Advancements in saponin-based vaccine adjuvants

IF 3.1 4区医学 Q3 CHEMISTRY, MEDICINAL

Medicinal Chemistry Research Pub Date : 2025-08-15 DOI:10.1007/s00044-025-03453-x

Linggai Cao, Ping Dong, Jie Liu, Jie Zhang, He Xie, Shizhou Yu, Jianfeng Zhang

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Abstract

Saponin-based adjuvants have emerged as promising candidates for enhancing vaccine efficacy by modulating immune responses. Derived primarily from plant and marine sources, saponins possess unique amphiphilic structures that contribute to their potent immunostimulatory properties. This review explores the advancements in saponin-based vaccine adjuvants, focusing on their immunomodulatory mechanisms, structural diversity, and applications. QS-21, a triterpenoid saponin from Quillaja saponaria, is the most extensively studied and has been incorporated into licensed vaccines such as Shingrix, Mosquirix, and Arexvy. However, the limitations of natural saponin-derived adjuvants, including hemolytic toxicity, hydrolytic instability, and low yield, have driven research toward semi-synthetic and synthetic analogs. Advances in synthetic biology and biosynthetic pathway elucidation have enabled the development of next-generation saponin-based adjuvants with enhanced potency and reduced toxicity. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of saponin-based adjuvant research, highlighting their potential to revolutionize vaccine formulations and contribute to global public health initiatives.

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基于皂苷的佐剂已成为通过调节免疫反应来增强疫苗效力的有希望的候选者。皂苷主要来源于植物和海洋，具有独特的两亲性结构，这有助于其有效的免疫刺激特性。本文综述了基于皂苷的疫苗佐剂的研究进展，重点介绍了其免疫调节机制、结构多样性和应用。QS-21是一种三萜皂苷，研究最广泛，已被纳入Shingrix、moquirix和Arexvy等许可疫苗中。然而，天然皂苷衍生佐剂的局限性，包括溶血毒性、水解不稳定性和低产量，促使了半合成和合成类似物的研究。合成生物学的进步和生物合成途径的阐明使得以皂苷为基础的新一代佐剂的开发具有更高的效力和更低的毒性。本综述全面概述了基于皂苷的佐剂研究的现状，强调了它们在改变疫苗配方和促进全球公共卫生倡议方面的潜力。

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来源期刊

Medicinal Chemistry Research 医学-医药化学

CiteScore

4.70

自引率

3.80%

发文量

162

审稿时长

5.0 months

期刊介绍： Medicinal Chemistry Research (MCRE) publishes papers on a wide range of topics, favoring research with significant, new, and up-to-date information. Although the journal has a demanding peer review process, MCRE still boasts rapid publication, due in part, to the length of the submissions. The journal publishes significant research on various topics, many of which emphasize the structure-activity relationships of molecular biology.