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Vaccines for Infectious and Chronic Diseases
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Vaccines for Infectious and Chronic Diseases

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 May 2021) | Viewed by 48326

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Vasso Apostolopoulos

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute for Health and Sport, Victoria University, Melbourne, VIC 3011, Australia
Interests: immunology; protein crystallography; medicinal chemistry; cellular and molecular biology; extensive translational research; clinical trials; vaccines; drugs; healthy ageing; chronic diseases; inflammation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Collegues,

There is overwhelming scientific consensus that vaccines are a very safe and effective way to fight and eradicate infectious diseases. Vaccination has been a key strategy for the prevention and treatment of numerous pathologies worldwide. The goal of advancement in vaccine formulation is to generate a strong immune response to the administered antigens. To achieve this objective with vaccines based on insufficiently immunogenic antigens, adjuvant and other formulation materials are alternatives. Selection of excipients and adjuvants is a serious task having an implication toward safety, stability, and storage of vaccines. Additionally, novel delivery technologies and systems will be an essential component for next-generation vaccines. A major challenge in vaccine design is identifying antigen presentation and delivery systems capable of rapidly stimulating both the humoral and cellular components of the immune system to elicit a strong and sustained immunity against different pathogens.

This Special Issue focuses on vaccine formulation development for cancer, infectious diseases and chronic diseases. Submission of original articles, systematic reviews, short communications, and other types of article on related topics is welcome. Manuscripts will follow standard Journal peer-review practices, and those accepted for publication will appear in the Special Issue on Vaccines for Infectious and Chronic Dieases. We look forward to receiving and welcome your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Vasso Apostolopoulos
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
  • formulations
  • adjuvant
  • antigen
  • pathogen
  • delivery systems vaccine stability
  • cancer
  • infectious diseases

Published Papers (14 papers)

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Editorial

Jump to: Research, Review

4 pages, 570 KiB  
Editorial
COVID-19 Vaccines in the Pipeline, Are Antibodies Adequate?
by Md Kamal Hossain, Majid Hassanzadeganroudsari, Jack Feehan and Vasso Apostolopoulos
Vaccines 2021, 9(3), 241; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/vaccines9030241 - 10 Mar 2021
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 4231
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus strain SARS-CoV-2 has already led to catastrophic consequences in global physical and psychological health, as well as economic recession [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vaccines for Infectious and Chronic Diseases)
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Research

