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A recent study by the World Health Organization (WHO), published in eBioMedicine, has identified 17 pathogens that frequently lead to diseases within communities as critical targets for new vaccine development. This comprehensive analysis marks the first global initiative to systematically rank endemic pathogens based on various criteria, including regional disease burden, risk of antimicrobial resistance, and socioeconomic effects.
The findings reaffirm established priorities in vaccine research and development (R&D), particularly for diseases such as HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis—collectively responsible for approximately 2.5 million deaths annually.
Additionally, the report highlights pathogens like Group A streptococcus and Klebsiella pneumoniae as urgent priorities across all regions. This underscores the pressing need for innovative vaccines against pathogens that are increasingly resistant to existing antimicrobials.
“Global decisions regarding new vaccines have often been influenced more by potential financial returns than by the lives at stake in vulnerable populations,” stated Dr. Kate O’Brien, Director of WHO’s Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals Department. “This study leverages extensive regional expertise and data to evaluate vaccines that could significantly alleviate diseases affecting communities today while also reducing healthcare costs faced by families and health systems.”
The WHO engaged international experts to determine which factors they consider most crucial when selecting vaccines for introduction and use. By analyzing these preferences alongside regional data on each pathogen, a list of top ten priority pathogens was created for each WHO region. These regional lists were then merged into a global compilation identifying 17 endemic pathogens requiring focused vaccine R&D efforts.
This newly established global priority list aligns with the Immunization Agenda 2030’s objective of ensuring equitable access to protective vaccines against serious illnesses across all regions. It serves as a transparent evidence base guiding both regional and global agendas concerning new vaccine R&D initiatives while providing clear direction for academics, funders, manufacturers, and governments regarding where their efforts can yield significant benefits.
This prioritization exercise complements the WHO R&D blueprint for epidemics, which outlines key pathogens capable of triggering future epidemics or pandemics such as COVID-19 or severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).
The insights from this report on endemic pathogens contribute significantly to WHO’s mission of identifying research priorities essential for immunization programs in low- and middle-income countries while shaping a global agenda aimed at advancing priority vaccine development against those causing substantial public health challenges along with considerable socioeconomic repercussions.
List of Priority Endemic Pathogens Identified by WHO
The following categories outline where current vaccine research stands:
Pathogens Requiring Vaccine Research
- Group A streptococcus
- Hepatitis C virus
- HIV-1
- Klebsiella pneumoniae
Pathogens Needing Further Vaccine Development
- Cytomegalovirus
- Dengue virus (broadly protective)
- Leishmania (various species)
- Non-typhoidalSalmonealla (various strains)
- Norovirus
- Plasmodium falciparum (malaria)
- < em >Shigella (various species)
- < em >Staphylococcus aureus
< / ul >< strong >Pathogens Nearing Regulatory Approval or Introduction
- Dengue virus
- Group B streptococcus
- Extra-intestinal pathogenic< em>E.coli< / em >
- < em >Mycobacterium tuberculosis< / em >
- Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)
Source.
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- Dengue virus
