Precision Vaccinology For Infectious Diseases

The Human body is a vast network of interacting genes, proteins, and metabolites. These components, which may be considered host factors, change under disease, treatment or healthy condition. While treatment of many diseases depends on therapeutic drugs, vaccines remain the most effective long-term public health intervention to prevent infectious diseases. To date, vaccines have been developed to treat entire populations with little provision for predisposing individual host factor differences. However, the use and application of vaccines is facing multiple challenges with increasing numbers of vaccine non-responders and vaccine-relapsed individuals. The cause of this complication is partially due to host-factors. Another challenge is the adverse effects of vaccines in patients with primary immunodeficiency or autoimmune diseases, as well as vaccine-waning immunity in ageing populations, obese populations, or those with co-infection. To overcome these challenges, the solution may be the design, and formulation of precision vaccines, which are patient-specific.

The seventh edition of the Canadian Immunization Guide was developed by the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI), with the support ofthe Immunization and Respiratory Infections Division, Public Health Agency of Canada, to provide updated information and recommendations on the use of vaccines in Canada. The Public Health Agency of Canada conducted a survey in 2004, which confi rmed that the Canadian Immunization Guide is a very useful and reliable resource of information on immunization.

This report surveys opportunities for future Army applications in biotechnology, including sensors, electronics and computers, materials, logistics, and medical therapeutics, by matching commercial trends and developments with enduring Army requirements. Several biotechnology areas are identified as important for the Army to exploit, either by direct funding of research or by indirect influence of commercial sources, to achieve significant gains in combat effectiveness before 2025.

Computational pre-screening of antigens is now routinely applied to the discovery of vaccine candidates. Computer-aided vaccine design is a comprehensive introduction to this exciting field of study. The book is intended to be a textbook for researchers and for courses in bioinformatics, as well as a laboratory reference guide. It is written mainly for biologists who want to understand the current methods of computer-aided vaccine design. The contents are designed to help biologists appreciate the underlying concepts and algorithms used, as well as limitations of the methods and strategies for their use. Chapters include: MHC and T cell responses; Immunoglobulins and B cell responses; Scientific publications and databases; Database design; Computational T cell vaccine design; Computational B cell vaccine design; infectious disease informatics; Vaccine safety and quality assessments; and Vaccine adjuvant informatics. Essential reading for any biologist who wants to understand methods of computer-aided vaccine design Description of available data sources and publicly available software, with detailed analysis of strengths and weaknesses Theoretical concepts and practical examples of database design and development for a virtual screening campaign

This publication contains a number of papers which consider the public health role of vaccines in improving the health of the world's populations, and looks at the challenges of using immunisation to combat emerging and re-emerging diseases. Issues discussed include the innovative use of vaccines against diseases such as meningococcal infection in Africa, Haemophilus influenza type b, varicella, and hepatitis, efforts to develop a new generation of vaccines against cholera and typhoid, shigella and Helicobacter pylori, as well as developments in the quest for vaccines against tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, dengue, malaria, and hookworm. It also deals with the use of vaccines to fight bioterrorism attacks; regulatory and safety issues; financing issues, impact of health sector reform and the sustainability of immunisation programmes.

Topic Editor Jay Evans is the co-founder, President and CEO of Inimmune Corporation. The other Topic Editors declare no competing interests with regard to the Research Topic subject.

Acute Rheumatic Fever and Rheumatic Heart Disease is a concise, yet comprehensive, clinical resource highlighting must-know information on rheumatic heart disease and acute rheumatic fever from a global perspective. Covering the major issues dominating the field, this practical resource presents sufficient detail for a deep and thorough understanding of the latest treatment options, potential complications, and disease management strategies to improve patient outcomes. Divided into four distinct sections for ease of navigation: Acute Rheumatic Fever, Rheumatic Heart Disease, Population-Based Strategies for Disease Control, and Acute and Emergency Presentations. International editors and chapter authors ensure a truly global perspective. Covers all clinical aspects, including epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical features, diagnosis, management, and treatment. Includes key topics on population-based measures for disease control for effective primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention. Consolidates today’s available information and guidance into a single, convenient resource.

As well as being a reference for the design, analysis, and interpretation of vaccine studies, the text covers all design and analysis stages, from vaccine development to post-licensure surveillance, presenting likelihood, frequentists, and Bayesian approaches.