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Vaccines
Special Issues
Novel Vaccines and Vaccine Technologies for Emerging Infections
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Novel Vaccines and Vaccine Technologies for Emerging Infections

A special issue of Vaccines (ISSN 2076-393X). This special issue belongs to the section "Vaccines against Tropical and other Infectious Diseases".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2025 | Viewed by 11534

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Wangxue Chen

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Human Health and Therapeutics Research Center (HHT), National Research Council Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada
Interests: antimicrobial resistance; phage therapy; host–pathogen interaction; vaccines; alternatives to antibiotics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Xuguang Li

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Centre for Biologics Evaluation, Biologics and Radiopharmaceutical Drug Directorate, Health Products and Food Branch (HPFB), Health Canada and WHO Collaborating Center for Standardization and Evaluation of Biologicals, Ottawa, ON K1A 0K9, Canada
Interests: immunity
Prof. Dr. Amine A. Kamen

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Bioengineering, McGill University, Montreal, QC H2X 1Y4, Canada
Interests: cell culture engineering; bioprocess optimization and scale-up; process analytical technologies and process control; viral vaccines manufacturing; viral vectors and nanoparticules for gene delivery and vaccination
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Vaccines are one of the most effective medical inventions in modern history and have saved hundreds of millions of lives so far. The rapid development and deployment of vaccines in response to the COVID-19 pandemic have showcased the unprecedented success of vaccines in global public health, security, and prosperity. Vaccination is highly cost-effective in preventing microbial infection and halting its transmission, and also plays a critical role in the efforts to reduce antimicrobial use.

The tremendous global political enthusiasm, research efforts, and financial investment in vaccine development during the COVID-19 pandemic response lead to significant advances in many aspects of vaccine R&D, including novel vaccine platforms and technologies, the rapid development and production of vaccines, and the renewed recognition of the importance of mucosal immunity and vaccination. These advances are likely to accelerate vaccine development and production for future responses to pandemics and emerging infections.

This Special Issue aims to provide a platform for sharing the most recent advances in the development of novel vaccine candidates, platforms, and technologies for combating emerging infections and future pandemics. More specifically, we welcome the contribution of original research articles, reviews, and commentaries that address the following topics:

  • New vaccine platforms, technologies, and adjuvants;
  • Universal vaccine candidates;
  • Mucosal vaccines and vaccination;
  • Modular vaccine platforms for rapid biomanufacturing and expedited regulatory approval;
  • Vaccines as a tool for antimicrobial resistance;
  • AI application in the rapid identification of novel vaccine antigens;
  • Immune correlates of vaccine-induced protection;
  • Systems immunology and vaccinology;
  • Novel in vitro and in vivo assays and models for assessing vaccine-induced immunity and predicting vaccine efficacies;
  • Vaccine bioprocess and manufactures.

Prof. Dr. Wangxue Chen
Dr. Xuguang Li
Prof. Dr. Amine A. Kamen
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

  • novel vaccines and adjuvant
  • universal vaccines
  • mucosal vaccines
  • emerging infections
  • antimicrobial resistance
  • systems vaccinology
  • vaccine production

