L19 - Molecular approaches to bacterial vaccine design; problems and solutions Flashcards
What is the primary focus of vaccine design?
To create effective vaccines that control infectious diseases.
Why are vaccines essential for controlling infections?
They help manage diseases that cannot be treated with antibiotics.
Which infections are considered urgent targets for vaccines?
Meningitis and sepsis, particularly in young populations.
Why do infections in young individuals create strong emotional responses?
Because they are more vulnerable, emphasizing the need for effective vaccines.
What is the goal of an immune response in vaccine design?
To elicit a robust immune response targeted at the specific infectious disease.
What are the two main types of immune responses needed for vaccines?
Humoral and cell-mediated immune responses.
Why is cost-effectiveness important in vaccine manufacturing?
To ensure widespread accessibility of vaccines.
Why must vaccines be stable during transport and storage?
To maintain their efficacy and prevent degradation.
What is an important consideration for vaccine efficacy?
Long-lasting protection with minimal doses.
Why is antigen conservation important?
To maintain vaccine effectiveness across different strains.
What is a major safety concern in vaccine development?
Avoiding adverse effects and vaccine-resistant strains.
Why is public trust in vaccine safety crucial?
High trust leads to higher vaccination rates.
What is the first phase of vaccine development?
Preclinical development.
What happens in preclinical vaccine development?
Antigen identification and optimization based on prior research.
What is the focus of Phase 1 clinical trials?
Evaluating vaccine safety in a small group and assessing adverse reactions.
What is tested in Phase 2 clinical trials?
Vaccine efficacy in a larger population and immune response monitoring.
What is the purpose of Phase 3 clinical trials?
Comparing vaccine effectiveness across a broad population and diverse demographics.
Why is post-marketing surveillance necessary?
To monitor for rare side effects not detected in earlier trials.
What is an example of a successful meningococcal vaccine?
Serogroup C conjugate vaccine.
How does the Serogroup C vaccine provide lasting immunity?
By combining polysaccharide vaccines with T-dependent antigens.
Why was developing a Serogroup B vaccine challenging?
Due to variations in antigens.
What approach was used to develop the Bexsero vaccine?
Reverse vaccinology using genomic data.
Why is post-introduction data on vaccines important?
To track trends in disease cases and vaccine impact.
How do genomic technologies improve vaccine design?
They help understand pathogen variability and identify new vaccine targets.
How can vaccine efficacy be improved?
By using multiple antigens and innovative delivery methods.
What are the key considerations in vaccine design?
Immune response, manufacturing, safety, and efficacy.
Why is continued research in vaccines essential?
To combat emerging infectious diseases and improve public health.
What are the key characteristics of an effective vaccine?
Safety, efficacy, long-lasting immunity, and stability.
What are the main phases of vaccine development?
Preclinical, clinical (Phases I-III), licensing, and post-marketing (Phase IV).
How does transcriptomics contribute to vaccine research?
It studies gene expression to identify potential vaccine targets.
What is the advantage of RNASeq over microarrays in studying gene expression?
RNASeq does not require prior knowledge of genome sequences, unlike microarrays.
How is proteomics used in vaccine design?
It identifies and studies protein expression to find vaccine targets.
What is reverse vaccinology?
A genomic approach that identifies vaccine targets by analyzing pathogen genomes.
How does reverse vaccinology differ from traditional vaccine development?
Reverse vaccinology starts with genomic data, whereas traditional methods rely on culturing the pathogen.
What are the benefits of using genomics in vaccine development?
It allows for the identification of conserved antigens across bacterial strains.
Why is Neisseria meningitidis a significant target for vaccine development?
It causes meningococcal disease, a leading cause of bacterial meningitis and sepsis.
What challenges exist in developing a vaccine for Neisseria meningitidis?
High antigenic variation and immune system evasion make vaccine development difficult.
How do bacterial surface proteins play a role in vaccine target selection?
Surface proteins are key antigens that trigger immune responses.
What is an outer membrane vesicle (OMV) vaccine?
A vaccine that uses bacterial vesicles containing surface antigens to elicit an immune response.
Why was the development of a serogroup B meningococcal vaccine challenging?
Serogroup B capsule resembles human molecules, making it difficult to target without causing autoimmunity.
