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Vaccines: New generation immunological adjuvants
Book reviews
295
This book is written for serious scholars of new approaches to vaccination. Such persons include those in vaccine, antigen, and adjuvant research and their graduate students. The book is unlikely to be of interest to medical practitioners or undergraduate students. It is not a “cookbook” for research on vaccines or vaccine production licensing and techniques. However those skilled in these arts would likely get most out of the book. As the editor claims in the preface “these proceedings cannot, obviously, encompass all the advances made in vaccine development during recent years.” It is a sampling of some of the more promising procedures. In conclusion, for the serious vaccine researcher looking for new ideas, this little gem is worth buying. H. Graham Purchase College of Veterinary Medicine Mississippi State University Mississippi State, MS 39762 USA PII SO167-5877(96)01150-6
Vaccines Vaccines: New Generation Immunological Adjuvants, eds G. Gregoriadis, B. McCormack and A.C. Allison, 1995, Plenum Press, New York and London, ISBN 0-30645283-9, viii + 192 pp, $75.00/$95.00 outside USA and Canada As indicated in the preface “this book contains the proceedings of the 4th NATO Advanced Studies Institute (ASI) held at Cape Sounion Beach, Greece from the 24th of June to the 5th of July, 1994”. The book “deals in depth with both theoretical and practical aspects of vaccinology” and focuses on vaccine development. As is written in the introductory chapter, the book “is intended to bridge the widening gap between basic immunobiology and its application to vaccination”. It does that well! In fact, this book takes off where usual immunology texts end. To start with, except for some “model diseases”, our knowledge of the immunopathology of many less common diseases is in its infancy. We know very little about the mechanism by which the host’s immune system effects the development of disease and, vice versa, how the disease agent effects the host’s immune system. The mechanistic interaction of adjuvants and subunit vaccines with the immune system of the host is also poorly understood. The selection of an adjuvant for a subunit vaccine is largely empirical. In the fast-moving field of adjuvants and vaccines, this book is a relatively up to date (1995) treatise on the state of the art. Some major areas of vaccinology are not discussed, e.g., mucosal vaccines and manipulation of mucosal immunity. Nevertheless, it can help significantly with the rational selection of an adjuvant and the formulation of a vaccine that is most likely to succeed. It will complement other microbiology and immunology texts. In a conference, like the one reported here, it is impossible to cover everything in the area selected. Everyone with knowledge cannot attend the conference. Because the
296
Book reviews
subject is of particular interest to biologics companies, many participants will not reveal their most recent proprietary experimental results. Also, because the understanding of adjuvants and the development of subunit vaccines is anything but static, a conference such as the one reported here represents a “snap shot” in time. There will inevitably be gaps in coverage. Nevertheless, one of the strong points of this book is the depth and range of coverage of current knowledge in the field. This book will be of great value to faculty and students in advanced microbiology courses, including those covering immunology, virology, bacteriology and pathology. It is indispensable for anyone trying to produce a killed vaccine of any sort. These vaccines may be traditional vaccines to prevent human or animal disease or unconventional vaccines designed to modulate the function of the immune system such as decreasing it in autoimmune diseases or enhancing it in immunocompromised individuals. The book can lead the reader to the adjuvant/antigen combination that is likely to be the most successful for the situation under study. While the book focuses on adjuvant and subunit vaccines, it also covers other areas. There are 7 chapters which describe immunomodulation, adjuvants and cytokines and 5 chapters which describe subunit vaccines, synthetic peptide vaccines and genetically detoxified antigens. However there are also 5 chapters which describe live vaccines, including traditional approaches, replicating-DNA and replicating-RNA vaccines. One chapter on local chemotherapy seems to be out of place in this book. Of the many excellent chapters, each with a different author, two stand out as particularly noteworthy. The first chapter “Adjuvants for New and Improved Vaccines” by Anthony C. Allison is a very helpful introduction to the book. It is an overview of what is known about the mechanism of action of adjuvants and new vaccines. It is a transitional chapter from a conventional text book on immunology to the more advanced chapters that follow. The chapter on “Multicomponent Viral Vaccines and Their Use As Immunogen Delivery Systems” by Polly Roy describes the great success obtained with a very unusual subunit vaccine production system. The antigens of Bluetongue virus are produced using expression vectors in the baculovirus nuclear polyhedrosis virus of the insect Autographa califomica or alfalfa looper. Not only are the antigens produced in abundance, but they are also assembled in different virus-like structures. The most exciting aspect is that vaccines derived from the subunits are effective in vivo. They prevent clinical signs and viremia in vaccinated animals whose immunity has been challenged with virulent virus. On the negative side, there is no good closing chapter. The text in the book ends abruptly and is followed by a photograph of the conference participants. It would have been nice to have a final chapter that summarized the “state of threat” and gave some insights into what we might expect in the future. Unlike the editor and author of the first chapter, this reviewer has a long term faith in live vaccines in spite of their potential undesirable side effects. One only has to look at the successful eradication of smallpox from the earth and the great potential for the eradication of poliomyelitis to realize that the success has been accomplished with live vaccines. There have been 12 animal diseases eradicated from the United States including Contagious Bovine Pleuro Pneumonia in 1892, Foot and Mouth disease in
