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Published on: February 22, 2019
Problems and solutions to the development of vaccines in the elderly
1Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, 10833 Le Conte Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1732 USA. reffros@mednet.ucla.edu
Abstract:
Scientists involved in vaccine research and development face the challenge of protecting the ever-increasing elderly population from a broad spectrum of infectious diseases. The optimal vaccine-induced immune response to confer protection is undefined for many pathogens, and the field of vaccine research is undergoing a gradual shift from the original focus on humoral immunity to a focus that incorporates cellular and innate immune components. The age-related changes in various aspects of immune function, including an increase in a population of T cells that shows signs of replicative senescence, underscore the need to enhance research aimed at designing vaccines to meet the unique requirements of the elderly population.
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