Self–assembling protein nanoparticles open a new avenue for next generation veterinary vaccines

Vaccines have been implemented for more than two centuries and have saved millions of lives, which is one of the most outstanding inventions in medicine. The concept of vaccine was conceived two centuries ago by the English physician Edward Jenner, “the father of immunology”. He had initiated the first protective vaccine against smallpox using live cowpox virus in 1798. Many effective vaccines have been developed in the past two hundred years. The majority of them was produced by traditional methods by attenuating live pathogens or by chemically inactivate whole pathogenic organisms. Live attenuated vaccines are highly protective but bear inherent safety concern due to the potential reactivation of virulent state. In contrast, chemically inactivated vaccines cannot regain the virulent state of derivative pathogens and are safe. However, they are poorly immunogenic, and induce weak protection. Besides, tediously laborintensive efforts are required for formulation preparation of killed vaccines.