Why to claim a high quality COVID-19 vaccine

Scanning electron micrographs of human T lymphocytes (also called T cells) from the immune system of a healthy donor. Credit: NIAID, CC BY

Athletes understand that there are two very different approaches that can be taken when training their body. For example, lifting a heavy weight Achieve maximum strength.. In contrast, low-intensity, repetitive training Stamina required for endurance sports..

Surprisingly, our Immune system You can train in a slightly similar way.You have to choose from two different responses: Dangerous pathogen, Both White blood cells They are called antibodies that target T cells and infectious organisms. However, Types of these T cells and antibodies It depends on whether the pathogen, like many bacteria, lives outside the cell or, like a virus, inside the cell.

Implementation of antibacterial reaction against Virus It may not be the ideal way to get rid of a virus infection.In fact, the wrong kind Immune response Can actually do Exacerbate the diseaseAs observed in vaccinated mice challenged with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (SARS-CoV) identified in 2003.

Importantly, initial exposure to pathogens by nature or vaccination should adopt either of these two biases in the future when responding to the same or similar pathogens for the rest of our lives. You can train your immune system. Immunologists call this “Trained immunity.. “

First exposure

Our research programs include viral infections, immune responses to viruses, respiratory pathogens such as influenza virus, Vaccine developmentIncludes a vaccine against SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of coronavirus disease that occurred in 2019, COVID-19 (New Coronavirus Infection) (# If there is no character limit, add parentheses when it first appears..

I would like to convey the importance of trained immunity in the context of the COVID-19 vaccine. This is because it may affect the immune system’s ability to respond appropriately to highly pathogenic coronaviruses in the future.

In the last 17 years, there have been three major outbreaks of highly pathogenic coronavirus: the original SARS-CoV 2003, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2012 and now SARS-CoV-2. Based on this history of new highly pathogenic coronaviruses appearing approximately every 10 years, it is expected that further treatment of these viruses will be needed in the future. This means that the current move to develop a COVID-19 vaccine needs to consider future outbreaks of coronavirus.

The method of training the immune system to respond to SARS-CoV-2 can affect how well our body can respond to future coronaviruses. Vaccines, when properly developed, are trained in the optimal type to initiate a protective immune response against future infections not only with SARS-CoV-2 but also with coronavirus and / or related vaccines. It provides an opportunity to induce immunity.

Tuberculosis reaction

Interestingly, some scientists have suggested using the concept of immunity trained in relevant situations.Specifically, individuals who have been vaccinated against tuberculosis Partially protected For SARS-CoV-2.

tuberculosis It is a respiratory disease caused by bacteria. In contrast to many bacteria, it lives inside cells like a virus. Vaccine preparations use live but attenuated (modified or weakened) bacteria that are very similar to those that cause the disease. Being a living bacterium, it can infect cells in the same way as the bacteria that cause disease.

The result is the right immune response of the same type that is optimal for the virus. Therefore, scientists may be training the immune system for tuberculosis vaccines to ideally respond to other intracellular pathogens, including viruses such as SARS-CoV-2. I concluded.

Evaluation of answers

Emphasis is placed on the quantitative aspects of the candidate COVID-19 vaccine, such as whether it produces high levels of antibodies.Many health regulators Approve the COVID-19 vaccine It reduces the burden of illness, but does not induce infection and immunity to completely prevent infection. However, they should be cautious and ensure that these vaccines do not train our immune system for suboptimal reactions.

Thorough assessment of the nature and duration of the immune response evoked by future COVID-19 vaccines can ensure a specific, effective and sustained response to SARS-CoV-2. .. Specifically, vaccine developers should be able to answer these questions.

1. Did the vaccine elicit an optimal immune response against the virus? A balanced antiviral response must include antibodies to prevent the virus from infecting the host cell and replicating inside it. cell To kill the virus that crosses the antibody barrier.The important thing is that the antibody Antiviral type..
2. There are antibody reactions in the respiratory tract and do these antibodies effectively neutralize the virus? Although the focus is on measuring antibody responses in the blood, SARS-CoV-2 infects mucosal surfaces, including: Airway, And it is important to ensure that the vaccine induces antibodies at these relevant locations.It should also be noted that proper antibody response to the virus is normal. Much smaller magnitude Than those directed against extracellular bacteria.Large amounts of antibodies may look promising, but their amount is not as important as these types and locations. antibody..

The take-out message is that we need to insist on maintaining the very high standards of COVID-19. vaccineWhat induces qualitatively appropriate immunity response It protects us from SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Like athletes, we need to avoid training our immune system in ways that contradict our ultimate goal. For long-term health, the immune system is trained to respond most effectively to future highly pathogenic coronaviruses that may prove to be more dangerous than the current ones. You need to make sure that you are.

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