High throughput has allowed screening of the entire genome of a pathogen to aid in vaccine development
It’s estimated that 10-100 times more candidates can be identified in 1-2 years using genomic-based approaches that can be identified by conventional methods in the same time frame
Steps:
Whole genome sequence of pathogen is obtained
Reverse Vaccinology: sequence information identifies protein antigens for possible inclusion in vaccines
Pan-genomics: comparison of sequence of related pathogens to ensure the chosen antigen covers the diversity of the organism
Comparative genomics: comparison of sequence of related pathogens to identify antigens that are present in pathogenic strains but absent in non-pathogenic strains
Genetic Engineering
Intentional modification of the genetic code of an organism using bio-technology
Modifications include
Removing heritable material or
Introducing DNA using recombinant nucleic acid (DNA or RNA) techniques
Hepatitis B vaccine is the only approved recombinant engineered vaccine approved for human use
Most genetically engineered vaccines are:
Costly to manufacture and gain approval
Less immunogenic (causes less of an immune response) than conventional vaccines