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 1435 KiB  
Article
Epigenetic Drift Is Involved in the Efficacy of HBV Vaccination
by Francesca Ferraresi, Simona Anticoli, Stefano Salvioli, Chiara Pirazzini, Luciano Calzari, Davide Gentilini, Christian Albano, Reparata Rosa Di Prinzio, Salvatore Zaffina, Rita Carsetti, Paolo Garagnani, Anna Ruggieri and Katarzyna Malgorzata Kwiatkowska
Vaccines 2024, 12(12), 1330; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines12121330 - 27 Nov 2024
Viewed by 1332
Abstract
Background/Objectives: HBV infections can lead to serious liver complications that can have fatal consequences. In 2022, around 1.1 million individuals died from HBV-related cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Vaccines allow us to save more than 2.5 million lives each year; however, up to [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: HBV infections can lead to serious liver complications that can have fatal consequences. In 2022, around 1.1 million individuals died from HBV-related cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Vaccines allow us to save more than 2.5 million lives each year; however, up to 10% of vaccinated individuals may not develop sufficient protective antibody levels. The aim of this study was to investigate the epigenetic drift in the response to HBV vaccine in isolated B cells. Methods: Epigenetic drift was measured by counting rare DNA methylation variants. These epivariants were detected in epigenome-wide data collected from isolated B cell samples from 41 responders and 30 non-responders (age range 22–62 years) to vaccination against HBV. Results: We found an accumulation of epivariants in the NR group, with a significant increase in hyper-methylated aberrations. We identified the chromosomes (1, 3, 11, 12, and 14) and genes (e.g., RUSC1_AS1 or TROVE2) particularly enriched in epivariants in NRs. The literature search and pathway analysis indicate that such genes are involved in the correct functioning of the immune system. Moreover, we observed a correlation between epigenetic drift and DNA methylation entropy in the male population of the cohort. Finally, we confirmed the correlation between epivariant loads and age-related epigenetic clocks. Conclusions: Our findings support the idea that an age-related derangement of the epigenetic architecture is involved in unresponsiveness to the HBV vaccine. Furthermore, the overall results highlight the interconnection between various epigenetic dynamics (such as drift, clocks, and entropy), although these interconnections seem not to be involved in the altered immunological activity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Vaccines and Vaccine Technologies for Emerging Infections)
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14 pages, 2970 KiB  
Article
Development of Long-Term Stability of Enveloped rVSV Viral Vector Expressing SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Using a DOE-Guided Approach
by MD Faizul Hussain Khan, Caroline E. Wagner and Amine A. Kamen
Vaccines 2024, 12(11), 1240; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines12111240 - 30 Oct 2024
Viewed by 1623
Abstract
Liquid formulations have been successfully used in many viral vector vaccines including influenza (Flu), hepatitis B, polio (IPV), Ebola, and COVID-19 vaccines. The main advantage of liquid formulations over lyophilized formulations is that they are cost-effective, as well as easier to manufacture and [...] Read more.
Liquid formulations have been successfully used in many viral vector vaccines including influenza (Flu), hepatitis B, polio (IPV), Ebola, and COVID-19 vaccines. The main advantage of liquid formulations over lyophilized formulations is that they are cost-effective, as well as easier to manufacture and distribute. However, studies have shown that the liquid formulations of enveloped viral vector vaccines are not stable over extended periods of time. In this study, we explored the development of the liquid formulations of an enveloped recombinant Vesicular Stomatitis Virus (VSV) expressing the SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein. To do so, we used a design of experiments (DOE) method, which allowed us to assess the stability dynamics of the viral vector in an effective manner. An initial stability study showed that trehalose, gelatin, and histidine were effective at maintaining functional viral titers during freeze–thaw stress and at different temperatures (−20, 4, 20, and 37 °C). These preliminary data helped to identify critical factors for the subsequent implementation of the DOE method that incorporated a stress condition at 37 °C. We used the DOE results to identify the optimal liquid formulations under the selected accelerated stress conditions, which then guided the identification of long-term storage conditions for further evaluation. In the long-term stability study, we identified several liquid formulations made of sugar (sucrose, trehalose, and sorbitol), gelatin, and a histidine buffer that resulted in the improved stability of rVSV-SARS-CoV-2 at 4 °C for six months. This study highlights an effective approach for the development of liquid formulations for viral vector vaccines, contributing significantly to the existing knowledge on enveloped viral vector thermostability. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Vaccines and Vaccine Technologies for Emerging Infections)
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15 pages, 4547 KiB  
Article
Optimization of Culture Media and Feeding Strategy for High Titer Production of an Adenoviral Vector in HEK 293 Fed-Batch Culture
by Chun Fang Shen, Anja Rodenbrock, Stephane Lanthier, Elodie Burney and Martin Loignon
Vaccines 2024, 12(5), 524; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines12050524 - 10 May 2024
Viewed by 2404
Abstract
Adenoviruses are efficient and safe vectors for delivering target antigens and adenovirus-based vaccines have been used against a wide variety of pathogens, including tuberculosis and COVID-19. Cost-effective and scalable biomanufacturing processes are critical for the commercialization of adenovirus-vectored vaccines. Adenoviral vectors are commonly [...] Read more.
Adenoviruses are efficient and safe vectors for delivering target antigens and adenovirus-based vaccines have been used against a wide variety of pathogens, including tuberculosis and COVID-19. Cost-effective and scalable biomanufacturing processes are critical for the commercialization of adenovirus-vectored vaccines. Adenoviral vectors are commonly produced through the infection of batch cultures at low cell density cultures, mostly because infections at high cell densities result in reduced cell-specific virus productivity and does not improve volumetric productivity. In this study, we have investigated the feasibility of improving the volumetric productivity by infecting fed-batch cultures at high cell densities. Four commercial and one in-house developed serum-free media were first tested for supporting growth of HEK 293 cells and production of adenovirus type 5 (Ad5) in batch culture. Two best media were then selected for development of fed-batch culture to improve cell growth and virus productivity. A maximum viable cell density up to 16 × 106 cells/mL was achieved in shake flask fed-batch cultures using the selected media and commercial or in-house developed feeds. The volumetric virus productivity was improved by up to six folds, reaching 3.0 × 1010 total viral particles/mL in the fed-batch culture cultivated with the media and feeds developed in house and infected at a cell density of 5 × 106 cells/mL. Additional rounds of optimization of media and feed were required to maintain the improved titer when the fed-batch culture was scaled up in a bench scale (3 L) bioreactor. Overall, the results suggested that fed-batch culture is a simple and feasible process to significantly improve the volumetric productivity of Ad5 through optimization and balance of nutrients in culture media and feeds. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Vaccines and Vaccine Technologies for Emerging Infections)
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Review

