Plague vaccines: new developments in an ongoing search

Area of Science:

• Microbiology and Immunology
• Vaccinology
• Infectious Disease Epidemiology

Background:

• Pandemic threats, such as SARS-CoV-2, highlight the urgent need for vaccines against novel and reemerging pathogens.
• Yersinia pestis, the plague bacterium, is a significant global health concern responsible for historical pandemics and ongoing outbreaks.
• The lack of a Food and Drug Administration-licensed plague vaccine in Western nations, coupled with the rise of antibiotic-resistant strains, necessitates accelerated vaccine development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent advancements in plague vaccine development.
• To discuss the critical need for a viable plague vaccine in the face of global health challenges.
• To highlight progress in various vaccine platforms targeting Yersinia pestis.

Main Methods:

• Review of current scientific literature on plague vaccine research.
• Analysis of progress in subunit, live-attenuated, and nucleic acid-based vaccine candidates.
• Examination of Yersinia pestis epidemiology and the challenges in vaccine accessibility.

Main Results:

• Several promising plague vaccine candidates are under development, including DNA, live-attenuated, and subunit approaches.
• Recent outbreaks globally underscore the continued relevance and threat of Yersinia pestis.
• Progress has been made in identifying potential targets and platforms for effective plague vaccines.

Conclusions:

• Plague vaccine development is an ongoing and critical endeavor, with several promising candidates showing potential.
• Continued research into diverse vaccine platforms is essential to address the threat of Yersinia pestis and potential antibiotic resistance.
• The development of a safe and effective plague vaccine is crucial for global public health preparedness.