ATC Group: J07B Viral vaccines

Ebola vaccine consists of a live, attenuated recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus-based vector expressing the envelope glycoprotein gene of Zaire Ebola virus (rVSV∆G-ZEBOV-GP). Immunisation of subjects with the vaccine results in an immune response and protection from Zaire Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).

Encephalitis, tick borne suspension for injection is indicated for the active (prophylactic) immunization of persons of 16 years of age and older against tick-borne encephalitis (TBE). Its pharmacodynamic effect consists of the induction of a sufficiently high concentration of anti-TBE antibody to provide protection against the TBE virus.

Inactivated virus of a strain which was originally derived by further serial passage of a proven attenuated strain. The virus is grown, harvested, highly purified, formalin inactivated, and then adsorbed onto amorphous aluminum hydroxyphosphate sulphate.

Hepatitis B vaccine induces specific humoral antibodies against hepatitis B virus surface antigen (anti-HBsAg). Hepatitis B vaccine has been recognized as the first anti-cancer vaccine because it can prevent primary liver cancer.

Japanese encephalitis is a disease caused by the mosquito-borne Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV). Japanese Encephalitis Vaccine acts by inducing antibodies that neutralize live JEV.

mRNA-1273 is COVID-19 mRNA encapsulated in lipid nanoparticles. The mRNA encodes for the full-length SARS-CoV-2 spike protein modified with 2 proline substitutions within the heptad repeat 1 domain (S-2P) to stabilise the spike protein into a prefusion conformation. After intramuscular injection, cells at the injection site and the draining lymph nodes take up the lipid nanoparticle, effectively delivering the mRNA sequence into cells for translation into viral protein. The delivered mRNA does not enter the cellular nucleus or interact with the genome, is nonreplicating, and is expressed transiently mainly by dendritic cells and subcapsular sinus macrophages. The expressed, membrane-bound spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 is then recognised by immune cells as a foreign antigen. This elicits both T-cell and B-cell responses to generate neutralising antibodies, which may contribute to protection against COVID-19.

Rotavirus vaccine is indicated for the active immunisation of infants aged 6 to 24 weeks for prevention of gastroenteritis due to rotavirus infection. In clinical trials, efficacy was demonstrated against gastro-enteritis due to rotavirus of the most common genotypes G1P [8], G2P [4], G3P [8], G4P [8] and G9P [8].

RSV glycoprotein F antigen is designed to enhance antigen-specific cellular immune response and neutralizing antibodies response in individuals with pre-existing immunity against RSV. The adjuvant AS01_E facilitates the recruitment and activation of antigen presenting cells carrying vaccine-derived antigens in the draining lymph node, which in turn leads to the generation of RSVPreF3-specific CD4+ T cells.

Rubella virus vaccine contains live attenuated rubella virus, produced in human diploid (MRC-5) cells. It is a virus vaccine for active immunization against rubella that is subcutaneously administered.

SARS-CoV-2 Spike glycoprotein (Ad26.COV2-S) is a monovalent vaccine composed of a recombinant, replicationincompetent human adenovirus type 26 vector that encodes a SARS-CoV-2 full-length spike (S) glycoprotein in a stabilised conformation. Following administration, the S glycoprotein of SARSCoV-2 is transiently expressed, stimulating both neutralising and other functional S-specific antibodies, as well as cellular immune responses directed against the S antigen, which may contribute to protection against COVID-19.

SARS-CoV-2 Spike glycoprotein (ChAdOx1-S) is a monovalent vaccine composed of a single recombinant, replication-deficient chimpanzee adenovirus (ChAdOx1) vector encoding the S glycoprotein of SARS-CoV-2. The SARS-CoV-2 S immunogen in the vaccine is expressed in the trimeric pre-fusion conformation; the coding sequence has not been modified in order to stabilise the expressed S-protein in the pre-fusion conformation. Following administration, the S glycoprotein of SARS-CoV-2 is expressed locally stimulating neutralising antibody and cellular immune responses, which may contribute to protection to COVID-19.

Smallpox vaccine is indicated for active immunization against smallpox disease for persons determined to be at high risk for smallpox infection.

The nucleoside-modified messenger RNA in COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine BNT162b2 is formulated in lipid nanoparticles, which enable delivery of the RNA into host cells to allow expression of the SARS-CoV-2 S antigen. The vaccine elicits both neutralizing antibody and cellular immune responses to the spike (S) antigen, which may contribute to protection against COVID-19 disease.

Natural infection induces a cellular and humoral immune response to the varicella-zoster virus, which can be rapidly detected following infection. IgG, IgM and IgA directed against viral proteins usually appear at the same time that a cellular immune response can be demonstrated, making the relative contribution of humoral and cellular immunity to disease progression difficult to ascertain. Vaccination has been shown to induce both humoral and cell-mediated types of immunity.

Varicella-zoster virus vaccine was shown to boost VZV-specific immunity, which is thought to be the mechanism by which it protects against zoster and its complications.