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Pharmaceutics Jul 2023Messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine development for preventive and therapeutic applications has evolved rapidly over the last decade. The mRVNA vaccine has proven therapeutic... (Review)
Review
Messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine development for preventive and therapeutic applications has evolved rapidly over the last decade. The mRVNA vaccine has proven therapeutic efficacy in various applications, including infectious disease, immunotherapy, genetic disorders, regenerative medicine, and cancer. Many mRNA vaccines have made it to clinical trials, and a couple have obtained FDA approval. This emerging therapeutic approach has several advantages over conventional methods: safety; efficacy; adaptability; bulk production; and cost-effectiveness. However, it is worth mentioning that the delivery to the target site and in vivo degradation and thermal stability are boundaries that can alter their efficacy and outcomes. In this review, we shed light on different types of mRNA vaccines, their mode of action, and the process to optimize their development and overcome their limitations. We also have explored various delivery systems focusing on the nanoparticle-mediated delivery of the mRNA vaccine. Generally, the delivery system plays a vital role in enhancing mRNA vaccine stability, biocompatibility, and homing to the desired cells and tissues. In addition to their function as a delivery vehicle, they serve as a compartment that shields and protects the mRNA molecules against physical, chemical, and biological activities that can alter their efficiency. Finally, we focused on the future considerations that should be attained for safer and more efficient mRNA application underlining the advantages and disadvantages of the current mRNA vaccines.
PubMed: 37514158
DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15071972 -
Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland) Oct 2023Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is responsible for a significant proportion of global morbidity and mortality affecting young children and older adults. In the... (Review)
Review
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is responsible for a significant proportion of global morbidity and mortality affecting young children and older adults. In the aftermath of formalin-inactivated RSV vaccine development, the effort to develop an immunizing agent was carefully guided by epidemiologic and pathophysiological evidence of the virus, including various vaccine technologies. The pipeline of RSV vaccine development includes messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA), live-attenuated (LAV), subunit, and recombinant vector-based vaccine candidates targeting different virus proteins. The availability of vaccine candidates of various technologies enables adjustment to the individualized needs of each vulnerable age group. Arexvy (GSK), followed by Abrysvo (Pfizer), is the first vaccine available for market use as an immunizing agent to prevent lower respiratory tract disease in older adults. Abrysvo is additionally indicated for the passive immunization of infants by maternal administration during pregnancy. This review presents the RSV vaccine pipeline, analyzing the results of clinical trials. The key features of each vaccine technology are also mentioned. Currently, 24 vaccines are in the clinical stage of development, including the 2 licensed vaccines. Research in the field of RSV vaccination, including the pharmacovigilance methods of already approved vaccines, promotes the achievement of successful prevention.
PubMed: 37887775
DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12101259 -
Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics Aug 2023Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines work by preventing infections prior to natural exposure. Thus, it is likely more effective at younger ages, and it is important to... (Review)
Review
Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines work by preventing infections prior to natural exposure. Thus, it is likely more effective at younger ages, and it is important to understand how effectiveness might be diminished when administered at older ages. We conducted a systematic review of HPV vaccine effectiveness studies published between 2007 and 2022 that included an analysis of effectiveness against vaccine-type HPV infections, anogenital warts, cervical abnormalities and cervical cancer by age at vaccine initiation or completion. Searching multiple databases, 21 studies were included and results were summarized descriptively. Seventeen studies found the highest vaccine effectiveness in the youngest age group. Vaccine effectiveness estimates for younger adolescents ages 9-14 years ranged from approximately 74% to 93% and from 12% to 90% for adolescents ages 15-18 years. These results demonstrate that the HPV vaccine is most effective against HPV-related disease outcomes when given at younger ages, emphasizing the importance of on-time vaccination.
Topics: Female; Adolescent; Humans; Papillomavirus Vaccines; Papillomavirus Infections; Human Papillomavirus Viruses; Vaccine Efficacy; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms; Vaccination
PubMed: 37529935
DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2023.2239085 -
The Journal of Infectious Diseases Aug 2023In a phase 1/2 study, a maternal respiratory syncytial virus vaccine candidate (RSVPreF3) demonstrated an acceptable safety profile and efficiently increased... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
BACKGROUND
In a phase 1/2 study, a maternal respiratory syncytial virus vaccine candidate (RSVPreF3) demonstrated an acceptable safety profile and efficiently increased RSV-specific humoral immune responses in non-pregnant women.
