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Progress towards Better Vaccines
increasing problem in tbe treatment of many buman infectious diseases and it is most useful to see a collection of reviews covering a wide variety of organisms. It is comparatively rare to see reviews on similar aspects of viruses, bacteria and protozoa together, and it is virtually unknown for mubiceUular organisms to he discussed ‘in tbe same breath’. It is to he hoped that this collection of reviews on dissimUar disciplines will enable a cross-fertilization of ideas and understanding. The individual reviews tried to bring a synthesis of molecular biology and immunology which is beginning to give a closer understanding of the way a host mounts an immune response against an infectious agent and tbe mechanisms open to that agent to avoid such a response. Each review is well written and is a competent account of the ‘state of the
art’ of each field. Possibly the most valugble contribution is the overview give& Uy the editors thm&seInJ. ,m have taken on the daunting task of summarizing each article and have largely succeeded in giving a concise sketch of the field. While I applaud the attempt to bring together in one volume reviews on a wide variety of organisms, the editors’ choice of areas to review is a little puzzling. Bearing in mind tbe title of this volume, less than half the viruses discussed cause a relapsing disease. It may be difficult to discuss viral antigenic variation without talking ahout infhrcnxa, but the virus does not cause a relapsing disease in the individual. In a similar antigenic variations may be V&l, important for understanding the epidemiology of rabies, but again the virus does not cause a classical relapsing dis-
Progress towards Better Vaccines Editors: Ft. Bell and G. Torrigiani, published on behalf of the WHO by Oxford University Press, 1988, 227 pp., f25.00, ISBN O-l 9261567-X Thisbook is a collection of papers given at a meeting organised by the World Health Organization as part of their Programme for Vaccine Development, in Italy, April 1985. The aim of tbe WHO programme is to encourage research and development into new or improved vaccines to selected disease by taking advantage of recent advances in biotechnology. Thus four novel approaches have been identified as tbe route to produce vaccines which have not been possible to develop by curreat techniques. These approaches are using vaccinia as a vector, anti-idiotype antibodies, recombinant pro- or eukaryotic cells, and synthetic peptides. This is the overall WHO programme, but this book concentrates more on the infraswucture of vaccines, than the vaccines themselves. There are a number of papers on tbe immunological pmcesaes either involved in, or required for, m vaccination. These topics indude antigen recognition, immunoglo&mIin synthesis, lymphokine induced EspomKS, protein binding and the general role of both T and B lymphocytes. Some of these papers are briefly conceptual, whilst others give supportive experimental data to help formulate vaccination strategies. Also included are chapters on adjuvants, both of the mineral variety, and muramyldipeptides and their analogues. The only chapter dedicated to a vaccine is the one on an infertility vaccine against human cborie nit gonadotrophin (bCG). Problems with low immunogenicity of bCG have heen overcome hy chemical alteration and coupling to other macromolecular weight substances (e.g. bovine gamma globulin and diphtheria toxoid). The
problem of specificity of immune responses to bCG has heen more difficult to solve. Nevertheless trials in baboons are reported and some show promise in that less than 5% of the immunixed group become pregnant. There is also a generalized chapter on anti-idotypic vaccines which lists many potential applications, including trypanosomiasis and schistosomiaisis. The bnal chapter of the hook addresses another of the techniques identified by the WHO for support - synthetic pcptide vaccines.
ease. Altbougb the lentiviruses rcprcsent one area where the molecular basis of antigenic variation in relapsing virus disease has heen widely studied, it is probably unnecemary to inchrde three reviews in this field when other virus groups are omitted. It would have heen most informative, for example to have inchlded d&ussions of the role of antigenic variation in persistent infections with viruses such as measles, coronavirus, tick-home encephalitis and the role of Dengue virus and in Dengue baemorrbagic fever. In spite of these omissions however, each individual review is a valuable contribution to the field and this hook should prove to he a vahrable addition to the library of any laboratory working in the field of host-parasite relationships.
JR. Steptmnaon This takes the form of a discussion with comments from many of the eminent participants at the meeting, and therefore tends to put tbe problems and prospects in a true perspective. In conclusion, an interesting and informative book mainly covering the immunology of protection rather than the action of vaccines, but with hints of what is to come in the way of vaccines. A hook for the initiated rather than the student but one that provides a timely comment on the science base that is building up for the new generation of vaccines so it is very aptly named ‘Pro gre-ss towards Better Vaccines’.
J.B. Griffithr
Molecular Cloning and Analysis of Lymphoklnes Eds Webb and Goeddel, Academic Press, 1987,319 pp., ISBN 012-432-0139, f71 For a long time, immunologists have heen looking for the precise mecbanisms by which the immune response is regulated. Seven years ago the structure of immunoglohulin and its regulation at a molecular level were elucidated. In 1987, Dr Tonegawa received the Nobel prize in medicine and physiology for his discovery of the rearrangement of the immunoglobulin gene. In contrast, nothing is known about the nature and structum of lymphokines secreted by T lymphocytes; in fact, some immunologists at that time were sceptical about tbe presence of such lympbokines. The marriage between immunology and molecular biology has opened a new era, ‘the golden age of lympbokine moleculru biology’. Thus, this hook has made a timely appearance. The book covers the molecular hiology of lympbokines and their recep tors. These include cloning and analysis of interleukin-2 (IL-2). interferon-
gamma (IFN-y), interleukin-1 (ILl), lympbotoxin (LT), tumour necrosis factor 0, granmocytdm=ophage colony-stimulating factor (GM_CSF) and interleukin3 (IL-3) and interleukin-2 receptor (Tat antigen). It is a pity that interleukin-4 (IL4) and interleukin-&R cell stimulatory factor-2 (IL6/BSF-2) were not included. Nonetheless, this hook is a good source of information for immunologists, cell biologists and molecular hiologists who are interested in this area. Researchers who want to enter this beld should read it in advance. Reading the articles by Dr Yokota and Dr Dovos will be helpful especially for general strategies to he used in the dotting of other lympbokines.
