The More, The Merrier: Increasing the Arsenal of Quick-Response Vaccine Platforms for Emerging and Re-Emerging Infectious Agents

The emergence and re-emergence of infectious diseases, driven mainly by antigenic changes and antimicrobial resistance, is an ongoing threat to human health. According to the World Health Organization, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Acinetobacter baumannii, Plasmodium spp., severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2) and some influenza virus serotypes are potentially pandemic. Moreover, the recurrent emergence of new genetic variants that affect livestock, like avian influenza virus, may jeopardize food security. We have recently witnessed how the global scientific community developed in record time, vaccines against SARS-CoV2, employing a variety of platforms, from viral-vectored vaccines to protein-based and messenger RNA vaccines. We also learned that, in the specific case of SARS-CoV2, some platforms had less side-effects than others, giving us the chance to choose the vaccine that provided maximum protection and low reactogenicity. The bottom line is that expanding the diversity of available vaccine platforms will enhance our capacity to respond quickly to future outbreaks and pandemics and also develop vaccines that confer a broad protection against highly variable human and animal pathogens.This Research Topic aims to highlight advances in the development, evaluation and application of diverse vaccine platforms designed to counteract emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases. By focusing on pathogens with high pandemic potential and those affecting both human and animal health, the Section seeks to advance understanding of how expanding the repertoire of vaccine platforms can accelerate outbreak responses and enable broad, long-lasting protection against antigenically variable or antimicrobial-resistant microorganisms.This Research Topic welcomes all accepted type of articles covering (but not limited to):• Development of novel vaccine platforms, including viral vectors, protein subunits, nanoparticles, nucleic acid-based technologies, and other innovative approaches.• Comparative immunogenicity, safety, and reactogenicity studies across different vaccine platforms.• Design of broadly protective or cross-reactive vaccines targeting highly variable human and animal pathogens.• Preclinical and translational studies evaluating vaccine candidates against emerging or re-emerging pathogens (e.g., Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Acinetobacter baumannii, Plasmodium spp., SARS-CoV2, influenza viruses, and zoonotic strains affecting livestock).• Mechanistic insights into host-pathogen interactions that contribute to rational vaccine design.• Technological or methodological innovations enabling accelerated vaccine development during outbreaks.• One Health-oriented vaccine research, particularly, studies addressing pathogens that threaten both public health and food security. Topic editors: Abel Gutiérrez-Ortega, Yu Kaku Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/79595/the-more-the-merrier-increasing-the-arsenal-of-quick-response-vaccine-platforms-for-emerging-and-re-emerging-infectious-agents