title: Viral vaccines: achievements and challenges.
abstract: In this review the present state of vaccination as a means to control viral diseases is discussed, and the needs and directions for future investigations are considered. The history of viral vaccines already in use is surveyed for guidance in what steps and background knowledge of the viral agents and the host responses to infection were necessary to their successful development. The steps requisite for demonstrating efficacy and safety of a viral vaccine also are summarized, and the features of the target populations to be protected are noted as they affect the final requirement for a successful vaccine: that it be administered in proper dosage and potency to those who need it. General remarks on the proper use of current vaccines are followed by an overview of various developments toward prospective vaccines, along with the predicted time-frames for their coming into general use. Vaccines considered include vaccines to be administered locally at the portal of entry, subunit vaccines, viruses attenuated by genetic manipulation, use of viral vectors, vaccines developed by means of recombinant DNA, synthetic peptides, and anti-idiotype vaccines, as well as new vaccines being developed by more conventional methods.
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology and Epidemiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Melnick
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D014613:Vaccines, Attenuated; D015164:Vaccines, Inactivated; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic; D014765:Viral Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D014613:Vaccines, Attenuated; D015164:Vaccines, Inactivated; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic; D014765:Viral Vaccines