Modern vaccine development via reverse vaccinology to combat antimicrobial resistance

Life Sci. 2022 Aug 1:302:120660. doi: 10.1016/j.lfs.2022.120660. Epub 2022 May 25.

Abstract

With the continuous evolution of bacteria, the global antimicrobial resistance health threat is causing millions of deaths yearly. While depending on antibiotics as a primary treatment has its merits, there are no effective alternatives thus far in the pharmaceutical market against some drug-resistant bacteria. In recent years, vaccinology has become a key topic in scientific research. Combining with the growth of technology, vaccine research is seeing a new light where the process is made faster and more efficient. Although less discussed, bacterial vaccine is a feasible strategy to combat antimicrobial resistance. Some vaccines have shown promising results with good efficacy against numerous multidrug-resistant strains of bacteria. In this review, we aim to discuss the findings from studies utilizing reverse vaccinology for vaccine development against some multidrug-resistant bacteria, as well as provide a summary of multi-year bacterial vaccine studies in clinical trials. The advantages of reverse vaccinology in the generation of new bacterial vaccines are also highlighted. Meanwhile, the limitations and future prospects of bacterial vaccine concludes this review.

Keywords: Antibiotics; Antimicrobial resistance; Reverse vaccinology; Vaccines; bacteria.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents* / pharmacology
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents* / therapeutic use
  • Bacteria
  • Bacterial Vaccines
  • Drug Resistance, Bacterial
  • Vaccinology* / methods

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Bacterial Vaccines