Vol. 12, Issue 6 (2023)

Author(s):
Mudasir M Rather, Vasavi Koppu, Sudhir Singh, Bhavani Puvvala, Tripti Pande, Deepa Poloju and Pradeep Chandra

Abstract:
Epitope dampening, a novel concept in vaccine development, holds significant potential for the creation of next-generation vaccines. Traditional vaccines often target specific epitopes on pathogens to stimulate an immune response. However, pathogens can undergo epitope mutations, rendering existing vaccines less effective and requiring constant updates. Epitope dampening is a strategy aimed at minimizing the impact of epitope mutations by designing vaccines that target conserved regions of pathogens rather than specific epitopes. This approach offers several advantages, including broader and more durable protection against diverse strains and reduced dependence on frequent vaccine updates. By focusing on conserved regions, epitope dampening vaccines can potentially provide enhanced cross-reactivity and cross-protection against related pathogens. Moreover, epitope dampening may mitigate the risk of immune escape variants, which can arise due to epitope-specific immune pressure. This review article explores the potential of epitope dampening as a promising avenue for the development of new generation vaccines and highlights its implications for future vaccine design and disease control strategies.