Does the Development of Vaccines Advance Solutions for Tuberculosis?

Liposomal delivery system/adjuvant for tuberculosis vaccine

As reported by the World Health Organization, about 10 million individuals were infected with tuberculosis (TB) worldwide. Moreover, approximately 1.5 million people died of TB, of which 214,000 were infected with HIV simultaneously. Due to the high infection rate, the need for effective TB vaccination is highly felt. Until now, various methodologies have been proposed for the development of a protein subunit vaccine for TB. These vaccines have shown higher protection than other vaccines, particularly the Bacillus culture vaccine. The delivery system and safety regulator are common characteristics of effective adjuvants in TB vaccines and the clinical trial stage. The present study investigates the current state of TB adjuvant research focusing on the liposomal adjuvant system. Based on our findings, the liposomal system is a safe and efficient adjuvant from nanosize to microsize for vaccinations against TB, other intracellular infections, and malignancies. Clinical studies can provide valuable feedback for developing novel TB adjuvants, which ultimately enhance the impact of adjuvants on next-generation TB vaccines.

Polysaccharides to combat viruses (Covid-19) and microbes: New updates

COVID-19, which is speedily distributed across the world and presents a significant challenge to public health, is caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Following MERS coronavirus (MERS-CoV) and SARS, this is the third severe coronavirus outbreak in less than 20 years. To date, there are no exact agents and vaccines available for the treatment of COVID-19 that are clinically successful. Antimicrobial medications are effective in controlling infectious diseases. However, the extensive use of antibiotics makes microbes more resistant to drugs and demands novel bioactive agents' development. Polysaccharides are currently commonly used in the biomedical and pharmaceutical industries for their remarkable applications. Polysaccharides appear to have a wide range of anti-virus (anti-coronavirus) and antimicrobial applications. Polysaccharides are able to induce bacterial cell membrane disruption as they demonstrate potency in binding onto the surfaces of microbial cells. Here, the antiviral mechanisms of such polysaccharides and their success in the application of antiviral infections are reviewed. Additionally, this report provides a summary of current advancements of well-recognized polysaccharides as antimicrobial and anti-biofilm agents.