[Phages and vaccination: towards new opportunities?]

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Immunology
• Biotechnology

Background:

• Bacteriophages (phages) are bacteria-infecting viruses with a history of therapeutic use before antibiotics.
• Phage display technology in the 1970s explored phages as antigen producers, but with limitations for large antigens.
• Phages are regaining interest as vaccine antigen delivery vehicles due to their unique properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review promising technological approaches for utilizing bacteriophages as vaccine antigen delivery vehicles.
• To highlight the potential of phage-based vaccines in targeting mucosal infections and maintaining gut microbiota balance.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on bacteriophage applications in vaccinology.
• Exploration of phage display technology and virus-like particles (VLPs) for vaccine development.
• Discussion of phage's intrinsic adjuvant properties and targeting capabilities.

Main Results:

• Phages possess intrinsic adjuvant properties that can be enhanced through cellular targeting.
• Phages demonstrate safety in humans and offer cost-effective production for vaccine development.
• Phages play a significant role in maintaining intestinal microbiota equilibrium and mucosal immunity.

Conclusions:

• Phage-based vaccines, including virus-like particles, represent a promising future in vaccinology.
• Phages offer a versatile platform for developing vaccines against bacterial pathogens, particularly at mucosal surfaces.
• Further research into phage technology can unlock new strategies for infectious disease prevention.