Emerging Infectious Diseases

Advancements in vaccines and therapeutics

The exploration of vaccines has led to the near elimination of several important diseases and has a great impact on health for a relatively low cost. However, most vaccines in use today were developed by techniques that were pioneered more than 50 years ago and do not represent the full potential of the field. The introduction of genetic engineering has triggered rapid proposal in vaccine technology and is now prominent to the entry of new products in the merchandise.

Global immunization against certain diseases has led to the abolish of smallpox and has almost complete elimination of  many other infectious agents including those causing diphtheria, tetanus, poliomyelitis, measles, mumps, rubella, and Haemophilus influenza type B invasive disease. However, three biggest killers—human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, tuberculosis, and malaria—have not yet been adequately concentrated by a vaccine effective enough to accomplish a similar result. In addition, some common vaccine-preventable diseases such as influenza and pertussis continue to cause significant anguishment and fatality. Current advances in vaccine technology deriving from the function of genetic engineering are now providing the liberty to target new diseases. The use of plasmid-based methods also has the capability to urge the production of reassortant vaccines.