Targeting intracellular signaling: a novel approach to vaccination

Abstract

Vaccination is well known to control many current infectious diseases. However, the development of cellular (Th1) immunity to control viral pathogens, among others, requires the development of new vaccine adjuvants. The use of Toll-like receptor ligands or cytokines has shown much promise, although specificity and toxicity are issues with these strategies. Targeting intracellular signaling pathways may allow for greater specificity of the adjuvant, as well as reducing systemic toxicity. Studies targeting these pathways are discussed, as well as their potential applications in the future.

Keywords::

• intracellular signaling
• MyD88
• nuclear factor-κB
• nuclear factor-κB-inducing kinase
• SOCS1
• TRIF
• vaccine adjuvant

Financial & competing interests disclosure

M Feldmann holds a vaccine patent involving NF-κB activation. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.