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Immune response to Influenza virus and vaccine in old adults

Topical Collection for Immunity & Ageing: Immune response to influenza virus and vaccine in old adults

By Sean X. Leng (Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, USA) and Albert Shaw (Yale School of Medicine, USA)

Seasonal influenza is a common respiratory infection that causes significant health burden worldwide, particularly in older adults. Studies of altered immune functions with aging in human and animal model systems have identified underlying mechanisms and offer potential therapeutic insights. Vaccination is an effective tool to reduce and even prevent severe infection and its complications. Recent improvements in vaccine design enhance vaccine efficacy for at-risk older adults. Understanding innate, humoral and cellular conditions of the host immune system that contribute to severe infection and to age-associated alterations in vaccine response represent important steps in reducing the disease burden of influenza for the growing older adult population.

This collection of articles has not been sponsored and articles have undergone the journal’s standard peer-review process.

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  1. Aging is associated with progressive declines in immune responses leading to increased risk of severe infection and diminished vaccination responses. Influenza (flu) is a leading killer of older adults despite...

    Authors: Dominique E. Martin, Andreia N. Cadar, Hunter Panier, Blake L. Torrance, George A. Kuchel and Jenna M. Bartley
    Citation: Immunity & Ageing 2023 20:18
  2. Vaccination is important in influenza prevention but the immune response wanes with age. The circadian nature of the immune system suggests that adjusting the time of vaccination may provide an opportunity to ...

    Authors: Yihao Liu, Hui Zhang, Gang Yuan, Mi Yao, Bin Li, Jianying Chen, Yuling Fan, Ruohui Mo, Fenghua Lai, Xinwen Chen, Mengyuan Li, Binfeng Chen, Janet M. Lord, Sui Peng, KarKeung Cheng and Haipeng Xiao
    Citation: Immunity & Ageing 2022 19:46
  3. Despite widespread influenza vaccination programs, influenza remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality in older adults. Age-related changes in multiple aspects of the adaptive immune response to influen...

    Authors: Janet E. McElhaney, Chris P. Verschoor, Melissa K. Andrew, Laura Haynes, George A. Kuchel and Graham Pawelec
    Citation: Immunity & Ageing 2020 17:10