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Gordon Ada

Publications and source records attributed to Gordon Ada.

4 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2007

The importance of vaccination.

We have vaccines for nearly thirty of the more than seventy infectious diseases which are pathogenic for humans. Most of the vaccines, especially those to prevent childhood diseases, are highly effective with a high safety profile. Vaccines are being developed against many of the other bacteria and viruses, and some parasites. Occasionally, a new vaccine has to be withdrawn because of unexpected side effects. Smallpox remains the only infectious disease to have been eradicated. The Global Program to eradicate poliomyelitis initiated in 1988, has unfortunately run into difficulties. A few children immunised with the Sabin oral vaccine fail to clear the virus which can mutate over some years into a pathogenic form and spread rapidly unless large vaccination programs are re-introduced. Of major concern are emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, especially HIV, for which there is currently no vaccine. Fortunately, new techniques are becoming available making it possible to consider developing vaccines based on inducing strong cell-mediated immune responses to control the agent's replication when antigenic variation in surface antigens (e.g. HIV, influenza) makes classical techniques based on induction of antibody responses less attractive.

Bacterial Infections↗
PubMed2005

Overview of vaccines and vaccination.

Of the 80-plus known infectious agents pathogenic for humans, there are now more than 30 vaccines against 26 mainly viral and bacterial infections and these greatly minimize subsequent disease and prevent death after exposure to those agents. This article describes the nature of the vaccines, from live attenuated agents to subunits, their efficacy and safety, and the kind of the immune responses generated by those vaccines, which are so effective. To date, all licensed vaccines generate especially specific antibodies, which attach to the infectious agent and therefore can very largely prevent infection. These vaccines have been so effective in developed countries in preventing mortality after a subsequent infection that attempts are being made to develop vaccines against many of the remaining infectious agents. Many of the latter are difficult to manipulate; they can cause persisting infections or show great antigenic variation. A range of new approaches to improve selected immune responses, such as immunization with DNA or chimeric live vectors, viral or bacterial, are under intense scrutiny, as well as genomic analysis of the agent.

Bacterial Vaccines↗
PubMed2003

DNA vaccination.

Few advances in the history of vaccination have had as quick a passage (approximately 10 years) from their discovery to clinical trials and, hopefully soon, registration as DNA immunisation. A very clear picture has now emerged of the recognition of the CpG-motif rich, chimaeric bacterial DNA by dendritic cells (antigen-presenting cells [APCs]) and the subsequent activation of T lymphocytes. Both humoral and comprehensive cell-mediated responses occur in both mice and primates. No significant safety concerns have been observed following administration to several hundred human volunteers, including some children. Of special interest is the generation of strong and high avidity CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) responses in primates, following priming with chimaeric DNA and subsequent boosting with a chimaeric live viral vector, such as an attenuated poxvirus or adenovirus. The DNA may also be used as a highly potent adjuvant, inducing mainly T helper (Th)1 responses. Advantages include its potential use in the presence of antibody to the targeted infectious agent and a generally simple manufacturing process.

Animals↗