Dear Colleagues,

Historical vaccines based on whole microorganisms, either live attenuated or killed, with their successful long track record for safety and efficacy, are considered one of the most important public health interventions to tackle infectious diseases. However, for many pathogens, there are still no vaccines available. Moreover, some of the licensed vaccines show suboptimal efficacy or are not recommended for use in high-risk population groups.

The growing demand for new safer, more efficacious and affordable vaccines has resulted in a shift in research to focus mainly on selected and well characterized antigens and epitopes which are very often low immunogenicity when administered alone. To meet the associated challenges, the knowledge gathered on microbial antigen delivery and their implementation through innovative technologies represent the key points to transforming a low immunogenicity antigen into an efficacious vaccine formulation. Fueled by the recent advances in translational medicine, immunology, molecular biology, bioinformatics, chemistry, and biophysics, innovative delivery systems such as involving recombinant vectors, virus-like particles, nanoparticles, emulsions, and other vehicles have been tailored to elicit a proper and long-lasting host immune response to prevent or to treat the infectious agent. The growing awareness of this aspect is underlined by the increasing numbers of publications.
The aim of this Special Issue is to present novel insights and recent advances in the field of microbial antigen delivery, including discovery, development, manufacturing, and regulatory perspectives on new vaccine formulations.

Prof. Hosni Hassan
Dr. Epifanio Fichera
Guest Editors

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• Vaccine
• Adjuvant
• Immunogenicity
• Delivery system
• Recombinant vaccine
• Nanoparticles