Vaccines: from Empirical Development to Rational Design

Overview

Journal PLoS Pathog

Specialty Microbiology

Date 2012 Nov 13

PMID 23144616

Citations 61

Authors

Christine Rueckert

Carlos A Guzman

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Infectious diseases are responsible for an overwhelming number of deaths worldwide and their clinical management is often hampered by the emergence of multi-drug-resistant strains. Therefore, prevention through vaccination currently represents the best course of action to combat them. However, immune escape and evasion by pathogens often render vaccine development difficult. Furthermore, most currently available vaccines were empirically designed. In this review, we discuss why rational design of vaccines is not only desirable but also necessary. We introduce recent developments towards specifically tailored antigens, adjuvants, and delivery systems, and discuss the methodological gaps and lack of knowledge still hampering true rational vaccine design. Finally, we address the potential and limitations of different strategies and technologies for advancing vaccine development.

Citing Articles

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