Beginning in mid-February 2008, the 1997-2007 online version of the Science Watch® newsletter, ESI-Topics.com, and in-cites.com, will all be featured together on the redesigned ScienceWatch.com. All previous content from the three sites will be permanently archived, and remain accessible from any existing bookmarks to the archived pages. No new content will be added to this site. Updates and new content (updated biweekly) are available at ScienceWatch.com now.

New Hot Paper Comments

By Dan H. Barouch

ESI Special Topics, September 2007
Citing URL - http://www.esi-topics.com/nhp/2007/september-07-DanHBarouch.html

Dan H. Barouch answers a few questions about this month's new hot paper in the field of Microbiology.

From •>>September 2007
Field: Microbiology
 Article Title: Hexon-chimaeric adenovirus serotype 5 vectors circumvent pre-existing anti-vector immunity
Authors: Roberts, DM;Nanda, A;Havenga, MJE;Abbink, P;Lynch, DM;Ewald, BA;Liu, J;Thorner, AR;Swanson, PE;Gorgone, DA;Lifton, MA;Lemckert, AAC;Holterman, L;Chen, B;Dilraj, A;Carville, A;Mansfield, KG;Goudsmit, J;Barouch, DH
Journal: NATURE
Volume: 441
Issue: 7090
Page: 239-243
Year: MAY 11 2006
* Harvard Univ, Sch Med, Beth Israel Deaconess Med Ctr, Div Viral Pathogenesis, Boston, MA 02215 USA.
* Harvard Univ, Sch Med, Beth Israel Deaconess Med Ctr, Div Viral Pathogenesis, Boston, MA 02215 USA.
* Crucell Holland BV, NL-2301 CA Leiden, Netherlands.
* Harvard Univ, Sch Med, Childrens Hosp, Mol Med Lab, Boston, MA 02115 USA.
* S African MRC, ZA-4001 Durban, South Africa.
* New England Reg Primate Res Ctr, Southborough, MA 01772 USA.

ST:  Why do you think your paper is highly cited?

I suspect that our paper is highly cited as it describes a novel vaccine approach. We show that a novel adenovirus Dan Barrouch (right) with lead author Diane Roberts (left).vaccine vector may solve the problem of pre-existing anti-vector immunity, which represents a major limitation of current adenovirus vaccine vectors for HIV and other pathogens.

ST:  Would you summarize the significance of your paper in layman’s terms?

This paper shows that an adenovirus vector can be made in which the surface loops of the major capsid protein have been replaced with corresponding regions from a rare adenovirus serotype. Since these surface loops are the major targets of neutralizing antibodies, this chimeric vector effectively circumvents pre-existing anti-vector immunity.

ST:  Where do you see your research leading in the future?

This chimeric adenovirus vector may prove useful as a vaccine vector for the developing world. Pending regulatory approvals, we plan to advance this vector into phase I clinical studies as a novel candidate HIV vaccine.End

Dan H. Barouch, M.D., PH.D.
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Harvard Medical School
Boston, MA, USA

ESI Special Topics, September 2007
Citing URL - http://www.esi-topics.com/nhp/2007/september-07-DanHBarouch.html

•> Search Special Topics
New Hot Papers Menu || All Topics Menu
New Hot Papers Comments Menu
Help || About || Contact

ScienceWatch.com - Tracking Trends and Perfomance in Basic Research
Go to the new ScienceWatch.com
Write to the Webmaster with questions/comments. Terms of Usage.
The Research Services Group of Thomson Scientific |
(c) 2008 The Thomson Corporation.