What are some key proteins identified as vaccine targets for meningococcal disease?
Factor H binding protein (fHbp), Neisserial adhesin A (NadA), and Neisserial heparin binding antigen (NHBA).
What are the advantages of using recombinant proteins in vaccine development?
Recombinant proteins allow for targeted immune responses and controlled production.
How do conjugate vaccines improve immune response?
They link polysaccharides to proteins, enhancing immune system recognition.
What is the role of T-helper cells in vaccine-induced immunity?
They help stimulate B cells and ensure long-lasting immune memory.
What is an adjuvant, and why is it used in vaccines?
A substance added to vaccines to enhance immune response.
How does immune memory contribute to long-term vaccine effectiveness?
It enables rapid response to previously encountered pathogens.
What are the main limitations of polysaccharide-based vaccines?
They do not induce strong immune memory and require boosters.
What are some modern approaches to bacterial vaccine design?
Reverse vaccinology, OMV vaccines, and protein subunit vaccines.
How does bacterial antigenic variation impact vaccine development?
Bacteria frequently change their surface antigens, reducing vaccine effectiveness.
What are the challenges of using live attenuated bacterial vaccines?
They can revert to a virulent form and cause disease in immunocompromised individuals.
Why is stability an important factor in vaccine design?
Vaccines must remain stable under various environmental conditions to be effective.
How does whole-genome sequencing contribute to vaccine research?
It allows identification of conserved and variable antigens for vaccine targeting.
What is the significance of epitope mapping in vaccine design?
It identifies critical regions of antigens that can trigger strong immune responses.
How does structural biology aid in vaccine target identification?
It provides detailed insights into antigen structures for improved vaccine design.
What is the importance of herd immunity in vaccination programs?
It reduces disease spread by protecting non-vaccinated individuals.
How does molecular mimicry influence vaccine safety?
Some bacterial antigens mimic host proteins, risking autoimmunity.
What is phase variation, and how does it affect vaccine development?
It enables bacteria to switch antigen expression, complicating vaccine effectiveness.
What role does bioinformatics play in vaccine research?
It analyzes genomic and proteomic data to find potential vaccine targets.
How do bacterial secretion systems relate to vaccine target identification?
They deliver antigens to host cells and can serve as vaccine targets.
What is antigenic drift, and why is it important in vaccine development?
It leads to small changes in bacterial antigens, potentially reducing vaccine effectiveness.
How do host-pathogen interactions guide vaccine design?
It helps determine which bacterial components elicit protective immune responses.
What are the advantages of synthetic biology in vaccine development?
It allows for the design of novel antigen structures and vaccine candidates.
How do lipid-based vaccine delivery systems improve immunogenicity?
They improve antigen stability and delivery to immune cells.
What is a multi-subunit vaccine, and why is it beneficial?
They combine multiple antigens to enhance immune protection.
What are the ethical considerations in bacterial vaccine development?
Informed consent, safety trials, and equitable distribution.
How do vaccines contribute to antimicrobial resistance control?
They reduce infection rates, decreasing antibiotic use and resistance development.
What are some challenges in vaccine distribution and accessibility?
Cold chain storage, production costs, and distribution in remote areas.
What is the role of computational modeling in vaccine design?
It helps predict immune responses and optimize vaccine formulations.
How does CRISPR technology contribute to bacterial vaccine development?
It enables precise genetic modifications for better vaccine target identification.
Why are carrier proteins important in conjugate vaccines?
They improve immune response by linking poorly immunogenic antigens to stronger ones.
How does glycoengineering enhance vaccine development?
It modifies bacterial sugars to create more effective antigens.
What are bacteriophage-based vaccines, and how do they work?
They use bacterial viruses to deliver antigens and stimulate immunity.
Why are thermostable vaccines important for global health?
They remain effective without refrigeration, improving global distribution.
How do nanoparticle-based vaccines improve immune responses?
They enhance antigen delivery and stimulate stronger immune responses.
What is the significance of mucosal immunity in bacterial vaccines?
Mucosal immunity provides the first line of defense against bacterial infections.
What is the role of dendritic cells in vaccine-induced immune responses?
They present antigens to T cells, initiating immune responses.
How do toxoid vaccines work in preventing bacterial infections?
They use inactivated toxins to generate immunity against bacterial pathogens.