T. Tokunaga National institute of thlth Tokyo, Japan Vac&e,
Vol. 6, June 1988
291
art’ of each field. Possibly the most valugble contribution is the overview give& Uy the editors thm&seInJ. ,m have taken on the daunting task of summarizing each article and have largely succeeded in giving a concise sketch of the field. While I applaud the attempt to bring together in one volume reviews on a wide variety of organisms, the editors’ choice of areas to review is a little puzzling. Bearing in mind tbe title of this volume, less than half the viruses discussed cause a relapsing disease. It may be difficult to discuss viral antigenic variation without talking ahout infhrcnxa, but the virus does not cause a relapsing disease in the individual. In a similar antigenic variations may be V&l, important for understanding the epidemiology of rabies, but again the virus does not cause a classical relapsing dis-
Progress towards Better Vaccines Editors: Ft. Bell and G. Torrigiani, published on behalf of the WHO by Oxford University Press, 1988, 227 pp., f25.00, ISBN O-l 9261567-X Thisbook is a collection of papers given at a meeting organised by the World Health Organization as part of their Programme for Vaccine Development, in Italy, April 1985. The aim of tbe WHO programme is to encourage research and development into new or improved vaccines to selected disease by taking advantage of recent advances in biotechnology. Thus four novel approaches have been identified as tbe route to produce vaccines which have not been possible to develop by curreat techniques. These approaches are using vaccinia as a vector, anti-idiotype antibodies, recombinant pro- or eukaryotic cells, and synthetic peptides. This is the overall WHO programme, but this book concentrates more on the infraswucture of vaccines, than the vaccines themselves. There are a number of papers on tbe immunological pmcesaes either involved in, or required for, m vaccination. These topics indude antigen recognition, immunoglo&mIin synthesis, lymphokine induced EspomKS, protein binding and the general role of both T and B lymphocytes. Some of these papers are briefly conceptual, whilst others give supportive experimental data to help formulate vaccination strategies. Also included are chapters on adjuvants, both of the mineral variety, and muramyldipeptides and their analogues. The only chapter dedicated to a vaccine is the one on an infertility vaccine against human cborie nit gonadotrophin (bCG). Problems with low immunogenicity of bCG have heen overcome hy chemical alteration and coupling to other macromolecular weight substances (e.g. bovine gamma globulin and diphtheria toxoid). The
problem of specificity of immune responses to bCG has heen more difficult to solve. Nevertheless trials in baboons are reported and some show promise in that less than 5% of the immunixed group become pregnant. There is also a generalized chapter on anti-idotypic vaccines which lists many potential applications, including trypanosomiasis and schistosomiaisis. The bnal chapter of the hook addresses another of the techniques identified by the WHO for support - synthetic pcptide vaccines.
ease. Altbougb the lentiviruses rcprcsent one area where the molecular basis of antigenic variation in relapsing virus disease has heen widely studied, it is probably unnecemary to inchrde three reviews in this field when other virus groups are omitted. It would have heen most informative, for example to have inchlded d&ussions of the role of antigenic variation in persistent infections with viruses such as measles, coronavirus, tick-home encephalitis and the role of Dengue virus and in Dengue baemorrbagic fever. In spite of these omissions however, each individual review is a valuable contribution to the field and this hook should prove to he a vahrable addition to the library of any laboratory working in the field of host-parasite relationships.
JR. Steptmnaon This takes the form of a discussion with comments from many of the eminent participants at the meeting, and therefore tends to put tbe problems and prospects in a true perspective. In conclusion, an interesting and informative book mainly covering the immunology of protection rather than the action of vaccines, but with hints of what is to come in the way of vaccines. A hook for the initiated rather than the student but one that provides a timely comment on the science base that is building up for the new generation of vaccines so it is very aptly named ‘Pro gre-ss towards Better Vaccines’.
J.B. Griffithr
Molecular Cloning and Analysis of Lymphoklnes Eds Webb and Goeddel, Academic Press, 1987,319 pp., ISBN 012-432-0139, f71 For a long time, immunologists have heen looking for the precise mecbanisms by which the immune response is regulated. Seven years ago the structure of immunoglohulin and its regulation at a molecular level were elucidated. In 1987, Dr Tonegawa received the Nobel prize in medicine and physiology for his discovery of the rearrangement of the immunoglobulin gene. In contrast, nothing is known about the nature and structum of lymphokines secreted by T lymphocytes; in fact, some immunologists at that time were sceptical about tbe presence of such lympbokines. The marriage between immunology and molecular biology has opened a new era, ‘the golden age of lympbokine moleculru biology’. Thus, this hook has made a timely appearance. The book covers the molecular hiology of lympbokines and their recep tors. These include cloning and analysis of interleukin-2 (IL-2). interferon-
gamma (IFN-y), interleukin-1 (ILl), lympbotoxin (LT), tumour necrosis factor 0, granmocytdm=ophage colony-stimulating factor (GM_CSF) and interleukin3 (IL-3) and interleukin-2 receptor (Tat antigen). It is a pity that interleukin-4 (IL4) and interleukin-&R cell stimulatory factor-2 (IL6/BSF-2) were not included. Nonetheless, this hook is a good source of information for immunologists, cell biologists and molecular hiologists who are interested in this area. Researchers who want to enter this beld should read it in advance. Reading the articles by Dr Yokota and Dr Dovos will be helpful especially for general strategies to he used in the dotting of other lympbokines.
T. Tokunaga National institute of thlth Tokyo, Japan Vac&e,
Vol. 6, June 1988
291