Gene-based vaccines.

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The development of vaccines is one of the best examples of the impact of biomedical advances upon human health. But, despite the successes, such as the elimination of smallpox from the planet, there remain a number of diseases for which we have no vaccines, and which infect and often kill millions of people each year (see Table 1). These diseases include those due to newly emerging pathogens such as HIV, as well as ancient scourges such as tuberculosis, where, although there is a vaccine, a better one is needed. A look at the new technologies being used to develop vaccines will be presented here.