One possible answer lies in innate immunity, the body’s first line of defense. Unlike adaptive immunity, which learns to recognize specific targets, innate immunity can respond to threats without prior exposure. Some studies have shown that certain stimuli can leave innate immune cells more responsive through a phenomenon called trained immunity. However, questions remain about how long this protection can last and which cells are responsible for maintaining it in the respiratory tract.
To bridge these knowledge gaps, a research team led by professor Ken Ishii from the Division of Vaccine Science, Department of Microbiology and Immunology at The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Japan, investigated how the vaccine adjuvant K3-SPG modulates innate immunity. The study was co-authored by Ph.D. candidate Asuka Joy Tobuse of The University of Tokyo and associate project scientist Kouji Kobiyama of the University of California San Diego, U.S., formerly a member of Ishii’s laboratory at The University of Tokyo.