Vaccine adjuvants: Critical tools guiding vaccine-induced immune responses

  • 17k

    Total downloads

  • 67k

    Total views and downloads

Submit your idea

You will be redirected to our submission process.

Submit your manuscript

About this Research Topic

Submission closed

Background

Vaccine adjuvants are defined functionally as critical substances in vaccines that enhance adaptive immune responses to the antigen component within the vaccine (Ramon G, 1924). Prototype vaccine adjuvants have been classified functionally as facilitators of immune signal 1, i.e the delivery of antigen to antigen-specific lymphocytes (Jansen et al., 2005) or signal 2, i.e appropriate immunostimulation, in particular costimulation, during antigen recognition by lymphocyte receptors (Schijns, 2000). In addition, a third signal is needed to drive a selective T helper -cell type response, which enables activation of distinct adaptive defence pathways resulting in the proper immune effector elements. For example, the predominance of a Th1 type response, supporting the generation of CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) is believed to be crucial for intracellular microorganisms and for tumor immunosurveillance (Driessens 2008). The nature of the third signal is highly dependent on the combination of vaccine adjuvant-induced signals, their duration and the order of delivery to antigen-presenting cells (APCs) (Kaiko 2008, Kalinski 1999, Macagno 2007). The generated fully functional effector T cells should reach the site of danger, i.e. the site of infection or tumor tissue, in order to execute their function. APCs are involved in determining the homing properties of effector T cells by providing signal 4, which includes the selective expression of appropriate chemokine receptors on the surface of effector T cells, e.g. CCR9 for their migration to gut (Mora 2005, Kim 2003). The ability of migratory DCs to control the homing potential of effector T cells depends on the type of DCs and the adjuvant-induced constellation of activation signals, triggered directly or via secondary mechanisms, in a particular anatomical location associated with the route of vaccine administration (Mora 2005).
Hence, the adjuvant provides a key ingredient in the vaccine to not only compensate for poor immunogenicity of refined, often recombinant, or synthetic vaccine antigen candidates, but also to evoke the desired type of immune effector response. Importantly, the selection of an inappropriate adjuvant may result in the activation of a non-protective immune pathway. While most traditional infectious disease vaccines are based on antibody responses (Bachmann and Zinkernagel 1997; Rappuoli 2007), for intracellular micro-organisms and for most malignancies, targeted by therapeutic immunization, Th1-type immune responses that are associated with cytotoxic T cells, are strongly implicated in protective immunity. Consequently, potential Th1 promoting vaccine adjuvants are being explored and tested.
Moreover, vaccine adjuvants not only improve the strength of an immune response, but can also accelerate its onset, and improve its duration, often leading to better memory. In case of expensive antigens or limited availability of antigens, adjuvants can help to reduce antigen dosing. In addition, adjuvants are capable of improving antigen stability. Importantly, as mentioned above, adjuvants can direct the immune response in the desired direction needed for protective immunity (Schijns, 2000; Schijns and Lavelle, 2011).
In the present issue various aspects, including theories, methods, areas of impact, historical aspect, etc., of a range of prototype and experimental vaccine adjuvants and their beneficial role in vaccine efficacy are highlighted.

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

Topic editors

Frequently asked questions

  • Frontiers' Research Topics are collaborative hubs built around an emerging theme.Defined, managed, and led by renowned researchers, they bring communities together around a shared area of interest to stimulate collaboration and innovation.

    Unlike section journals, which serve established specialty communities, Research Topics are pioneer hubs, responding to the evolving scientific landscape and catering to new communities.

  • The goal of Frontiers' publishing program is to empower research communities to actively steer the course of scientific publishing. Our program was implemented as a three-part unit with fixed field journals, flexible specialty sections, and dynamically emerging Research Topics, connecting communities of different sizes and maturity.

    Research Topics originate from the scientific community. Many of our Research Topics are suggested by existing editorial board members who have identified critical challenges or areas of interest in their field.

  • As an editor, Research Topics will help you build your journal, as well as your community, around emerging, cutting-edge research. As research trailblazers, Research Topics attract high-quality submissions from leading experts all over the world.

