Advancements in Vaccine Research: Epidemiology, Immunogenicity, Effectiveness and Safety

A special issue of Vaccines (ISSN 2076-393X). This special issue belongs to the section "Vaccine Advancement, Efficacy and Safety".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 March 2026 | Viewed by 1844

Special Issue Editor


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Virology Laboratory, Toulouse University Hospital, 31300 Toulouse, France
Interests: SARS-CoV-2; vaccines; natural infection; variant; immunity
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Vaccines are a cornerstone of public health, offering protection against infectious diseases and contributing to global health security. This Special Issue aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the latest advancements in vaccine epidemiology, immunogenicity, effectiveness and safety, fostering collaboration among researchers, healthcare professionals and policymakers. By bringing together diverse perspectives and studies, we seek to enhance our understanding of vaccine performance across different populations and settings, ultimately improving vaccination outcomes. We invite submissions that explore a range of themes, including but not limited to the following:

  • Epidemiological Studies: Investigations into vaccine coverage, distribution and impact on disease incidence.
  • Immunogenicity Assessments: Research on immune responses elicited by various vaccines in different demographics.
  • Effectiveness Evaluations: Studies measuring real-world vaccine effectiveness and factors influencing outcomes.
  • Safety Profiles: Evaluations of adverse events and long-term safety data associated with vaccines.
  • Novel Vaccine Technologies: Innovations in vaccine development and delivery mechanisms.
  • Policy and Implementation Research: Analysis of vaccination programs and strategies for increasing uptake.

Dr. Chloé Dimeglio
Guest Editor

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

  • vaccine epidemiology
  • immune response
  • immunogenicity
  • vaccine effectiveness
  • safety
  • infectious diseases
  • public health
  • vaccine development
  • immunization strategies

