Since the late 18th century, vaccination has been used as a method to control the spread of certain diseases. Edward Jenner’s use of cowpox lesions to inoculate people against smallpox marked the beginning of this practice. As technology and understanding have advanced, vaccination has become a crucial tool in preventing the transmission of infectious diseases, with only access to clean water having a greater positive impact on global health.
Older vaccines, like those for measles and polio, used dead or weakened pathogens to stimulate the body’s immune system and produce antibodies. However, in individuals with compromised immune systems, these vaccines may still cause sickness. Newer technologies have led to the development of protein-based vaccines, which use specific antigens from pathogens to trigger an immune response without causing the disease itself.
Protein vaccines have been successful in combating diseases like diphtheria and tetanus by isolating, purifying, and injecting specific proteins that can be recognized by the body’s immune system. Recombinant technology has further advanced the development of these vaccines, allowing for quicker identification and production of the necessary antigens.
Genetic engineering plays a crucial role in the production of many vaccines, including those developed by Novavax. This process enables scientists to use genetic material from target pathogens to create highly purified and specific recombinant proteins that can provoke an immune response to protect against infections.