Features of effective T cell-inducing vaccines against chronic viral infections

Journal article

For many years, the focus of prophylactic vaccines was to elicit neutralizing antibodies, but it has become increasingly evident that T cell-mediated immunity plays a central role in controlling persistent viral infections such as with human immunodeficiency virus, cytomegalovirus, and hepatitis C virus. Currently, various promising prophylactic vaccines, capable of inducing substantial vaccine-specific T cell responses, are investigated in preclinical and clinical studies. There is compelling evidence that protection by T cells is related to the magnitude and breadth of the T cell response, the type and homing properties of the memory T cell subsets, and their cytokine polyfunctionality and metabolic fitness. In this review, we evaluated these key factors that determine the qualitative and quantitative properties of CD4 + and CD8 + T cell responses in the context of chronic viral disease and prophylactic vaccine development. Elucidation of the mechanisms underlying T cell-mediated protection against chronic viral pathogens will facilitate the development of more potent, durable and safe prophylactic T cell-based vaccines.

Authors: Panagioti, E; Klenerman, P; Lee, L; van der Burg, S; Arens, R

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Frontiers Media
• Journal: Frontiers in Immunology
• Volume: 9
• Article number: 276
• Publication date: 2018-02-16
• Acceptance date: 2018-01-31
• DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.00276
• EISSN: 1664-3224
• Keywords: vaccine; virus; prophylaxis; T cells; quality; chronic infection