Vaccines for the third world

Article Abstract:

Despite great improvements in the rate of immunizations in the Third World in the past 15 years, infant and childhood mortality rates in these countries have remained disproportionately high. Many vaccines still remain unavailable or have limited usage. Criteria for the development of new vaccines is recommended, emphasizing ease of distribution and simplicity of administration. Many available immunizations are not properly administered because of the necessary follow-up of a series of inoculations and the result has been that some immunization processes have been ineffective. (For example polio immunization requires that several doses of medication be administered at different times.) The author points out that the technology exists to remedy the health situation of the Third World, but the underlying problem is an economic one. The World Health Organization (WHO) has a limited budget and even though it currently works in conjunction with other agencies, both public and private, it cannot bridge the gap. Several methods were suggested to enhance efforts to improve the health of the people in these countries. Incentives should be developed to further involve the private sector and a profit motive must be created to encourage interest. The restructuring of Third World national debt was also proposed with the recycling of foreign debt payments into public health care systems. The development of biotechnologies by these countries themselves may also be feasible. Moral obligation has not proven to be a sufficient motivation for industrialized countries in helping less fortunate nations to improve their public health systems. The author discusses other potential motivating factors. Improved public health will positively reflect on Third World economies and help prevent political instability. Finally, it is unrealistic to think that any country can exist in isolation. The increasing spread of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is an example of a problem that is not limited to the Third World.

Health aspects, Usage, Innovations, International aspects, Developing countries, Ethical aspects, Public health, Vaccines, Dosage and administration, Preventive health services, Preventive medicine, Immunization, Medicine, Preventive

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Natural and synthetic non-peptide antigens recognized by human gamma delta T-cells

Article Abstract:

Human gamma-delta T cells can recognize naturally occurring small non-peptidic antigens. Synthesizing a series of monoalkyl phosphate showed that monoethyl phosphate mimics the activity of mycobacterial antigens in stimulating these T-cells. Natural antigens produced by mycobacterial was identified by these cells as isopentenyl pyrophosphate and related prenyl complex pyrophosphate derivatives. These compounds are involved in the synthesis of complex polyisoprenoid compounds in microbial and mammalian cells.

Observations, Antigen receptors, T cell, T cell antigen receptors, T cells

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On the particularity of pathogens

Article Abstract:

An overview of the relationship between pathogenic microbes and immune mechanisms is presented.

Immune system, Pathogenic microorganisms

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