Inducing broad-based immunity against viruses with pandemic potential.

The brutal toll of another viral pandemic can be blunted by investing now in research that uncovers mechanisms of broad-based immunity so we may have vaccines and therapeutics at the ready. We do not know exactly what pathogen may trigger the next wave or next pandemic. We do know, however, that the human immune system must respond and must be bolstered with effective vaccines and other therapeutics to preserve lives and livelihoods. These countermeasures must focus on features conserved among families of pathogens in order to be responsive against something yet to emerge. Here, we focus on immunological approaches to mitigate the impact of the next emerging virus pandemic by developing vaccines that elicit both broadly protective antibodies and T cells. Identifying human immune mechanisms of broad protection against virus families with pandemic potential will be our best defense for humanity in the future. Saphire and Sette discuss potential approaches for vaccine development against the broad array of SARS-CoV-2 variants and other viruses of pandemic potential. Approaches that elicit both humoral and cellular responses are considered and are expected to be synergistic with each other, providing humanity with the best chance to defend against the next pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]