Journal of microbiology, epidemiology and immunobiologyJournal of microbiology, epidemiology and immunobiologyЖурнал микробиологии, эпидемиологии и иммунобиологии0372-93112686-7613Central Research Institute for Epidemiology1884210.36233/0372-9311-696UYTHOHREVIEWSОБЗОРЫReview ArticleBioconjugation as a promising method for vaccine developmentБиоконъюгация как перспективный метод создания вакцинhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-2811-6844TsyganovaMaria I.ЦыгановаМария Игоревна
Russian Federation

Cand. Sci. (Biol.), leading researcher, Laboratory of immunochemistry

канд. биол. наук, в. н. с. лаб. иммунохимии

maria_che@mail.ruhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-7049-6935NovikovDmitry V.НовиковДмитрий Викторович
Russian Federation

Cand. Sci. (Biol.), leading researcher, Laboratory of immunochemistry

канд. биол. наук, в. н. с. лаб. Иммунохимии

novikov.dv75@mail.ruhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-2449-7213NovikovViktor V.НовиковВиктор Владимирович
Russian Federation

Dr. Sci. (Biol.), Professor, Head, Laboratory of immunochemistry

д-р биол. наук, проф., зав. лаб. иммунохимии

mbre@mail.ruhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-1930-5424KaraulovAlexander V.КарауловАлександр Викторович
Russian Federation

Dr. Sci. (Med.), Professor, RAS Full Member, Head, Laboratory of immunopathology, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Head, Department of clinical immunology and allergy, N.V. Sklifosovsky Institute of Clinical Medicine

д-р мед. наук, проф., академик РАН, зав. лаб. иммунопатологии Института молекулярной медицины, зав. каф. клинической иммунологии и аллергологии Института клинической медицины им. Н.В. Склифосовского

drkaraulov@mail.ruAcademician I.N. Blokhina Nizhny Novgorod Scientific Research Institute of Epidemiology and MicrobiologyНижегородский научно-исследовательский институт эпидемиологии и микробиологии имени академика И.Н. БлохинойI.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University)Первый Московский государственный медицинский университет имени И.М. Сеченова (Сеченовский Университет)15092025102449550620052025Copyright ©; 2025, Tsyganova M.I., Novikov D.V., Novikov V.V., Karaulov A.V.Copyright ©; 2025, Цыганова М.И., Новиков Д.В., Новиков В.В., Караулов А.В.2025Tsyganova M.I., Novikov D.V., Novikov V.V., Karaulov A.V.Цыганова М.И., Новиков Д.В., Новиков В.В., Караулов А.В.https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0https://microbiol.crie.ru/jour/article/view/18842

Introduction. Bioconjugation, or protein glycan coupling technology, PGCT, is a method for creating carbohydrate-protein composites based on the ability of certain bacteria to perform eukaryotic-type glycosylation. This method allows for the production of glycoproteins directly in the cells of producer bacteria, most often Escherichia coli, bypassing the stage of chemical conjugation. This significantly simplifies the creation and production of conjugated vaccines, consisting of polysaccharide antigens combined with a protein carrier that performs the functions of a T-cell antigen and an adjuvant.

The aim of the review is to analyze and summarize current data on both the bioconjugation method itself and the underlying biochemical processes, as well as on the vaccines being developed using this method.

The preparation of the review involved studies presented in the PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, eLIBRARY.RU databases as of February 2025. The following keywords were used for the search: bioconjugation, vaccines, PGCT, conjugated vaccines, bacterial glycosylation.

An analysis of literature sources dedicated to the study of bacterial N-glycosylation, on the basis of which the bioconjugation technology was developed, as well as similar processes occurring in certain bacterial species, was conducted. Reports on the development of new vaccines and the improvement of existing vaccines against the most relevant pathogens have been analyzed. At present, vaccination appears to be the most effective way to combat infectious diseases, including efforts to counter the spread of antibiotic-resistant microorganisms. The diversity of pathogens encountered by the human population compels the search for multiple approaches of creating effective and safe vaccines. Simplifying and reducing the cost of producing new drugs allows for a more confident response to the threat of new epidemics. Bioconjugation helps create new vaccines and improve existing vaccines, although there are certain limitations.

Conclusion. Modern vaccine production is characterized by a variety of approaches united by a single goal — to effectively counter the threats of new epidemics. Bioconjugation is one of the new, yet quite promising methods through which several vaccine candidates are already being developed. The analysis of the current state of these projects may be useful in choosing an approach for developing subsequent preventive immunological drugs.

Введение. Биоконъюгация, или технология рекомбинантного бактериального гликозилирования (protein glycan coupling technology, PGCT), — это метод создания углеводно-белковых композитов, основанный на способности некоторых бактерий осуществлять гликозилирование по типу эукариот и позволяющий получать гликопротеины непосредственно в клетках бактерий-продуцентов, чаще всего Escherichia сoli, минуя стадию химической конъюгации. Это значительно упрощает создание и производство конъюгированных вакцин, состоящих из полисахаридных антигенов, объединённых с белковым носителем, выполняющим функции Т-клеточного антигена и адъюванта.

Цель обзора: проанализировать и обобщить актуальные данные как о самом методе биоконъюгации, так и о биохимических процессах, лежащих в его основе, а также о разрабатываемых с его использованием вакцинах.

При подготовке обзора были рассмотрены работы, представленные в базах PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, eLIBRARY.RU по состоянию на февраль 2025 г. Для поиска использовали следующие ключевые слова: bioconjugation, vaccines, PGCT, биоконъюгация, конъюгированные вакцины, бактериальное гликозилирование.

Проведён анализ источников литературы, посвящённых изучению бактериального N-гликозилирования, на базе которого была создана технология биоконъюгации, а также сходных с ним процессов, протекающих в отдельных видах бактерий. Проанализированы сообщения о разработке новых и усовершенствовании уже имеющихся вакцин против наиболее актуальных патогенов. В настоящий момент вакцинация представляется наиболее эффективным способом борьбы с инфекционными заболеваниями, включая также противодействие распространению антибиотикорезистентных микроорганизмов. Разнообразие патогенов, с которыми сталкивается человечество, вынуждает искать множественные подходы для создания эффективных и безопасных вакцин. Упрощение и снижение себестоимости производства новых препаратов даёт возможность более уверенно противостоять угрозе новых эпидемий. Биоконъюгация помогает создавать новые вакцины и совершенствовать уже имеющиеся, хотя и обладает определёнными ограничениями.

Заключение. Современное производство вакцин характеризуется разнообразием подходов, объединённых одной целью — эффективно противостоять угрозам новых эпидемий. Биоконъюгация — один из новых, но довольно многообещающих методов, с помощью которого уже разрабатывается несколько вакцин-кандидатов. Анализ текущего состояния этих проектов может быть полезен при выборе подхода для создания последующих профилактических иммунопрепаратов.

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