An Immune Boost to the War on Cancer

摘要

Immunologists hope that what they've learned about the molecular workings of the immune system will lead to effective immunotherapies for cancer, but they have their work cut out for them. IN ext month marks the 200th anniversary of one of the world'sgreat experiments: In an effort to protect a child against smallpox--a disease that can leave its victims badly disfigured, if it does not kill them--British doctor Edward Jenrier "vaccinated" him with material from a cow infected with cowpox, a relatedbut much milder virus. The experiment worked--the boy remained healthy when subsequently inoculated with smallpox itself--and the door was open to the eventual vanquishing or many of humankind s most serious infectious diseases, including, of course, smallpox itself.