RNA viruses cause animal, human, and zoonotic diseases that affect millions of individuals, as is being exemplified by the devastating ongoing epidemic of the recently identified SARS-Cov-2. For years vaccines have had an enormous impact on overcoming the global burden of diseases. Nowadays, a vast number of different approaches, from purified inactivated and live attenuated viruses, nucleic acid (DNA or RNA) based candidates, virus-like particles, subunit elements, and recombinant viruses are been employed to combat viruses. However, for many of them efficient vaccines are not yet available. This will probably change dramatically with the current Covid-19 pandemic, as a vast variety of vaccinology approaches are being tested against it, with hundreds of candidates under development, dozens of them already in clinical trials, a fact that is breaking records in vaccine development and implementation. This is becoming possible thanks to the enormous work carried out during years to have the bases for a quick response, even against unknown pathogens, in an impressive short time. Here, results obtained with different vaccine´s methodological approaches against human (HIV, HCV, HRV) animal (PRRSV, PEDV, FMDV, VHSV) and zoonotic (RVF, WNV), RNA viruses are presented by field experts.

The Vaccine Book, Second Edition provides comprehensive information on the current and future state of vaccines. It reveals the scientific opportunities and potential impact of vaccines, including economic and ethical challenges, problems encountered when producing vaccines, how clinical vaccine trials are designed, and how to introduce vaccines into widespread use. Although vaccines are now available for many diseases, there are still challenges ahead for major diseases, such as AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria. This book is designed for students, researchers, public health officials, and all others interested in increasing their understanding of vaccines. It answers common questions regarding the use of vaccines in the context of a rapidly expanding anti-vaccine environment. This new edition is completely updated and revised with new and unique topics, including new vaccines, problems of declining immunization rates, trust in vaccines, the vaccine hesitancy, and the social value of vaccines for the community vs. the individual child's risk. - Provides insights into diseases that could be prevented, along with the challenges facing research scientists in the world of vaccines - Gives new ideas about future vaccines and concepts - Introduces new vaccines and concepts - Gives ideas about challenges facing public and private industrial investors in the vaccine area - Discusses the problem of declining immunization rates and vaccine hesitancy

Therapeutic cancer vaccines represent a type of active cancer immunotherapy. Clinicians, scientists, and researchers working on cancer treatment require evidence-based and up-to-date resources relating to therapeutic cancer vaccines. Vaccines for Cancer Immunotherapy provides a reference for cancer treatment for clinicians and presents a well-organized resource for determining high-potential research areas. The book considers that this promising modality can be made more feasible as a treatment for cancer. Chapters cover cancer immunology, general approaches to cancer immunotherapy, vaccines, tumor antigens, the strategy of allogeneic and autologous cancer vaccines, personalized vaccines, whole-tumor antigen vaccines, protein and peptide vaccines, dendritic cell vaccines, genetic vaccines, candidate cancers for vaccination, obstacles to developing therapeutic cancer vaccines, combination therapy, future perspectives and concluding remarks on therapeutic cancer vaccines. - Introduces the feasible immunotherapeutic vaccines for patients with different types of cancer - Presents the status of past and current vaccines for cancer treatment - Considers advantages and disadvantages of different therapeutic cancer vaccines - Looks at the combination of vaccines and other modalities, including immunotherapeutic and conventional methods - Analyzes obstacles to development of therapeutic cancer vaccines - Gives a view on future perspectives in the application of therapeutic cancer vaccines

This is the first comprehensive book on human/animal gene responses to RNA viral infections, including prevalent, emerging and re-emerging RNA viruses such as HIV, SARS-CoV, West Nile virus, influenza virus and many others. Human gene responses are reviewed by leading virologists worldwide in the following aspects: (i) the altered gene expression profiles at the transcriptional and translational levels detected with cutting-edge technologies such as cDNA microarray and proteomics; (ii) host innate and adapted immune responses to viral replication in target organs; (iii) virus-activated signal transduction pathways in cell survival, apoptosis and autophagosomal pathways; and (iv) the small interfering RNA/microRNA-mediated gene silencing pathway, a recently characterized new host defense mechanism against viral infection. Organized into 29 highly accessible and well-illustrated chapters, this volume explores state-of-the-art knowledge of the molecular mechanisms of RNA virus infection and host?virus interactions. This comprehensive compilation of the altered gene expression profiles and signal transduction pathways in host cells in response to the majority of human/animal RNA viruses opens new directions for basic and clinical research on viral pathogenesis, and also provides valuable biomarkers for researchers to select gene targets in the development of diagnostic tests and antiviral therapeutics for a number of infectious diseases.

