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Viral hepatitis: Standardization in immunoprophylaxis in infections by hepatitis viruses
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JIM03090 Viral Hepatitis: Standardization in Immunoprophylaxis of Infections by Hepatitis Viruses, edited by G. Papaevangelou and W. Hennessen. Karger, Basel, 1983 (xviii + 590 pp., illus., soft cover) SFr. 135.- (DM 162.-; $ 81.00) This book, Vol. 54 of the Developments in Biological Standardization serie s, contains proceedings of a symposium organized by the International Association of Biological Standardization and WHO, held in November 1982 in Athens, Greece. The symposium assembled about 240 participants and consisted of 10 sessions. The topics in session I included the methods used in production, inactivation, purification, and the quality and safety controls of hepatitis B virus vaccines. Most of the vaccines studied have been found to contain the HBV surface-antigen proteins as main components. An exact comparison of the composition of different preparations could not yet be made due to differences in assay methods used by the respective manufacturers; this was concluded in the discussion that followed. The papers in session II deal with some recent attempts to improve the technique of HBV vaccine production. These include the use of a synthetic peptide having the amino acid sequence in common with a major HBsAg determinant which yields antibodies of high specificity but low affinity for the intact virus. A more promising new approach appears to be the biosynthesis of HBsAg in yeast by recombinant plasmids. In session III guidelines were established for standardizing the antibody responses to HBV infection and anti-HBV vaccination; reference reagents are to be calibrated against the WHO standard. Reports on the efficacy trials of HBV vaccines in various countries are presented in sessions IV and V, whereas passive immunoprophylaxis is assessed in session VI. Session VII is devoted to both the known and the potential preventive measures against hepatitis A; data on the use of standard immunoglobulins are shown and the prospects of applying live attenuated strains of HAV are discussed. Non-A, non-B hepatitis is the subject of presentations in session VIII. Epidemiological studies and the search for an acceptable immunodiagnostic test are summed up; some encouraging results obtained with RIA and ELISA need further evaluation. This is followed by a poster session (IX) and summaries and conclusions (X). The volume closes with a list of participants, an index of speakers, and a carefully compiled subject index. In view of the widely recognized need to strengthen the defenses against viral hepatitis, a major public health problem in certain parts of the world, this book deserves the attention of virologists, immunologists, epidemiologists, and vaccine manufacturers. F. Borek
0022-1759/84/$03.00 © 1984 ElsevierSciencePublishersB.V.
JIM03090 Viral Hepatitis: Standardization in Immunoprophylaxis of Infections by Hepatitis Viruses, edited by G. Papaevangelou and W. Hennessen. Karger, Basel, 1983 (xviii + 590 pp., illus., soft cover) SFr. 135.- (DM 162.-; $ 81.00) This book, Vol. 54 of the Developments in Biological Standardization serie s, contains proceedings of a symposium organized by the International Association of Biological Standardization and WHO, held in November 1982 in Athens, Greece. The symposium assembled about 240 participants and consisted of 10 sessions. The topics in session I included the methods used in production, inactivation, purification, and the quality and safety controls of hepatitis B virus vaccines. Most of the vaccines studied have been found to contain the HBV surface-antigen proteins as main components. An exact comparison of the composition of different preparations could not yet be made due to differences in assay methods used by the respective manufacturers; this was concluded in the discussion that followed. The papers in session II deal with some recent attempts to improve the technique of HBV vaccine production. These include the use of a synthetic peptide having the amino acid sequence in common with a major HBsAg determinant which yields antibodies of high specificity but low affinity for the intact virus. A more promising new approach appears to be the biosynthesis of HBsAg in yeast by recombinant plasmids. In session III guidelines were established for standardizing the antibody responses to HBV infection and anti-HBV vaccination; reference reagents are to be calibrated against the WHO standard. Reports on the efficacy trials of HBV vaccines in various countries are presented in sessions IV and V, whereas passive immunoprophylaxis is assessed in session VI. Session VII is devoted to both the known and the potential preventive measures against hepatitis A; data on the use of standard immunoglobulins are shown and the prospects of applying live attenuated strains of HAV are discussed. Non-A, non-B hepatitis is the subject of presentations in session VIII. Epidemiological studies and the search for an acceptable immunodiagnostic test are summed up; some encouraging results obtained with RIA and ELISA need further evaluation. This is followed by a poster session (IX) and summaries and conclusions (X). The volume closes with a list of participants, an index of speakers, and a carefully compiled subject index. In view of the widely recognized need to strengthen the defenses against viral hepatitis, a major public health problem in certain parts of the world, this book deserves the attention of virologists, immunologists, epidemiologists, and vaccine manufacturers. F. Borek
0022-1759/84/$03.00 © 1984 ElsevierSciencePublishersB.V.