Supplement launched at Sealy Center for Vaccine Development Symposium
Last week during the 'Vaccines for Biothreats and Emerging and Neglected Diseases Symposium' in Galveston TX, USA, the Elsevier journal Vaccine released a supplement dedicated to vaccines for biodefense (www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/0264410X). This publication provides a comprehensive, state-of-the-art overview on vaccines that have been developed against a diverse group of human and veterinary pathogens, including Bacillus anthracis, smallpox, and blue tongue.
Biodefense has traditionally been associated with defense against biological warfare agents with an emphasis on military applications. However, the events of October 2001 involving envelopes containing anthrax spores sent through the US Postal Service radically changed our thinking about biodefense. We now recognize the need for biodefense to protect both civilian and military populations against biothreat agents. As research continues to develop biodefense countermeasures, it is clear that vaccines are a critical component of the portfolio to control biothreats.