Immunizations

What type of vaccine is Pneumovax23 (PPSV)?

PPSV is a subunit vaccine that is expected to induce T-cell independent B cell responses.

Which vaccine platform is most likely to require co-formulation with an adjuvant to achieve protective immunity in the general population?

Subunit protein antigens

The Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech COVID vaccines are formulated such that the antigen…

is encoded in mRNA molecules which serve as templates of spike protein synthesis in human cells

Prevnar

This vaccine is formulated such that pneumococcal bacterial antigens are delivered as polysaccharides conjugated with a genetically engineered toxoid (CRM197).

Thimerosal

An excipient that is included as a mercury-based preservative in several vaccine products and is typically seen in multi-dose vials.

CpG

An adjuvant consists of unmethylated polymers of nucleotides analogous to bacterial DNA and is an agonist of toll-like receptor 9 (TLR-9)

AS04

An adjuvant system marketed by GSK and contains Alum and MPL. Evidence shows that this system enhances antigen presentation via activation of dendritic cells.

What is affinity maturation?

An immunological mechanism of somatic hypermutation of antibody variable genes (CDRs). the mechanism depends on continuous antigenic stimulation and proliferation of activated B cells.

Shingrix

This vaccine contains recombinant glycoprotein E as the antigen which is formulated in a system of adjuvant molecules MPL and QS-21.

Fluad

This vaccine contain inactivated influenza viruses and is co-formulated with MF59 as an adjuvant.

Flublok

This subunit vaccine contains influenza hemagglutinin formulated in lipid nanoparticles

Gardasil

The vaccine contains an antigen consisting of the L1 protein, which self-assembles into virus-like particles (VLP). Aluminum hydroxyphosphate is included in this product as an adjuvant.