METHODS
In this phase 2 observer-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial (NCT04126213), the safety of RSVPreF3 (60 or 120 µg), administered during late second or third trimester, was evaluated in 213 18- to 40-year-old healthy pregnant women through 6 months postdelivery and their offspring through infancy; immunogenicity was evaluated through day 43 postdelivery and day 181 postbirth, respectively.
RESULTS
RSVPreF3 was well tolerated. No pregnancy-related or neonatal adverse events of special interest were considered vaccine/placebo related. In the 60 and 120 µg RSVPreF3 groups: (1) neutralizing antibody (nAb) titers in mothers increased 12.7- and 14.9-fold against RSV-A and 10.6- and 13.2-fold against RSV-B, respectively, 1 month postvaccination and remained 8.9-10.0-fold over prevaccination at day 43 postdelivery; (2) nAb titers were consistently higher compared to placebo recipients; (3) placental transfer ratios for anti-RSVPreF3 antibodies at birth were 1.62 and 1.90, respectively, and (4) nAb levels in infants were highest at birth and declined through day 181 postbirth.
CONCLUSIONS
RSVPreF3 maternal vaccination had an acceptable safety risk profile and induced robust RSV-specific immune responses with successful antibody transfer to their newborns.
CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION
NCT04126213.
Topics: Pregnancy; Humans; Female; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Adolescent; Young Adult; Adult; Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccines; Antibodies, Viral; Antibodies, Neutralizing; Mothers; Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections; Viral Fusion Proteins; Placenta; Immunogenicity, Vaccine; Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Human
PubMed: 36722147
DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiad024 -
Scientific Reports Jul 2023Vaccines have revolutionized modern medicine by preventing infectious diseases and safeguarding public health. This Collection showcases cutting-edge research on...
Vaccines have revolutionized modern medicine by preventing infectious diseases and safeguarding public health. This Collection showcases cutting-edge research on advancements in vaccine development and their impact on disease prevention. The papers presented here report various facets of vaccine efficacy, immunological responses, and design, providing insight into future immunization strategies. I believe this Collection will serve as a catalyst for further advancements in the field of vaccine research.
Topics: Vaccines; Vaccination
PubMed: 37474542
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-38798-z -
Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland) Aug 2023Recent advances in malaria genetics and genomics have transformed many aspects of malaria research in areas of molecular evolution, epidemiology, transmission,... (Review)
Review
Recent advances in malaria genetics and genomics have transformed many aspects of malaria research in areas of molecular evolution, epidemiology, transmission, host-parasite interaction, drug resistance, pathogenicity, and vaccine development. Here, in addition to introducing some background information on malaria parasite biology, parasite genetics/genomics, and genotyping methods, we discuss some applications of genetic and genomic approaches in vaccine development and in studying interactions with microbiota. Genetic and genomic data can be used to search for novel vaccine targets, design an effective vaccine strategy, identify protective antigens in a whole-organism vaccine, and evaluate the efficacy of a vaccine. Microbiota has been shown to influence disease outcomes and vaccine efficacy; studying the effects of microbiota in pathogenicity and immunity may provide information for disease control. Malaria genetics and genomics will continue to contribute greatly to many fields of malaria research.
PubMed: 37624021
DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12081061 -
BMJ (Clinical Research Ed.) Nov 2023To investigate the effectiveness of primary covid-19 vaccination (first two doses and first booster dose within the recommended schedule) against post-covid-19 condition...
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effectiveness of primary covid-19 vaccination (first two doses and first booster dose within the recommended schedule) against post-covid-19 condition (PCC).
DESIGN
Population based cohort study.
SETTING
Swedish Covid-19 Investigation for Future Insights-a Population Epidemiology Approach using Register Linkage (SCIFI-PEARL) project, a register based cohort study in Sweden.
PARTICIPANTS
All adults (≥18 years) with covid-19 first registered between 27 December 2020 and 9 February 2022 (n=589 722) in the two largest regions of Sweden. Individuals were followed from a first infection until death, emigration, vaccination, reinfection, a PCC diagnosis (ICD-10 diagnosis code U09.9), or end of follow-up (30 November 2022), whichever came first. Individuals who had received at least one dose of a covid-19 vaccine before infection were considered vaccinated.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE
The primary outcome was a clinical diagnosis of PCC. Vaccine effectiveness against PCC was estimated using Cox regressions adjusted for age, sex, comorbidities (diabetes and cardiovascular, respiratory, and psychiatric disease), number of healthcare contacts during 2019, socioeconomic factors, and dominant virus variant at time of infection.
