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.
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