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Immunometabolic Circuits in Infection for Advancing Host Directed Therapies
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Immunotherapy for Infectious Diseases: Past, Present, and Future.
Akshay Manohar1, Jasmine Ahuja1, John K Crane1
1a Division of Infectious Diseases , University at Buffalo , Buffalo , NY 14215 , USA.
Immunological Investigations
|November 18, 2015
Summary
Passive immunotherapy offers a niche approach to treating infections, distinct from preventative immunization. Emerging threats like Ebola and resistant bacteria may revitalize interest in these non-antibiotic therapies.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Immunology
- Antimicrobial Therapies
Background:
- Passive immunotherapy is an underutilized strategy for treating established infections.
- Current applications focus on bacterial toxins (e.g., botulism) and rare bioterrorism agents (e.g., anthrax).
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the potential of passive immunotherapy in the context of emerging infectious diseases.
- To highlight the relevance of non-antibiotic interventions for combating resistant pathogens.
Main Methods:
- Literature review and analysis of current trends in antimicrobial therapies.
- Examination of the role of immunotherapy against novel and re-emerging infectious agents.
Main Results:
- Passive immunotherapy represents a small segment of antimicrobial treatments.
- The rise of viral threats like Ebola and multidrug-resistant bacteria presents new opportunities for immunotherapy.
Conclusions:
- The emergence of challenging pathogens may increase the importance of passive immunotherapy.
- Researchers are exploring immunotherapy as a vital non-antibiotic intervention for infectious diseases.
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