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Journals
Vaccines
Special Issues
State-of-the-Art Vaccine Researches
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State-of-the-Art Vaccine Researches

A special issue of Vaccines (ISSN 2076-393X).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (1 November 2024) | Viewed by 32796

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Omar Rossi
*
E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), Vaccines Institute for Global Health S.R.L. (GVGH), Siena, Italy
Interests: vaccines; immunoassays; immunology; serology
* Acting as guest editor in our private capacity.
Dr. Gianmarco Gasperini
*
E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), Vaccines Institute for Global Health S.R.L. (GVGH), Siena, Italy
Interests: vaccines; molecular biology; microbiology
* Acting as guest editor in our private capacity.
Dr. Carlos Giannelli
*
E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), Vaccines Institute for Global Health S.R.L. (GVGH), Siena, Italy
Interests: vaccines; chemistry; analytical development
* Acting as guest editor in our private capacity.

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Over the the last years, also triggered by the unprecedented public health needs caused by the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, there has been a renewed interest in different vaccine technologies, and several platforms have been tested in humans and have been immunologically characterised in depth. Indeed vaccines based on the mRNA technology took the center of the scene and represented a game changer for the speed of response to pandemic, however several question marks remain in regards to durability of response and breadth of applicability to bacterial targets. In parellel, extensive and fast growing knowledge was established for novel platforms like protein nanoparticles and viral vectors for DNA delivery as well as for more traditional ones like recombinant proteins and glycoconjugates. Finally, innovative adjuvant systems and alternative delivery were largely investigated to improve the magnitude and quality of the immune response induced by vaccination.

To achieve a more extensive understanding of the progresses made in the vaccine field, this special issue is focused on recent scientific knowledge and current state of the art technologies. Based on your extensive experience, we invite you to contribute with an original research article, report, observation or review, to highlight (i) novel data obtained with state of the art technologies, (ii) comparision of different vaccine platforms in terms of the resulting immunogenicity, (iii) innovative combination of vaccine antigens in high-valency formulations, and (iv) strategies to maximize immune responses against vaccine targets through alternative delivery and adjuvant systems.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Omar Rossi
Dr. Gianmarco Gasperini
Dr. Carlos Giannelli
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Vaccines is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • vaccines
  • platforms
  • immunogenicity
  • delivery systsems

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Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

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10 pages, 324 KiB  
Article
Improvement of the qmosRT-PCR Assay and Its Application for the Detection and Quantitation of the Three Serotypes of the Novel Oral Polio Vaccine in Stool Samples
by Hasmik Manukyan, Erman Tritama, Rahnuma Wahid, Jennifer Anstadt, John Konz, Konstantin Chumakov and Majid Laassri
Vaccines 2023, 11(11), 1729; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines11111729 - 19 Nov 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1744
Abstract
Recently, genetically stable novel OPVs (nOPV) were developed by modifying the genomes of Sabin viruses of conventional OPVs to reduce the risk of reversion to neurovirulence and therefore the risk of generating circulating vaccine-derived polioviruses. There is a need for specific and sensitive [...] Read more.
