Mucosal vaccines for viral diseases: Status and prospects

Area of Science:

• * Immunology and Vaccinology
• * Infectious Disease Control
• * Public Health

Background:

• * Virus-associated infectious diseases pose significant threats to human and animal health.
• * Prophylactic vaccines are crucial countermeasures, with mucosal vaccines emerging as a promising alternative to parenteral vaccines.
• * The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated research into mucosal vaccines, particularly for respiratory pathogens like SARS-CoV-2.

Purpose of the Study:

• * To review approved mucosal vaccines for humans and animals, elucidating their mechanisms of action.
• * To detail COVID-19 mucosal vaccines in clinical trials, highlighting technological advancements.
• * To identify challenges and propose solutions for developing next-generation mucosal vaccines.

Main Methods:

• * Comprehensive literature review of approved and experimental mucosal vaccines.
• * Analysis of successful mucosal vaccine case studies and their underlying immunological principles.
• * Detailed examination of COVID-19 mucosal vaccine candidates in clinical development.

Main Results:

• * Several mucosal vaccines have been approved for human and animal use, demonstrating efficacy against various pathogens.
• * Existing COVID-19 mucosal vaccines show variable performance, indicating a need for improved strategies.
• * Ongoing research explores novel platforms and techniques to enhance mucosal vaccine effectiveness.

Conclusions:

• * Mucosal vaccines are effective in inducing localized immunity and blocking pathogen transmission.
• * Further development is required to overcome current limitations and optimize next-generation mucosal vaccines.
• * Strategic application of mucosal vaccines holds significant potential for controlling viral infectious diseases.