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In 2013, 200 million people were infected with malaria, resulting
in over 584,000 deaths, with the potential to affect over half the
world's population. Such is the widespread nature of malaria that
it is increasingly believed only a vaccine will lead to its
eradication.Although the first attempt at a vaccine was made a
century ago, it is only in the last 30 years that real progress in
testing has been made, in the hope of discovering a molecule that
can provide long-lasting protection against the disease. In July
2015, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) announced that after 30 years of
research it had received the green light from the European
Medicines Agency for the world's first malaria vaccine, RTS, S, for
use in African children aged 6 weeks to 17 months.This book
chronicles the development of RTS, S - done in collaboration with
the Walter Reed Army Institute for Research, the PATH Malaria
Vaccine Initiative (MVI) and funded in part by the Bill and Melinda
Gates Foundation - as well as previous candidate vaccines. It also
focusses on the continuing quest to find more effective vaccines
against this continuing health crisis. Finally, it provides an
easily understood background on recombinant DNA and monoclonal
antibodies and places them in perspective to their contributions to
malaria vaccine development.This book serves as a convenient and
easily accessible source of information for students, teachers,
microbiologists, parasitologists, physicians, clinicians and
research funders.
The year 2012 marks the tenth anniversary of the announcement of
the genome sequence of the human malaria parasite Plasmodium
falciparum and that of its mosquito vector Anopheles. The genome
sequences were a result of the Plasmodium falciparum Genome
Project. This book covers in detail the biology of malaria
parasites and the mosquitoes that transmit the disease, how the
Genome Project came into being, the people who created it, and the
cadre of scientists who are attempting to see the promise of the
Project realized. The promise was: a more complete understanding of
the genes of the parasite (and its vector) would provide a rational
basis for the development of antimalarial drugs and vaccines, allow
a better understanding of the regulation of the complex life cycle
in the red blood and liver cells of the human, identify the genes
the parasite uses to thwart the host immune response and the ways
in which the parasite evades cure by drug treatments, as well as
leading to more effective measures of control transmission. The
hope was that cracking the genetic code of Plasmodium and Anopheles
would reveal the biochemical Achilles heel of the parasite and its
vector, leading to the development of novel drugs and better
methods of control, and by finding the targets of protective
immunity could result in the manufacture of effective vaccines.
Through a historic approach, this book will allow for those new to
the field, or those with insufficient background in the sciences,
to have an easier entry point. Even scientists already working in
the field may better appreciate how discoveries made in the past
can impact the direction of future research.
Drugs are used in the diagnosis, alleviation, treatment, prevention
or cure of disease. This is a book about drugs, how they came to
be, and how they exert their 'magic'. Today we have drugs to
protect against infectious diseases, to alleviate aches and pains,
to allow new organs to replace the old, and for brain functions to
be modified. Yet, for the most part the manner by which drugs are
developed and by whom remains a mystery. Drugs are more than just a
pill or liquid and some have markedly altered history. The author
has selected a few drugs - highlights representing milestones
affecting our well-being and influencers of social change. The
stories told are dramatic and include spectacular successes and
dismal failures. And the people about whom these stories are told
are both saints and sinners - selfless and conniving - bold and
mercurial and shy and retiring loner. The drugs themselves mirror
the diversity of their origin stories and the author assembles all
sides of these fascinating stories. Key Selling Features:
Chronicles the development of some of the most significant drugs
affecting human health Offers easy-to-follow and understandable
explanations of how drugs work Explains the science underlying the
processes of drug discovery Helps readers appreciate the
contributions of the individuals involved in drug discovery and
development Serves as essential reading for anyone interested in
human health and public policy
Drugs are used in the diagnosis, alleviation, treatment, prevention
or cure of disease. This is a book about drugs, how they came to
be, and how they exert their 'magic'. Today we have drugs to
protect against infectious diseases, to alleviate aches and pains,
to allow new organs to replace the old, and for brain functions to
be modified. Yet, for the most part the manner by which drugs are
developed and by whom remains a mystery. Drugs are more than just a
pill or liquid and some have markedly altered history. The author
has selected a few drugs - highlights representing milestones
affecting our well-being and influencers of social change. The
stories told are dramatic and include spectacular successes and
dismal failures. And the people about whom these stories are told
are both saints and sinners - selfless and conniving - bold and
mercurial and shy and retiring loner. The drugs themselves mirror
the diversity of their origin stories and the author assembles all
sides of these fascinating stories.
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