Immunotherapeutic strategies for sexually transmitted viral infections: HIV, HSV and HPV

Abstract

More than 1 million sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are acquired each day globally. Etiotropic drugs cannot effectively control infectious diseases therefore, there is a dire need to explore alternative strategies especially those based on the regulation of immune system. The review discusses all rational approaches to develop better understanding towards immunotherapeutic strategies based on modulation of immune system in an attempt to curb the elevating risk of infectious diseases such as HIV, HPV and HSV because of their high prevalence. Development of monoclonal antibodies, vaccines and several other immune based treatments are promising alternative strategies that are offering new opportunities to eradicate pathogens.

Introductory Chapter: The Latest Knowledge

“…About 78 million people have sufered from HIV and 39 million deaths have occurred since the beginning of this epidemic. While the global prevalence of HIV was 31 million in 2002, at the end of the next 10 years, this number exceeded 35 million [25].…”

“…There are three diferent prophylactic HPV vaccines approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA): Cervarix (GlaxoSmithKline, NY), Gardasil (Merck&Co, Kenilworth, NJ), and Gardasil-9 (Merck&Co) [25,33]. The irst generation HPV vaccines (bivalent Cervarix and quadrivalent Gardasil) are licensed in more than 100 countries since 2006.…”