Index >>Immunity >> Subunit Vaccines / Second Generation Vaccines

Subunit Vaccines / Second Generation Vaccines

It is likely that in near future the whole organism vaccines will be completely replaced by subunit vaccines or second generation vaccines. For example, pili from bacteria can be extracted and purified for stimulatory antipili antibodies. This would inhibit attachment of bacteria to host surface.

Another vaccine of this type is that for pneumococcal pneumonia. This vaccine contains 23 different polysaccharides from the capsules of strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae. A third example is for hepatitis B. This vaccine contains fragments of hepatitis virus surface antigens isolated from the blood of hepatitis carriers.