The 19 papers explore a variety of systems in terms of their ability to transport nucleic acids to target areas in vitro and in vivo in ways that effectively modify, supplement, correct, or curtail the function of genes in therapy. Among the topics are cystic fibrosis, immune responses with direct g

During the last decade or so vaccine development has been facilitated by rapid advances in molecular and cell biology. These have laid the foundations of a new generation of vaccines exemplified by subunit vaccines produced through gene cloning and by synthetic peptides mimicking small regions of proteins on the outer coat of viruses. Such peptide are capable of eliciting virus-neutralizing antibodies. Unfortunately, subunit and peptide vaccines are only weakly or non immunogenic in the absence of immunological adjuvants that are known to augment specific cell-mediated immune responses to the...

It is widely accepted that vaccination still renains the best answer to ITDst infectious diseases. Recently, vaccine developnent has been greatly facilitated by advances in ITDlecular and cell biology which have laid the foundations of a new generation of vaccines. ' hese are exemplified by submit vaccines produced through gene cloning and synthetic peptides mimicking snall regions of proteins on the outer coat of viruses and capable of eliciting virus neutralizing antibodies. However, submit and peptide vaccines are only weakly or non-inmmogenic in the absence of immunological adjuvants. The...

'nle NATO Advanced studies Institute series "Targeting of Drugs" was originated in 1981. It is now a major international forum, held every two years in cape Sounion, Greece, in which the present and the future of this important area of research in drug delivery is discussed in great depth. Five previous ASIs of the series dealt with drug carriers of natural and synthetic origin, their interaction with the biological milieu, with ways by which the latter influences such interaction and strategies by which milieu interference curtailing the ftmction of drug carriers is circumvented or relieved....

The success of vaccination in controlling infectious diseases is well documented. However, low profitability, expense and liability have hindered research and development of vaccines. Recently, increasing realization (enhanced by the AIDS pandemic) of the need to overcome such difficulties has led to steps being taken by national authorities, non-profit and commercial organizations to resolve them. This has been facilitated by developments in recombinant DNA techniques, the advent of monoclonal anti- bodies and progress in the understanding of the immunological structure of proteins which...

TheNATO AdvancedStudiesInstituteseries"TargetingofDrugs"wasoriginatedin 1981. It is nowamajorinternationalforum, heldeverytwo yearsin CapeSounion, Greece, in whichthepresentandthefutureofthisimportantareaofresearch in drugdeliveryisdiscussed in greatdepth. PreviousASIsoftheseriesdealtwith drugcarriersofnaturalandsynthetic origin, theirinteractionswith thebiologicalmilieu, waysby whichthefunctionofdrugcarriers iscircumvented and, morerecently, with avarietyofapproaches to carrierdesignor modificationthatcontributeto optimalcarrierfunction. Thepresentbookcontainsthe proceedings ofthe8thNATO...

Successful drug use in biology and medicine is often prejudiced by the failure of drugs that are otherwise active in vitro to act as efficiently in vivo. This is because in the living animal drugs must, as a rule, bypass or traverse organs, membranes, cells and molecules that stand between the site of administration and the site of action. In practice, however, drugs can be toxic to normal tissues, have limited or no access to the target and be prematurely excreted or inactivated. There is now growing optimism that such problems may be resolved by the use of carrier systems that will not only...

A major vehicle for the transition of carrier-mediated drug delivery from a theoretical/experimental status to one with practical uses has been the NATO Advanced Studies Institute series "Targeting of Drugs." Three previous ASls of the series 1-3], also held in Cape Sounion, dealt with carriers of natural and synthetic origin, their preparation and drug incorporation as well as a wide range of applications. This book contains the proceedings of the 4th NATO ASI "Targeting of Drugs: Anatomical and Physiological Considerations" held in Cape Sounion, Greece during 20 June - 1 July 1987....

Vaccination, chiefly responsible for the eradication of smallpox and the control of poliomyelitis and German measles in man and of foot-and- mouth, Marek's and Newcastle disease in domestic animals, remains the best answer to infectious diseases. Early vaccines were live wild type organ- isms but these have been largely replaced by attenuated or killed organisms or by purified components (subunits) thereof. More recently, developments in recombinant DNA techniques, the advent of monoclonal antibodies and progress in our understanding of the immunological structure of proteins, have laid the...

The NATO Advanced Studies Institute series "Targeting of Drugs" was originated in 1981. It is now a major international forum, held every two years in Cape Sounion, Greece, in which the present and the future of this important area of research in drug carriers is discussed in great depth. Four previous ASls of the series dealt with drug carriers of natural and synthetic origin, their interaction with the biological milieu and with ways by which the latter influences such interaction. The present book contains the proceedings of the 5th NATO ASI "Targeting of Drugs: Optimization Strategies"...