Evaluation of vaccine efficacy in vitro using B cells: A valid approach?

Borggrewe, M. (2015) Evaluation of vaccine efficacy in vitro using B cells: A valid approach? Master's Thesis / Essay, Biology.

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Abstract

Influenza virus is the cause of annual “flu” epidemics and occasional pandemics such as the H1N1 pandemic in 2009. Treatment of influenza is difficult, which is why vaccination offers the best form of protection. Vaccines confer immunity mainly by the induction of a humoral response. This humoral response is facilitated by B cells, which proliferate and differentiate to memory B cells and antibody-secreting cells upon antigen exposure. Antigen-specific antibodies are able to protect the host from an infection by binding to surface proteins on the virus. Since influenza viruses alter their surface proteins frequently, there is a need for novel vaccines that protect from diverging influenza strains. Vaccine candidate and adjuvant testing is currently performed in animal models such as mice. However, animal experiments are laborious, expensive and translation to humans has always been a struggle. Here, the validity of an approach of testing vaccine efficacy in an in vitro B cell model will be discussed. To this end, the current status of research of in vitro B cell activation and possible readouts will be reviewed and related to the B cell response following infection and vaccination in humans.

Item Type:	Thesis (Master's Thesis / Essay)
Degree programme:	Biology
Thesis type:	Master's Thesis / Essay
Language:	English
Date Deposited:	15 Feb 2018 08:10
Last Modified:	15 Feb 2018 08:10
URI:	https://fse.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/13635

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