Influenza virus antigens and varicella-zoster virus antigens

Influenza virus antigens and varicella-zoster virus (VZV) antigens are viral proteins utilized as immunogens in vaccine formulations to prevent respiratory and neurological infections. Influenza antigens primarily consist of hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA), which are surface glycoproteins critical for the viral life cycle and are the main targets of the seasonal vaccine-induced immune response (CDC, 2023). VZV antigens, most notably glycoprotein E (gE), are the focus of recombinant vaccines aimed at preventing herpes zoster (shingles) by boosting VZV-specific T-cell immunity in older or immunocompromised adults (Oxman et al., 2005). These antigens are not pharmacological targets in the traditional sense, as they are not host molecules modulated by small molecules or therapeutic antibodies; instead, they are the active substances that train the host immune system to recognize and neutralize the actual pathogens (WHO, 2022). Their clinical significance lies in their ability to establish long-term immunological memory, thereby reducing the incidence of influenza-related complications and post-herpetic neuralgia (Grohskopf et al., 2023).

Other names

Flu and VZV vaccine antigensInfluenza and Varicella-Zoster immunogensHemagglutinin and NeuraminidaseVZV Glycoprotein E

These antigens serve as the primary components of vaccines designed to elicit protective immunity. Influenza antigens, specifically hemagglutinin (HA), mediate viral binding to sialic acid receptors on host cells, while neuraminidase (NA) facilitates the release of new virions; vaccines induce antibodies that neutralize these functions (CDC, 2023). Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) antigens, such as glycoprotein E (gE), are essential for viral replication and cell-to-cell spread, and are used in recombinant vaccines to stimulate both humoral and robust cell-mediated immune responses to prevent viral reactivation (Oxman et al., 2005).