This special issue of Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics is based on the Tenth World Congress on Vaccines, Immunisation and Immunotherapy (WCVII), which was organized from 1 to 2 of June 2016 by the Infections Control World Organization (ICWO) in Bern, Switzerland. The venue of the Congress was the elegant Hotel Kreuz in the middle of the attractive old town. The Congress, with morning plenary sessions and afternoon symposia, was attended by medical specialists in immunization, immunotherapy, and research scientists devoted to developing new immunogenic and safe vaccines.
The Swiss Expert Committee for Biosafety, with its executive director Dr. Isabel Hunger-Glaser, cooperated with the Infections Control World Organization to set up an interesting program by promoting the participation of colleagues from different regions of Switzerland and abroad. Dr. Isabel Hunger-Glaser created a pleasant atmosphere during the congress, in addition to the very valuable scientific data she presented. Several specialists presented their various research investigations and exchanged information with experts from Italy and other countries. The Congress was held under the auspices and with the scientific cooperation of Medical Faculties of the University of Montreal, University of Genova, University of Florence, University of Milan, University of Rome, University of Barcelona, Griffith University Gold Coast, University of Bern, Max-Planck-Institute for Infection Biology, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin and Fraunhofer USA Center for Molecular Biotechnology, among others.
Reputed research and clinical institutions from several countries were involved in the scientific agenda of the WCVII 2016, and their delegates insured a high scientific and medical standard for the Congress. It should be pointed out that the World Congress on Vaccines, Immunisation and Immunotherapy, created in 1997 by ICWO, is the first original Congress of its kind, offering a unique forum for all specialists in immunization and immunotherapy, research scientists developing new vaccines, industry leaders producing vaccines, and public health administrators in preventive medicine and hygiene. The WCVII is contributing to the dissolution of isolation and barriers in the matters of global vaccinology, giving to all attendees from academia, industry and health institutions the unlimited open possibility to express their views and share research data. This well reputed and original global Congress organized by scholars is the most recognized academic and independent medical research forum of high standards.
Today, foreign reputed scientific and medical institutions recognized that the World Congress on Vaccines, Immunisation and Immunotherapy is a world class expert organization, capable of providing deep insights into the latest developments in the field of vaccines and immunotherapeutics. The Guest Editor is honored to work with them. The WCVII has been and continues to set an example with regards to medical and scientific global strategic cooperation, with the aim of reducing the suffering, misery, and enormous losses caused by infectious diseases and cancer. The WCVII is the longest running international forum for the latest developments in the field of vaccine, immunization and immune therapy.
At the WCVII 2016, important lectures and several discussions were devoted to the meningococcal serogroup B vaccines. Data on vaccine regiment eliciting sustained immune response to Ebola virus infections were presented, as well as children and adolescent immunization and adult vaccination among the elderly population. Data were presented on the impact of vaccination against infant varicella and herpes zoster infections in the elderly. The value of HPV vaccination, of multi-antigen bacterial vaccines for prevention of meningococcal disease, staphylococcal and streptococcal invasive infections, was underlined. Novel strategies and health education were discussed to optimize the influenza prevention. Progress in the elimination of measles and congenital rubella vaccine models and clinical trials was presented. Attention was given to evaluation of new vaccine adjuvants, to delivery technology of mucosal vaccines, to therapeutic vaccination, and to novel monoclonal antibody immunotherapy for treating disease. Lectures and discussions on the progress in research on vaccines against cancer, especially mimotope-based immunotherapy for patient breast cancer, and emerging infections, were appreciated. Lectures were given on transcutaneous vaccination, and on vectored and recombinant, multi-component vaccines against infectious diseases. Research investigators reported progress in anti-cancer and disease therapeutic vaccines with the discovery and development of antigens for immune therapy, including against tuberculosis. Speakers also focused on the economic value and benefits of sustainable vaccine coverage and on the effectiveness of long-term vaccination, on epidemiology of infections in reducing the disease burden. In this special issue of Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics, published by Taylor & Francis Group, we find 35 selected manuscripts divided into the following parts: (I) Toward new vaccines, immunization strategy and immunotherapy; (II) Advances in prevention, epidemiological analysis and immunization; (III) Vaccination among the elderly population; (IV) The impact of long-term vaccination on infection epidemiology; (V) Effectiveness and economic benefits of vaccination.
Sincere thanks and appreciation go to the authors of manuscripts and to the staff of Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics for their cooperation in publishing this important volume. Our wish is that this special issue of Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics, as a source of latest information, be a useful tool for colleagues involved in the prevention and global control of infectious diseases and cancer at the levels of research and medical practice.
The 11th World Congress on Vaccines, Immunisation and Immunotherapy will be announced in due time. Academic and scientific values will continue to be well respected by the organizers.