subunitrekombináns

Subunitrekombináns refers to a type of vaccine that utilizes only specific pieces, or subunits, of a pathogen, such as a protein or carbohydrate, rather than the whole organism. These subunits are produced using recombinant DNA technology. This means that the genetic material encoding the desired subunit is inserted into a host organism, like bacteria or yeast, which then produces large quantities of the subunit protein. The purified subunit is then used as the antigen in the vaccine.

The advantage of subunit vaccines is their safety profile. Because they do not contain the whole pathogen, they cannot cause the disease they are designed to prevent. This makes them a good option for individuals with weakened immune systems. Examples of subunit vaccines include those for Hepatitis B and the human papillomavirus (HPV). The production process involves isolating the gene for a specific antigen from the pathogen, inserting it into a vector, transforming a host cell, culturing the host cells to produce the antigen, and then purifying the antigen for vaccine formulation. This method offers a precise and controlled way to generate vaccine components.