In vitro approaches for the evaluation of human vaccines

For many vaccines currently available, every newly produced batch has to be tested in vivo – on animals – to verify its potency. To avoid animal suffering and reduce the variability associated with these tests, we developed assays that could assess the vaccine quality in vitro – using cells.
We showed that these assays can distinguish vaccine batches of high and low quality. The cell-based tests can therefore be used to approve the commercial use of a batch without animal testing. The methods we developed are also highly informative: they allowed us to understand the mechanism through which the investigated vaccines activate the human immune system. A better understanding of the immunological basis of protection can lead us to better vaccines.
These in vitro approaches are therefore beneficial in multiple ways, since they can create a vaccine development and testing environment that is both more effective for humans and less harmful to animals.