Recently, genetically stable novel OPVs (nOPV) were developed by modifying the genomes of Sabin viruses of conventional OPVs to reduce the risk of reversion to neurovirulence and therefore the risk of generating circulating vaccine-derived polioviruses. There is a need for specific and sensitive methods for the identification and quantification of nOPV viruses individually and in mixtures for clinical trials and potentially for manufacturing quality control and environmental surveillance. In this communication, we evaluated and improved the quantitative multiplex one-step reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (qmosRT-PCR) assay for the identification and quantification of nOPV viruses in samples with different formulations and virus concentrations and in virus-spiked stool samples. The assay was able to specifically identify at least 1 log10 CCID50/mL of each serotype in the presence of the two other serotypes at high concentrations (6–7 log10 CCID50/mL) in the same sample. In addition, the lowest viral concentration that the assay was able to detect in stool samples was 17 CCID50/mL for nOPV1 and nOPV2 viruses and 6 CCID50/mL for nOPV3. We also found high correlation between the expected and observed (by qmosRT-PCR) concentrations of spiked viruses in stool samples for all three nOPV viruses, with R-squared values above 0.95. The analysis of samples collected from an nOPV2 clinical trial showed that 100% of poliovirus type 2 was detected and few samples showed the presence of type 1 and 3 residuals from previous vaccinations with bOPV (at least 4 weeks prior vaccination with nOPV2), confirming the high sensitivity of the method. The qmosRT-PCR was specific and sensitive for the simultaneous identification and quantification of all three nOPV viruses. It can be used as an identity test during the nOPV manufacturing process and in evaluation of virus excretion in nOPV clinical trials. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art Vaccine Researches)
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19 pages, 515 KiB  
Article
The Association between Influenza Vaccine and Risk of Chronic Kidney Disease/Dialysis in Patients with Hypertension
by Wen-Rui Hao, Tsung-Lin Yang, Yu-Hsin Lai, Kuan-Jie Lin, Yu-Ann Fang, Ming-Yao Chen, Min-Huei Hsu, Chun-Chih Chiu, Tsung-Yeh Yang, Chun-Chao Chen and Ju-Chi Liu
Vaccines 2023, 11(6), 1098; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines11061098 - 14 Jun 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2415
Abstract
Backgrounds: Influenza vaccination could decrease the risk of major cardiac events in patients with hypertension. However, the vaccine’s effects on decreasing the risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD) development in such patients remain unclear. Methods: We retrospectively analysed the data of 37,117 patients [...] Read more.
Backgrounds: Influenza vaccination could decrease the risk of major cardiac events in patients with hypertension. However, the vaccine’s effects on decreasing the risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD) development in such patients remain unclear. Methods: We retrospectively analysed the data of 37,117 patients with hypertension (≥55 years old) from the National Health Insurance Research Database during 1 January 2001 to 31 December 2012. After a 1:1 propensity score matching by the year of diagnosis, we divided the patients into vaccinated (n = 15,961) and unvaccinated groups (n = 21,156). Results: In vaccinated group, significantly higher prevalence of comorbidities such as diabetes, cerebrovascular disease, dyslipidemia, heart and liver disease were observed compared with unvaccinated group. After adjusting age, sex, comorbidities, medications (anti-hypertensive agents, metformin, aspirin and statin), level of urbanization and monthly incomes, significantly lower risk of CKD occurrence was observed among vaccinated patients in influenza season, non-influenza season and all season (Adjusted hazard ratio [aHR]: 0.39, 95% confidence level [C.I.]: 0.33–0.46; 0.38, 95% C.I.: 0.31–0.45; 0.38, 95% C.I.: 0.34–0.44, respectively). The risk of hemodialysis significantly decreased after vaccination (aHR: 0.40, 95% C.I.: 0.30–0.53; 0.42, 95% C.I.: 0.31–0.57; 0.41, 95% C.I.: 0.33–0.51, during influenza season, non-influenza season and all season). In sensitivity analysis, patients with different sex, elder and non-elder age, with or without comorbidities and with or without medications had significant decreased risk of CKD occurrence and underwent hemodialysis after vaccination. Moreover, the potential protective effect appeared to be dose-dependent. Conclusions: Influenza vaccination decreases the risk of CKD among patients with hypertension and also decrease the risk of receiving renal replacement therapy. Its potential protective effects are dose-dependent and persist during both influenza and noninfluenza seasons. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art Vaccine Researches)
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19 pages, 3031 KiB  
Article
Development and Evaluation of Recombinant B-Cell Multi-Epitopes of PDHA1 and GAPDH as Subunit Vaccines against Streptococcus iniae Infection in Flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus)
by Xiuzhen Sheng, Honghua Zhang, Min Liu, Xiaoqian Tang, Jing Xing, Heng Chi and Wenbin Zhan
Vaccines 2023, 11(3), 624; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines11030624 - 10 Mar 2023
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2674
Abstract
Streptococcus iniae is a severe Gram-positive pathogen that can infect a wide range of freshwater and marine fish species. In continuation of our earlier studies on the development of S. iniae vaccine candidates, pyruvate dehydrogenase E1 subunit alpha (PDHA1) and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) [...] Read more.
