Vaccine Research and Development
Infographic
Last Updated: September 14, 2023
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Published: September 13, 2023
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Molly Coddington
Senior Science Writer
Molly Campbell is a senior science writer at Technology Networks. She holds a first-class honors degree in neuroscience. In 2021 Molly was shortlisted for the Women in Journalism Georgina Henry Award.
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Credit: Technology Networks
The pandemic has ushered in a vaccines “golden era”. Long-term investment in vaccine manufacturing has been prioritized, as has the pursuit of novel vaccine platforms. In this infographic, we explore recent advances in vaccine research and development.
Download this infographic to learn more about:
• The importance of immunization as a public health strategy
• The utility of multiomics in vaccine research and development
• Emerging approaches for vaccine delivery
mRNA technology is
highly adaptable, and
can be modified quickly to
target different pathogens.
In the event of a public
health emergency, this
can enable rapid vaccine
development as the manufacturing
processes are
transferable.
AI can help developers to
identify regions with low
vaccine uptake. Utilizing
this data, educational
campaigns can be targeted
to those regions to increase
immunization rates.
Screening
of a virus
The sequence
is retrieved
for antigenic
proteins
Selection
of epitopes
for vaccine
development
Vaccine
design
Prediction of
T- and B-cell
epitopes
Structural
prediction
and molecular
docking
AI tools can accelerate the
identification of potential
antigens and predict
vaccine candidates’
effectiveness. A typical
workflow utilizing AI might
look like this:
mRNA vaccines do not
use live virus particles,
reducing the likelihood
of adverse reactions to
immunization.
As the target protein is
produced by the cell’s own
machinery, activation
of both humoral and
cellular immune responses
can occur.
Traditional vaccines
can require growing a
virus in the lab, which
is time-consuming. For
mRNA vaccines, this is not
a requirement.
4
million
50
million
14
million
more than
25
VACCINES AT A GLANCE
Vaccines are considered to be one of the greatest public health achievements
by the World Health Organization (WHO). Across the planet, these biological
preparations protect millions of lives from once-deadly diseases every day.
This infographic highlights the remarkable advances in vaccine research and
development that have transformed the world of immunization.
annual deaths are
prevented by childhood
vaccination*
deaths will be prevented
between 2021–2030
due to immunization*
lives will be saved
through measles
vaccination alone
by 2030*
safe and effective
vaccines exist*
*according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Development Vaccine Research &
The COVID-19 global pandemic has ushered in a vaccines “golden era”. Long-term investment in vaccine
manufacturing has been prioritized, as has the pursuit of novel vaccine platforms. Let’s take a look at
some of the most recent advances across vaccine design, development, manufacturing and distribution.
Multiomics in Vaccine
research & development
Transcriptomics
Epigenomics
Metabolomics
Lipidomics
Proteomics
Genomics
Glycoproteomics
Secretomics
MultiOmics
data
Study of the interactions, function, composition and
structures of proteins and their cellular activities.
The study of the
genes in DNA,
their function and
their influence on
the cells, tissues
and organisms.
Study of epigenetic modifications on the
genetic material of a cell.
Study of the secretome, all
the secreted proteins of a
cell, tissue or organism.
Identifies, catalogs and
characterizes proteins that
contain carbohydrates
as post-translational
modifications.
Study of the lipidome pathways and networks of
cellular lipids in biological systems.
Study of chemical processes
involving metabolites, the small
molecule substrates, intermediates
and products of cell metabolism.
Study of the entire set of RNA
transcripts that are produced by
the genome at a given moment in
a cell, tissue or organism.
Next-generation sequencing, mass spectrometry (MS) and other high-throughput approaches are
enabling scientists to collect multiomics data on a large scale, building comprehensive and systematic
pictures of biological processes – including human disease.
Examples of delivery methods being explored are:
mRNA vaccines carry several advantages over other approaches, such as:
Since the first mRNA vaccine was authorized for human use in the global
pandemic, mRNA vaccine development continues to thrive. Examples of recent
developments include:
P
P
`
Clinical
syndromes
Vaccines
Pathogenic
mechanisms
Multiomics data is facilitating the vaccine
design process, where reverse vaccinology
is considered a proficient and cost-effective
approach. Reverse vaccinology involves
screening a pathogenic genome to identify
genes that are associated with promising vaccine
targets, such as outer membrane proteins.
Pinpointing the biological mechanisms that
underly strong humoral and cell-mediated
immune responses can support the development
of material platforms capable of spatially
and temporally controlling the interaction of
vaccine components with immune cells.
To design safe and effective vaccines against
challenging pathogens, a comprehensive
understanding of how the immune system –
and other biological processes – develop
and respond to pathogens is paramount,
particularly in vulnerable
populations. The plasma
proteome has been used
to successfully characterize
the trajectory of
the newborn immune
system during the
first week of life, for
example.
