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Vaccines
Special Issues
Microbial Antigen Identification and Vaccine Delivery Systems
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Microbial Antigen Identification and Vaccine Delivery Systems

A special issue of Vaccines (ISSN 2076-393X). This special issue belongs to the section "Pathogens-host Immune Interface".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 July 2022) | Viewed by 14348

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Jorge H. Leitão

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
Interests: molecular microbiology; biology and biochemistry of Gram-negative bacteria; bacterial small non-coding regulatory RNAs; mechanisms of resistance to antimicrobials; development of new antimicrobials; vaccine research
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Paulo Bettencourt

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Centro de Investigação Interdisciplinar em Saúde, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, 2625-631 Rio de Mouro, Portugal
Interests: vaccinology; antigen presentation; tuberculosis; Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Vaccine efficacy and immunogenicity depend on the host, pathogen, and pathogenesis of the disease. The optimization of vaccine efficacy is therefore a requirement of many vaccines, including approved ones.

Key aspects of vaccine design and development involve the identification of the foremost immunogenic determinants of a pathogen and the choice of the best delivery system. Different vaccine delivery systems, using the same antigen, can induce variable outcomes. Therefore, the selection and evaluation of the ideal delivery system is paramount for the success of a vaccine. Recent advances in the identification of the foremost immunogenic determinants have been achieved, with impressive developments, as is the case of immunopeptidomics.

A wide range of delivery systems have been developed so far, from variolation in ancient China dating back to the 15th century to the most advanced viral vectors and RNA vaccines currently used for the development of COVID-19 vaccines in the 21st century.

In this Special Issue, we invite articles focused on innovative methods for immunogenic determinants identification from microbial pathogens and the optimization of microbial delivery systems to improve vaccine efficacy and immunogenicity. We welcome all types of manuscripts accepted in the journal, with a special focus in immunogenic determinant identification, irrespective of their biochemical nature and antigen presentation. Given that the efficacy of a vaccine antigen depends greatly on the delivery method, this Special Issue will also focus on improving microbial-based delivery systems.

Prof. Jorge H. Leitão
Dr. Paulo Bettencourt
Guest Editors

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 delivery systems
  • adjuvants
  • nanoparticles
  • virus-like particles
  • viral vectors
  • sub-unit vaccines
  • immunogenic determinant identification and presentation
  • whole-cell bacterial vaccines

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Editorial

Jump to: Research, Review

2 pages, 193 KiB  
Editorial
Microbial Antigen Identification and Vaccine Delivery Systems
by Paulo J. G. Bettencourt and Jorge H. Leitão
Vaccines 2022, 10(12), 2053; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines10122053 - 30 Nov 2022
Viewed by 1167
Abstract
Vaccine efficacy and immunogenicity depend on the host, pathogen, and pathogenesis of the disease [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microbial Antigen Identification and Vaccine Delivery Systems)

Research

Jump to: Editorial, Review

14 pages, 1685 KiB  
Article
Dissecting the Mycobacterium bovis BCG Response to Macrophage Infection to Help Prioritize Targets for Anti-Tuberculosis Drug and Vaccine Discovery
by Jamie Medley, Aaron Goff, Paulo J. G. Bettencourt, Madelaine Dare, Liam Cole, Daire Cantillon and Simon J. Waddell
Vaccines 2022, 10(1), 113; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines10010113 - 13 Jan 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3814
Abstract
New strategies are required to reduce the worldwide burden of tuberculosis. Intracellular survival and replication of Mycobacterium tuberculosis after macrophage phagocytosis is a fundamental step in the complex host–pathogen interactions that lead to granuloma formation and disease. Greater understanding of how the bacterium [...] Read more.
New strategies are required to reduce the worldwide burden of tuberculosis. Intracellular survival and replication of Mycobacterium tuberculosis after macrophage phagocytosis is a fundamental step in the complex host–pathogen interactions that lead to granuloma formation and disease. Greater understanding of how the bacterium survives and thrives in these environments will inform novel drug and vaccine discovery programs. Here, we use in-depth RNA sequencing of Mycobacterium bovis BCG from human THP-1 macrophages to describe the mycobacterial adaptations to the intracellular environment. We identify 329 significantly differentially regulated genes, highlighting cholesterol catabolism, the methylcitrate cycle and iron homeostasis as important for mycobacteria inside macrophages. Examination of multi-functional gene families revealed that 35 PE/PPE genes and five cytochrome P450 genes were upregulated 24 h after infection, highlighting pathways of potential significance. Comparison of the intracellular transcriptome to gene essentiality and immunogenicity studies identified 15 potential targets that are both required for intracellular survival and induced on infection, and eight upregulated genes that have been demonstrated to be immunogenic in TB patients. Further insight into these new and established targets will support drug and vaccine development efforts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microbial Antigen Identification and Vaccine Delivery Systems)
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Review

