EFFICACY OF ANTIINFLUENZA PEPTIDE VACCINE IN AGED MICE

Influenza infections may cause serious morbidity, as well as mortality in the elderly. In the present study we vaccinated old and young mice of two strains with three synthetic recombinant constructs (Levi and Amen, 1995. In: Chanock, R.M. et al. (Eds.), Vaccines 95. CSHL Press, New York: pp. 311-316) and examined their capacity to eliminate a chal lenge of virus. Virus clearance from the lungs in the aged was very ef ficient, although the immune response in the aged was comparatively re duced. The data demonstrate that an intranasal administration of pepti de-based anti-influenza vaccine without any adjuvant can be efficient and protective in old mice. Further studies are needed to determine wh ether such constructs will provide an effective vaccine for elderly hu man subjects. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserv ed.