Jump to: Editorial, Review

6 pages, 593 KiB  
Communication
Is Booster Dose Strategy Sufficient for Omicron Variant of SARS-CoV-2?
by Vivek P. Chavda and Vasso Apostolopoulos
Vaccines 2022, 10(3), 367; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/vaccines10030367 - 26 Feb 2022
Cited by 36 | Viewed by 3698
Abstract
The Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 is emerging in communities where people were previously infected with SARS-CoV-2 and are now being vaccinated, or where many people have received two or three coronavirus vaccination doses. More than 130 countries around the globe have implemented booster [...] Read more.
The Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 is emerging in communities where people were previously infected with SARS-CoV-2 and are now being vaccinated, or where many people have received two or three coronavirus vaccination doses. More than 130 countries around the globe have implemented booster dose programs for tackling omicron endemics. Despite early findings shows that booster doses may improve omicron protection, more research is needed to establish vaccination efficacy. This short communication tries to critically discuss the research work findings around booster dose strategy for omicron endemics. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vaccines for Infectious and Chronic Diseases)
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13 pages, 1055 KiB  
Article
Incidence of Vaccine-Preventable Childhood Diseases in the European Union and in the European Free Trade Association Countries
by Estera Jachowicz, Magdalena Gębicka, Daria Plakhtyr, Myroslav Shynkarenko, Juri Urbanowicz, Maciej Mach, Jacek Czepiel, Jakub Marchewka and Jadwiga Wójkowska-Mach
Vaccines 2021, 9(7), 796; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/vaccines9070796 - 17 Jul 2021
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2872
Abstract
Introduction: Despite the widespread availability of vaccines, the incidence of vaccine-preventable childhood diseases (VPCD) started to grow in recent years. The aim of the study was to compare the annual incidence of selected VPCDs in the EU (European Union) and EFTA (European Free [...] Read more.
Introduction: Despite the widespread availability of vaccines, the incidence of vaccine-preventable childhood diseases (VPCD) started to grow in recent years. The aim of the study was to compare the annual incidence of selected VPCDs in the EU (European Union) and EFTA (European Free Trade Association) countries in the period of the last 5 years (2014–2019 or other intervals, depending on data availability), and the country-specific vaccine schedules. Methods: VPCD incidence rates in Europe were based on “The Surveillance Atlas of Infectious Diseases” by the ECDC (European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control); vaccination schedules were based on ECDC reports. Results: The obligation to vaccinate was not universal, and it generally only applied to two preparations: the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine and the one against polio. During the study, the situation associated with mumps did not change or improve in individual countries; the median incidence amounted to 30 cases. The median incidence associated with rubella amounted to 1 case, but in a few countries, it grew very rapidly, i.e., in Germany, Italy, and Romania; in Poland, the incidence was clearly decreasing, from 5923 to 1532 cases. The most dynamic situation concerned measles. The total median was 2.4 cases per 100,000 population; the only one country with falling incidence was Germany. The diseases associated with Streptococcus pneumoniae and Neisseria meningitidis remained at a stable level in all analyzed countries. Conclusion: Vaccine schedules differ among the countries, so does the epidemiological situation of selected diseases. Morbidity on measles was the most disturbing phenomenon: the incidence rate increased in almost 40% of all countries, regardless of the obligation to vaccinate. The increasing incidence of VPCD may be due to anti-vaccine movements, the activity of which is often caused by mistrust and spreading misinformation. In order to better prevent the increase in morbidity, standardization of vaccine schedules and documentation should be considered in the EU countries. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vaccines for Infectious and Chronic Diseases)
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16 pages, 1509 KiB  
Article
Structure and Immunogenicity of the Bordetella pertussis LOS-Derived Oligosaccharides in the Endosomal-Like Pre-Processing Mice Model
by Sabina Koj, Karolina Ucieklak, Czeslaw Lugowski and Tomasz Niedziela
Vaccines 2021, 9(6), 645; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/vaccines9060645 - 13 Jun 2021
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2370
Abstract
Glycoproteins are processed endosomally prior to presentation to T cells and subsequent induction of specific antibodies. The sugar part of glycoconjugate may be degraded while the type of the process depends on the features of the particular structure. The generated carbohydrate epitopes may [...] Read more.
Glycoproteins are processed endosomally prior to presentation to T cells and subsequent induction of specific antibodies. The sugar part of glycoconjugate may be degraded while the type of the process depends on the features of the particular structure. The generated carbohydrate epitopes may differ from native structures and influence immunogenicity of the antigens. We have devised a model of endosomal-like pre-processing of Bordetella pertussis 186 oligosaccharides (OSs) to verify how it affects the immunogenicity of their conjugates. The glycoconjugates of structurally defined forms of the dodecasaccharide OS were synthesized and their immunogenicity was assessed using immunochemical methods. The structural features of the oligosaccharides and their sensitivity to deamination were analyzed by NMR spectroscopy. The distal trisaccharide-comprising pentasaccharide conjugated to a protein was the most effective in inducing immune response against the B. pertussis 186 LOS and the immune response to the complete OS conjugates was significantly lower. This could be explained by the loss of the distal trisaccharide during the in-cell deamination process suggesting that the native structure is not optimal for a vaccine antigen. Consequently, our research has shown that designing of new glycoconjugate vaccines requires the antigen structures to be verified in context of possible endosomal reactions beforehand. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vaccines for Infectious and Chronic Diseases)
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Graphical abstract