Systems vaccinology uses omics data
to understand the complex mechanisms
that occur when an immune response is
prompted by a vaccine.
Multiomics methods were used
to characterize temporal
molecular responses following
vaccination with hepatitis
B virus (HBV) vaccine.
The results show that
baseline characteristics
of an individual’s
immune
system can influence
vaccine
response.
Vaccine design Vaccine delivery
Host response to Vaccine immune profiling
disease
phenotype
determination
prediction of
complications
metabolic
and immune
changes
pathway
analysis
biomarker
changes
histopathological
features
novel
vaccine platforms
Earlier generations of vaccines were based on toxoids (inactivated toxins) or whole microorganisms
(in an alive or inactivated form).
Novel candidates are “minimalistic” in comparison; they either comprise a piece of a pathogen or
genetic material that encodes a protein from the pathogen to illict an immune response.
Let’s take a closer look at mRNA vaccines.
Uses a dead form of
a pathogen that has
been inactivated
using chemicals,
heat or radiation.
The sequence corresponding
to the mRNA
is inserted into a plasmid
within a cell. The
plasmid is placed in a
reactor where enzymatic
reactions trigger the
synthesis of the mRNA.
The mRNA encoding a
specific antigen of the
infectious pathogen is
created from a DNA template.
This DNA sequence
can be shared globally
through computer
systems in an instant.
The mRNA is then
purified through methods
such as chromatography
to remove enzymes,
remaining nucleotides
and defective mRNA.
mRNA delivery:
as mRNA is unstable,
scientists are working
on various methods to
encapsulate it for
delivery into the body.
Messenger ribonucleid
acid (mRNA) encoding
a particular viral protein
induces endogenous
production of the protein
in the recipient’s cells.
A certain piece of pathogen,
such as a sugar protein or
capsid, is used to generate an
immune response.
A toxin produced
by the pathogen
that causes a
disease is used.
A weakened form
of the antigen that
causes a disease is
used to generate an
immune response.
inactivated
Subunit,
polysaccharide,
conjugate and
recombinant
mRNA
toxoid live-attenuated
1
2
3
4
Lipid-based
delivery
Polymer-based
delivery
Peptide-based
delivery
Virus-like
replicon particle
Cationic
nanoemulsion
Naked mRNAs Dendritic cell-based
mRNA vaccines
Pandemic
preparedness
Reduce adverse
effects
Can stimulate
strong immune
responses
Rapid
development
the impact
of AI
Artificial intelligence (AI) has had a substantial impact on vaccine development
in a short period of time.
future advances in
vaccine manufacturing
Several countries have made public announcements pledging to expand their domestic vaccine
production capabilities. But how do we manufacture and distribute safe vaccines faster?
Let’s explore some options.
Developing a versatile foundational
framework that can be adapted as required
to generate new vaccines for related viruses.
Biotechnology
platform-based
vaccine development
To further optimize large-scale viral vaccine
production, the industry must embrace:
• new approaches to optimize cell
culture medium
• new cell culture schemes
• more efficient and safer cell lines
• progress of automation technology
Enhancing the precision
and consistency of cell
culture models
In 2022, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) announced
that ~$17.5 million will be made available to vaccine developers and tech
companies working on innovations to support temperature-stable vaccines for use
in low- and middle-income countries.
Ensuring vaccine stability during the cold
chain process has been a major challenge
historically, particularly in resource-limited
settings. Recent strides in thermostable
vaccine technology have led to the creation
of vaccines that remain potent even at higher
temperatures, reducing waste and enabling
broader distribution to remote regions.
Thermostable vaccines
Nanotechnology has opened up new possibilities
for vaccine delivery. Nanoparticles
can act as carriers, effectively transporting
vaccine components to specific cells or
tissues, enhancing the vaccine’s effectiveness.
Vaccine-containing microarray patch
(VMAPs), an alternative to intramuscular and
subcutaenous immunization approaches, are
currently in development. VMAPS offer
several advantages, including enhanced
safety during administration, reduced reliance
on cold chains, facilitating simpler
storage and transportation and eliminating
the risks associated with needle waste.
novel delivery
approaches
Sponsored by:
An mRNA-based vaccine
to induce liver tissueresident
memory T cells
has shown promise against
the malaria-causing
parasite Plasmodium in
preclinical models.
Authorization applications
have been made to
regulatory bodies for an
mRNA vaccine to prevent
respiratory syncytial
virus-associated lower
respiratory tract disease.
Late-stage trials are
commencing to test
personalized mRNA-based
vaccines for skin cancer,
in combination with
immunotherapy.
The success of clinical
trials can be supported
using AI by assisting with
participant recruitment,
ensuring participant
diversity and retainment.
This data can support vaccine development at various stages of the pipeline.
Manufacturer National storage
facility
Heath center Vaccination
outreach
Regional hospital
Sponsored by
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