Label-Free Binding Analysis: Exploring Advances and Applications in Vaccine Development
This eBook was produced by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (Science | AAAS Custom Publishing Office) and sponsored by Sartorius. It explores the latest methodologies and suggests alternative strategies in the development of future COVID-19 vaccines. Access a selection of Science research articles raising the concern that VOCs will eventually thwart current vaccines or discussing varying approaches that can be taken when designing more effective vaccines. One discusses the use of “nanobodies”—smaller antibody fragments found in animals such as camels and sharks—that are easier for researcher to make, more stable, and offer better penetration into cells and tissues.
Another offers the possibility of a universal or pan-coronavirus vaccine that would target current and future VOCs or another research article proposes the use of protein scaffolds to help target vaccines. Cues from vaccine research in other viruses can also be used. For instance, one paper in this supplement discusses how protein dimers of the dengue virus envelope protein has been more effective in creating sufficient antibody response than single proteins. Another paper involving Ebola virus illustrates how the quality of the antibody response matters more than the quantity of the antibody response detected by neutralizing antibody titers.
“Emerging VOCs wait in the wings. Yet, we are closer to the climax of the pandemic thanks to the structure-based design now used in COVID-19 vaccine production. Eventually a show (and pandemic-) stopping vaccine will appear—it’s a matter not of if, but when.”
Jackie Oberst, Ph.D., Custom Publishing Office Science/AAAS
