virosomal influenza vaccine

The virosomal influenza vaccine is a type of inactivated subunit vaccine that uses virosomes—virus-like particles derived from the influenza virus envelope—as a delivery system. Virosomes are unilamellar phospholipid vesicles incorporating viral glycoproteins hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA), but lack the genetic material required for replication, making them non-infectious[1][2][3]. The presence of HA and NA on the surface allows these vaccines to mimic natural viral entry into antigen-presenting cells, enhancing immunogenicity compared to traditional split or subunit vaccines[2][5]. Virosomal vaccines can induce both humoral and cellular immune responses by facilitating antigen delivery into the cytosol of dendritic cells and other APCs, leading to antibody production as well as cytotoxic T lymphocyte activation[2]. They are biodegradable, biocompatible, and have been used in marketed products such as Inflexal V for seasonal flu prevention. The technology has also been applied to other pathogens.

Brand names

Inflexal V

Other names

virosome-based influenza vaccinevirosomal trivalent influenza vaccine