Publication: "Expert Rev. Vaccines 9(3), 273-275 (2010):
Meeting Report: (only summary and sections referring to Replikins)
Author: Nigel J Silman ,Research & Development, Health Protection Agency,
Centre for Emergency Preparedness & Response,
Porton Down, Salisbury, SP4 0JG, UK
Tel.: +44 198 061 2863 Fax: +44 198 061 2621 nigel.silman@hpa.org.uk
World Influenza Congress Europe 2009
The Hilton Hotel, Brussels, Belgium, 7–9 December 2009

“The World Influenza conference comprised numerous plenary sessions and some panel discussions. The highlights of the meeting were the novel approaches to vaccine developments, particularly the use of live-attenuated viruses and baculovirus- or bacteriophage-derived virus- like particles as delivery vectors. Improvements in antigenicity have been demonstrated by thoroughly understanding the biology of the influenza virus; in particular, understanding which residues within the hemagglutinin protein correspond with plaque morphology in cell culture. At least two different bioinformatic approaches were discussed for the rationale design of peptide vaccines; these are naturally at a very early stage but data look promising. We were reminded by several presenters that although we were in the midst of a pandemic caused by the H1N1 swine-derived influenza strain, avian influenza strains were still circulating, and some were predicting more widespread infection with these strains in the future. --------

“Universal vaccines
In this session, approaches towards universal vaccines for influenza were discussed. These approaches would obviously overcome the seasonal decision-making and manufacturing round which we currently have as they could potentially lead to multistrain, multiseasonal vaccines, which would not be produced in embryonated
eggs and, hence, would not give rise to problems with those who suffer from egg allergies.” ----------
----------- “ Sam Bogoch (Replikins, MA, USA) presented a different bio informatic approach to design of peptide vaccines. Their algorithm identifies peptides between seven and 50 amino acids long that are involved in rapid replication. These sequences always contain two lysine residues approximately seven to ten amino acids apart and, when synthesized into peptide vaccines, are found to be effective. Influenza peptides are ready for efficacy testing in animal models. The same technology is also being used as a marker for emerging strains of influenza; the Replikins prediction is that H1N1 is on the decline whilst H5N1 has not gone away yet.
----------------- Other notable advances in universal and different vaccine technology were described --------”

Keywords: adjuvants. infectious disease. influenza. therapeutics. vaccines
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