Bibliometric analysis of Pseudomonas aeruginosa vaccine development highlighting research status, evolution, and...

Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) is a predominant pathogen responsible for severe nosocomial infections, with rising multidrug resistance posing a critical threat to global health. Despite the promise of vaccination, antigenic diversity and complex virulence mechanisms involving multiple biomacromolecules have impeded the development of an effective vaccine. This study aims to map the research landscape of P. aeruginosa vaccine development. A comprehensive bibliometric analysis of 1701 publications from the Web of Science (WOS) and PubMed database (1970-2025) was conducted using VOSviewer and CiteSpace. A pronounced increase in annual publication output following 2013 was observed, with the USA and China identified as the principal contributors. Keyword clustering and burst detection analyses revealed emerging research foci on multi-epitope vaccine constructs, biomacromolecule-based antigen design, including outer membrane proteins, polysaccharides, and vesicles, and innovative delivery platforms such as nanoparticles. Contemporary investigations emphasize structural vaccinology, reverse immunology methodologies, and the application of biodegradable polymers for antigen encapsulation. Overall, this study reveals shifting research priorities and offers a data-driven framework to inform future research directions of P. aeruginosa vaccine development. Notably, the convergence of computational vaccine design with advanced macromolecular delivery systems presents substantial promise for the development of broadly protective vaccines against P. aeruginosa.