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Vaccine, Vol. 19 (30) (2001) pp. 4175 - 4184
© 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
PII: S0264-410X(01)00163-3

Vaccination against bubonic and pneumonic plague

Richard W. Titball * rtitball@dera.gov.uk and E. Diane Williamson

Defence Evaluation and Research Agency, CBD Porton Down, Salisbury, Wilts SP4 0JQ, UK

Received 13 November 2000; received in revised form 26 March 2001; accepted 23 April 2001

Abstract

Yersinia pestis is the etiological agent of bubonic and pneumonic plague, diseases which have caused over 200 milllion human deaths in the past. Plague still occurs throughout the world today, though for reasons that are not fully understood pandemics of disease do not develop from these outbreaks. Antibiotic treatment of bubonic plague is usually effective, but pneumonic plague is difficult to treat and even with antibiotic therapy death often results. A killed whole cell plague vaccine has been used in the past, but recent studies in animals have shown that this vaccine offers poor protection against pneumonic disease. A live attenuated vaccine is also available. Whilst this vaccine is effective, it retains some virulence and in most countries it is not considered to be suitable for use in humans. We review here work to develop improved sub-unit and live attenuated vaccines against plague. A sub-unit vaccine based on the F1- and V-antigens is highly effective against both bubonic and pneumonic plague, when tested in animal models of disease. This vaccine has been used to explore the utility of different intranasal and oral delivery systems, based on the microencapsulation or Salmonella delivery of sub-units.

Keywords: Plague vaccine; Yersinia pestis; Microencapsulation; Salmonella vaccine vector

*Corresponding author. Tel.: +44-1980-613301; fax: +44-1980-613741

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