Book reviews
297
1929, Exotic Newcastle disease in 1974 and Hog Cholera in 1978. None of these eradication programs depended on vaccines. Nevertheless, in the immediate future where attenuated live vaccines are not available, killed and subunit vaccines will play an important role in disease control. The reviewer is surprised at the lack of consistency in the style of the book. Some examples follow. Italics are used for genus and species in some chapters and underlined in others. The treatment of second and third degree headings, and the style of tables vary from chapter to chapter. On occasion, e.g., in table 1 on page 54, lines delineating rows have been printed over the amino-acid sequence. Also, there are some problems with the printing as a part of the index is over inked. The following are two examples of where the editing or printing has created problems in the comprehension of the text. The first is where the acronyms are not defined when they are first used, e.g., CLP on P 107 and CPV on P 127. The second is where, on P 52, the text indicates that the amino-acids in bold type are from the “hairpin bend” but none of the amino-acids appear to be in bold type. However, these are relatively minor inconveniences. This book should be in the hands of scientists in academia, philanthropic organizations or industry who are trying to develop or improve a vaccine or modulate the immune response. It should be available to faculty and students in immunology and microbiology. It is a very useful text replete with valuable information. H. GRAHAM PURCHASE, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762, USA PII SOO2SO167-5877(96)01151-8
Tortoises
and turtles
Veterinary management of tortoises and turtles, Stuart McArthur, 1996, Blackwell Science (distributed in USA by Iowa State University Press), ISBN o-532-04034-3, 256pp, $40.95 There is relatively little information on the veterinary management of reptiles in the literature. Therefore, whenever a new reptilian publication is offered it is welcomed with open arms. Veterinary management of tortoises and turtles by Stuart McArthur is no exception. While most reptilian texts are generalized, attempting to elaborate on all reptiles within a finite number of pages, McArthur’s book focuses specifically on the chelonians. The diversity of chelonians sets them apart from other reptiles. A book that addresses their needs is long overdue. The book should be well received by any individual with an interest in the practice of medicine and surgery of chelonians. Veterinary students and inexperienced clinicians will find the book especially useful because the author provides diagrams and photographs that accentuate the text. However, substituting photographs in place of some of the diagrams might have better illustrated particular points. The book is most practical to individuals working in clinical situations, but epizooti-
295
This book is written for serious scholars of new approaches to vaccination. Such persons include those in vaccine, antigen, and adjuvant research and their graduate students. The book is unlikely to be of interest to medical practitioners or undergraduate students. It is not a “cookbook” for research on vaccines or vaccine production licensing and techniques. However those skilled in these arts would likely get most out of the book. As the editor claims in the preface “these proceedings cannot, obviously, encompass all the advances made in vaccine development during recent years.” It is a sampling of some of the more promising procedures. In conclusion, for the serious vaccine researcher looking for new ideas, this little gem is worth buying. H. Graham Purchase College of Veterinary Medicine Mississippi State University Mississippi State, MS 39762 USA PII SO167-5877(96)01150-6
Vaccines Vaccines: New Generation Immunological Adjuvants, eds G. Gregoriadis, B. McCormack and A.C. Allison, 1995, Plenum Press, New York and London, ISBN 0-30645283-9, viii + 192 pp, $75.00/$95.00 outside USA and Canada As indicated in the preface “this book contains the proceedings of the 4th NATO Advanced Studies Institute (ASI) held at Cape Sounion Beach, Greece from the 24th of June to the 5th of July, 1994”. The book “deals in depth with both theoretical and practical aspects of vaccinology” and focuses on vaccine development. As is written in the introductory chapter, the book “is intended to bridge the widening gap between basic immunobiology and its application to vaccination”. It does that well! In fact, this book takes off where usual immunology texts end. To start with, except for some “model diseases”, our knowledge of the immunopathology of many less common diseases is in its infancy. We know very little about the mechanism by which the host’s immune system effects the development of disease and, vice versa, how the disease agent effects the host’s immune system. The mechanistic interaction of adjuvants and subunit vaccines with the immune system of the host is also poorly understood. The selection of an adjuvant for a subunit vaccine is largely empirical. In the fast-moving field of adjuvants and vaccines, this book is a relatively up to date (1995) treatise on the state of the art. Some major areas of vaccinology are not discussed, e.g., mucosal vaccines and manipulation of mucosal immunity. Nevertheless, it can help significantly with the rational selection of an adjuvant and the formulation of a vaccine that is most likely to succeed. It will complement other microbiology and immunology texts. In a conference, like the one reported here, it is impossible to cover everything in the area selected. Everyone with knowledge cannot attend the conference. Because the
296
Book reviews
