Editorial [Hot Topic: Vaccines and Immunity (Executive Editor: Ted M. Ross)]

Vaccination is a potent and cost-effective counter-measure to the threat of infectious diseases. Effective vaccines have been developed against polio, measles, mumps, hepatitis B, and recently against human papliomavirus, which is associated with cervical cancer. Despite these successes, there are many challenges for vaccine design against numerous viral and bacterial disease, particularly for ermerging pathogens and potential biodefense pathogens, such as avian influenza, SARS, tularemia, anthrax, west nile, and others. In this issue of Current Pharmaceutical Design, the authors address the current status and future challenges for vaccine strategies [1-7]. References [1] McBurney SP, Ross TM. Developing Broadly Reactive HIV-1/AIDS Vaccines: A Review of Polyvalent and Centralized HIV-1 Vaccines. Curr Pharm Des 2007; 13(19): 1957-1964. [2] Ramachandran S, Kinchington PR. Potential Prophylactic and Therapeutic Vaccines for HSV Infections. Curr Pharm Des 2007; 13(19): 1965-1973. [3] Ferenczy MW. Prophylactic Vaccine Strategies and the Potential of Therapeutic Vaccines Against Herpes Simplex Virus. Curr Pharm Des 2007; 13(19): 1975-1988. [4] Kristoff J. Malaria Stage-Specific Vaccine Candidates. Curr Pharm Des 2007; 13(19): 1989-1999. [5] Poonam P. The Biology of Oral Tolerance and Issues Related to Oral Vaccine Design. Curr Pharm Des 2007; 13(19): 2001-2007. [6] Price AA. Meningococcal Vaccines. Curr Pharm Des 2007; 13(19): 2009-2014. [7] Karkhanis LU. Ross TM. Mucosal Vaccine Vectors: Replication-Competent Versus Replication-Deficient Poxviruses. Curr Pharm Des 2007; 13(19): 2015-2023.