Subunit Vaccines
Subunit vaccines differ from many other vaccine platforms in that they contain no active pathogen components. Instead, subunit vaccines present only isolated proteins and/or sugars that can be recognized by the body and used to illicit an immune response. Due to the lack of any active pathogenic material, the subunit platform has excellent safety and stability profiles.
However, the process of identifying, isolating, and delivering specific proteins or sugars in doese high enough to generate a proper immune response can be very time-consuming and expensive. Additionally, there is a risk for weaker immunological memory associated with the subunit platform. This means that subunit vaccines may suffer from eliciting only a temporary or partial immunity or require multiple doses or boosters.
Subunit vaccines can also be given a "boost" through the use of adjuvants. Adjuvants are compounds that are added to vaccines to stimulate the body's immune response without providing immunity themselves. Adjuvants take many forms, including synthetic and organic organic chemicals/compounds, oils, proteins, and inactivated or killed pathogenic material (generally bacterial).
However, the process of identifying, isolating, and delivering specific proteins or sugars in doese high enough to generate a proper immune response can be very time-consuming and expensive. Additionally, there is a risk for weaker immunological memory associated with the subunit platform. This means that subunit vaccines may suffer from eliciting only a temporary or partial immunity or require multiple doses or boosters.
Subunit vaccines can also be given a "boost" through the use of adjuvants. Adjuvants are compounds that are added to vaccines to stimulate the body's immune response without providing immunity themselves. Adjuvants take many forms, including synthetic and organic organic chemicals/compounds, oils, proteins, and inactivated or killed pathogenic material (generally bacterial).
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