Immunotherapeutic Prospects Of Infectious Diseases

The prevention and control of infectious diseases represents, even today, an important public health problem for responsible national and international authorities. Newly emerging p.athogens such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) , legionella, and bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) have captured current public awareness. Despite significant success against smallpox, polio myelitis, mumps, and measles, the vast majority of infectious diseases are yet to be satisfactorily controlled. Limited efficacy of some vaccines, e. g., against influenza viruses, or their nonavailability have hampered an effective control of many infections. A meaningful reduction of the health risks posed by microbial pathogens is of crucial importance. Increased efforts need to be exerted in areas of active and passive immunization as well as in stimulation of enhanced nonspecific resistance .. Progress in the field of infectious diseases can be accelerated when a generation of new improved vaccines are developed. These vaccines should be capable of activat ing the cellular and the humoral immune responses as well as inducing persistent immunological memory. Development of novel regimens for enhancing natural resistance against infections is also progressively gaining in importance. The urgency increases as chemotherapy against viral and other infections further continues to be plagued by a carousel of a limited number of licensed drugs, problems of side effects, and development of drug resistance. It is becoming expedient that future strategies embrace a policy directed towards triggering mechanisms capable of inducing specific and nonspecific host defences.

The prevention and control of infectious diseases represents, even today, an important public health problem for responsible national and international authorities. Newly emerging p.athogens such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) , legionella, and bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) have captured current public awareness. Despite significant success against smallpox, polio myelitis, mumps, and measles, the vast majority of infectious diseases are yet to be satisfactorily controlled. Limited efficacy of some vaccines, e. g., against influenza viruses, or their nonavailability have hampered an effective control of many infections. A meaningful reduction of the health risks posed by microbial pathogens is of crucial importance. Increased efforts need to be exerted in areas of active and passive immunization as well as in stimulation of enhanced nonspecific resistance .. Progress in the field of infectious diseases can be accelerated when a generation of new improved vaccines are developed. These vaccines should be capable of activat ing the cellular and the humoral immune responses as well as inducing persistent immunological memory. Development of novel regimens for enhancing natural resistance against infections is also progressively gaining in importance. The urgency increases as chemotherapy against viral and other infections further continues to be plagued by a carousel of a limited number of licensed drugs, problems of side effects, and development of drug resistance. It is becoming expedient that future strategies embrace a policy directed towards triggering mechanisms capable of inducing specific and nonspecific host defences.

Based on the International Symposium on Immunotherapy of Infections held recently at the Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany, this work discusses cytokines as well as synthetic and natural immunomodulators and their applications in the immunotherapy of bacterial, viral, parasitic and fungal infections.;The contributors describe innovative treatment concepts that act as adjuncts to established therapies for the control of both existing and newly emerging infectious diseases.

This book highlights information derived primarily from clinical samples, with particular reference to theoretical and scientific aspects of the human immune system. This text will focus on topics that range from host-pathogen interactions in infectious disease to host immune response in cancer, allergic diseases, neuroinflammatory diseases, and autoimmune disorders. The reader will also have a well-rounded understanding of the behavior of the immune system with particular emphasis on the role of immunoproteomics in immunotherapy, neuroprotective immunity for neurodegenerative and neuroinfectious disease, leukemia-associated dendritic cell induction of adaptive immunity dysregulation, and the role of immune checkpoint inhibitors in cancer, infection, as well as neuroinflammation. Taken together, the contents of this book are intended for both clinicians and researchers in academia and industry.

Infectious diseases are the leading cause of death globally, particularly among children and young adults. The spread of new pathogens and the threat of antimicrobial resistance pose particular challenges in combating these diseases. Major Infectious Diseases identifies feasible, cost-effective packages of interventions and strategies across delivery platforms to prevent and treat HIV/AIDS, other sexually transmitted infections, tuberculosis, malaria, adult febrile illness, viral hepatitis, and neglected tropical diseases. The volume emphasizes the need to effectively address emerging antimicrobial resistance, strengthen health systems, and increase access to care. The attainable goals are to reduce incidence, develop innovative approaches, and optimize existing tools in resource-constrained settings.

First multi-year cumulation covers six years: 1965-70.

This volume is based on the Proceedings of the International Conference on "Microbial Infections: Role of Biological Response Modifiers" held in Tampa, FL, May 29-31, 1991. The major purpose of this conference was to bring together in one forum prominent investigators from around the world studying a variety of microbial pathogens, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi, and the effects of biological response modifiers (BRM) on the immune response to these microorganisms. BRM have been widely utilized in the area of antitumor resistance and include not only experimental tumor cell vaccines, but also biologically active substances such as cytokines, i. e. , interferons, tumor necrosis factor, and interleukins, as well as products from bacteria which influence host resistance mechanisms. It is the belief of the organizers of this Conference that it was very timely to discuss in detail BRMs as they impact on microbial infections per se. It is now widely accepted that immunocompromised individuals, including those exposed to immunosuppressive substances such as antimetabolites used for chemothera py of malignancies, or infectious agents, such as the human immunodeficiency virus and other viruses which depress the immune response and, in turn, affect a host so as to become highly susceptible to opportunistic microorganisms, benefit from BRM stimulation of their immune system. A wide variety of immunomodulators are now being studied in terms of treating infectious diseases, as well as malignancy and autoimmune diseases.