Current Efficacy of Multiepitope Vaccines Against Helminths: A Systematic Review

<b>Background</b>: Vaccination represents an efficient way to control communicable diseases. Reliable vaccines would reduce the use of anthelmintics drugs and fight against the concern of anthelmintics resistances. Unfortunately, anthelmintic vaccines face many difficulties in their deve...

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Main Authors: Ignacio Trujillo-Rodríguez, Julio López-Abán, Montserrat Alonso-Sardón, Belén Vicente-Santiago, Antonio Muro-Álvarez, Raúl Manzano-Román
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Biomolecules
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/15/6/867
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author Ignacio Trujillo-Rodríguez
Julio López-Abán
Montserrat Alonso-Sardón
Belén Vicente-Santiago
Antonio Muro-Álvarez
Raúl Manzano-Román
author_facet Ignacio Trujillo-Rodríguez
Julio López-Abán
Montserrat Alonso-Sardón
Belén Vicente-Santiago
Antonio Muro-Álvarez
Raúl Manzano-Román
author_sort Ignacio Trujillo-Rodríguez
collection DOAJ
description <b>Background</b>: Vaccination represents an efficient way to control communicable diseases. Reliable vaccines would reduce the use of anthelmintics drugs and fight against the concern of anthelmintics resistances. Unfortunately, anthelmintic vaccines face many difficulties in their development. One of the most innovative vaccine models in this field is multiepitope vaccines since, based on advances in immunoinformatics, they facilitate immunization against parasites at different stages of their cycles. <b>Objective</b>: In this study, we evaluate the published efficacy of multiepitope vaccines against helminths. <b>Methods</b>: Independent reviewers conducted a comprehensive search of multiple databases until September 20th 2024, following PRISMA 2020 guidelines. The review included original in vivo protection studies using chimeric vaccines with antigenic epitopes in experimental models. Key information was summarized, tabulated, and analyzed, and risk of bias was assessed using the SYRCLE risk tool. <b>Results</b>: A total of 15 preclinical studies were included. In those immunization experiments, parasite load reductions varied from 12.4% to 100%. <b>Conclusions</b>: Overall, this study shows protections in parasite load or lesion in 50–80% and significant survival rates using experimental vaccines including B- and T-cell epitopes in a wide range of helminthic infections. Given the variability of the experiments and the limited available data, there was not a clear correlation between protections and immune responses. Confirmation trials are needed to corroborate the protection and immunological mechanisms reached not only in this initial valuable study but also with other multiepitope candidates.
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spelling doaj-art-474f65930d574f53bbce1edf602a1a732025-08-20T02:24:23ZengMDPI AGBiomolecules2218-273X2025-06-0115686710.3390/biom15060867Current Efficacy of Multiepitope Vaccines Against Helminths: A Systematic ReviewIgnacio Trujillo-Rodríguez0Julio López-Abán1Montserrat Alonso-Sardón2Belén Vicente-Santiago3Antonio Muro-Álvarez4Raúl Manzano-Román5Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Group (e-INTRO), Biomedical Research Institute of Salamanca Research Centre for Tropical Diseases at the University of Salamanca (IBSAL-CIETUS), 37007 Salamanca, SpainInfectious and Tropical Diseases Research Group (e-INTRO), Biomedical Research Institute of Salamanca Research Centre for Tropical Diseases at the University of Salamanca (IBSAL-CIETUS), 37007 Salamanca, SpainÁrea de Medicina Preventiva, Epidemiología y Salud Pública, Facultad de Medicina, CIETUS, e-INTRO, IBSAL, Universidad de Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, SpainInfectious and Tropical Diseases Research Group (e-INTRO), Biomedical Research Institute of Salamanca Research Centre for Tropical Diseases at the University of Salamanca (IBSAL-CIETUS), 37007 Salamanca, SpainInfectious and Tropical Diseases Research Group (e-INTRO), Biomedical Research Institute of Salamanca Research Centre for Tropical Diseases at the University of Salamanca (IBSAL-CIETUS), 37007 Salamanca, SpainInfectious and Tropical Diseases Research Group (e-INTRO), Biomedical Research Institute of Salamanca Research Centre for Tropical Diseases at the University of Salamanca (IBSAL-CIETUS), 37007 Salamanca, Spain<b>Background</b>: Vaccination represents an efficient way to control communicable diseases. Reliable vaccines would reduce the use of anthelmintics drugs and fight against the concern of anthelmintics resistances. Unfortunately, anthelmintic vaccines face many difficulties in their development. One of the most innovative vaccine models in this field is multiepitope vaccines since, based on advances in immunoinformatics, they facilitate immunization against parasites at different stages of their cycles. <b>Objective</b>: In this study, we evaluate the published efficacy of multiepitope vaccines against helminths. <b>Methods</b>: Independent reviewers conducted a comprehensive search of multiple databases until September 20th 2024, following PRISMA 2020 guidelines. The review included original in vivo protection studies using chimeric vaccines with antigenic epitopes in experimental models. Key information was summarized, tabulated, and analyzed, and risk of bias was assessed using the SYRCLE risk tool. <b>Results</b>: A total of 15 preclinical studies were included. In those immunization experiments, parasite load reductions varied from 12.4% to 100%. <b>Conclusions</b>: Overall, this study shows protections in parasite load or lesion in 50–80% and significant survival rates using experimental vaccines including B- and T-cell epitopes in a wide range of helminthic infections. Given the variability of the experiments and the limited available data, there was not a clear correlation between protections and immune responses. Confirmation trials are needed to corroborate the protection and immunological mechanisms reached not only in this initial valuable study but also with other multiepitope candidates.https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/15/6/867helminthsvaccinesmultiepitopein vivo efficacysystematic review
spellingShingle Ignacio Trujillo-Rodríguez
Julio López-Abán
Montserrat Alonso-Sardón
Belén Vicente-Santiago
Antonio Muro-Álvarez
Raúl Manzano-Román
Current Efficacy of Multiepitope Vaccines Against Helminths: A Systematic Review
Biomolecules
helminths
vaccines
multiepitope
in vivo efficacy
systematic review
title Current Efficacy of Multiepitope Vaccines Against Helminths: A Systematic Review
title_full Current Efficacy of Multiepitope Vaccines Against Helminths: A Systematic Review
title_fullStr Current Efficacy of Multiepitope Vaccines Against Helminths: A Systematic Review
title_full_unstemmed Current Efficacy of Multiepitope Vaccines Against Helminths: A Systematic Review
title_short Current Efficacy of Multiepitope Vaccines Against Helminths: A Systematic Review
title_sort current efficacy of multiepitope vaccines against helminths a systematic review
topic helminths
vaccines
multiepitope
in vivo efficacy
systematic review
url https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/15/6/867
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