For years, scientists have puzzled over why some vaccines provide lifelong protection, such as those for measles or mumps, while others, such as flu vaccineNeeds to be administered annually. A groundbreaking study may now have an answer and a possible solution to predicting how long a vaccine will remain effective.

Unraveling the mystery of vaccine durability

A team of researchers led by Dr. Bali Pulendran, professor of microbiology and immunology at Stanford Medicine, has identified a molecular signature in blood that can predict vaccine durability. The discovery could revolutionize vaccine science, paving the way for personalized vaccine schedules.

“Our study defines a molecular signature in induced blood within days of vaccination that predicts the durability of vaccine responses and provides insight into the fundamental mechanisms underlying vaccine durability,” Pulendran explained in a news release.

Role of blood cells in vaccine longevity

The research, published in Nature Immunology, shows the important role of a specific type of blood cell called megakaryocytes. These cells are usually involved in blood clotting, but studies show they also affect how long a vaccine remains effective.

Megakaryocytes live in the bone marrow and produce platelets, small cells that help with clotting. These platelets carry genetic material from megakaryocytes, which, as it turns out, plays a role in maintaining antibody production for months or years after vaccination.

“What we learned was that platelets are a signal for what’s happening with megakaryocytes in the bone marrow,” Pulendran said.

the study

The researchers tested their findings on 50 participants who received an experimental H5N1 bird flu vaccine. Some participants were given the vaccine alone, while others were given it with an adjuvant – a substance designed to boost the immune response.

Over more than 100 days, the team analyzed blood samples, tracking genes, proteins and antibodies involved in the immune response. They identified a pattern in platelets that was linked to the strength of antibody production and longevity.

To confirm the role of megakaryocytes, researchers gave mice the bird flu vaccine with a drug called thrombopoietin, which increases megakaryocyte activation. The result was a sixfold increase in antibody levels within two months, suggesting that megakaryocytes create a supportive environment for antibody-producing cells in the bone marrow.

a wide application

The researchers expanded their study to include data from nearly 250 people who received various vaccines, including seasonal flu, yellow fever, malaria and COVID-19. They found that similar megakaryocyte activation patterns were associated with long-lasting antibody responses across all seven vaccines.

Dr. Petter Brodin, a pediatrician at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden, commented on the significance of these findings in an editorial. “This raises the attractive possibility of developing a practical tool to predict the longevity of immune responses during vaccine development and clinical trials,” they wrote.

Towards personalized vaccination plans

The implications of this research could be far-reaching. Scientists aim to develop a simple blood test that can predict how long a vaccine will remain effective on a person. This will allow tailored vaccination schedules, ensuring that boosters are only given when necessary.

“We can develop a simple PCR assay – a vaccine chip – that measures gene expression levels in the blood a few days after someone is vaccinated,” Pulendran said. “This can help us identify who may need a booster and when.”

next steps

The research team plans to find out why some vaccines stimulate higher levels of megakaryocyte activation than others. Understanding this could help scientists design more powerful and longer-lasting vaccines.

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