Harnessing bioinformatics to discover new vaccines

Drug Discov Today. 2007 May;12(9-10):389-95. doi: 10.1016/j.drudis.2007.03.010. Epub 2007 Apr 6.

Abstract

Vaccine design is highly suited to the application of in silico techniques, for both the discovery and development of new and existing vaccines. Here, we discuss computational contributions to epitope mapping and reverse vaccinology, two techniques central to the new discipline of immunomics. Also discussed are methods to improve the efficiency of vaccination, such as codon optimization and adjuvant discovery in addition to the identification of allergenic proteins. We also review current software developed to facilitate vaccine design.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Computational Biology / methods*
  • Drug Design*
  • Epitope Mapping / methods
  • Humans
  • Software Design
  • Vaccination / methods
  • Vaccines / immunology*

Substances

  • Vaccines