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In terms of immune response to influenza A, interest has been focussed so far mainly on humoral antibodies against certain epitopes on the viral HA. Current vaccine strategy is based on antigens derived from viral HA as stimulus for Ab secretion. Humoral anti HA and NA abs bind only to a very small spectrum of HAs within one viral serotype. Cross reactivity to different strains is a rare event and does normally not occur. As in influenza viruses the involved peptide fragments (epitopes) are in a region of the molecule which is not associated with viral function, mutations are found frequently und do not compromise viral fitness.
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However, little attention has been paid to the potential of cell mediated protection (TCMI). TCMI is more species-specific, less protective and involves a great deal of complicated and still poorly understood mecanisms ? but as it (at least in part ) emcompasses conserved domains involved in viral function on all 11 genes ?it is not restricted to a given serotype and less susceptible to mutations.
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As most of the experimental research has been done under lab conditions and grounds on animal models, most of the findings are not 1:1 transferable to ?real world? circumstances.
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Under environmental conditions, organisms develop a multitude of overlapping species-specific and individual immune reactions which differ considerably from those under lab conditions. These influences may account for the difficulty to assess the evolution of the current epidemic.
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More than 600 epitopes have yet been identified. It will take time to find out which of them will prove to be of practical significance.
Best possible protection requires the full functionality, interaction and cooperation of all compartments of the immune system
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Thank you for opening this subforum.<o:p></o:p>
<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
However, little attention has been paid to the potential of cell mediated protection (TCMI). TCMI is more species-specific, less protective and involves a great deal of complicated and still poorly understood mecanisms ? but as it (at least in part ) emcompasses conserved domains involved in viral function on all 11 genes ?it is not restricted to a given serotype and less susceptible to mutations.
<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
As most of the experimental research has been done under lab conditions and grounds on animal models, most of the findings are not 1:1 transferable to ?real world? circumstances.
<o:p></o:p>
Under environmental conditions, organisms develop a multitude of overlapping species-specific and individual immune reactions which differ considerably from those under lab conditions. These influences may account for the difficulty to assess the evolution of the current epidemic.
<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
More than 600 epitopes have yet been identified. It will take time to find out which of them will prove to be of practical significance.
Best possible protection requires the full functionality, interaction and cooperation of all compartments of the immune system
<o:p></o:p>
Thank you for opening this subforum.<o:p></o:p>
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