A New History of Vaccines for Infectious Diseases

Immunization - Chance and Necessity

1st Edition - January 4, 2022

Author: Anthony R. Rees

Paperback ISBN:

9 7 8 - 0 - 1 2 - 8 1 2 7 5 4 - 4

eBook ISBN:

9 7 8 - 0 - 1 2 - 8 1 2 7 5 5 - 1

A New History of Vaccines for Infectious Diseases: Immunization - Chance and Necessity covers the developments of vaccines and how they have obliterated many fatal diseases and… Read more

Image - A New History of Vaccines for Infectious Diseases

Purchase options

LIMITED OFFER

Save 50% on book bundles

Immediately download your ebook while waiting for your print delivery. No promo code is needed.

A New History of Vaccines for Infectious Diseases: Immunization - Chance and Necessity covers the developments of vaccines and how they have obliterated many fatal diseases and infections over time. The book treads a neutral path but does not avoid discussion. As uncertainty in the outcome of vaccination can only be determined by experiment, the path to vaccine development has been scientifically complex because the immune system and the manner in which humans respond to infection is variable and complex. Finally, the book describes the risks and benefits of vaccines in a visibly objective manner.

Cover image
Title page
Table of Contents
Copyright
Dedication
Foreword
Preface
Acknowledgements
Chapter 1. Infectious diseases: a historical documentary
The origins of infectious diseases
Viruses and cells: early origins
Susceptibility to pathogenic viruses
Antibiotic resistance and its origins
Epidemics, pandemics, and survival
Understanding how infectious diseases spread
The beginnings of epidemiological thinking
Epidemiological principles in infectious disease
Chapter 2. The scourge of smallpox: variolation, vaccination, and Edward Jenner
Early history
Virus DNA as a historical record
Smallpox in Europe
The origins and spread of inoculation
Inoculation in Europe: the role of dogma and prejudice
The demise of smallpox inoculation and rise of the vacca
Earlier claims for cowpox vaccination
Some conclusions
Chapter 3. Smallpox vaccination in the 19th century: obstinacy versus pragmatism
Early medical doctrine: the four “humors”
Disease prevention: inoculation versus vaccination in Europe
The North American experience
Great Britain—no better, no worse
Chapter 4. The biological origins of infection unveiled
The backcloth of early experimental observation
Anthrax: a disease reveals its causative agent
The birth of Pasteur's germ theory
Proving causation was not trivial
Rabies meets “the prepared mind”
The importance of strong microbiology in identifying the causes of infection
Tuberculosis and its cause
A not so successful coda
Chapter 5. Cholera, plague, typhoid, and paratyphoid: a cautious start to a vaccine revolution
Cholera meets a rigorous analyst
The plague
Typhoid and paratyphoid
Chapter 6. Diphtheria and tetanus: the discovery of passive immunization
The diphtheria microorganism identified
The development of anti-diphtheria therapy and the role of tetanus research
The dawn of passive immunization
Serum therapy arrives on the world stage
A diphtheria vaccine emerges
From passive immunotherapy to active vaccines
Diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis vaccination today
Chapter 7. The tuberculosis roller coaster: vaccines and antibiotics
The BCG vaccine arrives
Tuberculosis and the impact of chemical intervention
The persistent treatment dilemma
Chapter 8. Viruses: epic challenges for vaccinology
The origin of viruses
The discovery of viruses
The discovery of bacterial viruses
Methods and concepts
The illusive virus nature revealed
Why viruses?
Vaccine effects on virus and bacterial fitness
Chapter 9. Some tropical diseases: the flaviviruses
Introduction
The yellow fever vaccine today
Dengue
The dengue virus discovery
Dengue vaccine development and the unusual immunology of multiple infections
Coda
Japanese encephalitis virus
A Japanese encephalitis vaccine emerges
Zika virus
Zika virus discovery
The vaccine challenges
A cautionary epilogue
Chapter 10. Influenza virus: an evolving chameleon
Introduction
The history of influenza
The Spanish ‘flu and the search for its cause
Influenza pandemics in the modern era
The H/N “Pandora's box” and vaccine advances
Chapter 11. The Polio virus: its conquest amid inflamed debate and controversy
The history of polio virus infection
The Scandinavian experience
The poliomyelitis virus discovered
The pathogenesis of poliomyelitis defined
The race to a vaccine
Polio vaccine trials: triumph and alarm bells
Live attenuated virus vaccines: the “catch up” race
Vaccine safety concerns and their resolution
The race to eliminate the polio virus
Poliomyelitis today
Chapter 12. Measles, mumps, and rubella: vaccination, mortality, and uncertainty
Measles virus and its history
A measles vaccine emerges
The effect of vaccines on measles incidence
Mumps virus and its history
Attenuated viruses become the dominant mumps vaccine
Rubella virus: a wolf in sheep's clothing
Isolation of rubella virus and the vaccine trail
The combination vaccines of measles, mumps, rubella
Chapter 13. Filoviruses: modern solutions to life-threatening infections
Introduction and recent history
The origins of filoviruses
Prevention the only option when no cure exists
The vaccine paths
The vaccine situation today and the role of passive immunotherapy
Conclusions
Chapter 14. Immunological challenges of the “new” infections: corona viruses
History of coronaviruses
A new viral pathogen arrives
The SARS disease: its origins and its causative agent
The way out: vaccines to SARS-CoV
Nonsemper erit aestas—MERS attack
The stuttering path to a MERS-CoV vaccine
SARS-CoV2—the darker side of coronaviridae
The origin of SARS-CoV-2
Pandemic models and the vaccine solutions for COVID19
COVID19 and the role of passive antibody therapy
Interim epilogue: vaccine nationalism and effective use of global resources
Chapter 15. Vaccines are not always perfect: adverse effects and their clinical impact
Vaccine safety evaluation
The other “substances” in vaccines!
COVID19 vaccines and safety
Chapter 16. Vaccination and freedom of choice: the individual and the population
Religious and ethical grounds for vaccine hesitancy
The safety question: hesitancy amid misinformation
The genuine concerns of vaccination
Glossary
Index