Like all vaccines, the flu shot trains the immune system to fend off infection, but some need help to produce the full effect. Today, in ACS Central Science, researchers report a new way to help improve vaccines using molecules that more effectively direct the immune system.
Some vaccines, like the flu shot, contain a dead or weakened version of the disease-causing pathogen. Other vaccines, like those for hepatitis b and meningitis, contain just a protein, or other molecule (an "antigen") unique to the microbe. When there is a whole pathogen, the innate immune system is strongly activated, which includes alerting cellular watchmen called the toll-like receptors (TLRs). Antigen-based vaccines do not cause as strong a response, but they produce fewer side effects. Thus, an adjuvant is usually added to antigen-based vaccines to boost their effectiveness. A common adjuvant is a TLR agonist, or activator. In nature, multiple TLR activators work together to effectively direct the immune system. Aaron Esser-Kahn and colleagues investigated whether they could probe this biological machinery and improve the efficacy of antigen-based vaccines.
The researchers suspected that how the TLR agonists were arranged in space could affect their activity. So, they synthesized probes that displayed three different TLR agonists with a defined spatial orientation. The researchers found that their triply-linked activator more effectively raised an immune response than simply mixing the three ingredients together. In addition, by deconstructing the three-way activator into their two component parts, the team studied which components are most important and which arms of the immune response they activate. Esser-Kahn notes that this information will help researchers design better vaccines.
The authors acknowledge funding from UC Irvine, the Hellman Family Foundation, the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation.
Source: American Chemical Society
Dear Helpdesk: Working in a Toxic Health Care Environment
March 28th 2024Dear Helpdesk is your steadfast companion, offering life coaching and workplace advice from 2 seasoned IPs for some of your most challenging real-life situations. Let us help you navigate the intersection between work and life, guiding you to navigate the dynamic world of infection prevention with confidence and grace. This article is on handling a toxic health care environment.
Product Locator: Spring and Early Mother's Day Gift Guide for Infection Prevention Personnel
March 27th 2024Whether it's a spring holiday, birthdays, or no reason at all, infection prevention personnel love to give and receive gifts that help at the end of a stressful day. Infection Control Today® offers some gift ideas for infection prevention personnel and their families.
Catching Up With Vangie Dennis, AORN 2022-2023 President at AORN 2024
March 26th 2024Infection Control Today (ICT) had the privilege of catching up with Vangie Dennis, MSN, RN, CNOR, CMLSO, at the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses' (AORN’s) International Surgical Conference & Expo 2024. As the former president of AORN and an esteemed figure in perioperative services, Vangie Dennis shared insights into her recent endeavors and the exciting new chapter she's embarked upon.
How To Optimize Your Time Management Strategies for the Busy Infection Preventionist
March 25th 2024Is your calendar resembling a chaotic masterpiece of overlapping tasks? Join the club of infection preventionists striving to balance responsibilities. Dive into proven strategies from a fellow infection preventionist to reclaim control of your time, streamline tasks, and boost productivity effectively. This is an IP Lifeline article.