Global research hotspots and trends in DNA vaccine research: A bibliometric and visualization study from 2014 to 2024

This bibliometric and visualization study provides a comprehensive analysis of global research hotspots and trends in DNA vaccine research from 2014 to 2024. By employing data sourced from the Web of Science Core Collection, we identified a total of 3,600 articles. Our analysis reveals a declining trend in annual publications. Active countries, institutions, journals, and authors were identified, with China, the Pasteur Network, the <i>Vaccine</i> Journal, and David B Weiner being the most prolific contributors. Keywords cluster analysis distinguished four major research directions: infectious disease and immunity, viral challenge and vaccine development, optimization of DNA vaccine delivery systems, and cancer and immunotherapy research. The literature co-citation analysis revealed four major research hotspots, including DNA vaccines for Zika virus, human papillomavirus (HPV), and COVID-19, as well as safety, efficacy, and immunogenicity studies of DNA vaccines. Concurrently, the burst citation analysis identified emerging themes, including the development of DNA vaccines for COVID-19, Ebola, and MERS-CoV, as well as innovations in antigen design and delivery technologies. This study offers valuable insights into the evolution and future directions of DNA vaccine research, emphasizing its importance for global public health and the potential to address current and future health challenges.