Membrane Microvesicles as Potential Vaccine Candidates

Abstract

The prevention and control of infectious diseases is crucial to the maintenance and protection of social and public healthcare. The global impact of SARS-CoV-2 has demonstrated how outbreaks of emerging and re-emerging infections can lead to pandemics of significant public health and socio-economic burden. Vaccination is one of the most effective approaches to protect against infectious diseases, and to date, multiple vaccines have been successfully used to protect against and eradicate both viral and bacterial pathogens. The main criterion of vaccine efficacy is the induction of specific humoral and cellular immune responses, and it is well established that immunogenicity depends on the type of vaccine as well as the route of delivery. In addition, antigen delivery to immune organs and the site of injection can potentiate efficacy of the vaccine. In light of this, microvesicles have been suggested as potential vehicles for antigen delivery as they can carry various immunogenic molecules including proteins, nucleic acids and polysaccharides directly to target cells. In this review, we focus on the mechanisms of microvesicle biogenesis and the role of microvesicles in infectious diseases. Further, we discuss the application of microvesicles as a novel and effective vaccine delivery system.

The complex, bidirectional role of extracellular vesicles in infection

“…An excellent example of this are bEVs from Neisseria meningitidis, which have safely and successfully been used as the basis for a vaccine against meningococcal disease, as they induce potent antibacterial immune responses [106]. The success of bEV-based vaccines gives encouragement to those seeking new strategies to immunise against pathogens that have thus far proven difficult [106], perhaps through the use of pathogen EVs as in the N. meningitidis vaccine [106] or designer EVs from genetically modified bacteria [107,108].…”

AMDV Vaccine: Challenges and Perspectives

“…Alternatively, another new vaccination method that is actively being explored involves the use of cell-derived bi-layered extracellular vesicles (EVs) such as exosomes, microvesicles and apoptotic bodies [ 156 , 157 ]. Indeed, these have great advantages in terms of delivery and can increase overall immunogenicity since they have immunostimulatory molecules on their surfaces such as MHC class I or II molecules [ 156 , 158 ].…”

“…From this, a specific reaction was demonstrated in a PRRSV RNA-negative and seropositive pig upon testing the exosome-derived viral proteins [ 159 ]. The microvesicle approach has also been tested by many researchers, including Rappazzo et al, where mice were vaccinated with microvesicles expressing ClyA surface protein fused with influenza matrix protein 2 [ 157 , 160 ]. Upon challenge with a virulent mouse-adapted H1N1 influenza strain, vaccinated mice demonstrated a full protection, and the passive transfer of their antibodies to non-vaccinated mice protected the latter when challenged [ 160 ].…”

AMDV Vaccine: Challenges and Perspectives

“…Alternatively, another new vaccination method that is actively being explored involves the use of cell-derived bi-layered extracellular vesicles (EVs) such as exosomes, microvesicles and apoptotic bodies [162,163]. Indeed, these have great advantages in terms of delivery and can increase overall immunogenicity since they have immunostimulatory molecules on their surfaces such as MHC class I or II molecules [162,164].…”