Thermostable vaccines: an innovative concept in vaccine development

ABSTRACT

Introduction

Vaccines represent he most common and safer ways of combating infectious diseases. Loss of potency owing to thermal denaturation or degradation of almost all the vaccines necessitates their storage, transportation, and final dissemination under refrigerated conditions. However, maintenance of a continuous cold chain raises the costs of vaccines significantly. A large number of life-saving vaccines are discarded before their application owing to exposure to sub-optimum temperatures. Therefore, there is a pressing need for the development of a thermostable vaccine with a long shelf life at ambient temperature.

Areas covered

A literature search was performed to compile a list of different vaccines, and their storage and handling conditions. Similarly, a separate list was prepared for different coronavirus vaccines. A literature survey was also performed to look at different approaches undertaken globally to address the issue of the cold-chain problem. We emphasized the importance of yeast cells in the development of thermostable vaccines. In the end, we discussed why thermostable vaccines are required, not only in resource-poor countries but also for resource-rich countries .

Expert opinion

Temperature change can severely impact the stability of various life-saving vaccines. Therefore, there is a pressing need for the development of thermostable vaccines with a long shelf lives.

KEYWORDS:

• Vaccines
• thermostability
• yeast-based vaccines
• coronavirus vaccines
• cold chain

Article highlights

• Most commercially available vaccines are thermolabile.

• Continuous cold-chain maintenance for available vaccines increases the cost.

• A thermostable vaccine is needed for the entire world.

Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Reviewer disclosures

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Authors contribution

RK and AA conceived the idea of draft, compiles tables, and write draft. PB and VS also contribute to writing and editing the draft. VS prepares figures and also contributes to tables. RK, AA, PB, and VS also contribute to the revision of manuscript.

Acknowledgments

RK is thankful to UCSF for providing space and other necessary resources for the completion of this manuscript. We feel regret for not being able to include the work of everyone working in this direction.

Additional information

Funding

This paper was not funded.