Genetic immunisation and treatment of disease

Alternative approaches to the more traditional treatments of cancer, allerg ies and autoimmune diseases are being pursued. In addition, new modes of va ccination are under development. DNA delivery (genetic immunisation) is amo ng the new technologies being investigated. This technique of injecting DNA induces both cellular and humoral responses, can lead to active protein pr oduction in vivo and is highly adaptable to the requirements of the conditi on being targeted. The genes can be delivered such that the immune response s can be polarised to either a Th1 or Th2 phenotype. The manipulation of th e immune response can be accomplished by a variety of methods including mod e of delivery and use of cytokine genes. Delivery of DNA directly to a host has a great deal of potential with regard to therapy and vaccine developme nt. This potential is apparent based on the extensive number of patents whi ch have been awarded over the past three years.