Vaccine science

From research to an immune response.

Conventional vaccine development is a multi-step process involving laboratory research, animal testing and human clinical trials. The material provided describes a typical development period of 10 to 15 years.

ComponentsProductionmRNAReverse vaccinology

Inside a vaccine

Common components, different functions.

The source diagram presents active ingredients together with supporting components used to maintain stability, safety and effectiveness.

Diagram of common vaccine components — Common vaccine components shown in the supplied material, including active ingredients, adjuvants, stabilizers, preservatives, antibiotics and trace components.

Production method

A controlled sequence from strain selection to lot release.

Select the strainIdentify the biological strain used for vaccine production.

Grow and isolateGrow microorganisms, then isolate and purify the target.

Inactivate and formulateProcess the organism and prepare the vaccine formulation.

Quality controlComplete quality control before lot release.

mRNA technology

Using genetic code as the instruction layer.

mRNA vaccine technology uses synthetic genetic code to instruct cells to build a harmless protein fragment that triggers an immune response.

This shifts the focus from delivering the pathogen itself toward delivering information that helps the immune system recognize a target.

Reverse vaccinology

Start with the genome, then narrow toward a candidate.

The supplied schematic summarizes a pathway beginning with genome sequence and computer analysis, moving through antigen screening and protective-immunity assessment, then molecular epidemiology, trials and production, approval, recommendation and implementation.

See the genomics connection →