Solid matrix-antibody-antigen (SMAA) complexes for constructing multivalent subunit vaccines

For successful vaccination to many diseases, it is necessary to induce both humoral and cell-mediated immune responses to the infectious agent: this may require the incorporation of multiple antigens from the same microbe into the vaccine. In this article, Richard Randall proposes that one of the most practical and effective ways of producing multivalent vaccines may be through the construction of solid matrix-antibody-antigen (SMAA) complexes. The advantages of such vaccines and their future potential is discussed.