Immune system and vaccines

Our immune system fights invading pathogens. A vaccine teaches the immune system to recognise and eradicate these pathogens. But our immune system is complex, and not all pathogens can be dealt with in the same way. The exact defence mechanisms have only rarely been identified.

New generation of vaccines
For centuries, vaccines have shown to be the best way to protect against infectious diseases. The first generation of vaccines were just attenuated or dead virus particles. The production process is very slow, and there is a lot of variation between the batches. What's more, our current day and age requires vaccines for 'new' pathogens. All this together requires new vaccine concepts.

Development
The road a new vaccine must take to end up in a GP's office is long and starts with a theory. It can take years before a theoretical idea is translated into an experimental vaccine.

It all starts with questions like: how can we fool the immune system to believe that there is a pathogen entering the body that needs to be dealt with? Which part of the pathogen is most visible to the immune system? How can we replicate that part? Does it induce immune memory? Does it protect against infection or disease?

In the end, the new idea must be tested in what is called a proof-of-principle study. Does the potential vaccine indeed do what it is designed to do? And, if yes, is it safe? But animal models are also of great value when an experimental vaccine fails. A proof-of-principle study during this relatively early stage of development prevents expensive follow-up studies.

BPRC research
Among other things, virologists are working on vaccines for emerging viruses. According to the WHO, emerging viruses require extra attention because they spread quickly and are a risk to humans or animals. These viruses include corona virus, zika virus, West Nile virus, yellow fever virus, rift valley fever virus and dengue virus. But we also study more well-known viruses, such as the flu and HIV.