This volume presents detailed laboratory protocols for in vitro synthesis of mRNA with favorable properties, its introduction into cells by a variety of techniques, and the measurement of physiological and clinical consequences such as protein replacement and cancer immunotherapy. Synthetic techniques are described for structural features in mRNA that provide investigational tools such as fluorescence emission, click chemistry, photo-chemical crosslinking, and that produce mRNA with increased stability in the cell, increased translational efficiency, and reduced activation of the innate immune response. Protocols are described for clinical applications such as large-scale transfection of dendritic cells, production of GMP-grade mRNA, redirecting T cell specificity, and use of molecular adjuvants for RNA vaccines. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Synthetic mRNA: Production, Introduction into Cells, and Physiological Consequences is a valuable and cutting-edge resource for both laboratory investigators and clinicians interested in this powerful and rapidly evolving technology.

Viral respiratory tract infections are important and common causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. In the past two decades, several novel viral respiratory infections have emerged with epidemic potential that threaten global health security. This Monograph aims to provide an up-to-date and comprehensive overview of severe acute respiratory syndrome, Middle East respiratory syndrome and other viral respiratory infections, including seasonal influenza, avian influenza, respiratory syncytial virus and human rhinovirus, through six chapters written by authoritative experts from around the globe.

Reverse genetics, the genetic manipulation of RNA viruses to create a wild-type or modified virus, has led to important advances in our understanding of viral gene function and interaction with host cells. Since many severe viral human and animal pathogens are RNA viruses, including those responsible for polio, measles, rotaviral diarrhoea and influenza infections, it is also an extremely powerful technique with important potential application for the prevention and control of a range of human and animal viral diseases. Reverse Genetics of RNA Viruses provides a comprehensive account of the very latest developments in reverse genetics of RNA viruses through a wide range of applications within each of the core virus groups including; positive sense, negative sense and double stranded RNA viruses. Written by a team of international experts in the field, it provides a unique insight into how the field has developed, what problems are being addressed now and where applications may lead in the future. It will prove invaluable to bioscience, medical and veterinary students, those starting research in this area as well as other researchers and teachers needing to update their knowledge of this fast-moving field. An authoritative, comprehensive overview of reverse genetics in RNA Viruses. Includes numerous examples of cutting- edge applications of reverse genetics within each of the RNA viral groups. Written by a team of international experts, including some of the leading researchers in the field.

RNAi technology is used for large-scale screens that systematically shut down each gene in the cell, which can help identify the components necessary for a particular cellular process or an event such as cell division. Exploitation of the pathway is also a promising tool in biotechnology and medicine. Introducing new technology in the study of RNA

The Tropical Medicine Notebook is a new concept in providing a concise overview of the key topics in tropical medicine, using short notes, diagrams, maps, and tables to present the material in an accessible, engaging, memorable, and interesting way. The format is generally a page per topic, with division of each page into subsections by boxes to make it easy to find the relevant information. Cross-referencing is provided to allow quick linking between relevant sections of the book. Providing the key information in bite-size chunks, the Tropical Medicine Notebook is a useful companion to more comprehensive texts. Divided into eight sections; the first five cover infections caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa and helminths, followed by a further three which present the topics of vector biology, disease syndromes and envenomation. Where relevant, the section is prefaced by a classification system to provide a logical overview, helping with assimilation of information and highlighting important relationships between organisms. It is an ideal learning and revision guide for students or trainees in infection, microbiology, and tropical medicine, as well as being a useful reference resource for healthcare and laboratory staff across the wide range of disciplines to which infection may present.

The Immunization Safety Review Committee was established by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) to evaluate the evidence on possible causal associations between immunizations and certain adverse outcomes, and to then present conclusions and recommendations. The committee's mandate also includes assessing the broader societal significance of these immunization safety issues. While all the committee members share the view that immunization is generally beneficial, none of them has a vested interest in the specific immunization safety issues that come before the group. The committee reviews three immunization safety review topics each year, addressing each one at a time. In this fifth report in a series, the committee examines the hypothesis that exposure to polio vaccine contaminated with simian virus 40 (SV40), a virus that causes inapparent infection in some monkeys, can cause certain types of cancer.