title: Peptide vaccines in immunocontraception.
abstract: Vaccines have been used successfully to treat and eradicate infectious diseases; this has encouraged a major drive towards development of contraceptive vaccines (immunocontraception) as an additional method against rising human and animal populations. Despite three decades worth of research in this field, there are no licensed human contraceptive vaccines and less than ten for use in animals. The development of peptide antifertility vaccines has had a substantial impact on improving safety and specificity of immunogens, but has resulted in efficacy problems. Innovative strategies have been developed to overcome these problems.
authors.affiliation: University of Strathclyde, Department of Immunology, 27 Taylor Street, Glasgow, G4 0NR Scotland, UK. v.a.ferro@strath.ac.uk
authors.forename: Valerie A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Ferro
authors.forename: Emilio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mordini
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology; D003269:Contraception, Immunologic / Q000941:ethics; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009865:Oocytes / Q000276:immunology; D011962:Receptors, FSH / Q000276:immunology; D011974:Receptors, LH / Q000276:immunology; D011966:Receptors, LHRH / Q000276:immunology; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000276:immunology; D022642:Vaccines, Contraceptive / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D022223:Vaccines, Subunit / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; D011962:Receptors, FSH; D011974:Receptors, LH; D011966:Receptors, LHRH; D022642:Vaccines, Contraceptive; D022223:Vaccines, Subunit