title: Current challenges in the development of vaccines for pneumonic plague.
abstract: Inhalation of Yersinia pestis bacilli causes pneumonic plague, a rapidly progressing and exceptionally virulent disease. Extensively antibiotic-resistant Y. pestis strains exist and we currently lack a safe and effective pneumonic plague vaccine. These facts raise concern that Y. pestis may be exploited as a bioweapon. Here, I review the history and status of plague vaccine research and advocate that pneumonic plague vaccines should strive to prime both humoral and cellular immunity.
authors.affiliation: Trudeau Institute, 154 Algonquin Avenue, Saranac Lake, NY 12983, USA. ssmiley@trudeauinstitute.org
authors.forename: Stephen T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Smiley
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D001694:Biological Warfare / Q000517:prevention & control; D035843:Biomedical Research; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D010930:Plague / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D010931:Plague Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014613:Vaccines, Attenuated / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015010:Yersinia pestis / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D010931:Plague Vaccine; D014613:Vaccines, Attenuated