[The paraspecific immune defense: possibilities and limits]

The paraspecific defense system is the phylogenetically older part of the complex immune system. It enables the organism to immediately attack various foreign substances, infectious germs and toxins when confronted by them. In order to activate the paraspecific immune system with the help of drugs, so-called "paramunity inducers" are employed. The use of paramunization is a new way of prophylaxis and therapy, not only with regard to infections, but also with regard to different other indications. The limitations of paramunization are to be found in genetic defects of the paraspecific immune system, therefore the success of paramunization is dependent on the functioning of the paraspecific defense system. The possibility of developing paramunity inducers that are pyrogen-free, non-toxic and pleotypically effective in pre-clinical and clinical experiments is illustrated through the use of pox and parapox viruses. Inducers based on different pox virus species were effective and safe when used in humans as well as in animals in the field.