Streptococcus iniae is a severe Gram-positive pathogen that can infect a wide range of freshwater and marine fish species. In continuation of our earlier studies on the development of S. iniae vaccine candidates, pyruvate dehydrogenase E1 subunit alpha (PDHA1) and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) were highly efficacious in protecting flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) against S. iniae. In the present study, to investigate the potential of multi-epitope vaccination strategy to prevent flounder against S. iniae infection, the liner B-cell epitopes of PDHA1 and GAPDH proteins were predicted using a bioinformatics approach and were identified by immunoassay, and recombinant B-cell multi-epitopes of PDHA1 and GAPDH (rMEPIP and rMEPIG) containing immunodominant epitope-concentrated domains were expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) and were used as a subunit vaccine to immunize healthy flounder, while recombinant PDHA1 (rPDHA1), GAPDH (rGAPDH) and formalin-inactivated S. iniae (FKC) served as controls. Then, the immunoprotection efficacy of rMEPIP and rMEPIG was evaluated by determining the percentages of CD4-1+, CD4-2+, CD8β+ T lymphocytes and surface-IgM-positive (sIgM+) lymphocytes in peripheral blood leucocytes (PBLs), spleen leucocytes (SPLs) and head kidney leucocytes (HKLs), as well as total IgM, specific IgM, and relative percentage survival (RPS) post immunization, respectively. It was found that fish immunized with rPDHA1, rGAPDH, rMEPIP, rMEPIG and FKC showed significant increases in sIgM+, CD4-1+, CD4-2+, and CD8β+ lymphocytes and production of total IgM and specific IgM against S. iniae or recombinant proteins rPDHA1 and rGAPDH, which indicated the activation of humoral and cellular immune responses after vaccination. Moreover, RPS rate of the multi-epitope vaccine rMEPIP and rMEPIG groups reached 74.07% and 77.78%, higher than that of rPDHA1 and rGAPDH (62.96% and 66.67%) and KFC (48.15%). These results demonstrated that B-cell multi-epitope protein vaccination, rMEPIP and rMEPIG, could give a better protective effect against S. iniae infection, which provided a promising strategy to design the efficient vaccine in teleost fish. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art Vaccine Researches)
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17 pages, 5949 KiB  
Article
Maturation of Aluminium Adsorbed Antigens Contributes to the Creation of Homogeneous Vaccine Formulations
by Donatello Laera, Camilla Scarpellini, Simona Tavarini, Barbara Baudner, Agnese Marcelli, Carlo Pergola, Malte Meppen and Derek T. O’Hagan
Vaccines 2023, 11(1), 155; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines11010155 - 11 Jan 2023
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3380
Abstract
Although aluminium-based vaccines have been used for almost over a century, their mechanism of action remains unclear. It is established that antigen adsorption to the adjuvant facilitates delivery of the antigen to immune cells at the injection site. To further increase our understanding [...] Read more.
Although aluminium-based vaccines have been used for almost over a century, their mechanism of action remains unclear. It is established that antigen adsorption to the adjuvant facilitates delivery of the antigen to immune cells at the injection site. To further increase our understanding of aluminium-based vaccines, it is important to gain additional insights on the interactions between the aluminium and antigens, including antigen distribution over the adjuvant particles. Immuno-assays can further help in this regard. In this paper, we evaluated how established formulation strategies (i.e., sequential, competitive, and separate antigen addition) applied to four different antigens and aluminium oxyhydroxide, lead to formulation changes over time. Results showed that all formulation samples were stable, and that no significant changes were observed in terms of physical-chemical properties. Antigen distribution across the bulk aluminium population, however, did show a maturation effect, with some initial dependence on the formulation approach and the antigen adsorption strength. Sequential and competitive approaches displayed similar results in terms of the homogeneity of antigen distribution across aluminium particles, while separately adsorbed antigens were initially more highly poly-dispersed. Nevertheless, the formulation sample prepared via separate adsorption also reached homogeneity according to each antigen adsorption strength. This study indicated that antigen distribution across aluminium particles is a dynamic feature that evolves over time, which is initially influenced by the formulation approach and the specific adsorption strength, but ultimately leads to homogeneous formulations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art Vaccine Researches)
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Review

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29 pages, 15511 KiB  
Review
Updated Considerations for the Immunopharmacological Aspects of the “Talented mRNA Vaccines”
by Cristiana Perrotta, Claudio Fenizia, Carla Carnovale, Marco Pozzi, Daria Trabattoni, Davide Cervia and Emilio Clementi
Vaccines 2023, 11(9), 1481; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines11091481 - 12 Sep 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3197
Abstract
Messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines belong to a new class of medications, RNA therapeutics, including both coding and non-coding RNAs. The use of mRNA as a therapy is based on the biological role of mRNA itself, namely its translation into a functional protein. The [...] Read more.
Messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines belong to a new class of medications, RNA therapeutics, including both coding and non-coding RNAs. The use of mRNA as a therapy is based on the biological role of mRNA itself, namely its translation into a functional protein. The goal of mRNA vaccines is to produce a specific antigen in cells to elicit an immune response that might be prophylactic or therapeutic. The potential of mRNA as vaccine has been envisaged for years but its efficacy has been clearly demonstrated with the approval of COVID-19 vaccines in 2021. Since then, mRNA vaccines have been in the pipeline for diseases that are still untreatable. There are many advantages of mRNA vaccines over traditional vaccines, including easy and cost-effective production, high safety, and high-level antigen expression. However, the nature of mRNA itself and some technical issues pose challenges associated with the vaccines’ development and use. Here we review the immunological and pharmacological features of mRNA vaccines by discussing their pharmacokinetics, mechanisms of action, and safety, with a particular attention on the advantages and challenges related to their administration. Furthermore, we present an overview of the areas of application and the clinical trials that utilize a mRNA vaccine as a treatment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art Vaccine Researches)
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17 pages, 342 KiB  
Review
Plant Viruses as Adjuvants for Next-Generation Vaccines and Immunotherapy
by Nikolai Nikitin, Yuri Vasiliev, Angelina Kovalenko, Ekaterina Ryabchevskaya, Olga Kondakova, Ekaterina Evtushenko and Olga Karpova
Vaccines 2023, 11(8), 1372; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines11081372 - 16 Aug 2023
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2692
Abstract
Vaccines are the cornerstone of infectious disease control and prevention. The outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 has confirmed the urgent need for a new approach to the design of novel vaccines. Plant viruses and their derivatives are being used increasingly for the development of new [...] Read more.
Vaccines are the cornerstone of infectious disease control and prevention. The outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 has confirmed the urgent need for a new approach to the design of novel vaccines. Plant viruses and their derivatives are being used increasingly for the development of new medical and biotechnological applications, and this is reflected in a number of preclinical and clinical studies. Plant viruses have a unique combination of features (biosafety, low reactogenicity, inexpensiveness and ease of production, etc.), which determine their potential. This review presents the latest data on the use of plant viruses with different types of symmetry as vaccine components and adjuvants in cancer immunotherapy. The discussion concludes that the most promising approaches might be those that use structurally modified plant viruses (spherical particles) obtained from the Tobacco mosaic virus. These particles combine high adsorption properties (as a carrier) with strong immunogenicity, as has been confirmed using various antigens in animal models. According to current research, it is evident that plant viruses have great potential for application in the development of vaccines and in cancer immunotherapy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art Vaccine Researches)
24 pages, 2999 KiB  
Review
CMC Strategies and Advanced Technologies for Vaccine Development to Boost Acceleration and Pandemic Preparedness
by Maria Monica Castellanos, Hervé Gressard, Xiangming Li, Claudia Magagnoli, Alessio Moriconi, Daniela Stranges, Laurent Strodiot, Monica Tello Soto, Magdalena Zwierzyna and Cristiana Campa
Vaccines 2023, 11(7), 1153; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines11071153 - 26 Jun 2023
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 5546
Abstract
This review reports on an overview of key enablers of acceleration/pandemic and preparedness, covering CMC strategies as well as technical innovations in vaccine development. Considerations are shared on implementation hurdles and opportunities to drive sustained acceleration for vaccine development and considers learnings from [...] Read more.
