Vaccines are vital to protection of global human health. From the earliest inactivated vaccines (killed or weakened) that often had significant safety concerns, to recombinant peptide vaccines that had improved safety profiles, to viral-vectored vaccines that combined the best features of previous technologies. However, these technologies were time- and resource-intensive to develop and test, which made them less than ideal for the rapid response necessary for pandemics.
The resolution of COVID-19 was due in great part to the improvement of nucleic acid vaccines. The breakthroughs in technical development of these vaccines occurred in tandem with creative testing strategies. However, most experts expect COVID to become endemic in the human population; in addition, we still face challenges from seasonal and pandemic influenza, emerging/re-emerging zoonotic diseases, and engineered pathogens that can be used as weapons. Any of these scenarios will require a vaccine response at least as urgent as that for COVID-19, and possibly more so. It is imperative that vaccine technology continue its rapid evolution.
The Journal welcomes original research papers and critical reviews as part of this Collection. Some examples of novel vaccines relevant to this Collection include – but are not limited to - bacterial-vectored vaccines; viral-vectored vaccines, including adenovirus, lentivirus, herpesvirus, vaccinia virus, baculovirus); virus-like particles (VLPs); RNA vaccines; DNA vaccines; and manipulation of the host immune system such as induction of innate immunity. Also pertinent to this Collection are novel bioengineered materials intended to modify or improve vaccine performance such as particulates, lipid nanoparticles, and ISCOMs, as well as novel vaccines delivery and administration, and other methods. Of particular interest are articles describing special considerations for assessment of toxicity and/or immunomodulation associated with any of these topics.
Dr. House serves as an independent consultant to various biotechnology companies and is an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Public and International Affairs at George Mason University.
He earned his Master of Science in Public Health and Ph.D. degrees in Medical Parasitology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Public Health and is the author or co-author of more than 100 journal articles, book chapters and books covering immunology, toxicology, infectious disease, and biodefense.
All manuscripts submitted to this Article Collection will undergo a full peer-review; the Guest Advisors for this collection will not be handling the manuscripts (unless they are a Editorial Board members). Please review the journal scope and author submission instructions prior to submitting a manuscript.
