Protein subunit vaccines have revolutionized the field of infectious disease prevention, offering a safer and more targeted approach to vaccine development. Our company is dedicated to providing top-notch services for the development of protein subunit vaccines. By partnering with us, you will gain access to state-of-the-art platforms that will accelerate your vaccine research and facilitate the commercialization process.
Protein Subunit Vaccines for Infectious Disease Prevention
Protein subunit vaccines are a type of vaccine that utilizes purified protein components (antigens) of pathogens to elicit an immune response. These vaccines contain only the antigenic parts of the pathogen, such as proteins, rather than the whole organism. Protein subunit vaccines have revolutionized the field of infectious disease prevention. Their significance lies in their ability to trigger a robust and targeted immune response against specific pathogens.
Fig. 1 Development of COVID-19 protein subunit vaccine. (Abufares H I, et al., 2022)
Mechanism of Protein Subunit Vaccines
The mechanism of action of protein subunit vaccines centers around the ability of antigenic proteins to stimulate an immune response.
Antigen Presentation
After vaccination, the antigen proteins are recognized by antigen-presenting cells (APCs). These APCs process the antigens and present them to immune cells called T cells and B cells.
Cellular Immunity
T cells have a vital role in orchestrating the immune response. They identify the presented antigens and stimulate the activation of other immune cells, such as B cells.
Humoral Immunity
In response, B cells produce antibodies that selectively attach to the antigen, tagging it for elimination or neutralization. This process offers protection against future infections.
Characteristics of Protein Subunit Vaccines
- Well-established technology
- Suitable for people with compromised immune systems
- No live components, so no risk of the vaccine triggering disease
- Relatively stable
- Adjuvants and booster shots may be required
- Highly specific and reduced side effects
Our Services
By precisely targeting pathogen-specific antigens, protein subunit vaccines can elicit a potent and targeted immune response, offering protection against a broad spectrum of pathogens. Our company has implemented a rigorous and comprehensive process for protein subunit vaccine development to ensure their effectiveness and safety.
How Do We Develop Protein Subunit Vaccines?
Identification of immunogenic subunits
By gaining in-depth knowledge of the pathogen's biology, virulence factors, and immune responses elicited during natural infections, our scientists identify and select the most immunogenic protein subunits from the target pathogen.
Subunit expression and synthesis
We clone the genes encoding the protein subunits into expression systems such as bacterial cells, yeast, mammalian cells, or insect cells to synthesize the antigenic proteins.
Extraction and purification
The expressed proteins are then extracted and purified to obtain high concentrations and high purity of the antigenic components. We utilize a range of purification methods, including chromatography and filtration, to eliminate impurities and contaminants.
Adjuvant Incorporation
Adjuvants, substances that enhance the immune response, may be added to the purified antigens to augment the vaccine's efficacy. Frequently employed adjuvants consist of aluminum salts and oil-in-water emulsions.
Formulation and Delivery
The purified antigens and adjuvants are formulated into a final vaccine product suitable for administration. Depending on the vaccine, different delivery systems, such as polymer-based delivery systems or live delivery systems, may be employed to optimize immune response and stability.
Preclinical Testing
The formulated protein subunit vaccine undergoes rigorous preclinical testing in animal models to evaluate safety, immunogenicity, and efficacy.
For Which Infectious Diseases Can We Develop Protein Subunit Vaccines?
- Hepatitis B
- Human Papillomavirus Infection
- Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
- Pertussis
- Meningitis
- Pneumococcal Infection
- Tetanus
- Influenza
- Herpes Zoster (Shingles)
- And More
Our company specializes in the research and development of protein subunit vaccines. If you are interested in our services, please feel free to contact us for more details and quotation information of related services.
References
- Abufares H I, Oyoun Alsoud L, Alqudah M A Y, et al. COVID-19 vaccines, effectiveness, and immune responses[J]. International journal of molecular sciences, 2022, 23(23): 15415.
- Heidary M, Kaviar V H, Shirani M, et al. A comprehensive review of the protein subunit vaccines against COVID-19[J]. Frontiers in microbiology, 2022, 13: 927306.
All of our services and products are intended for preclinical research use
only and cannot be used to diagnose, treat or manage patients.
