# Yeast-Based Vaccine Platforms: Applications and Key Insights from the COVID-19 Era

## TL;DR

Yeast-based vaccines, like those for hepatitis B and SARS-CoV-2, offer a safe, scalable, and cost-effective solution for global immunization and pandemic preparedness.

## Contribution

The paper highlights recent innovations in yeast-based vaccine platforms and their potential for decentralized manufacturing and equitable access.

## Key findings

- Yeast-based vaccines can produce complex antigens and virus-like particles effectively.
- Recent vaccines like Corbevax and Abdala demonstrate the feasibility of affordable and thermostable yeast-derived vaccines.
- Advances in glycan humanization and delivery methods improve vaccine stability and accessibility.

## Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated vaccine innovation but also exposed weaknesses in global access and manufacturing. Yeast-based platforms, particularly Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Pichia pastoris, also known as Komagataella phaffii, offer a practical complement to vector systems. These eukaryotic microorganisms combine safety, scalability, and cost-effectiveness with the ability to express complex antigens and assemble virus-like particles. Building on the success of the recombinant hepatitis B vaccine, recent advances in glycoengineering, CRISPR-based host optimization, and surface display technologies have expanded the utility of yeast-based platforms for the rapid development of vaccines. Yeast-derived SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain (RBD) subunit vaccines, such as Corbevax and Abdala (CIGB-66), demonstrate that affordable, immunogenic, and thermostable products are feasible at scale. Emerging innovations in glycan humanization, thermostable formulations, and oral or mucosal delivery highlight the potential of yeast-based vaccines for decentralized manufacturing and equitable pandemic preparedness. This review summarizes recent technical and clinical progress in yeast-based vaccine research, positioning these platforms as accessible and adaptable tools for future outbreak responses and global immunization strategies.