Recently, smallpox has been a disease of only historical interest since the certification of its eradication by the World Health Organization on May 8, 1980. However, there is a growing awareness and apprehension regarding possible bioterrorist threats with these concerns escalating since the tragedy on September 11, 2001. Accordingly, there is an increased interest in understanding smallpox-induced pathogenesis as well as in the development of new vaccines and therapeutics. This chapter will discuss the history of smallpox infection and its eradication. Discovery of methods for protection against naturally occurring smallpox infection will also be discussed, as well as clinical and epidemiological features of infection, virus structure and pathogenesis as well as host defense and the immune response. An improved understanding of the disease is leading to new methods of prophylaxis and therapy that are discussed in this chapter. In addition, current vaccination strategies will also be reviewed since the development and licensure of novel smallpox vaccines that may be safely used to immunize those with exposure and/or risk factors is currently of high priority.
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© 2006 Springer Science+Business Media, Inc
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Kutzler, M.A., Ugen, K.E., Weiner, D.B. (2006). Smallpox: Pathogenesis and Host Immune Responses Relevant to Vaccine and Therapeutic Strategies. In: Anderson, B., Friedman, H., Bendinelli, M. (eds) Microorganisms and Bioterrorism. Infectious Agents and Pathogenesis. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/0-387-28159-2_5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/0-387-28159-2_5
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