Journal of Vaccine Research 2024, Vol.14, No.5, 217-230 http://medscipublisher.com/index.php/jvr 220 The adaptive immune response involves two key branches: humoral and cell-mediated immunity. Humoral immunity, mediated by B cells, results in the production of pathogen-specific antibodies. These antibodies neutralize pathogens by binding to their surface antigens, preventing their entry into host cells (Lynn et al., 2021). Cell-mediated immunity, on the other hand, is driven by T cells, which can either help coordinate the immune response (helper T cells) or directly kill infected cells (cytotoxic T cells). This combination of innate and adaptive responses creates a robust defense against pathogens and forms the basis for vaccine-induced protection (Zhu et al., 2020). 3.2 Mechanism of action of multi-pathogen vaccines Multi-pathogen vaccines aim to elicit protective immune responses against several different pathogens simultaneously. These vaccines typically include multiple antigens from different pathogens or a combination of genetic material encoding several distinct antigens. The mechanism of action of multi-pathogen vaccines involves the stimulation of both humoral and cell-mediated immune responses to each pathogen within the vaccine (Chen et al., 2023). When a multi-pathogen vaccine is administered, the APCs process the diverse antigens and present them to T cells, leading to the activation of both B and T cells specific to each pathogen. B cells, upon recognizing the specific antigens, differentiate into plasma cells, producing antibodies that neutralize each of the targeted pathogens. Meanwhile, cytotoxic T cells recognize and destroy infected cells, offering protection against intracellular pathogens such as viruses (Folegatti et al., 2020). Multi-pathogen vaccines, such as those utilizing viral vectors, can enhance the immune response by delivering antigens more effectively to APCs. This allows for a more sustained immune response and the development of immune memory, which is critical for long-term protection. Advances in mRNA and vector-based vaccine technology further enhance the efficacy of multi-pathogen vaccines by allowing for the precise inclusion of multiple epitopes, ensuring comprehensive immune coverage against a wide array of pathogens (Baden et al., 2020). 3.3 Potential advantages of multi-pathogen vaccines in disease prevention The development of multi-pathogen vaccines offers several key advantages in the prevention of infectious diseases. First and foremost, these vaccines can streamline immunization schedules by reducing the number of individual vaccinations needed to protect against multiple diseases. This is particularly beneficial in regions with limited healthcare infrastructure, where multiple clinic visits for vaccination may be challenging (Abbas et al., 2019). Another advantage of multi-pathogen vaccines is the potential to achieve broad immunity across various pathogens, leading to a more comprehensive and coordinated immune response. For instance, combination vaccines, such as those targeting respiratory pathogens, could simultaneously protect against influenza, SARS-CoV-2, and other viral infections, reducing the overall burden of respiratory diseases (Heath et al., 2021). By inducing immunity against multiple pathogens at once, these vaccines can also minimize the occurrence of immune interference, wherein the immune system prioritizes one antigen over another. Multi-pathogen vaccines also offer cost-efficiency and logistical benefits. Reducing the number of vaccines required leads to lower production costs and simplified vaccine distribution, which is critical during large-scale vaccination campaigns, particularly in pandemic scenarios. Additionally, by limiting the number of injections needed, multi-pathogen vaccines can improve patient compliance and acceptance, leading to higher overall immunization rates and better public health outcomes (Sekuloski et al., 2018). 4 Safety Profiles of Multi-Pathogen Vaccines The safety profiles of multi-pathogen vaccines are crucial to their successful development and widespread use. Ensuring that these vaccines provide protection against multiple pathogens without causing adverse reactions or compromising the immune response is a fundamental concern for regulatory bodies and public health officials.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjQ4ODYzNQ==