34 pages, 19263 KiB  
Article
Prophylactic Multi-Subunit Vaccine against Chlamydia trachomatis: In Vivo Evaluation in Mice
by Christian Lanfermann, Sebastian Wintgens, Thomas Ebensen, Martin Kohn, Robert Laudeley, Kai Schulze, Claudia Rheinheimer, Johannes H. Hegemann, Carlos Alberto Guzmán and Andreas Klos
Vaccines 2021, 9(6), 609; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/vaccines9060609 - 06 Jun 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3495
Abstract
Chlamydia trachomatis is the most frequent sexually-transmitted disease-causing bacterium. Urogenital serovars of this intracellular pathogen lead to urethritis and cervicitis. Ascending infections result in pelvic inflammatory disease, salpingitis, and oophoritis. One of 200 urogenital infections leads to tubal infertility. Serovars A–C cause trachoma [...] Read more.
Chlamydia trachomatis is the most frequent sexually-transmitted disease-causing bacterium. Urogenital serovars of this intracellular pathogen lead to urethritis and cervicitis. Ascending infections result in pelvic inflammatory disease, salpingitis, and oophoritis. One of 200 urogenital infections leads to tubal infertility. Serovars A–C cause trachoma with visual impairment. There is an urgent need for a vaccine. We characterized a new five-component subunit vaccine in a mouse vaccination-lung challenge infection model. Four recombinant Pmp family-members and Ctad1 from C. trachomatis serovar E, all of which participate in adhesion and binding of chlamydial elementary bodies to host cells, were combined with the mucosal adjuvant cyclic-di-adenosine monophosphate. Intranasal application led to a high degree of cross-serovar protection against urogenital and ocular strains of C. trachomatis, which lasted at least five months. Critical evaluated parameters were body weight, clinical score, chlamydial load, a granulocyte marker and the cytokines IFN-γ/TNF-α in lung homogenate. Vaccine antigen-specific antibodies and a mixed Th1/Th2/Th17 T cell response with multi-functional CD4+ and CD8+ T cells correlate with protection. However, serum-transfer did not protect the recipients suggesting that circulating antibodies play only a minor role. In the long run, our new vaccine might help to prevent the feared consequences of human C. trachomatis infections. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vaccines for Infectious and Chronic Diseases)
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14 pages, 1737 KiB  
Article
Balance between Protection and Pathogenic Response to Aerosol Challenge with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) in Mice Vaccinated with TriFu64, a Fusion Consisting of Three Mtb Antigens
by Sadaf Sulman, Benjamin O. Savidge, Kawther Alqaseer, Mrinal K. Das, Neda Nezam Abadi, John E. Pearl, Obolbek Turapov, Galina V. Mukamolova, M. Waheed Akhtar and Andrea May Cooper
Vaccines 2021, 9(5), 519; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/vaccines9050519 - 18 May 2021
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3161
Abstract
Tuberculosis vaccines capable of reducing disease worldwide have proven difficult to develop. BCG is effective in limiting childhood disease, but adult TB is still a major public health issue. Development of new vaccines requires identification of antigens that are both spatially and temporally [...] Read more.
Tuberculosis vaccines capable of reducing disease worldwide have proven difficult to develop. BCG is effective in limiting childhood disease, but adult TB is still a major public health issue. Development of new vaccines requires identification of antigens that are both spatially and temporally available throughout infection, and immune responses to which reduce bacterial burden without increasing pathologic outcomes. Subunit vaccines containing antigen require adjuvants to drive appropriate long-lived responses. We generated a triple-antigen fusion containing the virulence-associated EsxN (Rv1793), the PPE42 (Rv2608), and the latency associated Rv2628 to investigate the balance between bacterial reduction and weight loss in an animal model of aerosol infection. We found that in both a low pattern recognition receptor (PRR) engaging adjuvant and a high PRR-engaging adjuvant (MPL/TDM/DDA) the triple-antigen fusion could reduce the bacterial burden, but also induced weight loss in the mice upon aerosol infection. The weight loss was associated with an imbalance between TNFα and IL-17 transcription in the lung upon challenge. These data indicate the need to assess both protective and pathogenic responses when investigating subunit vaccine activity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vaccines for Infectious and Chronic Diseases)
