Investigations of Influenza Vaccination in Kidney and Lung Transplant Populations

• Author / Creator

  Bergeron, Amber

• These two studies investigate the immune responses of lung and kidney transplant recipients to the influenza vaccine. The study involving kidney transplant recipients developed a novel flow cytometry assay to measure cell-mediated immunity in response to influenza vaccination. The activation of T-cells was assessed through the change in T-cell production of interferon gamma after vaccination. In lung transplant recipients, the study examined the formation of de novo anti-HLA antibodies following influenza vaccination. Anti-HLA antibodies were classified as donor-specific or not. The study in kidney transplant recipients found that the influenza vaccine is effective at stimulating the immune response and producing long-lived memory in these patients, as evidenced by high baseline T-cell activity. The study of lung transplant recipients found that receiving the influenza vaccine did not result in the production of anti-HLA antibodies. Both studies found vaccine to be safe for use in these populations.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Lung Transplant
  • Kidney Transplant
  • Influenza
  • Cell-mediatied Immunity
  • Anti-HLA antibody
  • Vaccinations
  • Transplant

• Graduation date

  Spring 2010

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Master of Science

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R39H2K

• License

  This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.