Bacterial genome variability and its impact on vaccine design.
The majority of currently available successful vaccines induce host responses against antigens that are highly conserved in the targeted pathogens. The diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis vaccines confer protection by inducing neutralizing antibodies to the conserved bacterial toxins that are the major virulence factors. The Hemophilus influenzae B vaccine induces responses to conserved epitopes in the sugar structure of the bacterial capsular polysaccharide. However, the efficacy of more recently developed vaccines is limited by antigen variation, which also presents a challenge for future vaccine development. This review will explore bacterial genome variability and its impact on vaccine development.
Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics Srl, Via Fiorentina 1, 53100 Siena, Italy. john.telford@novartis.com
John L
JL
Telford
D000818:Animals; D000940:Antigenic Variation; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D001419:Bacteria / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D015870:Gene Expression; D014644:Genetic Variation; D016680:Genome, Bacterial; D006801:Humans; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial