Immunologic correlates of protection induced by vaccination

Vaccine design and licensing depend on the choice of protective antigens and the demonstration of their efficacy. Ideally efficacy correlates with some measurement of immune response, although occasionally the correlation is weak and in the case of some vaccines uncertain. This paper attempts to rev...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inThe Pediatric infectious disease journal Vol. 20; no. 1; p. 63
Main Author Plotkin, S A
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 01.01.2001
Subjects
Antibodies - blood
Antibodies - immunology
Humans
Immunity
Immunization
Infection Control
Treatment Outcome
Vaccines - immunology
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Summary:Vaccine design and licensing depend on the choice of protective antigens and the demonstration of their efficacy. Ideally efficacy correlates with some measurement of immune response, although occasionally the correlation is weak and in the case of some vaccines uncertain. This paper attempts to review what is known about correlates of vaccine-induced protection. Although mucosal and cellular immune responses are clearly important to protection by some vaccines, most vaccines licensed today depend for their efficacy on serum antibodies. Particular levels of antibodies can be identified that confer protection most of the time. A condition for the efficacy of antibodies is functionality, i.e. their ability to kill or inactivate pathogens. The immune system is redundant, and the different types of responses to vaccines act synergistically.
ISSN:0891-3668
DOI:10.1097/00006454-200101000-00013