenza from limited to major epidemics or even pandemics. The main preventive measure against this virus is annual vaccination, and the World Health Organization annually publishes recommendations for the production of influenza vaccines, but the protection observed so far has not been optimal. It has been proven that using egg as a substrate for vaccine production causes changes in the structure of proteins on the surface of influenza virus, and these changes could be involved in the low effectiveness of vaccines against influenza. Here we comment about platforms currently used to produce viruses for inclusion into influenza vaccines, and suggest alternatives to improve glycosylation patterns to resemble more closely those found in viruses infecting human beings, aiming to improve the effectiveness of protection conferred by these new vaccines.