About this Research Topic
Coxiella burnetii is the causative agent of Q-fever, a zoonotic disease that transmits to humans mainly through inhalation of contaminated aerosols. The only vaccine licensed for human use is a formalin-inactivated whole cell vaccine (Q-Vax), which provides long-term immunity after a single dose. However, immunizing individuals with immunological memory results in a severe hypersensitivity response that has limited worldwide licensure of Q-Vax. Vaccination is subsequently restricted to serologically and skin test negative individuals, assessed prior to immunization. Adverse vaccine events can include severe local and systemic reactions including a dermal granulomatous inflammation at the injection site, as well as fever, headaches and fatigue.
C. burnetii has an almost global distribution and can remain endemic within a diverse range of animal reservoirs. Subsequently, human cases are most prevalent among veterinarians, farmers and abattoir workers however, many cases go undiagnosed since approximately 50% of individuals exposed to Q-fever are asymptomatic. Since it is not always clear who has been exposed, individuals must undergo serological surveillance and perform a skin test prior to vaccination. This pre-vaccination routine not only increases the time before someone can receive a vaccine, but it is also costly and prohibitive in some developing countries. Given that C. burnetii is also of military significance, given it is a Tier 2 Select Agent, there is an urgent need to develop low-cost, rapid response vaccines.
Vaccine-mediated hypersensitivity in individuals previously exposed to C. burnetii continues to be a significant barrier for licensing new vaccine candidates. The goal of this topic is to identify research that will advance the development of new Q-fever vaccines that are both safe and effective.
In this Research Topic, we aim to cover recent advances in the development of non-reactogenic vaccine candidates against Q-fever. Vaccine candidates could be derived from killed-whole cell, live attenuated, peptide, glycan or nucleic acid origins. However, authors should attempt to address the concerns surrounding vaccine-mediated hypersensitivity with their candidate vaccine.
We welcome the submission of Mini Reviews, Reviews, Original Research, Methods and Clinical Trial articles covering, but not limited to, the following sub-topics:
1. Novel vaccine candidates against Q-fever.
2. Immunological mechanisms responsible for inducing Q-fever vaccine-mediated hypersensitivity.
3. Infection models to evaluate Q-fever vaccine efficacy and safety.
4. Population studies on prevalence of adverse Q-fever vaccine events.
C. burnetii has an almost global distribution and can remain endemic within a diverse range of animal reservoirs. Subsequently, human cases are most prevalent among veterinarians, farmers and abattoir workers however, many cases go undiagnosed since approximately 50% of individuals exposed to Q-fever are asymptomatic. Since it is not always clear who has been exposed, individuals must undergo serological surveillance and perform a skin test prior to vaccination. This pre-vaccination routine not only increases the time before someone can receive a vaccine, but it is also costly and prohibitive in some developing countries. Given that C. burnetii is also of military significance, given it is a Tier 2 Select Agent, there is an urgent need to develop low-cost, rapid response vaccines.
Vaccine-mediated hypersensitivity in individuals previously exposed to C. burnetii continues to be a significant barrier for licensing new vaccine candidates. The goal of this topic is to identify research that will advance the development of new Q-fever vaccines that are both safe and effective.
In this Research Topic, we aim to cover recent advances in the development of non-reactogenic vaccine candidates against Q-fever. Vaccine candidates could be derived from killed-whole cell, live attenuated, peptide, glycan or nucleic acid origins. However, authors should attempt to address the concerns surrounding vaccine-mediated hypersensitivity with their candidate vaccine.
We welcome the submission of Mini Reviews, Reviews, Original Research, Methods and Clinical Trial articles covering, but not limited to, the following sub-topics:
1. Novel vaccine candidates against Q-fever.
2. Immunological mechanisms responsible for inducing Q-fever vaccine-mediated hypersensitivity.
3. Infection models to evaluate Q-fever vaccine efficacy and safety.
4. Population studies on prevalence of adverse Q-fever vaccine events.
Keywords: vaccine, non-reactogenic, Q-fever, C. burnetii, hypersensitivity, guinea pig, mouse, Q-VAX, DTH
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
