Role of Glycosylation in Vaccine Design: Modulating the Targeting of Pathogen Recognition Receptors and Shaping Adaptive Immunity

Glycosylation, the enzymatic process of adding glycans to proteins or lipids, plays a pivotal role in immune recognition and response modulation. Pathogen recognition receptors (PRRs) on immune cells recognize specific glycan patterns on pathogens, leading to the initiation of innate immunity and shaping subsequent adaptive responses. Recent research underscores how glycan structures influence the interaction between antigens and immune cells, impacting vaccine efficacy. By understanding glycosylation’s role in antigen stability, trafficking, and immunogenicity, we can design vaccines that better mimic natural pathogen profiles, enhancing immune targeting and durability. Exploring glycosylation's effect on vaccine design offers exciting opportunities to improve vaccine precision and efficacy in infectious diseases and beyond.

The main goal of this Research Topic is to advance understanding of how glycosylation can be strategically applied to vaccine design, specifically to optimize the targeting of pathogen recognition receptors and shape adaptive immune responses. Glycosylation affects the stability, immunogenicity, and biodistribution of vaccine antigens, making it a powerful tool in tailoring immune responses. Advances in glycoengineering have opened possibilities to modify glycans on antigens and delivery systems, allowing for fine-tuned interactions with PRRs such as Toll-like and C-type lectin receptors. Through this Research Topic, we aim to gather studies that explore the mechanisms by which glycosylation impacts immune responses, identify glycosylation patterns that enhance vaccine efficacy, and encourage innovative approaches in glycoengineered vaccines. This collection will provide critical insights to drive the development of vaccines that are more effective, durable, and capable of inducing targeted immunity against complex pathogens.

We encourage researchers to contribute to this Research Topic by examining how glycosylation influences immune responses in vaccine settings. We are particularly interested in studies that explore PRR-glycan interactions, glycoengineering approaches to optimize vaccine stability, and innovations in glycosylated vaccine delivery systems. Contributions can span molecular mechanisms, cellular studies, or applied research on glycan-modified vaccine platforms. We welcome original research, reviews, methodological advancements, and mini-reviews that address these aspects, providing a comprehensive look at glycosylation’s potential to drive targeted immunity and enhance vaccine effectiveness.

• Glycosylation and vaccine development,
• Pathogen recognition receptors (PRRs),
• Adaptive immunity modulation,
• Glycoengineering in immunology,
• Vaccine antigen targeting,
• Innate immune system activation,
• Carbohydrate-protein interactions,
• Immunological memory.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Classification
• Clinical Trial
• Curriculum, Instruction, and Pedagogy
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Classification
• Clinical Trial
• Curriculum, Instruction, and Pedagogy
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Study Protocol
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Glycosylation and vaccine development, Pathogen recognition receptors (PRRs), Adaptive immunity modulation, Glycoengineering in immunology, Vaccine antigen targeting, Innate immune system activation, Carbohydrate-protein interactions, Immunological memory

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.