Revealing the immunological detail of protein and viral vector vaccine responses
Protein/AS01B vaccination elicits stronger, more Th2-skewed antigen-specific human T follicular helper cell responses than heterologous viral vectors
Interactions between B cells and CD4+ T follicular helper (Tfh) cells are key determinants of humoral immune responses. Using samples from our clinical trials performed with the malaria vaccine candidate antigen Plasmodium falciparum merozoite protein (PfRH5), we compare the frequency, phenotype, and gene expression profiles of PfRH5-specific circulating Tfh cells elicited by two leading human vaccine delivery platforms: heterologous viral vector prime boost and protein with AS01B adjuvant.
Nielsen et al. demonstrate that protein/AS01B drives a higher-magnitude polyfunctional response with greater skewing toward a Th2 phenotype, associated with superior production of neutralizing antibodies.
Graphical abstract on the right, full citation below:
