New vaccines for respiratory tract ills? Genetic engineering pursues these goals

Article Abstract:

Genetic engineering techniques have been developed for the manufacture of a glycoprotein which combines aspects of two independent and normally occurring glycoproteins (F and G glycoproteins) of certain viruses. The new glycoprotein is able to stimulate the production of antibodies against it when injected into animals, and these antibodies are likely to be used in the production of vaccines against the two viruses. One such virus is respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which has no preventive strategy and can lead to serious complications. RSV is estimated to claim approximately 2,000 lives each year and is responsible for the hospitalization of more than 55,000 infants. In 1960, an attempt to produce a vaccine with inactivated whole virus was a catastrophic failure when the vaccine actually intensified the effects of a RSV infection in children. At least two companies are actively working on the preparation of a vaccine against RSV. Genetic engineering is also being harnessed in the fight against bacteria such as streptococcus, which is responsible for "strep throat." When left unchecked, streptococcus can attack the heart and produce serious systemic complications, including rheumatic fever. Although the incidence of rheumatic fever is low in the United States, its occurrence rate has been increasing, and the disease rate remains significant in many developing countries. Recombinant DNA technology is being used to produce a vaccine against the streptococcus organism by splicing genetic information from the streptococcus bacterium on to a carrier virus.

Streptococcal infections, Prevention, Pneumococcal vaccine, Pneumococcal vaccines, Genetic aspects, Respiratory syncytial virus, Genetic engineering, Rheumatic fever, Pharyngitis, Sore throat

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Vaccine information pamphlets here, but some physicians react strongly

Article Abstract:

The Immunization Division of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has published three new vaccine information pamphlets. A new law requires that guardians or parents of children receiving one of seven vaccines must be provided with detailed information on the vaccine. The new pamphlets may be difficult to read because they contain too much information. They explain the benefits and risks of the vaccines, and the diseases that the vaccines protect against. Each pamphlet has a Request for Immunization that must be signed by the child's guardian or parent if the vaccine has been purchased from the federal government. The pamphlets took two-and-a-half years to write because several different groups were involved in their preparation. Providing these pamphlets to parents and guardians may create an additional burden for office staff of private physicians. Private physicians may prepare their own vaccination pamphlets, but they are required to meet the government's 10 information requirements.

Usage, Information services, Study and teaching, Vaccines, Pediatricians, Health pamphlets

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For AIDS treatment, vaccines, now think genes

Article Abstract:

Multimodal therapy and innovations in gene therapy may be the most promising forms of treatment for AIDS. Dr. William Haseltine, an AIDS researcher and speaker at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, said AIDS vaccine research is probably futile and a misallocation of resources. Because HIV mutates at such a high rate and can evade attempts to destroy it, combination drug therapy and immunotherapy that interfere with HIV replication in several ways may be the best form of treatment for AIDS. Gene therapy, in which nonfunctional genes are inserted to compete with HIV or destroy it at the RNA level, may be useful. Research so far has concentrated on treating or curing AIDS, but Dr. Haseltine said more scientific efforts should focus on preventing or reducing the transmission of HIV.

Innovations, HIV (Viruses), HIV, Gene therapy, AIDS (Disease), AIDS research

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