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17 pages, 1898 KiB  
Article
Low Adenovirus Vaccine Doses Administered to Skin Using Microneedle Patches Induce Better Functional Antibody Immunogenicity as Compared to Systemic Injection
by Olivia Flynn, Kate Dillane, Juliane Sousa Lanza, Jennifer M. Marshall, Jing Jin, Sarah E. Silk, Simon J. Draper and Anne C. Moore
Vaccines 2021, 9(3), 299; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/vaccines9030299 - 22 Mar 2021
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 3457
Abstract
Adenovirus-based vaccines are demonstrating promising clinical potential for multiple infectious diseases, including COVID-19. However, the immunogenicity of the vector itself decreases its effectiveness as a boosting vaccine due to the induction of strong anti-vector neutralizing immunity. Here we determined how dissolvable microneedle patches [...] Read more.
Adenovirus-based vaccines are demonstrating promising clinical potential for multiple infectious diseases, including COVID-19. However, the immunogenicity of the vector itself decreases its effectiveness as a boosting vaccine due to the induction of strong anti-vector neutralizing immunity. Here we determined how dissolvable microneedle patches (DMN) for skin immunization can overcome this issue, using a clinically-relevant adenovirus-based Plasmodium falciparum malaria vaccine, AdHu5–PfRH5, in mice. Incorporation of vaccine into patches significantly enhanced its thermostability compared to the liquid form. Conventional high dose repeated immunization by the intramuscular (IM) route induced low antigen-specific IgG titres and high anti-vector immunity. A low priming dose of vaccine, by the IM route, but more so using DMN patches, induced the most efficacious immune responses, assessed by parasite growth inhibitory activity (GIA) assays. Administration of low dose AdHu5–PfRH5 using patches to the skin, boosted by high dose IM, induced the highest antigen-specific serum IgG response after boosting, the greatest skewing of the antibody response towards the antigen and away from the vector, and the highest efficacy. This study therefore demonstrates that repeated use of the same adenovirus vaccine can be highly immunogenic towards the transgene if a low dose is used to prime the response. It also provides a method of stabilizing adenovirus vaccine, in easy-to-administer dissolvable microneedle patches, permitting storage and distribution out of cold chain. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vaccines for Infectious and Chronic Diseases)
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16 pages, 2225 KiB  
Article
Radiation-Inactivated Acinetobacter baumannii Vaccine Candidates
by Stephen J. Dollery, Daniel V. Zurawski, Elena K. Gaidamakova, Vera Y. Matrosova, John K. Tobin, Taralyn J. Wiggins, Ruth V. Bushnell, David A. MacLeod, Yonas A. Alamneh, Rania Abu-Taleb, Mariel G. Escatte, Heather N. Meeks, Michael J. Daly and Gregory J. Tobin
Vaccines 2021, 9(2), 96; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/vaccines9020096 - 27 Jan 2021
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 4141
Abstract
Acinetobacter baumannii is a bacterial pathogen that is often multidrug-resistant (MDR) and causes a range of life-threatening illnesses, including pneumonia, septicemia, and wound infections. Some antibiotic treatments can reduce mortality if dosed early enough before an infection progresses, but there are few other [...] Read more.
