Humana Vaccine Protocols: 87 (Methods in Molecular Medicine, 87)

Vaccine research and development is advancing at an unprecedented pace, with an increasing emphasis on rational design based upon a fundamental und- standing of the underlying molecular mechanisms. The aim of this volume is to provide a selection of contemporary protocols that will be useful to both novice and advanced practitioner alike. The variety of procedures required to design, develop, produce, and assess a vaccine is immense and covers aspects of ch- istry, biochemistry, molecular biology, cell biology, and immunology. No single volume can hope to cover these topics exclusively. Rather, here we attempt to provide a methods sourcebook focusing on hands-on practical advice. Comp- mentary and background information may be found in other volumes in the Me- ods in Molecular Medicine series. Of particular interest are volumes on Dendritic Cell Protocols, Interleukin Protocols, Vaccine Adjuvants, and DNA Vaccines. Since the publication of the first edition of Vaccine Protocols there have been major advances, particularly in the areas of bacterial genomics, antig- specific T-cell quantification, genetic manipulation of vaccine vectors, the h- nessing of natural molecules concerned with the regulation of immune responses, and the burgeoning field of DNA vaccinology. Hence, the extensive revision of this edition with new chapters on live viral vaccine vectors, atte- ated bacterial vectors, immunomodulators, MHC-peptide tetrameric complexes, and the identification of vaccine candidates by genomic analysis. Additionally, chapters from the first edition have been updated to accommodate state-of-t- art methods in vaccinology. Review "This manual serves as a valuable guide to the process of designing, producing and assessing vaccines used against infectious agents including viruses, bacteria and parasites. This book would most benefit scientists involved in the research and development associated with vaccine technology. It also would be most useful to those new to the field of vaccine formulation and production. Health and science libraries supporting research institutions, government agencies, academic and corporate entities involved in developing or producing vaccines will find this a valuable addition to the collection." -E-STREAMS From reviews of the first edition... "...cover[s] concepts and protocols applicable to a wide range of vaccines and infectious diseases and cancer...brings together many protocols of value to research and development scientists involved in the vaccine technology area." -Immunology and Cell Biology "...a valuable basic reference manual of vaccine related laboratory procedures...strongest in the area of vaccine development and delivery technology...especially valuable to those new to the field of vaccine development and formulation." -Doody's Health Sciences Book Review Journal From the Back Cover This extensively revised, updated, and expanded second edition of a classic laboratory manual applies new understanding of molecular mechanisms to the rational design and development of vaccines. Here the working researcher will find readily reproducible techniques for the development and production of live attenuated vaccines through the genetic manipulation of viruses and bacteria, vaccine vectors or inactivated toxins, and the production of synthetic peptides and conjugate vaccines. In addition, there are chapters describing more general techniques for vaccine formulation, delivery, and assessment of immune responses, and review discussions of scale-up to manufacture, vaccine quality assurance, and clinical trials. New to this second edition are cutting-edge chapters on two different viral vectors (Vaccinia and Semliki Forest), lactic acid bacteria for delivery of foreign antigens, incorporation of immunomodulators into plasmid DNA vaccines, construction of tetramer complexes to detect CMI responses, assessment of functional antibody responses, and th