Immunotherapy for Infectious Diseases: Past, Present, and Future

Abstract

Passive immunotherapy for established infections, as opposed to active immunization to prevent disease, remains a tiny niche in the world of antimicrobial therapies. Many of the passive immunotherapies currently available are directed against bacterial toxins, such as botulism, or are intended for agents of bioterrorism such as anthrax, which fortunately has remained rare. The emergence of Ebola virus and multi-drug resistant pathogens, however, may breathe new life into the immunotherapy field as researchers seek non-antibiotic interventions for infectious diseases.

• Antiserum
• Iditarod race
• immune globulin
• passive immunity

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this article.