Acinetobacter baumannii is a bacterial pathogen that is often multidrug-resistant (MDR) and causes a range of life-threatening illnesses, including pneumonia, septicemia, and wound infections. Some antibiotic treatments can reduce mortality if dosed early enough before an infection progresses, but there are few other treatment options when it comes to MDR-infection. Although several prophylactic strategies have been assessed, no vaccine candidates have advanced to clinical trials or have been approved. Herein, we rapidly produced protective whole-cell immunogens from planktonic and biofilm-like cultures of A. baumannii, strain AB5075 grown using a variety of methods. After selecting a panel of five cultures based on distinct protein profiles, replicative activity was extinguished by exposure to 10 kGy gamma radiation in the presence of a Deinococcus antioxidant complex composed of manganous (Mn2+) ions, a decapeptide, and orthophosphate. Mn2+ antioxidants prevent hydroxylation and carbonylation of irradiated proteins, but do not protect nucleic acids, yielding replication-deficient immunogenic A. baumannii vaccine candidates. Mice were immunized and boosted twice with 1.0 × 107 irradiated bacterial cells and then challenged intranasally with AB5075 using two mouse models. Planktonic cultures grown for 16 h in rich media and biofilm cultures grown in static cultures underneath minimal (M9) media stimulated immunity that led to 80–100% protection. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vaccines for Infectious and Chronic Diseases)
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18 pages, 2214 KiB  
Article
Chimeric Hemagglutinin-Based Live-Attenuated Vaccines Confer Durable Protective Immunity against Influenza A Viruses in a Preclinical Ferret Model
by Wen-Chun Liu, Raffael Nachbagauer, Daniel Stadlbauer, Shirin Strohmeier, Alicia Solórzano, Francesco Berlanda-Scorza, Bruce L. Innis, Adolfo García-Sastre, Peter Palese, Florian Krammer and Randy A. Albrecht
Vaccines 2021, 9(1), 40; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/vaccines9010040 - 11 Jan 2021
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 3628
Abstract
Epidemic or pandemic influenza can annually cause significant morbidity and mortality in humans. We developed novel chimeric hemagglutinin (cHA)-based universal influenza virus vaccines, which contain a conserved HA stalk domain from a 2009 pandemic H1N1 (pH1N1) strain combined with globular head domains from [...] Read more.
Epidemic or pandemic influenza can annually cause significant morbidity and mortality in humans. We developed novel chimeric hemagglutinin (cHA)-based universal influenza virus vaccines, which contain a conserved HA stalk domain from a 2009 pandemic H1N1 (pH1N1) strain combined with globular head domains from avian influenza A viruses. Our previous reports demonstrated that prime-boost sequential immunizations induced robust antibody responses directed toward the conserved HA stalk domain in ferrets. Herein, we further followed vaccinated animals for one year to compare the efficacy and durability of these vaccines in the preclinical ferret model of influenza. Although all cHA-based immunization regimens induced durable HA stalk-specific and heterosubtypic antibody responses in ferrets, sequential immunization with live-attenuated influenza virus vaccines (LAIV-LAIV) conferred the best protection against upper respiratory tract infection by a pH1N1 influenza A virus. The findings from this study suggest that our sequential immunization strategy for a cHA-based universal influenza virus vaccine provides durable protective humoral and cellular immunity against influenza virus infection. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vaccines for Infectious and Chronic Diseases)
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25 pages, 6615 KiB  
Article
Modulation Effects of Toxoplasma gondii Histone H2A1 on Murine Macrophages and Encapsulation with Polymer as a Vaccine Candidate
by Zhengqing Yu, Tianyuan Zhou, Yanxin Luo, Lu Dong, Chunjing Li, Junlong Liu, Jianxun Luo, Ruofeng Yan, Lixin Xu, Xiaokai Song and Xiangrui Li
Vaccines 2020, 8(4), 731; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/vaccines8040731 - 03 Dec 2020
