Chapter 1
Vaccine Delivery and Immune Response Basics
Andrew Hill, Marie Beitelshees, and Blaine A. Pfeifer
Abstract
In this opening chapter, we outline the basics of vaccine delivery and subsequent immune reactivity. Vaccine
delivery is an augmentation to immunization more generally in that a delivery reagent is harnessed to
improve administration of the key ingredient (i.e., the antigen) needed to provoke an immune response. In
this chapter, we discuss the evolution of vaccine design and how such efforts evolved into targeted
administration/delivery of key antigens. We then provide overview descriptions of vaccine immune
responses and methods for assessment. More generally, the chapter sets the tone for the remainder of this
book, which will focus upon each step of the vaccine process with a special emphasis on how vaccine delivery
contributes to overall health outcomes.
Key words Vaccine, Antigen, Adjuvant, Antigen-presenting cell, Humoral response, Cellular
response
1 Introduction to Vaccination
Vaccines represent one of the greatest medical achievements in the
history of mankind due to the role they have played in preventing
disease. Since their introduction, vaccines have significantly curtailed various diseases such as small pox, diphtheria, polio, measles,
pneumococcal disease, and so on in countries such as the USA (see
Table 1) [1]. The reduction of many of these disease cases have
been achieved through the implementation of pediatric regimens
against such pathogens [1]. Furthermore, vaccines are useful within
the broader population to reduce the burden associated with diseases caused by pathogens such as the influenza virus, shingles, and
the human papillomavirus (HPV). In addition, vaccines against
diseases such as yellow fever are available to provide protection to
individuals during travel. The primary benefit that is realized from
vaccination is that it provides a prophylaxis against potentially
deadly diseases, rather than treating the diseases as they occur.
These benefits can be enhanced through the achievement of a
phenomena known as herd immunity, in which vaccination of a
Blaine A. Pfeifer and Andrew Hill (eds.), Vaccine Delivery Technology: Methods and Protocols, Methods in Molecular Biology,
vol. 2183, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-0795-4_1, © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2021
1
Vaccine Delivery and Immune Response Basics
Andrew Hill, Marie Beitelshees, and Blaine A. Pfeifer
Abstract
In this opening chapter, we outline the basics of vaccine delivery and subsequent immune reactivity. Vaccine
delivery is an augmentation to immunization more generally in that a delivery reagent is harnessed to
improve administration of the key ingredient (i.e., the antigen) needed to provoke an immune response. In
this chapter, we discuss the evolution of vaccine design and how such efforts evolved into targeted
administration/delivery of key antigens. We then provide overview descriptions of vaccine immune
responses and methods for assessment. More generally, the chapter sets the tone for the remainder of this
book, which will focus upon each step of the vaccine process with a special emphasis on how vaccine delivery
contributes to overall health outcomes.
Key words Vaccine, Antigen, Adjuvant, Antigen-presenting cell, Humoral response, Cellular
response
1 Introduction to Vaccination
Vaccines represent one of the greatest medical achievements in the
history of mankind due to the role they have played in preventing
disease. Since their introduction, vaccines have significantly curtailed various diseases such as small pox, diphtheria, polio, measles,
pneumococcal disease, and so on in countries such as the USA (see
Table 1) [1]. The reduction of many of these disease cases have
been achieved through the implementation of pediatric regimens
against such pathogens [1]. Furthermore, vaccines are useful within
the broader population to reduce the burden associated with diseases caused by pathogens such as the influenza virus, shingles, and
the human papillomavirus (HPV). In addition, vaccines against
diseases such as yellow fever are available to provide protection to
individuals during travel. The primary benefit that is realized from
vaccination is that it provides a prophylaxis against potentially
deadly diseases, rather than treating the diseases as they occur.
These benefits can be enhanced through the achievement of a
phenomena known as herd immunity, in which vaccination of a
Blaine A. Pfeifer and Andrew Hill (eds.), Vaccine Delivery Technology: Methods and Protocols, Methods in Molecular Biology,
vol. 2183, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-0795-4_1, © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2021
1