RESULTS
Of 299 692 vaccinated individuals with covid-19, 1201 (0.4%) had a diagnosis of PCC during follow-up, compared with 4118 (1.4%) of 290 030 unvaccinated individuals. Covid-19 vaccination with any number of doses before infection was associated with a reduced risk of PCC (adjusted hazard ratio 0.42, 95% confidence interval 0.38 to 0.46), with a vaccine effectiveness of 58%. Of the vaccinated individuals, 21 111 received one dose only, 205 650 received two doses, and 72 931 received three or more doses. Vaccine effectiveness against PCC for one dose, two doses, and three or more doses was 21%, 59%, and 73%, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study suggest a strong association between covid-19 vaccination before infection and reduced risk of receiving a diagnosis of PCC. The findings highlight the importance of primary vaccination against covid-19 to reduce the population burden of PCC.
Topics: Adult; Humans; COVID-19 Vaccines; COVID-19; Sweden; Cohort Studies; Vaccine Efficacy
PubMed: 37993131
DOI: 10.1136/bmj-2023-076990 -
Frontiers in Immunology 2023Coronavirus disease (Covid-19) has not only shaped awareness of the impact of infectious diseases on global health. It has also provided instructive lessons for better... (Review)
Review
Coronavirus disease (Covid-19) has not only shaped awareness of the impact of infectious diseases on global health. It has also provided instructive lessons for better prevention strategies against new and current infectious diseases of major importance. Tuberculosis (TB) is a major current health threat caused by (Mtb) which has claimed more lives than any other pathogen over the last few centuries. Hence, better intervention measures, notably novel vaccines, are urgently needed to accomplish the goal of the World Health Organization to end TB by 2030. This article describes how the research and development of TB vaccines can benefit from recent developments in the Covid-19 vaccine pipeline from research to clinical development and outlines how the field of TB research can pursue its own approaches. It begins with a brief discussion of major vaccine platforms in general terms followed by a short description of the most widely applied Covid-19 vaccines. Next, different vaccination regimes and particular hurdles for TB vaccine research and development are described. This specifically considers the complex immune mechanisms underlying protection and pathology in TB which involve innate as well as acquired immune mechanisms and strongly depend on fine tuning the response. A brief description of the TB vaccine candidates that have entered clinical trials follows. Finally, it discusses how experiences from Covid-19 vaccine research, development, and rollout can and have been applied to the TB vaccine pipeline, emphasizing similarities and dissimilarities.
Topics: Humans; COVID-19 Vaccines; COVID-19; Tuberculosis; Tuberculosis Vaccines; Communicable Diseases; Vaccine Development
PubMed: 38035095
DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1273938 -
Viruses May 2024Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the global pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome 2 virus (SARS-CoV-2) infection, has caused millions of infections... (Review)
Review
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the global pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome 2 virus (SARS-CoV-2) infection, has caused millions of infections and fatalities worldwide. Extensive SARS-CoV-2 research has been conducted to develop therapeutic drugs and prophylactic vaccines, and even though some drugs have been approved to treat SARS-CoV-2 infection, treatment efficacy remains limited. Therefore, preventive vaccination has been implemented on a global scale and represents the primary approach to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. Approved vaccines vary in composition, although vaccine design has been based on either the key viral structural (spike) protein or viral components carrying this protein. Therefore, mutations of the virus, particularly mutations in the S protein, severely compromise the effectiveness of current vaccines and the ability to control COVID-19 infection. This review begins by describing the SARS-CoV-2 viral composition, the mechanism of infection, the role of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2, the host defence responses against infection and the most common vaccine designs. Next, this review summarizes the common mutations of SARS-CoV-2 and how these mutations change viral properties, confer immune escape and influence vaccine efficacy. Finally, this review discusses global strategies that have been employed to mitigate the decreases in vaccine efficacy encountered against new variants.
Topics: Humans; SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19 Vaccines; COVID-19; Vaccine Development; Mutation; Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2
PubMed: 38793638
DOI: 10.3390/v16050757 -
Frontiers in Immunology 2024
Topics: Orthohantavirus; RNA Viruses; Immunotherapy
PubMed: 38384470
DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1377137