Why do adenovirus vaccine vectors have limited utility?
A) Adenoviruses are small and cannot incorporate large numbers of genes from other viruses.
B) Most humans have preexisting antibodies that neutralize the vector before it can reach target tissue.
C) The immune response is weaker because the vector displays antigens from both the adenovirus and the pathogenic virus, diluting the immune response.
D) If the adenovirus incorporates large numbers of genes from pathogenic viruses, it may lose the ability to infect host tissue and elicit an immune response.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Adenoviruses may be of some use as vectors for carrying antigens of pathogens, but most humans possess preexisting antibodies because of frequent exposure to adenoviruses. Therefore, the preexisting antibodies neutralize the adenovirus and target it for elimination by phagocytosis before a systemic immune response to the new antigens can be mounted. These barriers must be overcome before adenoviruses can be widely used in vaccination.

Why Do Adenovirus Vaccine Vectors Have Limited Utility