Jump to: Editorial, Research

21 pages, 1575 KiB  
Review
Antibody-Based Immunotherapies as a Tool for Tackling Multidrug-Resistant Bacterial Infections
by António M. M. Seixas, Sílvia A. Sousa and Jorge H. Leitão
Vaccines 2022, 10(11), 1789; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines10111789 - 25 Oct 2022
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 3983
Abstract
The discovery of antimicrobials is an outstanding achievement of mankind that led to the development of modern medicine. However, increasing antimicrobial resistance observed worldwide is rendering commercially available antimicrobials ineffective. This problem results from the bacterial ability to adapt to selective pressure, leading [...] Read more.
The discovery of antimicrobials is an outstanding achievement of mankind that led to the development of modern medicine. However, increasing antimicrobial resistance observed worldwide is rendering commercially available antimicrobials ineffective. This problem results from the bacterial ability to adapt to selective pressure, leading to the development or acquisition of multiple types of resistance mechanisms that can severely affect the efficacy of antimicrobials. The misuse, over-prescription, and poor treatment adherence by patients are factors strongly aggravating this issue, with an epidemic of infections untreatable by first-line therapies occurring over decades. Alternatives are required to tackle this problem, and immunotherapies are emerging as pathogen-specific and nonresistance-generating alternatives to antimicrobials. In this work, four types of antibody formats and their potential for the development of antibody-based immunotherapies against bacteria are discussed. These antibody isotypes include conventional mammalian polyclonal antibodies that are used for the neutralization of toxins; conventional mammalian monoclonal antibodies that currently have 100 IgG mAbs approved for therapeutic use; immunoglobulin Y found in birds and an excellent source of high-quality polyclonal antibodies able to be purified noninvasively from egg yolks; and single domain antibodies (also known as nanobodies), a recently discovered antibody format (found in camelids and nurse sharks) that allows for a low-cost synthesis in microbial systems, access to hidden or hard-to-reach epitopes, and exhibits a high modularity for the development of complex structures. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microbial Antigen Identification and Vaccine Delivery Systems)
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23 pages, 921 KiB  
Review
Vaccine Design and Vaccination Strategies against Rickettsiae
by Anke Osterloh
Vaccines 2021, 9(8), 896; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines9080896 - 12 Aug 2021
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3982
Abstract
Rickettsioses are febrile, potentially lethal infectious diseases that are a serious health threat, especially in poor income countries. The causative agents are small obligate intracellular bacteria, rickettsiae. Rickettsial infections are emerging worldwide with increasing incidence and geographic distribution. Nonetheless, these infections are clearly [...] Read more.
Rickettsioses are febrile, potentially lethal infectious diseases that are a serious health threat, especially in poor income countries. The causative agents are small obligate intracellular bacteria, rickettsiae. Rickettsial infections are emerging worldwide with increasing incidence and geographic distribution. Nonetheless, these infections are clearly underdiagnosed because methods of diagnosis are still limited and often not available. Another problem is that the bacteria respond to only a few antibiotics, so delayed or wrong antibiotic treatment often leads to a more severe outcome of the disease. In addition to that, the development of antibiotic resistance is a serious threat because alternative antibiotics are missing. For these reasons, prophylactic vaccines against rickettsiae are urgently needed. In the past years, knowledge about protective immunity against rickettsiae and immunogenic determinants has been increasing and provides a basis for vaccine development against these bacterial pathogens. This review provides an overview of experimental vaccination approaches against rickettsial infections and perspectives on vaccination strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microbial Antigen Identification and Vaccine Delivery Systems)
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