Eurofins CALIXAR’s Solutions for Vaccine Discovery

Best in class membrane proteins for subunit vaccine discovery

Subunit vaccines are a type of vaccine that uses only a fragment of the pathogen (disease-causing organism) to stimulate an immune response. Instead of using the whole pathogen, subunit vaccines focus on specific proteins or antigens that are essential for the pathogen's function. 

Advantages of subunit vaccines:

• Safety: Subunit vaccines are generally considered safer than traditional vaccines that use weakened or inactivated forms of the entire pathogen. Since subunit vaccines only contain specific proteins or antigens, there is a lower risk of causing disease in the vaccinated individual.

• Reduced Side Effects: Because subunit vaccines do not contain the entire pathogen, the likelihood of adverse reactions or side effects is minimized. This is particularly important for individuals with weakened immune systems or other health conditions.

• Precision and Specificity: Subunit vaccines allow for precise targeting of the immune system. By focusing on key antigens, the vaccine can trigger a specific immune response against the most critical components of the pathogen.

• Ease of Production: Subunit vaccines are often easier to produce than traditional vaccines. The use of recombinant DNA technology allows for the mass production of specific proteins, making the manufacturing process more scalable.

• No Risk of Reversion to Virulence: Some traditional vaccines use weakened or attenuated forms of the pathogen. There is a theoretical risk that these weakened forms could revert to a more virulent state. Subunit vaccines eliminate this risk because they do not involve the use of live pathogens.

• Broad Applicability: Subunit vaccines can be designed for a wide range of pathogens, including viruses and bacteria. This flexibility makes them valuable in the development of vaccines for various infectious diseases.
• Improved Stability: Subunit vaccines are often more stable than vaccines containing whole pathogens. This stability can be advantageous for storage, transportation, and distribution, especially in regions with limited access to sophisticated cold chain infrastructure.

While subunit vaccines offer several advantages, they may also have some challenges, such as the need for adjuvants to enhance the immune response and the potential requirement for booster doses to maintain immunity over time. Researchers continue to refine and improve subunit vaccine technologies to address these challenges and enhance their effectiveness.

Fully-native, pure, stable and conformational recombinant antigens for higher immune response.

Eurofins CALIXAR’s technology preserves the structural and functional integrities of the recombinant antigens enabling sound recognition of specific antibodies and generating strong immune responses.

Traditionally, vaccine discovery was performed with weak-quality antigens (low immunogenicity) and assay conflicts (antigen’s buffer conditions).

Eurofins CALIXAR delivers high-quality native, pure, stable, functionaland conformational membrane protein targets to accelerate protein subunit vaccine discovery.

Innovative reagents for inactivated vaccine discovery

An inactivated vaccine, also known as a killed vaccine, is a type of vaccine that contains viruses or bacteria that have been rendered nonfunctional or "killed" through physical or chemical processes. These inactivated pathogens are unable to replicate or cause disease, but they retain enough of their original structure to stimulate an immune response.

The process of inactivation involves treating the infectious agents with heat, chemicals, or radiation, destroying their ability to multiply while preserving the antigens that trigger the immune system. When a person is vaccinated with an inactivated vaccine, their immune system recognizes these preserved antigens as foreign invaders and mounts a defensive response by producing antibodies.

Although inactivated vaccines are generally safe, they may require booster doses to maintain immunity over time. Common examples of inactivated vaccines include the polio vaccine, hepatitis A vaccine, and the whole-cell pertussis component of the DTP (diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis) vaccine.

Key features of inactivated vaccine:

• Safety: Inactivated vaccines are considered safe because they use viruses or bacteria that have been killed or inactivated. This eliminates the risk of causing disease in the vaccinated individual.

• Stability: Inactivated vaccines tend to be more stable than live vaccines, as they do not require special storage conditions to maintain their efficacy. This stability makes them easier to transport and distribute, particularly in areas with limited access to refrigeration.

• Broad Applicability: Inactivated vaccines can be developed for a wide range of pathogens, including viruses and bacteria. This versatility allows for the creation of vaccines targeting various infectious diseases.

• No Risk of Reversion to Virulence: Since inactivated vaccines use viruses or bacteria that are no longer alive, there is no risk of reversion to virulence, which can be a concern with live vaccines.

• Suitable for Immunocompromised Individuals: Inactivated vaccines are generally safe for individuals with weakened immune systems, including those who are immunocompromised. This makes them suitable for a broader population.

• Minimal Interference with Other Vaccines: Inactivated vaccines can be administered simultaneously with other vaccines without significant interference, making them compatible with combination vaccines and vaccination schedules.

• No Shedding: Inactivated vaccines do not lead to viral shedding, meaning the vaccinated individual does not spread the vaccine virus to others. This is in contrast to some live vaccines that may cause a vaccinated person to shed the vaccine virus for a short period.

• Consistent Immune Response: Inactivated vaccines often induce a consistent and predictable immune response. This makes it easier to determine the appropriate dosage and vaccination schedule for optimal protection.

• Reduced Risk of Adverse Events: In general, inactivated vaccines have a lower risk of causing adverse events compared to live vaccines. They are well-tolerated by most individuals.

• Global Acceptance: Many inactivated vaccines have a long history of successful use and global acceptance, contributing to their credibility and widespread adoption in vaccination programs worldwide.

While inactivated vaccines offer these advantages, it's essential to recognize that each type of vaccine has its unique strengths and limitations. The choice of vaccine depends on factors such as the characteristics of the pathogen, the target population, and logistical considerations.

Splitting and inactivating enveloped virus and bacteria using Eurofins CALIXAR’s innovative reagents for a higher immune response with lower quantity of membrane antigens.

Eurofins CALIXAR has developed innovative proprietary detergent-based reagents for splitting and inactivating enveloped viruses and pathogenic microbes while keeping the integrity of the envelope or membrane. Our proprietary process ensures maintaining the native conformation of membrane antigen complexes. This results in an enhanced immune response with lower dose of antigens.