title: Immunomics: a 21st century approach to vaccine development for complex pathogens.
abstract: Immunomics is a relatively new field of research which integrates the disciplines of immunology, genomics, proteomics, transcriptomics and bioinformatics to characterize the host-pathogen interface. Herein, we discuss how rapid advances in molecular immunology, sophisticated tools and molecular databases are facilitating in-depth exploration of the immunome. In our opinion, an immunomics-based approach presides over traditional antigen and vaccine discovery methods that have proved ineffective for highly complex pathogens such as the causative agents of malaria, tuberculosis and schistosomiasis that have evolved genetic and immunological host-parasite adaptations over time. By using an integrative multidisciplinary approach, immunomics offers enormous potential to advance 21st century antigen discovery and rational vaccine design against complex pathogens such as the Plasmodium parasite.
authors: Infectious Diseases Programme,QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute,Herston,QLD 4029,Australia.
authors: Karina P
authors: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1418-0669
authors: KP
authors: De Sousa
authors: Infectious Diseases Programme,QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute,Herston,QLD 4029,Australia.
authors: Denise L
authors: DL
authors: Doolan
mesh_terms: D000486:Allergy and Immunology / Q000639:trends*; D000818:Animals; D001419:Bacteria / Q000276:immunology; D019295:Computational Biology / Q000639:trends*; D010271:Parasites / Q000276:immunology; D014612:Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D014780:Viruses / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D014612:Vaccines
keywords: Immunomics; antigen discovery; complex pathogens; immunome; malaria; parasites; rational vaccine design; vaccine development