Development of synthetic antigen vaccines for COVID-19

Hum Vaccin Immunother. 2021 Nov 2;17(11):3855-3870. doi: 10.1080/21645515.2021.1974288. Epub 2021 Oct 6.

Abstract

The current pandemic called COVID-19 caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus brought the need for the search for fast alternatives to both control and fight the SARS-CoV-2 infection. Therefore, a race for a vaccine against COVID-19 took place, and some vaccines have been approved for emergency use in several countries in a record time. Ongoing prophylactic research has sought faster, safer, and precise alternatives by redirecting knowledge of other vaccines, and/or the development of new strategies using available tools, mainly in the areas of genomics and bioinformatics. The current review highlights the development of synthetic antigen vaccines, focusing on the usage of bioinformatics tools for the selection and construction of antigens on the different vaccine constructions under development, as well as strategies to optimize vaccines for COVID-19.

Keywords: SARS-CoV-2; adjuvants; immunoinformatics; in silico; nucleic acid vaccines.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • COVID-19 Vaccines
  • COVID-19*
  • Humans
  • Pandemics
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Vaccines, Synthetic / genetics

Substances

  • COVID-19 Vaccines
  • Vaccines, Synthetic

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior [88887-507421/2020-00]; Fundação de Amparo à Ciência e Tecnologia do Estado de Pernambuco [PPSUS 2020 APQ-0260-2.02/20]; Ministério Público do Trabalho de Pernambuco [Apoio ao Enfrentamento da COVID-19]; Universidade Federal de Pernambuco [Edital PROPESQI 06/2020].