Tag Archives: vaccine
No adverse outcomes for infants associated with mums booster of whooping cough vaccine
What is whooping cough, or pertussis? Whooping cough, or pertussis, is a highly contagious bacterial respiratory infection that can be very serious for young infants. Symptoms include violent coughing fits which can last for weeks and make
Vaccine design in the OMICs Era
A retrospection into the field of vaccinology reveals the triumph of medical science over infectious diseases that were once a death sentence. Research on vaccines has come a long way since 1796 when Edward Jenner used a
Exploring the potential of a pneumococcal vaccine to target oxidized LDL in metabolic disease patients
Lipid metabolism involves a wide range of processes in which lipids are processed and used as energy sources, signaling molecules and structural elements of cells. Given its importance, dysfunctions in lipid metabolism, both small and large, can
Single dose protection against lethal Ebola virus challenge
Ebola virus disease (EVD) is a fast-progressing, highly lethal illness that poses significant threat to global public health when not contained. The current outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as of February 26, 2019, has
A vaccine candidate for Zika with potential for reduced risk of antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE)
Zika virus (ZIKV) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus that has rapidly extended its geographic range. Its association with abnormal fetal brain development, sexual transmission, and lack of a preventive vaccine have constituted a global health concern. Designing a
Understanding vaccine development – Lessons to make effective vaccines against Alzheimer’s disease
A natural protective immunity against a disease usually anticipates the successful development of preventive vaccines; as shown by the infectious diseases and lately cancer vaccines. Currently available information shows that the immune system is since an early
Attenuated bacteria as a DNA-delivery system for Chagas disease vaccine
Chagas disease caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, is considered by the World Health Organization (WHO) one of the most neglected tropical diseases worldwide. Prevalent in developing countries, it has a major social and economic impact in
The old-generation smallpox vaccines – Are we ready for the tomorrow outbreak?
Smallpox disease has menaced the world throughout history with large scale epidemics and a case fatality rate of about 30%. Following the introduction of smallpox vaccine by Eduard Jenner in 1796, and later with the global effort
Vaccine research on Africa’s cattle-killing East Coast fever: A short (somewhat potted but handsomely illustrated) history
Tremendous research progress has been made over the last ten years to better control the deadly African disease of cattle known as East Coast fever. This disease is caused by a single-celled organism, Theileria parva, which is carried
Caste-ethnic disparity in vaccine use among children in Nepal
The United Nations’ Millennium Development Goal 4 addresses child mortality as a major indicator of health and development, revealing much about a nation’s health services and related social and economic factors. Currently, an estimated 8.1 million children
Cerium dioxide nanoparticles increase immunogenicity of the influenza vaccine
Influenza and acute respiratory infections are the viral diseases having tendency for fast epidemic spread. The 2009 “swine flu” pandemic caused by the H1N1 flu virus has revealed the need not only for a detailed study of
Will dengue vaccination be cost-effective for an epidemic country? The case of Argentina
Dengue is one of the major tropical diseases, causing a huge burden in terms of suffering, deaths and economic costs globally. Many research institutions and pharmaceutical companies throughout the world have been trying to develop a vaccine
Tracing aluminium adjuvants in viable cells
To improve the effect of a vaccine, adjuvants are often included in the vaccine formulation. An adjuvant is a molecule that potentiates the immune response induced by the vaccine, and commonly used adjuvants in vaccine formulations are
Human papillomavirus infection and vaccination
Human papillamoavirus (HPV) is an infection that can be sexually transmitted. A person can get HPV by having vaginal, anal, or oral sex with another person who has the virus. HPV infections are the most common sexually
Novel recombinant JEV vaccine
Japanese Encephalitis (JE) is a viral disease, which infects humans and animals. The disease is caused by a mosquito-borne flavivirus named Japanese Encephalitis Virus (JEV). The disease is endemic in Asian countries but with rapid globalization and
Small fish can help finding antimalarial drugs with less severe side effects
In 2012, over 200 million cases of malaria have been reported. Vaccines for malaria are under development; however, no generally accepted vaccine that also works for adults is yet available. Therefore, drugs will in the foreseeable future
A brucellosis vaccine that provides sterile immunity
Brucellosis is a disease caused by infection with bacteria of the genus Brucella. Most of Brucella species are capable of infecting humans, and they are all considered zoonotic since different animals are their preferential hosts. Brucella ovis
Impact of Influenza A virus PA-X protein on host immune responses
Influenza A virus is a clinically important respiratory pathogen that annually infects millions of people worldwide and is, therefore, a serious threat to public health. Recurrent influenza infections occur throughout life because a relatively weak immune response
The H5N2 avian epidemic: prognosis of the next influenza outbreak
Influenza is a viral infectious disease that afflicts millions of people every year with fatalities of thousands; sometimes significantly more when it emerges in a pandemic form. The Spanish Flu of 1918 was probably the most severe
