| Title | Vaccines for the prevention of respiratory viral infections: problems and current status. | ||
| Author | Olszewska, Wieslawa; Helson, Rebecca; Openshaw, Peter J M | ||
| Journal | Expert Opin Investig Drugs | Publication Year/Month | 2004-Jun |
| PMID | 15174954 | PMCID | -N/A- |
| Affiliation | 1.Department of Respiratory Medicine, Wright Fleming Institute for Infection and Immunity, National Heart and Lung Division, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College, St. Mary's Campus, Paddington, London W2 1PG, UK. w.olszewska@imperial.ac.uk. | ||
Acute respiratory virus infections cause the majority of lower respiratory tract illnesses and hospitalisations of infants and the elderly. The emergence of new respiratory viruses and a high probability that influenza will cause further pandemics highlights the necessity for developing better preventative strategies. Although there is a clear and pressing need for vaccines to prevent respiratory syncytial virus, rhinoviruses, coronaviruses, parainfluenza and human metapneumovirus, progress has been extremely slow. This review presents the current status of vaccine development for respiratory viral diseases and outlines novel approaches for the future.