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2727
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is the most common zoonotic protozoa and has infected about one-third of the population worldwide. Recombinant epitopes encapsulated in nanospheres have advantages over traditional T. gondii vaccines. For an efficient delivery system, poly (DL-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) and chitosan [...] Read more.
Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is the most common zoonotic protozoa and has infected about one-third of the population worldwide. Recombinant epitopes encapsulated in nanospheres have advantages over traditional T. gondii vaccines. For an efficient delivery system, poly (DL-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) and chitosan are the most frequently used biodegradable polymeric nanospheres with strong safety profiles. In the present study, we first expressed and purified histone H2A1 of T. gondii using the prokaryotic expression system. The effects of recombinant TgH2A1 on the functions of murine macrophages were then studied. Purified recombinant TgH2A1 was then encapsulated in nanospheres with PLGA and chitosan. After subcutaneous vaccination in mice, the immune response was evaluated by double antibody sandwich ELISA kits. The results from this study showed that PLGA and chitosan loaded with rTgH2A1 could trigger a stronger Th1 oriented immune response and prolong the survival time of mice effectively. In conclusion, PLGA and chitosan nanospheres loaded with histone H2A1 are an effective method for the development of vaccines against T. gondii. Further studies should focus on evaluating the regulatory mechanism of TgH2A1, vaccine potency, and cellular response in chronic T. gondii infections. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vaccines for Infectious and Chronic Diseases)
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16 pages, 4970 KiB  
Article
Solid Lipid Nanoparticle Carrier Platform Containing Synthetic TLR4 Agonist Mediates Non-Viral DNA Vaccine Delivery
by Jasmine E. Francis, Ivana Skakic, Chaitali Dekiwadia, Ravi Shukla, Aya C. Taki, Anna Walduck and Peter M. Smooker
Vaccines 2020, 8(3), 551; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/vaccines8030551 - 21 Sep 2020
Cited by 19 | Viewed by 4943
Abstract
There is a growing demand for better delivery systems to improve the stability and efficacy of DNA vaccines. Here we report the synthesis of a non-viral DNA vaccine delivery system using a novel adjuvanted solid lipid nanoparticle (SLN-A) platform as a carrier for [...] Read more.
There is a growing demand for better delivery systems to improve the stability and efficacy of DNA vaccines. Here we report the synthesis of a non-viral DNA vaccine delivery system using a novel adjuvanted solid lipid nanoparticle (SLN-A) platform as a carrier for a DNA vaccine candidate encoding the Urease alpha (UreA) antigen from Helicobacter pylori. Cationic SLN-A particles containing monophosphoryl lipid A (adjuvant) were synthesised by a modified solvent-emulsification method and were investigated for their morphology, zeta potential and in vitro transfection capacity. Particles were found to bind plasmid DNA to form lipoplexes, which were characterised by electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering and fluorescence microscopy. Cellular uptake studies confirmed particle uptake within 3 h, and intracellular localisation within endosomal compartments. In vitro studies further confirmed the ability of SLN-A particles to stimulate expression of pro-inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) in human macrophage-like Tohoku Hospital Pediatrics-1 (THP-1) cells. Lipoplexes were found to be biocompatible and could be efficiently transfected in murine immune cells for expression of recombinant H. pylori antigen Urease A, demonstrating their potential as a DNA vaccine delivery system. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vaccines for Infectious and Chronic Diseases)
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Review

