SCHISTOSOMIASIS VACCINE DEVELOPMENT - THE CURRENT PICTURE

Development of a vaccine for schistosomiasis, a parasitic disease curr ently affecting over 200 million people worldwide, has been targeted a s a priority by the World Health Organisation. Research demonstrating the ability of humans to acquire natural immunity to schistosome infec tion, together with the successful use of attenuated vaccines in anima ls both under laboratory and field conditions, suggest that developmen t of a human vaccine is feasible. Attenuated vaccines for schistosomia sis are considered neither safe nor practicable for human use, however , and therefore other approaches must be considered. This review exami nes progress currently being undertaken in a number of different areas towards achieving the goal of a safe and effective human vaccine for schistosomiasis.