"Induction of cytotoxic T lymphocytes and antitumor immunity with DNA vaccines expressing single T cell epitopes", by Frank Ciernik, Jay A. Berzofsky and David P. Carbone explores the uses of gene gun and how it can induce both humoral and cellular immunity. The article specifically explores the effects of p53, a tumor repressor named for its molecular weight (p53 is a protein that has a molecular weight of 53). It is extremely important because fifty percent of known cancers result from a mutation in this gene. A Brief History of Immunization Vaccines were introduced about 200 years ago when Jenner discovered that if someone contracted a mild case of cowpox they would not contract smallpox. , another scientist, Louis Pasteur, accidentally discovered the avian cholera vaccine by leaving cultures in his laboratory. Subsequently, Pasteur developed an effective vaccine against rabies. Typhus and cholera vaccines were produced by Wilhelm Kolle in 1896. The foundations for tetanus and diphtheria vaccines were laid by Emil von Behring and Emile Roux in the early 20th century. In 1955, the polio vaccine, developed by Jonas Salk, was licensed. The Contagious and Non-Contagious Infectious Diseases Sourcebook estimates that a chickenpox vaccine developed by Merrick Sharp Dohme will soon be available. ADVANTAGES There are many advantages to using genetic rather than protein immunization. immunization. For example, it is more effective than proteins in inducing cellular and humoral responses. More importantly, it is safer. By targeting only the desired epitope, this immunization method avoids the induction of unwanted responses. A current example of an unwanted response would be... middle of paper... tumor cells in mice. Modern Applications of Genetic Immunization The implications of the proposed vaccines introduced by this research could be immense. In addition to their advantages over traditional vaccines, they could be applicable to infectious diseases for which there are currently no known preventative measures. Effective immunization for infectious diseases could include inoculation against: BSE/cholera, dengue, Ebola virus, Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, hepatitis B, C virus; Herpes simplex virus, HIV, influenza, malaria, enteroviruses causing meningitis, papilloma virus, rabies virus, tuberculosis and yellow fever. Furthermore, DNA epitope vaccines can elicit protective immune responses against cancer. The induced response against the identified T cell epitopes, including inhibition of tumor growth, could be the result of this innovative technology.