Gene editing in vaccine development against vectors and vector-borne diseases (VBDs)

Vector-borne diseases (VBDs) represent a critical challenge in infectious disease control due to their complex transmission dynamics, diverse vector species, and rapidly evolving pathogens. Recent years have seen significant advances in the understanding of how pathogens, such as parasites and RNA viruses, interact with both their vectors and hosts, leading to ongoing debates about immune evasion and transmission-blocking strategies. Despite progress in molecular parasitology and immunology, traditional vaccine development remains hampered by the adaptability of pathogens and the intricate relationships within the vector-pathogen-host triad. Novel gene editing platforms like CRISPR/Cas9, TALENs, and ZFNs have begun to transform these fields, enabling precise manipulation of genomes in both pathogens and vectors, and shedding light on previously inaccessible aspects of disease transmission and host immunity. Nevertheless, critical gaps remain in identifying optimal vaccine targets, understanding organ- and cell-specific immune mechanisms, and integrating these insights into translational applications for effective vaccine creation.This Research Topic aims to advance the field by leveraging gene editing technologies to overcome current bottlenecks in vaccine development against vectors and vector-borne diseases. The main goal is to integrate perspectives from immunology, molecular biology, and entomology to generate a robust understanding of how genome engineering can identify novel antigens, elucidate host-pathogen interactions, and enhance immune responses. Specific objectives include exploring how gene editing platforms can disrupt pathogen transmission, reveal new vaccine targets, clarify immune evasion strategies, and facilitate the rapid prototyping of innovative vaccine modalities such as mRNA and DNA platforms. Contributors are encouraged to address both opportunities and challenges associated with deploying gene-edited organisms, including immunological, ecological, and ethical considerations.The research topic is focused on the intersection of genetic engineering, parasite immunology, and vector biology with direct implications for vaccine design. It welcomes studies and perspectives that concentrate on translational relevance to VBD control, but excludes purely theoretical or computational works without experimental or mechanistic grounding. To gather further insights in advancing vaccines through gene editing and understanding host-parasite-vector interactions, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:-Vector-targeted gene editing interventions to inhibit pathogen transmission-Identification of protective antigens and immune evasion mechanisms using genome engineering-Synthetic biology in mRNA/DNA vaccine design for parasitic diseases-Dissection of signaling pathways and organ- or cell type-specific immune responses-AI-driven approaches for CRISPR design and multi-stage vaccine formulations-Ethical and ecological considerations in deploying gene-edited vectors or organisms-Translational research bridging laboratory findings with field applications in VBD controlWe welcome submissions that advance understanding of gene editing in vaccine development against vectors and vector-borne diseases. Suitable manuscript types include Original Research, Review, Mini Review, Perspective, and Methods, focusing on experimental, mechanistic, or translational studies that integrate vector biology, parasite immunology, and host immune responses. Contributions may address vector-targeted interventions, identification of protective antigens, synthetic biology for mRNA/DNA vaccines, AI-guided CRISPR design, multi-stage vaccine strategies, or ethical and ecological considerations. Manuscripts should have a clear experimental or translational foundation; purely theoretical or computational works without mechanistic validation are not suitable. The topic editors declare no conflict of interest Topic editors: Heba Alzan, Carlos Esteban Suarez Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/78302/gene-editing-in-vaccine-development-against-vectors-and-vector-borne-diseases-vbds