News & Views by KU Leuven: T cell-mediated protection in absence of virus neutralizing antibodies A controlled human challenge study from Duke-NUS Medical School, discussed in a Nature Microbiology commentary by KU Leuven researchers Yeranddy A Alpizar & Kai Dallmeier, may reshape how we think about antiviral vaccines. 💉 The team from Singapore using licensed YF17D and chimeric JE/YF17D vaccines replicating earlier preclinical results, including from KU Leuven, that clearly demonstrate that such potent vaccines can induce T cells, a type of white blood cell, which may suffice to prevent subsequent viral infections without the need of specific virus neutralizing antibodies, which have long been considered essential for immunity. Key Findings: 🦠 T Cells Can Control Infection Without Antibodies: The highlighted findings showed that T cell responses, triggered by vaccination by either life vaccine, may be sufficient to control infection by the other, lowering viral loads and reducing symptoms, even without neutralizing antibodies. 💥 Complete Virus Clearance in Some Participants: some participants cleared the challenge virus completely, with no seroconversion, suggesting T cells alone provided sterilizing immunity at least in the controlled trial setting. 🛡️ Previous YF17D Vaccination Offers Protection: Additionally, those previously vaccinated with YF17D had lower JE/YF17D viremia compared to those who had not been previously vaccinated, further highlighting T cell protection. Why This Matters: These findings underscore the vital role of T cells in antiviral immunity and opens the door for next-generation vaccines that harness T cell responses alongside neutralizing antibodies. Such vaccines could offer broad protection, especially against rapidly mutating viruses where antibody-based immunity may be less effective. 🔗 Read more: https://lnkd.in/eVcMhhA8 Giovanna Barba Spaeth Marine Hurard PhD. Claudia Umana Diaz Sina Sommer Nilanshu Manocha Paula Dau Anne Krug Maria Colome Tatche Margarita Shnipova Apurva Dhavale Helen Stirling María García Bengoa Alessio Lorusso Marialuigia Caporale Ilaria Puglia Maria Adelaida Gomez Juan Camilo Montoya Díaz Lyda Osorio Alexandra Cossio Lotte Coelmont Pieta Mattila Pinja Jalkanen Sander Wuyts, PhD 🧬 Tom Bosschaerts Max Van Houcke Pieter Meysman Remi Cheynier Manon Babise Kilian Schober Myriam Grotz Luisa Barzon Emanuela Dal Molin stefania vogiatzis Christopher Pell Lilly Dol Christian Münz #Dengue #FlavivirusResearch #Yellow4FLAVI #ClimateChange #PublicHealth #EUfunding #EUprojects #HorizonEurope #Health #Flavivirus #Vaccines #Zika #Westnilevirus #Usutuvirus #YellowFeverVirus #PandemicPreparedness #EmergingViruses #EmergingEpidemics #Viruses #EuropeanUnion #Immunity #ClimateChange #cryoEM
