G. Gregoriadis – författare

During the last decade or so vaccine development has been facilitated by rapid ad- vances in the molecular and cell biology ofthe immune system. This has laid the foundations of a new generation of vaccines exemplified by subunit vaccines produced through gene cloning and by synthetic peptides mimicking small regions ofproteins on the outer coat ofvi- ruses. However, as subunit and peptide vaccines are only weakly or non-immunogenic, there is areal need for strategies to improve their potency. This book contains the proceedings of the 5th NATO Advanced Studies Institute (ASI), "Vaccine Design: The Role of Cytokine Networks," held at Cape Sounion Beach, Greece, during 24 June-5 July 1996 and deals in depth with the role ofbasic immunology in the regulation of immunity and vaccine design. Special emphasis is given to the use of cyto- kines in conjuction with vaccines with the aim ofimproving their potency or the use ofvac- cines designed to improve cytokine production. We express our appreciation to Dr. J.-L. Virelizier and Dr. G. Kollias for their cooperation in planning the ASI and to Mrs. Concha Perring for her excellent production ofthe manuscripts.The ASI was held under the sponsor- ship of NATO Scientific Affairs Division and generously co-sponsored by SmithKline Beecham Pharmaceuticals (Philadelphia). Financial assistance was also provided by Connaught Laboratories Ltd. (Ontario), Pasteur Merieux (Marcy I 'Etoile), Biochine (Siena), Help SA (Athens), and Avanti Polar Lipids Inc. (Birmingham, USA).

Conventional attempts to control cell behaviour and function are often marred by the toxicity of the drugs used, their premature waste or inactivation or by their inability to interact with or reach target sites efficiently. New trends in pharmacology empha­ size the development of methods for the optimization of drug action, for instance by the delivery of drugs, enzymes, hormones, antigens, genetic material, ets. through carrier systems selectively to re­ levant cellular and subcellular sites. A wide assortment of carriers was discussed in the first NATO Advanced Studies Institute (ASI) "Targeting of Drugs," the proceedings of which were published by Plenum Press in 1982 (eds., G. Gregoriadis, J. Senior and A. Trouet). This book, containing the proceedings of the 2nd NATO ASI "Receptor-Mediated Targeting of Drugs" held again at Cape Sounion, Greece during 20 June-l July 1983, deals with drug delivery through systems possessing ligands which can recognize and interact with receptors on the target''s surface. Receptor-recognizing carriers that have recently given promise of realistic expectations in targeting include monoclonal antibodies, certain proteins that home to specific cells in the body and liposomes either as such (when they can trigger specific reactions in the reticuloendothelial system) or in association with targeting macromolecules. Each of these are discussed extensively by leading authorities, in terms of applications in biology and medicine and related methodologies.