Year of Award

2022

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Type

Master of Science (MS)

Degree Name

Cellular, Molecular and Microbial Biology

Other Degree Name/Area of Focus

Immunology emphasis

Department or School/College

Division of Biological Sciences

Committee Chair

Jay Evans

Commitee Members

Scott Wetzel, Erica Woodahl

Keywords

influenza, adjuvants, vaccines, TLR7/8, TLR4

Subject Categories

Immunity | Influenza Virus Vaccines

Abstract

Influenza virus infection is a global health concern resulting in death and illness each year, which disproportionally effects high-risk individuals. While there are several approved vaccines for seasonal influenza, there are some limitations to consider: current vaccines provide minimal cross protection against seasonally drifted influenza subtypes, influenza vaccine strains change each year, requiring timely manufacture of a new vaccine. Thus, vaccines capable of inducing a more robust and broadly protective immune response to multiple influenza subtypes remains a critical unmet need. Adjuvants and novel delivery systems are an interesting and promising avenue of exploration for enhancing and broadening seasonal influenza vaccine effectiveness. Here we describe a combination TLR4 and TLR7/8 adjuvant liposome delivery system. When combined with a detergent-split influenza vaccine, our combination adjuvant delivery system enhanced influenza-specific humoral and cell-mediated immune responses in mice and mini-pigs. Additionally, the combination adjuvant system demonstrates a unique and synergistic immune response in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). These adjuvants, when delivered together in an influenza vaccine, provided protection from heterologous (seasonally drifted) influenza challenge.

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