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

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

Published Papers (3 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

23 pages, 4707 KB  
Article
Transcriptomic Analysis of Immune Tolerance Induction in NOD Mice Following Oral Vaccination with GAD65-Lactococcus lactis
by Mengxin Xie, Chunli Ma, Xinyi Wang, Tengjiao Li, Shihan Zhang, Jiandong Shi, Jing Sun and Yunzhang Hu
Vaccines 2025, 13(9), 927; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines13090927 (registering DOI) - 30 Aug 2025
Abstract
Background: Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by destruction of insulin-producing β-cells. While conventional insulin therapy manages hyperglycemia, it fails to halt autoimmunity. Oral immunotherapy targeting autoantigens like GAD65 offers potential for antigen-specific tolerance; however, its efficacy is limited by [...] Read more.
Background: Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by destruction of insulin-producing β-cells. While conventional insulin therapy manages hyperglycemia, it fails to halt autoimmunity. Oral immunotherapy targeting autoantigens like GAD65 offers potential for antigen-specific tolerance; however, its efficacy is limited by gastrointestinal degradation and poor mucosal uptake. Lactococcus lactis (L. lactis), a food-grade delivery vector, enables sustained antigen release and intestinal tract immune modulation, yet the differential transcriptomic mechanisms underlying mucosal versus systemic immune responses remain uncharacterized. Methods: Non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice were randomized into control and GAD65 groups, receiving oral PBS or the GAD65 recombinant L. lactis vaccine, respectively. Fasting blood glucose was monitored weekly. GAD65-specific IgA and IgG, along with immune tolerance-related factors, were quantified using ELISA. Lymphocyte subsets were analyzed by flow cytometry, alongside RNA sequencing and transcriptional profiling. Results: The study demonstrated that the orally administered GAD65-L. lactis vaccine could significantly induce GAD65-specific IgA antibody and TGF-β cytokine and alleviate hyperglycemia and diabetes symptoms in NOD mice. Our study facilitated the induction of GAD65-specific regulatory T cells within both intestinal lamina propria lymphocytes (LPLs) and splenic lymphocytes. Notably, antigen-specific tolerance was mainly observed in intestinal LPLs. Crucially, the immune responses elicited by the vaccine demonstrated significant disparities between intestinal LPLs and splenic lymphocytes, with intestinal LPLs exhibiting unique local immune tolerance transcriptomic profiles. Conclusions: Our findings have enhanced the comprehension of the mechanisms by which oral vaccines influence the interplay between mucosal and systemic immune responses, thereby establishing a foundational framework for the design of oral vaccines. This understanding is instrumental in advancing antigen-specific immune tolerance strategies for autoimmune diseases such as Type 1 Diabetes (T1D). Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 3359 KB  
Article
Development and Biological Properties of a New Live Attenuated Mumps Vaccine Strain
by Xue Song, Xiumei Ren, Yang Song, Shengbao Yang, Kailang Lu, Yan Zhang and Jiankai Liu
Vaccines 2025, 13(8), 879; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines13080879 - 20 Aug 2025
Viewed by 275
Abstract
Background/Objectives: This study aimed to develop a new attenuated live mumps vaccine strain and determine its biological properties and effectiveness. Methods: Plaque purification and amplification were performed in chicken embryo cells. Candidate live attenuated mumps MuV-365 strain sequencing was performed. After [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: This study aimed to develop a new attenuated live mumps vaccine strain and determine its biological properties and effectiveness. Methods: Plaque purification and amplification were performed in chicken embryo cells. Candidate live attenuated mumps MuV-365 strain sequencing was performed. After evaluating the potential neurotoxicity of the MuV-365 mumps strain, a preclinical safety evaluation of measles–mumps–rubella (MMR) live attenuated vaccine containing the MuV-365 strain was performed to support the registration and application of the MMR vaccine. Finally, mumps neutralization antibody titers and the concentration of anti-serum mumps-specific IgG were determined to evaluate the immunogenicity and efficacy of the MuV-365 strain and MMR vaccine in mice and rhesus monkeys. Results: The plaque of the PL-KUM main seed virus was screened, and strains whose sequences were highly homologous to RIT4385 (JL-5 derived) were selected to amplify. The candidate live attenuated mumps MuV-365 strain was then developed. Safety evaluation results indicated that the MuV-365 strain had no potential neurotoxicity, and the MMR vaccine containing the MuV-365 strain also showed no significant safety hazard. The immunogenicity of MuV-365 strain in BALB/c mice was not inferior to S79 and PL-KUM. After two doses of the MuV-365 strain, the concentration of anti-serum mumps-specific IgG of the MuV-365 strain was significantly higher than that of the S79 strain (p < 0.01). In rhesus monkeys, the MMR vaccine had good immunogenicity against measles and rubella after one dose, while immunogenicity against mumps improved after two doses. Conclusions: The developed MuV-365 strain was genetically stable, with adequate safety and immunogenicity. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

21 pages, 640 KB  
Review
Advances in Contraceptive Vaccine Development: A Comprehensive Review
by Wen Gao, Xiaoting Shen, Peipei Li, Chanchan Xiao and Yongxia Wang
Vaccines 2025, 13(7), 692; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines13070692 - 26 Jun 2025
Viewed by 1003
Abstract
The issues of uncontrolled global population growth and unintended pregnancies are severe, and the existing contraceptive methods have numerous limitations, making the development of novel contraceptive technologies urgent. Contraceptive vaccines offer a promising alternative to traditional contraception methods. This article reviews the three [...] Read more.
The issues of uncontrolled global population growth and unintended pregnancies are severe, and the existing contraceptive methods have numerous limitations, making the development of novel contraceptive technologies urgent. Contraceptive vaccines offer a promising alternative to traditional contraception methods. This article reviews the three developmental stages of contraceptive vaccines, including early exploration, technical bottlenecks, and innovative development directions in the new era. This article also summarizes the targets of immunocontraception, covering the current research status of contraceptive vaccines targeting sperm production, sperm antigens, oocyte zona pellucida, and gamete outcomes. Furthermore, this article explores the advantages of contraceptive vaccines in terms of efficiency, non-invasiveness, reversibility, and the promotion of gender equality. Challenges associated with clinical translation and real-world implementation are also critically analyzed. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop