186
A vaccine is always preferable because it induces an active response and an
advantageous state of immune memory in the individual, with minimal side effects
(active immunization). A serum specific for a given antigen can be life-saving (serotherapy, immediately active), but has some side effects (since it introduces heterologous proteins -for instance, horse immunoglobulins, which in turn will be
immunologically eliminated-) and does not have lasting protection (passive
immunization).
Modern life has created some extra occasions for germs and some “new” diseases [22]: air conditioning apparatuses for instance (if not properly cared and
cleaned) are a new ideal environment for bacteria; because of dirt and humidity they
can foster the growth of airborne bacteria never seen before as human pathogens:
Legionella pneumophyla. The story of Legionaries disease (a fatal lung infection by
Legionella) is very instructive for microbiologists and epidemiologists. Human
behaviors (homosexual intercourses, exchange of syringes among intravenous drug
users, and frequency of air travel) have extended the contagion of formerly rare
infections like HIV. Also, in this case, the facts are dramatically instructive for medicine and epidemiology.
Transfusions of unscreened blood have also diffused hepatitis and HIV viruses.
Centralized processing of foods has sometimes diffused a contagion of food-borne
infections (E. coli) [21]. Airplanes have replaced ships for human travel and are at
the center of attention for human communicable diseases spreading (Influenza,
SARS, etc.). Many more people are traveling today to remote and tropical areas
than before (forests, wilderness). This can expose more populations (even at home,
on the return) to rare insects and microbes (see cases of malaria, Ebola virus,
Marburg virus, etc.). In addition, economic development expands contacts: mining,
forestry, agriculture in new tropical areas with recent deforestation.
Additionally, the increasing number of subjects with immunodeficiency diseases
or immunosuppressant therapies (for transplants) strengthen the probability of new
communicable agents to infect people, survive and propagate in modern societies
(opportunistic infections, with possible mutations in progress.
This entire prospect of new possible pandemics constantly increases especially
with the emerging new variety of infections such as new bacterial and viral pathogens as the Rotavirus, Cryptosporidium parvum, Legionella pneumophyla, Ebola
virus, Hantaan virus, Campylobacter jejuni, HTLV virus, HIV, Helicobacter pylori,
Herpesvirus-6 and -8, virus Guanarito, virus Sabia, nCoV-MERS virus, COVID-19,
to name just some of the most relevant and recent [22].
11.6 Preparation of Vaccines
What is a vaccine? In a dangerous disease caused by microorganisms and “foreign”
not-self substances (an “antigen”), it may be possible to raise a vaccine, that is an
innocuous preparation of that “antigen” which can induce the production of an
immune response and create immune memory in the subjects we want to protect.
M. Bologna et al.
A vaccine is always preferable because it induces an active response and an
advantageous state of immune memory in the individual, with minimal side effects
(active immunization). A serum specific for a given antigen can be life-saving (serotherapy, immediately active), but has some side effects (since it introduces heterologous proteins -for instance, horse immunoglobulins, which in turn will be
immunologically eliminated-) and does not have lasting protection (passive
immunization).
Modern life has created some extra occasions for germs and some “new” diseases [22]: air conditioning apparatuses for instance (if not properly cared and
cleaned) are a new ideal environment for bacteria; because of dirt and humidity they
can foster the growth of airborne bacteria never seen before as human pathogens:
Legionella pneumophyla. The story of Legionaries disease (a fatal lung infection by
Legionella) is very instructive for microbiologists and epidemiologists. Human
behaviors (homosexual intercourses, exchange of syringes among intravenous drug
users, and frequency of air travel) have extended the contagion of formerly rare
infections like HIV. Also, in this case, the facts are dramatically instructive for medicine and epidemiology.
Transfusions of unscreened blood have also diffused hepatitis and HIV viruses.
Centralized processing of foods has sometimes diffused a contagion of food-borne
infections (E. coli) [21]. Airplanes have replaced ships for human travel and are at
the center of attention for human communicable diseases spreading (Influenza,
SARS, etc.). Many more people are traveling today to remote and tropical areas
than before (forests, wilderness). This can expose more populations (even at home,
on the return) to rare insects and microbes (see cases of malaria, Ebola virus,
Marburg virus, etc.). In addition, economic development expands contacts: mining,
forestry, agriculture in new tropical areas with recent deforestation.
Additionally, the increasing number of subjects with immunodeficiency diseases
or immunosuppressant therapies (for transplants) strengthen the probability of new
communicable agents to infect people, survive and propagate in modern societies
(opportunistic infections, with possible mutations in progress.
This entire prospect of new possible pandemics constantly increases especially
with the emerging new variety of infections such as new bacterial and viral pathogens as the Rotavirus, Cryptosporidium parvum, Legionella pneumophyla, Ebola
virus, Hantaan virus, Campylobacter jejuni, HTLV virus, HIV, Helicobacter pylori,
Herpesvirus-6 and -8, virus Guanarito, virus Sabia, nCoV-MERS virus, COVID-19,
to name just some of the most relevant and recent [22].
11.6 Preparation of Vaccines
What is a vaccine? In a dangerous disease caused by microorganisms and “foreign”
not-self substances (an “antigen”), it may be possible to raise a vaccine, that is an
innocuous preparation of that “antigen” which can induce the production of an
immune response and create immune memory in the subjects we want to protect.
M. Bologna et al.