Genome- and proteome-wide screening strategies for antigen discovery and immunogen design

Infectious diseases remain a leading global cause of morbidity and mortality and there is an urgent need for effective approaches to develop vaccines, especially against complex pathogens. The availability of comprehensive genomic, proteomic and transcriptomic datasets has shifted the paradigm of vaccine development from microbiological to sequence-based approaches. However, how to effectively translate raw data into candidate vaccines is not yet obvious. Herein, we review cutting-edge technologies and screening strategies to mine genomic sequence information for state-of-the-art rational vaccine design, and highlight recent trends. Interdisciplinary approaches which cross the traditional boundaries of genomics, molecular biology, cell biology, immunology and computer science, and which prioritise antigens according to clinically relevant criteria, offer potential solutions to the widespread threat that complex pathogens pose to public health.