Novel Viral Vaccine and Molecular Immunology

A special issue of Vaccines (ISSN 2076-393X). This special issue belongs to the section "Cellular/Molecular Immunology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2025 | Viewed by 2258

Special Issue Editor

1. Research Unit of Key Technologies for Prevention and Control of Virus Zoonoses, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Changchun 130122, China
2. Changchun Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun 130122, China
Interests: viral infection and immunity; viral–host interaction; viral diagnosis; viral vaccine
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Viral infections pose a serious threat to public health, and vaccines are the most effective and affordable measures to control them. New technologies and vaccines are being developed, including DNA vaccines, mRNA vaccines, multi-epitope vaccines, synthetic peptide vaccines, vaccines targeting dendritic cells, and mucosal vaccines. However, safety, effectiveness, controllability, and cost remain concerns, and the continuous mutation of viruses is an ongoing challenge. We welcome your latest research on developing novel technologies and vaccines against viral infections, including clinical trials, molecular immunology, and new strategies. Research areas include designing and evaluating vaccines, developing universal vaccines, identifying immunogen targets of viruses, developing new tools for predicting antigens and their application and studying the immune mechanism of vaccines, especially mucosal vaccines.

Dr. Chang Li
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • viral infectious diseases
  • novel vaccines
  • immune mechanism

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

17 pages, 1527 KiB  
Article
Intranasal Immunization with DNA Vaccine HA-CCL19/Polyethylenimine/Chitosan Composite Provides Immune Protection Against H7N9 Infection
by Yuqing Xiang, Hongbo Zhang, Youcai An and Ze Chen
Vaccines 2025, 13(1), 10; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines13010010 - 26 Dec 2024
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Abstract
Background/Objectives: The H7N9 avian influenza virus (AIV) constitutes a novel subtype of influenza virus that has emerged within the past decade. Empirical studies have demonstrated that H7N9 AIV holds the potential to trigger a human pandemic. Vaccines constitute the sole armament available to [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: The H7N9 avian influenza virus (AIV) constitutes a novel subtype of influenza virus that has emerged within the past decade. Empirical studies have demonstrated that H7N9 AIV holds the potential to trigger a human pandemic. Vaccines constitute the sole armament available to humanity in combating influenza epidemics. DNA vaccines present numerous merits; however, substantial conundrums persist regarding how to augment their immunogenicity and implement their delivery through mucosal immunization. Methods: In this study; BALB/c mice were utilized as a model to investigate the effect of CCL19 as a molecular adjuvant and to determine the immune response elicited by polyethylene imine (PEI) and chitosan (CS) as adjuvants during the delivery of a DNA vaccine through the nasal mucosal route. Results: Our results revealed that the CCL19 molecular adjuvant exerts a substantial immunomodulatory enhancement effect on the H7N9-HA DNA vaccine, inducing more pronounced cellular and humoral immunity. Additionally, our results indicated that the composite formed by the HA-CCL19 DNA in combination with PEI and CS effectively activates local mucosal immunity as well as systemic humoral and cellular immunity, offering 100% protection against lethal doses of homologous virus challenges. Conclusions: CCL19 conspicuously augments the immunogenicity of the influenza virus HA DNA and conserves the integrity of the vaccine antigen. Simultaneously, CS and PEI proficiently facilitate the mucosal delivery of DNA, thereby eliciting mucosal immunity related to DNA vaccines. This study investigated the feasibility of utilizing nasal mucosa for DNA vaccine immunization, which holds significant implications for the advancement and application of DNA vaccines in public health Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Viral Vaccine and Molecular Immunology)
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14 pages, 2594 KiB  
Article
The Protective Efficacy of a SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Candidate B.1.351V against Several Variant Challenges in K18-hACE2 Mice
by Jie Yang, Huifen Fan, Anna Yang, Wenhui Wang, Xin Wan, Fengjie Lin, Dongsheng Yang, Jie Wu, Kaiwen Wang, Wei Li, Qian Cai, Lei You, Deqin Pang, Jia Lu, Changfu Guo, Jinrong Shi, Yan Sun, Xinguo Li, Kai Duan, Shuo Shen, Shengli Meng, Jing Guo and Zejun Wangadd Show full author list remove Hide full author list
Vaccines 2024, 12(7), 742; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines12070742 - 3 Jul 2024
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Abstract
The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs) with increased transmissibility and partial resistance to neutralization by antibodies has been observed globally. There is an urgent need for an effective vaccine to combat these variants. Our study demonstrated that the B.1.351 variant inactivated [...] Read more.
The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs) with increased transmissibility and partial resistance to neutralization by antibodies has been observed globally. There is an urgent need for an effective vaccine to combat these variants. Our study demonstrated that the B.1.351 variant inactivated vaccine candidate (B.1.351V) generated strong binding and neutralizing antibody responses in BALB/c mice against the B.1.351 virus and other SARS-CoV-2 variants after two doses within 28 days. Immunized K18-hACE2 mice also exhibited elevated levels of live virus-neutralizing antibodies against various SARS-CoV-2 viruses. Following infection with these viruses, K18-hACE2 mice displayed a stable body weight, a high survival rate, minimal virus copies in lung tissue, and no lung damage compared to the control group. These findings indicate that B.1.351V offered protection against infection with multiple SARS-CoV-2 variants in mice, providing insights for the development of a vaccine targeting SARS-CoV-2 VOCs for human use. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Viral Vaccine and Molecular Immunology)
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