title: Immunomodulatory agents for prophylaxis and therapy of infections.
abstract: The advent of the antibiotic era ushered in a shift towards non-pathogen-specific therapy of infectious diseases. This led to an overt emphasis on targeting microbial pathogens while strategies directed towards enhancing host immunity were neglected. In an effort to decrease sole reliance on antimicrobials, the time has come for a critical reappraisal of nonantibiotic, albeit immune response-enhancing substances. The diverse array of natural, synthetic, and recombinant immunomodulators discussed in this review succinctly demonstrate the potential of these agents to stimulate host defense mechanisms for prophylaxis and treatment of various microbial infections.
authors.affiliation: Robert Koch Institute, Nordufer 20, D-13353, Berlin, Germany. masihik@rki.de
authors.forename: K N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Masihi
mesh_terms: D000119:Acetylmuramyl-Alanyl-Isoglutamine / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000145:classification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003115:Colony-Stimulating Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016207:Cytokines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005936:Glucans / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy*; D007291:Inosine Monophosphate / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007542:Inosine Pranobex / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007372:Interferons / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007378:Interleukins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016305:Thymopentin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013951:Thymus Hormones / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines; D003115:Colony-Stimulating Factors; D016207:Cytokines; D005936:Glucans; D007378:Interleukins; D013951:Thymus Hormones; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D007291:Inosine Monophosphate; C076557:methyl inosine monophosphate; D000119:Acetylmuramyl-Alanyl-Isoglutamine; D007372:Interferons; D016305:Thymopentin; D007542:Inosine Pranobex