Reverse vaccinology
Reverse Vaccinology
Reverse vaccinology (pronunciation: /rɪˈvɜːs væksɪˈnɒlədʒi/) is a field of vaccinology that uses a genomics-based approach to vaccine development. This method involves analyzing the genome of a pathogen to identify potential antigens, rather than the traditional method of directly testing pathogen-derived proteins.
Etymology
The term "reverse vaccinology" was first coined by Rino Rappuoli in 2000. The prefix "reverse" refers to the reversal of the traditional vaccine development process, while "vaccinology" is derived from the Latin vaccinus (pertaining to the cow), a reference to the first vaccine developed from cowpox to prevent smallpox.
Process
The process of reverse vaccinology begins with the sequencing of the pathogen's genome. The genome is then analyzed using bioinformatics tools to predict proteins that could serve as potential antigens. These proteins are then expressed and tested for their ability to provoke an immune response in a host organism.
Applications
Reverse vaccinology has been used in the development of vaccines for a number of diseases, including meningococcus B, pneumococcus, and group B streptococcus. It has also been used in the development of vaccines for zoonotic diseases, such as avian influenza and swine flu.
Advantages and Limitations
One of the main advantages of reverse vaccinology is its ability to identify antigens that would be difficult to discover using traditional methods. However, it also has limitations, including the difficulty of predicting protein structure and the need for high-throughput screening methods.
Related Terms
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Reverse vaccinology
- Wikipedia's article - Reverse vaccinology
This WikiMD article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski