Molecular analysis tools and the agents of great endemic diseases

摘要

Recent developments in the field of molecular biology pave the way for the study, diagnostics and therapeutics of endemic diseases that affect mainly developing countries. Gene manipulation techniques allow the large scale expression of pathogen genes with a potential use in diagnostics or vaccine production. In addition, these techniques might result in new attenuated vaccines. On the other hand, the determination of the nucleotide sequence of the genome of pathogens might lead to new targets for drug rational design with a potential use in chemotherapy. However these progresses will not be available to developing countries unless a continuous program for research funding and human resources formation in these new technologies is adopted.