About this Research Topic

Background

Arthropod-transmitted viruses (arboviruses) present important public health and veterinary challenges worldwide. Viruses like dengue, chikungunya or zika are of current concern due to their increased incidence, but they are not alone. Infections caused by other emerging viruses like Japanese encephalitis virus, Rift Valley fever virus or tick encephalitis viruses are also rising. Zoonotic arboviruses and arboviruses of veterinary importance are also being taken into consideration, due to the economic losses that they produce. The main route of transmission of these diseases involves an arthropod vector, with mosquitoes, ticks, midges, flies, and sandflies as the main vectors. Their rapid dispersion due to global transportation systems, arthropod adaptation to increasing urbanization and climate change is facilitating the expansion of arboviruses.

Vaccination is the most effective tool to prevent infectious diseases, providing long-term immunity and significantly reducing morbidity and mortality rates. While some vaccines against arbovirus infections, such as those for Yellow Fever and Japanese Encephalitis, have proven successful, many other arbovirus infections, including Zika, Dengue, Chikungunya, and West Nile Virus, remain without effective vaccines. The rapid spread and emergence of these viruses underscore the urgent need for innovative vaccination strategies.

Next-generation vaccines are considered a promising approach to combating future disease outbreaks due to their enhanced breadth of protection against diverse viral variants, improved durability of immune responses, and superior ability to block infection and transmission at the mucosal level, which serves as the primary barrier against arbovirus infections. These advanced vaccines utilize cutting-edge technologies, such as mRNA platforms, viral vectors, and nanoparticle-based systems, to elicit robust and broad-spectrum immunity. Additionally, they aim to induce both systemic and mucosal immune responses, providing a more comprehensive defense by preventing the initial establishment of infection and reducing viral shedding and transmission.

By addressing the limitations of traditional vaccines, next-generation vaccines hold the potential to revolutionize our approach to preventing arbovirus infections, ultimately contributing to better global health outcomes and preparedness for future outbreaks.

For this Collection, we invite submissions that propose technological advancements in vaccine and antigen design, efficient and novel delivery systems, and exploration of immunological signatures of potential vaccine candidates against arbovirus infections. We seek Original Research articles, Review articles, and Mini-Reviews that focus on, but are not limited to, the following:

• Innovative vaccine platforms and antigen design

• Advances in delivery systems, including nanoparticle-based and viral vector vaccines

• Immunological studies on the efficacy and safety of potential vaccine candidates

• Exploration of immune responses and biomarkers associated with protective immunity

• Challenges and future directions in arbovirus vaccine development

This collection serves as a valuable resource for researchers, clinicians, and public health professionals, providing insights into the future of arbovirus vaccine research and its potential impact on global health.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Classification
• Clinical Trial
• Curriculum, Instruction, and Pedagogy
• Editorial
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Classification
• Clinical Trial
• Curriculum, Instruction, and Pedagogy
• Editorial
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Study Protocol
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: arbovirus; next-generation vaccines; vaccine design; antigen design; vaccine delivery systems; viral vectors

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