This review reports on an overview of key enablers of acceleration/pandemic and preparedness, covering CMC strategies as well as technical innovations in vaccine development. Considerations are shared on implementation hurdles and opportunities to drive sustained acceleration for vaccine development and considers learnings from the COVID pandemic and direct experience in addressing unmet medical needs. These reflections focus on (i) the importance of a cross-disciplinary framework of technical expectations ranging from target antigen identification to launch and life-cycle management; (ii) the use of prior platform knowledge across similar or products/vaccine types; (iii) the implementation of innovation and digital tools for fast development and innovative control strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art Vaccine Researches)
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25 pages, 1941 KiB  
Review
Carriers and Antigens: New Developments in Glycoconjugate Vaccines
by Robert M.F. van der Put, Bernard Metz and Roland J. Pieters
Vaccines 2023, 11(2), 219; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines11020219 - 19 Jan 2023
Cited by 20 | Viewed by 8390
Abstract
Glycoconjugate vaccines have proven their worth in the protection and prevention of infectious diseases. The introduction of the Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine is the prime example, followed by other glycoconjugate vaccines. Glycoconjugate vaccines consist of two components: the carrier protein and the [...] Read more.
Glycoconjugate vaccines have proven their worth in the protection and prevention of infectious diseases. The introduction of the Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine is the prime example, followed by other glycoconjugate vaccines. Glycoconjugate vaccines consist of two components: the carrier protein and the carbohydrate antigen. Current carrier proteins are tetanus toxoid, diphtheria toxoid, CRM197, Haemophilus protein D and the outer membrane protein complex of serogroup B meningococcus. Carbohydrate antigens have been produced mainly by extraction and purification from the original host. However, current efforts show great advances in the development of synthetically produced oligosaccharides and bioconjugation. This review evaluates the advances of glycoconjugate vaccines in the last five years. We focus on developments regarding both new carriers and antigens. Innovative developments regarding carriers are outer membrane vesicles, glycoengineered proteins, new carrier proteins, virus-like particles, protein nanocages and peptides. With regard to conjugated antigens, we describe recent developments in the field of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and ESKAPE pathogens. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art Vaccine Researches)
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Other

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17 pages, 1774 KiB  
Systematic Review
Safety, Immunogenicity, and Efficacy of Cytomegalovirus Vaccines: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials
by Manuela Chiavarini, Anita Genga, Giorgia Maria Ricciotti, Marcello Mario D’Errico and Pamela Barbadoro
Vaccines 2025, 13(1), 85; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines13010085 - 17 Jan 2025
Viewed by 1355
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is widespread and mostly causes asymptomatic infections in immunocompetent hosts, but it may lead to severe and life-threatening diseases in immunocompromised individuals, such as transplant patients and congenitally infected children, representing a significant public health concern. Although there are no [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is widespread and mostly causes asymptomatic infections in immunocompetent hosts, but it may lead to severe and life-threatening diseases in immunocompromised individuals, such as transplant patients and congenitally infected children, representing a significant public health concern. Although there are no licensed CMV vaccines, the development of a CMV vaccine is considered a high priority due to its potential to reduce the burden associated with CMV-related complications, and several approaches are under investigation. The objective of this systematic review was to synthesize the evidence on various CMV vaccines currently under clinical development. Methods: According to the PRISMA guidelines (PROSPERO ID: CRD42024516601), a comprehensive literature search was conducted to identify all the randomized controlled trials that have evaluated the safety, immunogenicity, and efficacy of vaccine candidates compared to a placebo. A total of 26 studies were identified: 11 on transplant patients and 15 on healthy individuals. Results: Several vaccine candidates have shown encouraging results in terms of safety and specific immune responses, notably adjuvanted gB vaccines and DNA vaccines targeting gB and pp65. The results were divided into RCTs on healthy individuals and those on transplant recipients, because the CMV-specific immune response to a vaccine is complex and varies depending not only on the type of vaccine, but also on the immunological status of the individual. Conclusions: Challenges remain in achieving broad efficacy across diverse populations, particularly for immunocompromised patients. Thus, the present work seeks to support future decisions and guide further research in the development of an effective and widely available CMV vaccine. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue State-of-the-Art Vaccine Researches)
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