Vaccines under development: group B streptococcus, herpes-zoster, HIV, malaria and dengue.
OBJECTIVE
To review the current state of development of streptococcus B, herpes-zoster, HIV, malaria and dengue vaccines. These vaccines were selected both because of imminent commercial release and because of specific problems with their development.


METHODS
A review of the literature was performed by means of a MEDLINE search, on the period 1996 to 2006, for the epidemiology and immunology of these diseases, analyzing both the greatest obstacles to creating a vaccine and the current state of research, with emphasis on studies in the most advanced stages.


RESULTS
Each of the five diseases chosen presents specific problems for vaccine development. Nevertheless, in the majority of cases these have been or are in sight of being resolved, allowing for the prediction that a safe and effective vaccine - or vaccines - will be available in the near future.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite the problems faced in developing these vaccines, advances in molecular biology and immunology have made it possible to overcome most obstacles, opening up the prospects for new vaccines.
da Silva
Luiz Jacintho
LJ
Diciplina de Infectologia, Departamento de clínica Médica, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, SP, Brazil. ljsilva@unicamp.br
Richtmann
Rosana
R
D016915:AIDS Vaccines / Q000276:immunology; D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003715:Dengue / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D053059:Dengue Vaccines / Q000276:immunology; D014943:Global Health; D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D053061:Herpes Zoster Vaccine / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008288:Malaria / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017780:Malaria Vaccines / Q000276:immunology; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D022541:Streptococcal Vaccines / Q000276:immunology; D013292:Streptococcus agalactiae / Q000276:immunology; D014612:Vaccines / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D016915:AIDS Vaccines; D053059:Dengue Vaccines; D053061:Herpes Zoster Vaccine; D017780:Malaria Vaccines; D022541:Streptococcal Vaccines; D014612:Vaccines