Thumbnail Image
Publication

Vaccines: from empirical development to rational design.

Rueckert, Christine
; 
Guzmán, Carlos A
Citations
Altmetric:
Advisors
Editors
Other Contributors
Issue Date
2012-11
Submitted date
Show all metadata
Files
Thumbnail Image
Open Access publication
Adobe PDF, 395 KB
Other Titles
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.
Citation
Vaccines: from empirical development to rational design. 2012, 8 (11):e1003001 PLoS Pathog.
Affiliation
Department of Vaccinology and Applied Microbiology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany.
Publisher
Journal
PLoS pathogens
URI
http://hdl.handle.net/10033/255243
DOI
10.1371/journal.ppat.1003001
PubMed ID
23144616
PubMed Central ID
Additional Links
Embedded video
Type
Article
Language
en
Description
Series/Report no.
ISSN
1553-7374
EISSN
ISBN
ISMN
Gov't Doc #
Sponsors
License
Archived with thanks to PLoS pathogens
Collections
publications of the research group vaccinology and applied microbiology (VAC)