Jump to: Editorial, Research

18 pages, 1379 KiB  
Review
Live Viral Vaccine Neurovirulence Screening: Current and Future Models
by Corey May Fulton and Wendy J. Bailey
Vaccines 2021, 9(7), 710; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/vaccines9070710 - 30 Jun 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2987
Abstract
Live viral vaccines are one of the most successful methods for controlling viral infections but require strong evidence to indicate that they are properly attenuated. Screening for residual neurovirulence is an important aspect for live viral vaccines against potentially neurovirulent diseases. Approximately half [...] Read more.
Live viral vaccines are one of the most successful methods for controlling viral infections but require strong evidence to indicate that they are properly attenuated. Screening for residual neurovirulence is an important aspect for live viral vaccines against potentially neurovirulent diseases. Approximately half of all emerging viral diseases have neurological effects, so testing of future vaccines will need to be rapid and accurate. The current method, the monkey neurovirulence test (MNVT), shows limited translatability for human diseases and does not account for different viral pathogenic mechanisms. This review discusses the MNVT and potential alternative models, including in vivo and in vitro methods. The advantages and disadvantages of these methods are discussed, and there are promising data indicating high levels of translatability. There is a need to investigate these models more thoroughly and to devise more accurate and rapid alternatives to the MNVT. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vaccines for Infectious and Chronic Diseases)
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12 pages, 1263 KiB  
Review
What Constitutes Protective Immunity Following Yellow Fever Vaccination?
by Jolynne Mokaya, Derick Kimathi, Teresa Lambe and George M. Warimwe
Vaccines 2021, 9(6), 671; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/vaccines9060671 - 18 Jun 2021
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2872
Abstract
Yellow fever (YF) remains a threat to global health, with an increasing number of major outbreaks in the tropical areas of the world over the recent past. In light of this, the Eliminate Yellow Fever Epidemics Strategy was established with the aim of [...] Read more.
Yellow fever (YF) remains a threat to global health, with an increasing number of major outbreaks in the tropical areas of the world over the recent past. In light of this, the Eliminate Yellow Fever Epidemics Strategy was established with the aim of protecting one billion people at risk of YF through vaccination by the year 2026. The current YF vaccine gives excellent protection, but its use is limited by shortages in supply due to the difficulties in producing the vaccine. There are good grounds for believing that alternative fractional dosing regimens can produce strong protection and overcome the problem of supply shortages as less vaccine is required per person. However, immune responses to these vaccination approaches are yet to be fully understood. In addition, published data on immune responses following YF vaccination have mostly quantified neutralising antibody titers. However, vaccine-induced antibodies can confer immunity through other antibody effector functions beyond neutralisation, and an effective vaccine is also likely to induce strong and persistent memory T cell responses. This review highlights the gaps in knowledge in the characterisation of YF vaccine-induced protective immunity in the absence or presence of neutralising antibodies. The assessment of biophysical antibody characteristics and cell-mediated immunity following YF vaccination could help provide a comprehensive landscape of YF vaccine-induced immunity and a better understanding of correlates of protective immunity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vaccines for Infectious and Chronic Diseases)
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16 pages, 339 KiB  
Review
Vaccines in Children with Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Brief Review
by Susanna Esposito, Giulia Antoniol, Marialuisa Labate, Lucrezia Passadore, Patrizia Alvisi, Valeria Daccò, Chiara Ghizzi, Carla Colombo and Nicola Principi
Vaccines 2021, 9(5), 487; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/vaccines9050487 - 11 May 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2336
Abstract
Incidence of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs), including Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), is increasing worldwide. Children with IBDs have a dysfunctional immune system and they are frequently treated with immunomodulating drugs and biological therapy, which significantly impair immune system functions and [...] Read more.
Incidence of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs), including Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), is increasing worldwide. Children with IBDs have a dysfunctional immune system and they are frequently treated with immunomodulating drugs and biological therapy, which significantly impair immune system functions and lead to an increased risk of infections. Vaccines are essential to prevent at least part of these infections and this explains why strict compliance to the immunization guidelines specifically prepared for IBD patients is strongly recommended. However, several factors might lead to insufficient immunization. In this paper, present knowledge on the use of vaccines in children with IBDs is discussed. Literature review showed that despite a lack of detailed quantification of the risk of infections in children with IBDs, these children might have infections more frequently than age-matched healthy subjects, and at least in some cases, these infections might be even more severe. Fortunately, most of these infections could be prevented when recommended schedules of immunization are carefully followed. Vaccines given to children with IBDs generally have adequate immunogenicity and safety. Attention must be paid to live attenuated vaccines that can be administered only to children without or with mild immune system function impairment. Vaccination of their caregivers is also recommended. Unfortunately, compliance to these recommendations is generally low and multidisciplinary educational programs to improve vaccination coverage must be planned, in order to protect children with IBD from vaccine-preventable diseases. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vaccines for Infectious and Chronic Diseases)
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