Abstract
Therapeutic vaccines aim to prevent severe complications of a chronic infection by reinforcing host defenses when some immune control, albeit insufficient, can already be demonstrated and when a conventional antimicrobial therapy either is not available or has limited efficacy. We focus on the rationale and challenges behind this still controversial strategy and provide examples from three major chronic infectious diseases- human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B virus, and human papillomavirus-for which the efficacy of therapeutic vaccines is currently being evaluated.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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AIDS Vaccines / immunology
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AIDS Vaccines / therapeutic use*
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Adjuvants, Immunologic
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Anti-HIV Agents / therapeutic use
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Chronic Disease
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Clinical Trials as Topic
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Combined Modality Therapy
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HIV Infections / drug therapy
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HIV Infections / immunology
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HIV Infections / therapy*
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Hepatitis B / immunology
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Hepatitis B / therapy*
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Hepatitis B Vaccines / immunology
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Hepatitis B Vaccines / therapeutic use*
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Humans
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Papillomaviridae / immunology*
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Papillomavirus Infections / immunology
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Papillomavirus Infections / therapy*
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T-Lymphocytes / immunology
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Vaccines, DNA / immunology
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Vaccines, DNA / therapeutic use
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Vaccines, Synthetic / immunology
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Vaccines, Synthetic / therapeutic use
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Viral Vaccines / therapeutic use*
Substances
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AIDS Vaccines
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Adjuvants, Immunologic
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Anti-HIV Agents
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Hepatitis B Vaccines
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Vaccines, DNA
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Vaccines, Synthetic
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Viral Vaccines