Protective role of DNA vaccination and passive immunization against the 1918 pandemic influenza virus

Lessons learnt from the 1918 Spanish influenza pandemic indicate that the world is vulnerable to pandemic viruses and that effective medical countermeasures are urgently needed to protect against future pandemics. The work, as published by Kong and colleagues, involved the use of genetically reconstructed 1918 pandemic virus and is of significant importance for a number of reasons. First, it highlights how advanced technology such as DNA vaccination could provide a modern solution for protection against a historic killer virus, such as the 1918 Spanish flu virus, and second, this paper describes the elucidation of the protective immunity that contributes to neutralization of virus infectivity, and therefore provides insights on the role of humoral and cellular responses in contributing to protective immunity against this virus. Third, it highlights the effectiveness of passive immunization using neutralizing antibody to protect against lethal virus challenge. The scientific information provided in this study is of significant importance in increasing our understanding of the infectivity and immunity of pandemic virus, and may better enhance our ability to prevent and treat future influenza infection caused by pandemic viruses.