Subunit vaccines contain isolated proteins from a virus, without viral nucleic acid, making them safe for use in people with compromised immune systems. They teach the immune system to recognize antigens, preventing viral replication and disease. Recombinant subunit vaccines can prevent protein denaturation, and they offer opportunities for vaccination against multiple virus strains.
A subunit vaccine is a vaccine that contains proteins isolated from a virus, but lacks viral nucleic acid. These vaccines expose the body to antigens so it can learn to recognize them without exposing the body to the risk of viral replication and subsequent infection. Several flu vaccines are available in the form of subunit vaccines, and several pharmaceutical companies are working to apply the technology to the development of other types of vaccines as well. The main benefit of using a subunit vaccine is that it is very safe, even in people with compromised immune systems.
To produce subunit vaccines, pharmaceutical companies strip away all but proteins associated with specific and unique antigens. With the use of genetic engineering, organisms can be manipulated to express these proteins in large quantities for the production of vaccines. The subunit vaccine is not virulent because it does not contain the genetic material of the virus, only the proteins on the outside of the virus.
When these vaccines are given, the immune system learns to recognize the antigens and develops specific antibodies. This ensures that when the virus enters the body, the immune system will identify and target it for destruction before it has the opportunity to start replicating and causing disease. Because the material in the subunit vaccine is unable to replicate, the risk of adverse reactions is very low, and the vaccines are safe for use in people with weak immune systems.
One problem with the subunit vaccine manufacturing technique is that sometimes the isolation of proteins denatures them, causing them to take a different shape. The immune system develops antibodies to denatured proteins, but does not recognize viral proteins in situ on a virus’ coat. Some researchers have addressed this problem by making recombinant subunit vaccines, in which the proteins of a dangerous virus are combined with a benign virus to be delivered in the form of a vaccine. This prevents proteins from denatured and teaches the immune system to recognize proteins on the surface of a virus.
The isolation of specific proteins provides opportunities for vaccination against multiple strains of a virus, an important feature for influenza vaccines. Research into human immunodeficiency virus vaccines has also involved the development of subunit vaccines that could use specific proteins to teach the body to recognize and eliminate HIV without exposing people to the risk of viral replication and infection from HIV.
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