DNA-based influenza vaccines: evaluating their potential to provide universal protection

The recent outbreaks of the H5N1 and H1N1 pandemic influenza have highlighted the importance of developing fast, effective therapeutic strategies to prevent and/or limit the spread of future influenza outbreaks. Although current vaccines against influenza are generally effective, several limitations, including those associated with the amount of available vaccine, the time to vaccine production and vaccine efficacy, may encumber a mass vaccination strategy and effective targeting against future outbreaks. This feature review discusses the prospects of SynCon-derived DNA vaccines against influenza; such vaccines are expected to be effective at targeting many currently circulating influenza virus strains, as well as potentially targeting strains that may be associated with future outbreaks. Because of advantages associated with safety, time to production and ease of production, as well as the generation of more effective immune responses, influenza DNA vaccines provide a promising potential solution to a global medical concern.