Influenza B: Prospects for the Development of Cross-Protective Vaccines

Abstract

In this review, we analyze the epidemiological and ecological features of influenza B, one of the most common and severe respiratory infections. The review presents various strategies for cross-protective influenza B vaccine development, including recombinant viruses, virus-like particles, and recombinant proteins. We provide an overview of viral proteins as cross-protective vaccine targets, along with other updated broadly protective vaccine strategies. The importance of developing such vaccines lies not only in influenza B prevention, but also in the very attractive prospect of eradicating the influenza B virus in the human population.