An Update on Anti-COVID-19 Vaccines and the Challenges to Protect Against New SARS-CoV-2 Variants

Author(s)

Mambelli, Fabio ; de Araujo, Ana Carolina V. S. C. ; Farias, Jessica P. ; de Andrade, Kivia Q. ; Ferreira, Luis C. S. ; Minoprio, Paola ; Leite, Luciana C. C. ; Oliveira, Sergio C.

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: PATHOGENS; v. 14, n. 1, p. 19-pg., 2025-01-01.

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has posed a significant threat to global health systems, with extensive impacts across many sectors of society. The pandemic has been responsible for millions of deaths worldwide since its first identification in late 2019. Several actions have been taken to prevent the disease, including the unprecedented fast development and global vaccination campaigns, which were pivotal in reducing symptoms and deaths. Given the impact of the pandemic, the continuous changes of the virus, and present vaccine technologies, this review analyzes how, so far, we have met the challenge posed by the emergence of new variants and discusses how next-generation pan-coronavirus vaccines, with enhanced longevity and breadth of immune responses, may be tackled with alternative administration routes and antigen delivery platforms. By addressing these critical aspects, this review aims to contribute to the ongoing efforts to achieve long-term control of COVID-19, stimulating the discussion and work on next-generation vaccines capable of facing future waves of infection. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 23/01925-0 - Vaccination against COVID-19: where do we come from, where are we and where are we going?
• Grantee: Jessica Pires Farias
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 23/03874-3 - Immunization with recombinant BCG expressing epitopes from SARS-CoV-2 spike and nuceloprotein protects against infection in hACE-2 murine model
• Grantee: Fábio Mambelli Silva
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 23/09226-3 - Unraveling trained immune mechanisms mediated by BCG in macrophages and dendritic cells during infection by the intracellular bacterium Brucella abortus
• Grantee: Ana Carolina Valente Santos Cruz de Araujo
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 17/27131-9 - Integrated strategy for the study of infectious agents causing emerging and/or neglected diseases transmitted by vectors of global impact
• Grantee: Paola Marcella Camargo Minoprio
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 23/02577-5 - Study of the mechanisms responsible for trained immunity induced by Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) in infectious diseases and Cancer
• Grantee: Sergio Costa Oliveira
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 23/11077-6 - The importance of STING in different subpopulations of immune cells in the control of Brucella abortus infection
• Grantee: Kívia Queiroz de Andrade
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral