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The influence of the gut microbiota on influenza vaccine-induced immunity

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posted on 2021-12-06, 23:24 authored by Mooney, Anna

Currently, annual vaccination is widely considered the most effective method for preventing and controlling influenza virus infection. However, many individuals mount suboptimal immune responses to vaccination and the factors leading to poor immune responses are yet to be elucidated. Interestingly, it has been proposed that microorganisms that inhabit the intestinal tract, the gut microbiota, can profoundly influence many facets of the host immune system, including the strength of the immune response to influenza vaccination.  In line with these observations, we observed that short-term administration of antibiotics drastically reduced influenza vaccine-specific antibody production. In particular, antibiotic treatment diminished the frequency and activation status of multiple myeloid cell subsets in the draining lymph nodes at steady-state and following vaccination, with associated impairments in B and TFH cell responses.  Composition and function of gut microbiota communities can be rapidly altered through dietary changes. Therefore, the impact of potential prebiotic and probiotic nutritional interventions on the immune response to influenza vaccination and subsequent infection was assessed. No improvement in antibody responses to influenza vaccination was observed following the nutritional interventions studies. However, oral administration of a propolis formulation led to some improvement in viral control following infection.  Collectively, this investigation indicates that alterations in microbial-associated signals leads to severe impairments in cellular responses crucial to humoral immunity and subsequent vaccine-induced antibody production. Furthermore, by altering the gut microbiota through dietary interventions, there is potential to improve immune responses to vaccination.

History

Copyright Date

2018-01-01

Date of Award

2018-01-01

Publisher

Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington

Rights License

Author Retains Copyright

Degree Discipline

Immunology

Degree Grantor

Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington

Degree Level

Masters

Degree Name

Master of Biomedical Science

Victoria University of Wellington Unit

Malaghan Institute for Medical Research

ANZSRC Type Of Activity code

2 STRATEGIC BASIC RESEARCH

Victoria University of Wellington Item Type

Awarded Research Masters Thesis

Language

en_NZ

Victoria University of Wellington School

School of Biological Sciences

Advisors

Gasser, Olivier; Forbes Blom, Elizabeth