    A thriving Research Topic can potentially evolve into a new specialty section if there is sustained interest and a growing community around it.

  • Each Research Topic must be approved by the specialty chief editor, and it falls under the editorial oversight of our editorial boards, supported by our in-house research integrity team. The same standards and rigorous peer review processes apply to articles published as part of a Research Topic as for any other article we publish.

    In 2023, 80% of the Research Topics we published were edited or co-edited by our editorial board members, who are already familiar with their journal's scope, ethos, and publishing model. All other topics are guest edited by leaders in their field, each vetted and formally approved by the specialty chief editor.

  • Publishing your article within a Research Topic with other related articles increases its discoverability and visibility, which can lead to more views, downloads, and citations. Research Topics grow dynamically as more published articles are added, causing frequent revisiting, and further visibility.

    As Research Topics are multidisciplinary, they are cross-listed in several fields and section journals – increasing your reach even more and giving you the chance to expand your network and collaborate with researchers in different fields, all focusing on expanding knowledge around the same important topic.

    Our larger Research Topics are also converted into ebooks and receive social media promotion from our digital marketing team.

     

  • Frontiers offers multiple article types, but it will depend on the field and section journals in which the Research Topic will be featured. The available article types for a Research Topic will appear in the drop-down menu during the submission process.

    Check available article types here 

  • Yes, we would love to hear your ideas for a topic. Most of our Research Topics are community-led and suggested by researchers in the field. Our in-house editorial team will contact you to talk about your idea and whether you’d like to edit the topic. If you’re an early-stage researcher, we will offer you the opportunity to coordinate your topic, with the support of a senior researcher as the topic editor. 

    Suggest your topic here 

  • A team of guest editors (called topic editors) lead their Research Topic. This editorial team oversees the entire process, from the initial topic proposal to calls for participation, the peer review, and final publications.

    The team may also include topic coordinators, who help the topic editors send calls for participation, liaise with topic editors on abstracts, and support contributing authors. In some cases, they can also be assigned as reviewers.

  • As a topic editor (TE), you will take the lead on all editorial decisions for the Research Topic, starting with defining its scope. This allows you to curate research around a topic that interests you, bring together different perspectives from leading researchers across different fields and shape the future of your field. 

     

    You will choose your team of co-editors, curate a list of potential authors, send calls for participation and oversee the peer review process, accepting or recommending rejection for each manuscript submitted.

  • As a topic editor, you're supported at every stage by our in-house team. You will be assigned a single point of contact to help you on both editorial and technical matters. Your topic is managed through our user-friendly online platform, and the peer review process is supported by our industry-first AI review assistant (AIRA).

  • If you’re an early-stage researcher, we will offer you the opportunity to coordinate your topic, with the support of a senior researcher as the topic editor. This provides you with valuable editorial experience, improving your ability to critically evaluate research articles and enhancing your understanding of the quality standards and requirements for scientific publishing, as well as the opportunity to discover new research in your field, and expand your professional network.

  • Yes, certificates can be issued on request. We are happy to provide a certificate for your contribution to editing a successful Research Topic.

  • Research Topics thrive on collaboration and their multi-disciplinary approach around emerging, cutting-edge themes, attract leading researchers from all over the world.

  • As a topic editor, you can set the timeline for your Research Topic, and we will work with you at your pace. Typically, Research Topics are online and open for submissions within a few weeks and remain open for participation for 6 – 12 months. Individual articles within a Research Topic are published as soon as they are ready.

    Find out more about our Research Topics

  • Our fee support program ensures that all articles that pass peer review, including those published in Research Topics, can benefit from open access – regardless of the author's field or funding situation.

    Authors and institutions with insufficient funding can apply for a discount on their publishing fees. A fee support application form is available on our website.

  • In line with our mission to promote healthy lives on a healthy planet, we do not provide printed materials. All our articles and ebooks are available under a CC-BY license, so you can share and print copies.

     

Impact

  • 67kTopic views
  • 48kArticle views
  • 17kArticle downloads
View impact