Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 9, 2025
Whole-animal Imaging and Flow Cytometric Techniques for Analysis of Antigen-specific CD8+ T Cell Responses after Nanoparticle Vaccination
Published on: April 29, 2015
The sixth revolution in pediatric vaccinology: immunoengineering and delivery systems
Dheeraj Soni1,2, Sharan Bobbala3, Sophia Li3
1Precision Vaccines Program, Division of Infectious Diseases, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
Insights
Immunoengineering and advanced delivery systems are revolutionizing pediatric vaccinology, offering new hope for enhancing vaccine responses in infants. These innovations mimic pathogens to improve immunization efficacy in vulnerable populations.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Vaccinology
- Immunoengineering
- Biomedical Intervention
Background:
- Infection remains a leading cause of infant mortality, with current vaccines showing suboptimal responses in very young infants.
- Historical vaccine formulations utilized particulate materials empirically for antigen stabilization and endotoxin reduction.
- Recent advances in immunoengineering are driving rational design of vaccine delivery systems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To re-assess Stanley Plotkin's 2005 prediction on the impact of new delivery systems in pediatric vaccinology.
- To highlight the role of immunoengineering and advanced delivery systems in improving infant vaccine responses.
- To summarize current and developing vaccine delivery systems and future prospects.
Main Methods:
- Review of historical and current vaccine formulation strategies.
- Analysis of immunoengineering principles applied to vaccine design.
- Assessment of "pathogen-like particles" as advanced delivery systems.
Main Results:
- Vaccine delivery systems are now rationally engineered to mimic pathogens, enhancing immunogenicity.
- Immunoengineering offers unique capabilities to boost vaccine responses in vulnerable populations like infants.
- Significant progress has been made in developing advanced delivery systems since Plotkin's initial assessment.
Conclusions:
- Immunoengineering and advanced delivery systems represent a new revolution in pediatric vaccinology.
- These innovations hold significant promise for improving immunization rates and outcomes in infants.
- The field is rapidly evolving, with "pathogen-like particles" showing particular potential.
Abstract:
Infection is the predominant cause of mortality in early life, and immunization is the most promising biomedical intervention to reduce this burden. However, very young infants fail to respond optimally to most vaccines currently in use, especially neonates. In 2005, Stanley Plotkin proposed that new delivery systems would spur a new revolution in pediatric vaccinology, just as attenuation, inactivation, cell culture of viruses, genetic engineering, and adjuvantation had done in preceding decades. Recent advances in the field of immunoengineering, which is evolving alongside vaccinology, have begun to increasingly influence vaccine formulation design. Historically, the particulate nature of materials used in many vaccine formulations was empiric, often because of the need to stabilize antigens or reduce endotoxin levels. However, present vaccine delivery systems are rationally engineered to mimic the size, shape, and surface chemistry of pathogens, and are therefore often referred to as "pathogen-like particles". More than a decade from his original assessment, we re-assess Plotkin's prediction. In addition, we highlight how immunoengineering and advanced delivery systems may be uniquely capable of enhancing vaccine responses in vulnerable populations, such as infants. IMPACT: Immunoengineering and advanced delivery systems are leading to new developments in pediatric vaccinology. Summarizes delivery systems currently in use and development, and prospects for the future. Broad overview of immunoengineering's impact on vaccinology, catering to Pediatric Clinicians and Immunologists.
Related Concept Videos
01:51Vaccinations
01:29Microorganisms in Medicine and Therapeutics
01:22Development of Immunocompetence
The initial cells that migrate from the fetal thymus settle within the skin and epithelial tissues lining the mouth, digestive tract, and in females, the uterus and vagina. These cells, including skin-based dendritic cells, serve as antigen-presenting cells, playing a key role in T cell activation.
Subsequent T...
01:31Active versus Passive Immunity
Active Immunity
Active immunity refers to the resistance one develops...
01:36Humoral Immune Responses