IMMUNOLOGICAL STRATEGIES FOR CONTROL OF INSECT DISEASE VECTORS - A CRITICAL-ASSESSMENT

Insect-borne diseases are one of the major causes of disease and death in the tropical world. Conventional methods of disease control have p roven insufficient and there is pressing need for devising new strateg ies. One approach that has been explored by several laboratories is to compromise vector fecundity and survivorship through the immunization of vertebrate hosts with the vector's internal organs (concealed anti gens). Here, Marcelo Jacobs-Lorena and Francisco J.A. Lemos critically review tile results obtained to date by use of this approach. It appe ars that the published work is less rigorous than would be desirable a nd the results are contradictory. In contrast to the successes obtaine d with a similar immunization strategy implemented for tick-borne dise ases, if is not yet clear whether or not such an approach can be appli ed to insect-borne diseases.