Modern trends in the development of bacterial vaccines for human use

The development of vaccines against infectious diseases is one of the great medical achievements of the 20th century. What other medical measure had such an influence on the statistical prolongation of life, as the use of vaccines did? The successful development of today's vaccines was from the beginning due to the intensive cooperation between the basic research sciences (e.g. bacteriology virology, chemistry, immunology) and the applied sciences (e.g. medicine-practiced). During the last few years newly developed techniques have awakened hopes for the development of new vaccines which are better tolerable and more effective. Molecular biologic methods have shown first successes in the development of epitope vaccines. Monoclonal anti-idiotype antibodies are being used in active protection experiments. Modern galenic preparations can perhaps one day replace the parenteral administration of antigens. In the following some of the new techniques are listed and their significance for the development of new vaccines discussed.