Emerging concepts in the science of vaccine adjuvants.
Nat Rev Drug Discov
; 20(6): 454-475, 2021 06.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1171144
ABSTRACT
Adjuvants are vaccine components that enhance the magnitude, breadth and durability of the immune response. Following its introduction in the 1920s, alum remained the only adjuvant licensed for human use for the next 70 years. Since the 1990s, a further five adjuvants have been included in licensed vaccines, but the molecular mechanisms by which these adjuvants work remain only partially understood. However, a revolution in our understanding of the activation of the innate immune system through pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) is improving the mechanistic understanding of adjuvants, and recent conceptual advances highlight the notion that tissue damage, different forms of cell death, and metabolic and nutrient sensors can all modulate the innate immune system to activate adaptive immunity. Furthermore, recent advances in the use of systems biology to probe the molecular networks driving immune response to vaccines ('systems vaccinology') are revealing mechanistic insights and providing a new paradigm for the vaccine discovery and development process. Here, we review the 'known knowns' and 'known unknowns' of adjuvants, discuss these emerging concepts and highlight how our expanding knowledge about innate immunity and systems vaccinology are revitalizing the science and development of novel adjuvants for use in vaccines against COVID-19 and future pandemics.
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Adjuvants, Immunologic
/
COVID-19 Vaccines
/
COVID-19
/
Immunity, Innate
Type of study:
Prognostic study
Topics:
Vaccines
Limits:
Humans
Language:
English
Journal:
Nat Rev Drug Discov
Journal subject:
Pharmacology
/
Drug Therapy
Year:
2021
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
S41573-021-00163-y
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