recombinantvaccins

Recombinant vaccines are vaccines produced by recombinant DNA technology to express a pathogen antigen without using the whole organism. The antigen is often a subunit, a virus-like particle, or a gene delivered by a recombinant vector. Subunit vaccines involve producing the target protein in host cells such as yeast, bacteria, insect, or mammalian cells, then purifying it for formulation. Virus-like particle vaccines assemble structural proteins into noninfectious particles that resemble the virus. Vector-based vaccines use a harmless virus or bacterium to deliver the antigen gene into the host, where it is produced in situ.

These approaches offer safety advantages, as there is no replication-competent pathogen, and production can be standardized and scalable. Immunogenicity can be high with proper presentation of the antigen, but some formulations require adjuvants or multiple doses. Vector-based formats may face preexisting immunity to the vector, which can affect effectiveness.

Examples include hepatitis B vaccines produced in yeast, and HPV vaccines based on virus-like particles. Recombinant vaccines for shingles use a recombinant glycoprotein with a potent adjuvant. Additional candidates target influenza, malaria, and other diseases.

Regulatory status is well established, with approvals by major agencies worldwide after demonstration of safety and efficacy. Recombinant vaccines continue to be a major area of vaccine development due to their safety profile and flexibility in design.