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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Ames, Iowa » National Animal Disease Center » Infectious Bacterial Diseases Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #185551
Title: DNA VACCINES AGAINST TUBERCULOSIS

Author
item CHACON, OFELIA - UNIV. OF NEBRASKA
item Bannantine, John

Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/8/2005
Publication Date: 3/10/2006
Citation: Chacon, O., Bannantine, J.P. 2006. Dna vaccines against tuberculosis. In: Thoen, C.O., Steele, J.H., Gilsdorf, M.J., editors. Mycobacterium Bovis: Infection in Animals and Humans. 2nd edition. Ames, IA: Blackwell Publishing. p. 285-304.

Interpretive Summary: This communication represents an invited book chapter. The content of this chapter is a comprehensive survey of work performed in the area of vaccine discovery and trials as it relates to tuberculosis, the number one killer among pathogenic bacteria. These findings are then briefly related to applicability in preventing other mycobacterial diseases such as Johne’s disease.

Technical Abstract: Since its early development more than two hundred years ago, vaccination has become one of the most effective measures to prevent infectious diseases. The use of vaccines is responsible for global eradication of smallpox and also for saving millions of human lives that otherwise would have been lost or severely impaired due to diseases such as polio, tetanus and measles, among others. An ideal vaccine should: (A) elicit long lasting protective immunity, preferably soon after its administration, without causing disease in the recipient or subsequent contacts, (B) allow detection of infected vs. immunized individuals without interfering with available diagnostic tests, (C) be cost effective and easy to produce in large quantities, (D) be easy to store and transport preserving its immunobiological properties under different environmental conditions, (E) be easy to administer to large populations, ideally in a single dose, without causing side effects, (F) be safe enough to be used in immunocompromised hosts, (G) have therapeutic potential and (H) be compatible with other vaccines so they can be administered simultaneously without interfering with each other’s effectiveness and safety. Additionally, consideration should be given to the different environments and societies in which the vaccine must be administered, since those factors will directly affect individual’s compliance with any proposed immunization regimen. This chapter reviews how DNA vaccines fare against these criteria in preventing tuberculosis.