Mikko

While looking for further information I´ve found this paper: Storni Tazio et al., Immunity in response to particulate antigen-delivery systems. Advanced drug delivery reviews 2005;57(3):333-55. It´s the best I´ve found... Well, unfortunately I have another question (of course it would be nice if you could help me to find the answer): What about boosting: why do some pathogens (like the virus causing measles) induce lifelong immunity while others need one or more so-called "booster immunizations"? What does "fading memory" stands for? Is anything known so far about the mechanisms?

thanks for your answers! 1) sorry, my formulation (or rather the example) was not good enough. what I wanted to say is: of course, you already know the pathogen and the natural way this pathogen enters the host. What I know is that vaccine research has always the goal to find a delivery method that is easy and cheap (pills are easier to applicate to thousands of people than injections for instance). but what if you neglect this fact. what is "the best way" to stimulate the immune system and what are the mechanisms? 2) well, I ve thought of this, but unfortunately its not that easy... an example: I´ve read that there was a dead vaccine (I don´t remember the name, but it was against influenza) which was first produced with an adjuvants and then they ve seen that it also works without adjuvants - does this make sense? It seems like it is not really known in which case one need an adjuvants and in which case not.

Hi, can anyone help me to answer my two questions concerning vaccines? I can´t find any useful scientific review or article where I can find the answer: 1. If you were a scientist and you had to find a vaccine against a particular pathogen: which way of delivery would you choose? I.v., i.m., subcutaneouly, or oral application... does anyone have an overview? And the precise mechanisms behind each particular application?? 2. It seems to be sometimes absolutely essential to use an adjuvant (like alum) to "stimulate" the innate immune system (the toll-like-receptor pathway for example) - BUT: there are also vaccines without any adjuvants; they seem to stimulate the innate IS on their own. WHY? I would be so grateful if someone could help me! Thanks.