REVIEW article
Front. Immunol.
Sec. Vaccines and Molecular Therapeutics
GenIV vaccines: bridging innovation to equity in neglected tropical diseases
Marta Araújo 1
Dhiraj Gurjar 2
Nicolas Grandchamp 3
Bhaskar Saha 4
Ricardo Silvestre 1
1. Life and Health Sciences Research Institute, School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
2. National Centre for Cell Science, Pune, India
3. GEG-TECH, Paris, France
4. JSPS Government Homeopathic Medical College, Ramanthapur, Hyderabad, India
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Abstract
Recent breakthroughs in molecular vaccinology have defined a new generation of vaccines that integrate synthetic mRNA, self-amplifying RNA, and nanomaterial-based platforms. These fourth-generation vaccines offer exceptional adaptability, rapid design, and strong immunogenicity, as demonstrated during the COVID-19 pandemic. Their potential now extends to neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), where conventional vaccine strategies have failed to deliver durable protection. This review traces the evolution from whole-pathogen to precision molecular vaccines, highlighting the mechanisms, delivery systems, and translational advances that underpin the GenIV paradigm. Using leishmaniasis as a case study, we discuss how these technologies can bridge innovation and equity through technology transfer, regional manufacturing, and global collaboration. By integrating scientific, ethical, and implementation perspectives, this work outlines how next-generation vaccines can transform both epidemic preparedness and the equitable control of endemic diseases.
Summary
Keywords
Fourth-generation vaccines, Leishmaniasis, mRNA vaccines, neglected tropical diseases, translational vaccinology, Vaccine equity
Received
28 November 2025
Accepted
17 February 2026
Copyright
© 2026 Araújo, Gurjar, Grandchamp, Saha and Silvestre. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
*Correspondence: Ricardo Silvestre
Disclaimer
All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.