Next-Generation Vaccine and Immunotherapy

A special issue of Vaccines (ISSN 2076-393X). This special issue belongs to the section "Cancer Vaccines and Immunotherapy".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 April 2025 | Viewed by 2260

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
National Institute of Infectious Diseases (NIID), Tokyo, Japan
Interests: malaria; malaria vaccine; DNA vaccine; cancer; infectious disease
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about significant changes to our world, impacting our daily lives in numerous ways. With unrestricted human travel and rapid air transportation, pandemics have become a constant concern. However, this situation has also accelerated the development of vaccines. Today, most people have received vaccinations against COVID-19, and the introduction of advanced mRNA-based formulations has ushered in a new era in vaccine technology. While this shift holds great potential for improving vaccine effectiveness, it also requires careful consideration of the long-term effects, both positive and negative, of mRNA-based vaccination. The widespread threat posed by pathogens and cancer to both humans and animals underscores the importance of cooperation within the scientific community in the fight against these common enemies. 

Within this dedicated Special Issue, our focus coalesces around the realms of next-generation vaccine interventions and avant-garde immunotherapeutic modalities, each targeted at addressing the virulent challenges posed by pathogens and malignancies. We cordially invite scholarly contributions encompassing the following investigative domains:

  • Proof of concept pertaining to next-generation vaccines and immunotherapy;
  • Fundamental explorations and clinical investigations into next-generation vaccine and immunotherapeutic modalities.

Dr. Takashi Imai
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • next-generation vaccine
  • immunotherapy
  • pathogens
  • cancers

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Review

22 pages, 2121 KiB  
Review
Decoding NAD+ Metabolism in COVID-19: Implications for Immune Modulation and Therapy
by Shixu Song, Jialing Gan, Qiuyue Long, Zhancheng Gao and Yali Zheng
Vaccines 2025, 13(1), 1; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines13010001 - 24 Dec 2024
Viewed by 739
Abstract
The persistent threat of COVID-19, particularly with the emergence of new variants, underscores the urgency for innovative therapeutic strategies beyond conventional antiviral treatments. Current immunotherapies, including IL-6/IL-6R monoclonal antibodies and JAK inhibitors, exhibit suboptimal efficacy, necessitating alternative approaches. Our review delves into the [...] Read more.
The persistent threat of COVID-19, particularly with the emergence of new variants, underscores the urgency for innovative therapeutic strategies beyond conventional antiviral treatments. Current immunotherapies, including IL-6/IL-6R monoclonal antibodies and JAK inhibitors, exhibit suboptimal efficacy, necessitating alternative approaches. Our review delves into the significance of NAD+ metabolism in COVID-19 pathology, marked by decreased NAD+ levels and upregulated NAD+-consuming enzymes such as CD38 and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerases (PARPs). Recognizing NAD+’s pivotal role in energy metabolism and immune modulation, we propose modulating NAD+ homeostasis could bolster the host’s defensive capabilities against the virus. The article reviews the scientific rationale behind targeting NAD+ pathways for therapeutic benefit, utilizing strategies such as NAD+ precursor supplementation and enzyme inhibition to modulate immune function. While preliminary data are encouraging, the challenge lies in optimizing these interventions for clinical use. Future research should aim to unravel the intricate roles of key metabolites and enzymes in NAD+ metabolism and to elucidate their specific mechanisms of action. This will be essential for developing targeted NAD+ therapies, potentially transforming the management of COVID-19 and setting a precedent for addressing other infectious diseases. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Next-Generation Vaccine and Immunotherapy)
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12 pages, 1386 KiB  
Review
Challenges and New Directions in Therapeutic Cancer Vaccine Development
by Danjie Pan, Jiayang Liu, Xuan Huang, Songna Wang, Kudelaidi Kuerban, Yan Yan, Yi Zhun Zhu and Li Ye
Vaccines 2024, 12(12), 1341; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines12121341 - 28 Nov 2024
Viewed by 911
Abstract
Tumor vaccine is a promising immunotherapy for solid tumors. Therapeutic tumor vaccines aim at inducing tumor regression, establishing durable antitumor memory, and avoiding non-specific or adverse reactions. However, tumor-induced immune suppression and immune resistance pose challenges to achieving this goal. In this article, [...] Read more.
Tumor vaccine is a promising immunotherapy for solid tumors. Therapeutic tumor vaccines aim at inducing tumor regression, establishing durable antitumor memory, and avoiding non-specific or adverse reactions. However, tumor-induced immune suppression and immune resistance pose challenges to achieving this goal. In this article, we review multiple challenges currently faced in the development of therapeutic tumor vaccines, with a particular focus on anonymous antigen vaccines in situ as a new direction. We summarize the research progress in this area, aiming to provide a reference for future studies on tumor vaccines. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Next-Generation Vaccine and Immunotherapy)
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