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27 pages, 2692 KiB  
Review
Leveraging Electron Beam (eBeam) Technology for Advancing the Development of Inactivated Vaccines
by Ruvindu Perera, Suresh D. Pillai, Adnan Alrubaye and Palmy Jesudhasan
Vaccines 2025, 13(2), 179; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines13020179 - 13 Feb 2025
Viewed by 1027
Abstract
This review provides an overview of electron beam (eBeam) technology and its applications across a wide variety of disciplines. More importantly, it discusses this technology’s advantages and its benefits in developing inactivated vaccines. eBeam technology is currently being used all around the world [...] Read more.
This review provides an overview of electron beam (eBeam) technology and its applications across a wide variety of disciplines. More importantly, it discusses this technology’s advantages and its benefits in developing inactivated vaccines. eBeam technology is currently being used all around the world for a variety of industrial applications, extending from food pasteurization to the cross-linking of polymers in the wire and cable industries. It is a successful emerging alternative for developing vaccines against bacterial, protozoan, and viral pathogens. This review includes a descriptive account of the mechanism of action of eBeam and how this technology achieves the complete inactivation of pathogens while retaining the integrity of their surface epitopes. This unique advantage is crucial for the production of efficacious vaccines. This review provides a detailed account of the usage of eBeam technology for developing vaccines to protect a multitude of hosts against a wide range of pathogens. eBeam-inactivated vaccines are advantageous over live vaccines, RNA/subunit vaccines, and chemically inactivated vaccines mainly due to the complete inactivation of pathogens, and the presence of intact, highly antigenic epitopes. To conclude, this article descriptively highlights eBeam technology’s advantages over other means of vaccine development. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Vaccines and Vaccine Technologies for Emerging Infections)
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21 pages, 609 KiB  
Review
ASIA Syndrome: State-of-the-Art and Future Perspectives
by Mario Caldarelli, Pierluigi Rio, Vincenzo Giambra, Antonio Gasbarrini, Giovanni Gambassi and Rossella Cianci
Vaccines 2024, 12(10), 1183; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines12101183 - 17 Oct 2024
Viewed by 3790
Abstract
The expression “Autoimmune/inflammatory syndrome induced by adjuvants (ASIA)” was coined by Shoenfeld and colleagues in 2011. It defines a group of immune-mediated disorders that arise in people, with a genetic predisposition, following exposure to adjuvant agents. This syndrome has been reported after contact [...] Read more.
The expression “Autoimmune/inflammatory syndrome induced by adjuvants (ASIA)” was coined by Shoenfeld and colleagues in 2011. It defines a group of immune-mediated disorders that arise in people, with a genetic predisposition, following exposure to adjuvant agents. This syndrome has been reported after contact with silicone implants, medications, infections, metals, vaccines, and other substances. It typically occurs in individuals with a genetic predisposition, particularly involving genes, such as HLA-DRB1 (major histocompatibility complex, class II, DR beta 1) and PTPN22 (protein tyrosine phosphatase non-receptor type 22). Some stimuli lead to an overactivation of the immune system, prompt the production of autoantibodies, and finally cause autoimmune disorders. This narrative review aims to provide an overview of the ASIA syndrome with a special focus on the role of adjuvants in different vaccines, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic, and insights into development of new treatments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Vaccines and Vaccine Technologies for Emerging Infections)
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