This special issue ofHuman Vaccines & Immunotherapeuticsis based on the Ninth World Congress on Vaccines, Immunisation and Immunotherapy (WCVII), which was organized from 29 to 30 of April 2014 by the Infections Control World Organization (ICWO) in Genova, Italy. The venue of the Congress was the elegant Hotel Bristol Palace situated in the historic heart of the city. The Congress, with morning plenary sessions and afternoon symposia, was attended by medical specialists in immunisation, immunotherapy, and research scientists devoted to developing new immunogenic and safe vaccines. The Scientific Society of Hygiene, Preventive Medicine and Public Health in Liguria, Northern Italy, cooperated with the Infections Control World Organization to set up an interesting programme by promoting the participation of colleagues from all regions of Italy. Several Italian specialists presented their research investigations and exchanged information with experts from abroad. 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, 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 2014, and their delegates assured 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 immunisation 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 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. 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, immunisation and immune therapy.
At the WCVII 2014, important lectures and several discussions were devoted to children and adolescent immunisation as well as 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 and a report suggested that mucosal immunisation may be effective as a therapeutic vaccine against Pseudomonas aeruginosa respiratory infections. Novel strategies and health education were discussed to optimise the influenza prevention. Progress in the elimination of measles and congenital rubella, as well as on malaria 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. Interesting lectures were given on the progress on HIV vaccines, on transcutaneous vaccination, and on vectored and recombinant, multi-component vaccines against infectious diseases. A new promising universal vaccination platform based on mRNA interested the participants. 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.
This special issue of Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics, published by Landes Bioscience, contains 43 selected manuscripts divided into the following parts: (I) Towards new vaccines, immunisation strategy and immunotherapy; (II) Advances in prevention, epidemiological analysis and immunisation; (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 ofHuman Vaccines & Immunotherapeuticsfor their cooperation in publishing this important volume. Our wish is that this special issue ofHuman 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 10th 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 organisers.
Note
Prof. Dr. Edouard Kurstak is the founder and President of the Infections Control World Organization and of the World Congress on Vaccines, Immunisation and Immunotherapy.