Exploring local immune responses to vaccines using efferent lymphatic cannulation

Abstract

The early stages of the induction of a primary immune response to a vaccine can shape the overall quality of the immune memory generated and hence affect the success of the vaccine. This early interaction between a vaccine and the immune system occurs first at the site of vaccination and can be explored using afferent cannulation. Subsequently, the vaccine and adjuvant activates the local draining lymph node. These interactions can be studied in real time in vivo using efferent lymphatic duct cannulation in large animal models and are the subject of this review. Depending on how the vaccine is delivered, the draining lymph nodes of different organs can be accessed, facilitating the testing o..