subject is of particular interest to biologics companies, many participants will not reveal their most recent proprietary experimental results. Also, because the understanding of adjuvants and the development of subunit vaccines is anything but static, a conference such as the one reported here represents a “snap shot” in time. There will inevitably be gaps in coverage. Nevertheless, one of the strong points of this book is the depth and range of coverage of current knowledge in the field. This book will be of great value to faculty and students in advanced microbiology courses, including those covering immunology, virology, bacteriology and pathology. It is indispensable for anyone trying to produce a killed vaccine of any sort. These vaccines may be traditional vaccines to prevent human or animal disease or unconventional vaccines designed to modulate the function of the immune system such as decreasing it in autoimmune diseases or enhancing it in immunocompromised individuals. The book can lead the reader to the adjuvant/antigen combination that is likely to be the most successful for the situation under study. While the book focuses on adjuvant and subunit vaccines, it also covers other areas. There are 7 chapters which describe immunomodulation, adjuvants and cytokines and 5 chapters which describe subunit vaccines, synthetic peptide vaccines and genetically detoxified antigens. However there are also 5 chapters which describe live vaccines, including traditional approaches, replicating-DNA and replicating-RNA vaccines. One chapter on local chemotherapy seems to be out of place in this book. Of the many excellent chapters, each with a different author, two stand out as particularly noteworthy. The first chapter “Adjuvants for New and Improved Vaccines” by Anthony C. Allison is a very helpful introduction to the book. It is an overview of what is known about the mechanism of action of adjuvants and new vaccines. It is a transitional chapter from a conventional text book on immunology to the more advanced chapters that follow. The chapter on “Multicomponent Viral Vaccines and Their Use As Immunogen Delivery Systems” by Polly Roy describes the great success obtained with a very unusual subunit vaccine production system. The antigens of Bluetongue virus are produced using expression vectors in the baculovirus nuclear polyhedrosis virus of the insect Autographa califomica or alfalfa looper. Not only are the antigens produced in abundance, but they are also assembled in different virus-like structures. The most exciting aspect is that vaccines derived from the subunits are effective in vivo. They prevent clinical signs and viremia in vaccinated animals whose immunity has been challenged with virulent virus. On the negative side, there is no good closing chapter. The text in the book ends abruptly and is followed by a photograph of the conference participants. It would have been nice to have a final chapter that summarized the “state of threat” and gave some insights into what we might expect in the future. Unlike the editor and author of the first chapter, this reviewer has a long term faith in live vaccines in spite of their potential undesirable side effects. One only has to look at the successful eradication of smallpox from the earth and the great potential for the eradication of poliomyelitis to realize that the success has been accomplished with live vaccines. There have been 12 animal diseases eradicated from the United States including Contagious Bovine Pleuro Pneumonia in 1892, Foot and Mouth disease in
Book reviews
297
1929, Exotic Newcastle disease in 1974 and Hog Cholera in 1978. None of these eradication programs depended on vaccines. Nevertheless, in the immediate future where attenuated live vaccines are not available, killed and subunit vaccines will play an important role in disease control. The reviewer is surprised at the lack of consistency in the style of the book. Some examples follow. Italics are used for genus and species in some chapters and underlined in others. The treatment of second and third degree headings, and the style of tables vary from chapter to chapter. On occasion, e.g., in table 1 on page 54, lines delineating rows have been printed over the amino-acid sequence. Also, there are some problems with the printing as a part of the index is over inked. The following are two examples of where the editing or printing has created problems in the comprehension of the text. The first is where the acronyms are not defined when they are first used, e.g., CLP on P 107 and CPV on P 127. The second is where, on P 52, the text indicates that the amino-acids in bold type are from the “hairpin bend” but none of the amino-acids appear to be in bold type. However, these are relatively minor inconveniences. This book should be in the hands of scientists in academia, philanthropic organizations or industry who are trying to develop or improve a vaccine or modulate the immune response. It should be available to faculty and students in immunology and microbiology. It is a very useful text replete with valuable information. H. GRAHAM PURCHASE, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762, USA PII SOO2SO167-5877(96)01151-8
Tortoises
and turtles
Veterinary management of tortoises and turtles, Stuart McArthur, 1996, Blackwell Science (distributed in USA by Iowa State University Press), ISBN o-532-04034-3, 256pp, $40.95 There is relatively little information on the veterinary management of reptiles in the literature. Therefore, whenever a new reptilian publication is offered it is welcomed with open arms. Veterinary management of tortoises and turtles by Stuart McArthur is no exception. While most reptilian texts are generalized, attempting to elaborate on all reptiles within a finite number of pages, McArthur’s book focuses specifically on the chelonians. The diversity of chelonians sets them apart from other reptiles. A book that addresses their needs is long overdue. The book should be well received by any individual with an interest in the practice of medicine and surgery of chelonians. Veterinary students and inexperienced clinicians will find the book especially useful because the author provides diagrams and photographs that accentuate the text. However, substituting photographs in place of some of the diagrams might have better illustrated particular points. The book is most practical to individuals working in clinical situations, but epizooti-