Vaccines elicit protection through the expedited action of our immune system. However, many first-line vaccines and immunotherapies were created with an empirical factor at play. Recent discoveries and technological breakthroughs in the field of immunology have offered new insights about the mechanisms of vaccine-induced immunity. Now, a variety of approaches exist for improving current vaccines and aiding the development of novel vaccines and immunotherapeutic agents. When a mechanism of protection is known, its quantification also offers practical advantages in the areas of process development, licensure and effectiveness monitoring. In this presentation, the speaker will cover known or suspected mechanisms that mediate protection elicited by very different licensed vaccines: MMRV (anti-Measles, -Mumps, -Rubella and -Varicella), Pertussis (anti-whooping cough), and the recently introduced anti-serogroup B meningococcal vaccines. He will also discuss the contribution of antibodies and the complex role of the human complement system along with key areas where significant challenges can be turned into scientific, technical and commercial opportunities. |