摘要:
Antibody-mediated immunity (AMI) has been used for the treatment and prevention of infectious diseases for > 100 years, and has a remarkable record of safety, efficacy and versatility. AMI can be used for defence against a wide variety of biological weapons, and passive antibody (Ab) therapy has the potential to provide immediate immunity to susceptible individuals. Recent advances in the Ab field make it possible to generate Abs with enhanced antimicrobial functions. There are significant gaps in our understanding of Ab function, such that the development of Ab-based strategies remains a largely empirical exercise. Nevertheless, the advantages inherent in the therapeutic and prophylactic use of AMI provide a powerful rationale for continued development that will undoubtedly yield many new vaccines and therapeutic Abs.
摘要:
At a meeting in Geneva in December 2004, the member States of the Biological Weapons Convention discussed disease surveillance and response in the context of alleged use of biological weapons, disease outbreaks deemed 'suspicious' and naturally occurring outbreaks. The meeting itself had no mandate to direct States to undertake specific actions regarding these issues. However, the discussions indicated that the problem of biological weapons may be shifting away from the traditional arms control paradigm and towards broader notions of disease-based threats to national and international security. In an era of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, security analysts are beginning to recognise that strong public health surveillance and response mechanisms are vital defences during disease outbreaks, whether deliberately caused or of natural origin.