Vaccination for disease

Article Abstract:

Vaccination is an effective method of disease prevention because it mobilizes the host's response to a pathogen. When the infectious agent is a virus that kills cells, the immune system attacks the virus. When the agent is a virus that is not lethal to host cells, however, the immune system destroys host cells that have been infected by the virus. An example of the latter situation is infection by lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCM), which targets T cells (a cell type of the immune system), causing the development of a fatal choriomeningitis (a central nervous system disease) mediated by T cells. Mice that lack T cells cannot contract LCM by viral infection. To learn more regarding the ways LCM virus (LCMV) affects immune system activation, experiments were carried out using viral strains with varying glycoprotein compositions. Mice were vaccinated with these agents, then exposed to LCMV. It was found that vaccination with LCMV that expressed either glycoprotein or nucleoprotein protected the mice from low-dose infection, in a way specific to the mouse strain. Subsequent experiments explored the host-virus relationship in greater detail. A model is presented to explain how the kinetics of viral spread throughout a population of T cells and the proliferation of T cells determine whether a viral infection will be successful. The implications of the results are that some vaccines may actually enhance subsequent infection, if they induce a T cell response that, in effect, turns upon the host. Host genetics, the viral strain, the viral dose received by the host, the time that has lapsed between vaccination and infection, and the competence of the host's immune system, may all influence the effectiveness of vaccination. Newer peptide vaccines or those made from recombinant viruses may be particularly likely to trigger cellular damage mediated inappropriately by the immune system itself. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Evaluation, Physiological aspects

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New lessons for rotavirus vaccines

Article Abstract:

Most gastrointestinal infections in young children are caused by rotaviruses. Advances have been made in rotavirus vaccine research, and scientists now believe a primary infection causes subsequent immunity. New evidence suggests that NSP4, a protein, could be the first viral enterotoxin.

Causes of, Pediatric diseases, Virus diseases, Gastrointestinal diseases, Rotavirus infections, Virus diseases in children

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Measles battle loses potent weapon

Article Abstract:

The World Health Organization has suspended use of the high-titer Edmonston-Zagreb measles vaccine. The vaccine was the most effective measles prevention measure ever developed, but it increased the risk to children of dying from other diseases.

Management, Prevention, Children, Measles, Vaccination of children, World Health Organization, Measles vaccine, Measles vaccines

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