Monash University researchers have developed a new technique to boost the effectiveness of both traditional and mRNA-based vaccines in animal models. Published in Immunity , the study found that adding low doses of a vaccine-specific antibody to a COVID-19 vaccine stimulated the immune system's B cells, which are responsible for generating antibodies to fight viral infections . The results from this study highlight the potential of antibodies as vaccine components to boost the immune response.
"A key challenge for vaccine design is to ensure sufficient activation and duration of B cell responses to achieve the quantity and quality of antibodies required for protection," said senior author Dr. Isaak Quast, from Monash University's Department of Immunology. "Adding vaccine-specific antibodies is like adding a red flag, and making it really obvious to B cells that they need to spring into action.
"This method stimulates B cells that would otherwise fail to be active participants in the immune response, potentially allowing new parts of invading viruses to be recognized, thus increasing protective immunity." Lead author Dr. Alexandra Dvorscek said most vaccines offered specificity and strength, but it was often difficult to achieve breadth.
"When you have viruses like influenza or SARS-CoV-2, which can vary significantly from year to year or even shorter time periods, and can cause significant harm, we need that broad-spectrum recognition and response," Dr. Dvorscek said. One str.