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Questions and Answers
What percentage of Parkinson disease patients do not have a mutation in any of the identified Parkinson disease genes?
What percentage of Parkinson disease patients do not have a mutation in any of the identified Parkinson disease genes?
What is the primary effect of Parkinson disease on the brain?
What is the primary effect of Parkinson disease on the brain?
What is the long-term effect of levodopa therapy on Parkinson disease patients?
What is the long-term effect of levodopa therapy on Parkinson disease patients?
What is the purpose of the electronic-pulse neurostimulator in deep brain stimulation?
What is the purpose of the electronic-pulse neurostimulator in deep brain stimulation?
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What is a characteristic nonmotor symptom of Parkinson disease?
What is a characteristic nonmotor symptom of Parkinson disease?
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What is the primary application of reverse vaccinology in the discovery of new antigens?
What is the primary application of reverse vaccinology in the discovery of new antigens?
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What is the potential benefit of using next-generation technologies in vaccine development?
What is the potential benefit of using next-generation technologies in vaccine development?
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What is the recommended approach for analyzing new vaccines?
What is the recommended approach for analyzing new vaccines?
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What is the primary driver of vaccine research in the 21st century?
What is the primary driver of vaccine research in the 21st century?
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What is the purpose of using sensitive high-throughput technologies in vaccine development?
What is the purpose of using sensitive high-throughput technologies in vaccine development?
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What is the significance of understanding the human immune system in vaccine development?
What is the significance of understanding the human immune system in vaccine development?
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What is the result of the increased understanding of the mechanisms of human immunity and microbial pathogenesis?
What is the result of the increased understanding of the mechanisms of human immunity and microbial pathogenesis?
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What is an example of a new innovative technology in vaccine manufacturing?
What is an example of a new innovative technology in vaccine manufacturing?
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What is the purpose of genome-wide sequencing of viruses and bacteria in vaccine development?
What is the purpose of genome-wide sequencing of viruses and bacteria in vaccine development?
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What is the result of the development of recombinant DNA technology?
What is the result of the development of recombinant DNA technology?
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Study Notes
Parkinson Disease Overview
- Affects approximately 1 million people in the United States
- 60,000 new cases occur annually
- Average age at onset: 57 years
Symptoms
- Motor functions:
- Bradykinesia (extended time to initiate normal movements)
- Resting tremor (involuntary shaking)
- Stiff gait
- Stooped posture
- Muscle rigidity
- Non-motor components:
- Sleep disorders
- Rapid eye movements
- Tingling of the skin
- Loss of sense of smell
- Psychiatric disturbances often accompany the disease
Pathophysiology
- Progressive loss of dopamine-releasing neurons
- Affects transmission of signals between brain components
- Results in motor deficiencies
Genetics
- About 85% of patients do not have a mutation in identified Parkinson disease genes
- No specific gene can be used therapeutically
Treatment
- Levodopa therapy:
- Attempts to compensate for dopamine loss
- Effective for short periods
- Eventual development of motor fluctuations, decreased voluntary movements, and increased tremor frequency
- Deep brain stimulation:
- Implants thin-wire electrodes on both sides of the brain
- Battery-operated neurostimulator (brain pacemaker) regulates electric pulses to target regions
- Thought to normalize Parkinson disease-induced signal pathway
- Reduces motor-related symptoms (walking problems, tremors, rigidity, and slow movements)
- No significant impact on non-motor aspects of the disease
Vaccines and Public Health
- Traditional vaccines have been successful in preventing human infectious diseases and preserving public health.
- The success of vaccines has led to a new era in the 21st century, driven by increased understanding of human immunity and microbial pathogenesis.
Advances in Vaccine Research
- Vaccine research in the 21st century focuses on developing vaccines to prevent cancer and chronic infectious diseases, including HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria.
- Revolutionary technologies have made vaccines safer and enabled development against infectious agents or diseases that were previously difficult to target.
Innovative Technologies
- Cell-based and recombinant methods have replaced egg-based methods for vaccine manufacturing.
- Recombinant DNA technology enabled the development and large-scale manufacture of the hepatitis B vaccine.
- Glycoconjugation technology enabled the development of vaccines against H. influenzae type b, pneumococci, and meningococci.
- Genome-wide sequencing of viruses and bacteria has allowed for the selection of targets for vaccine development.
- Reverse vaccinology has enabled the discovery of new antigens and the development of vaccines against meningococcus B.
Future Developments
- DNA vaccines and vector vaccines may expedite the development of new vaccines for cancer, HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria.
- Next-generation technologies, such as virus-like particles, may promote the development of effective vaccines against many new pathogens.
- Understanding the human innate immune system may facilitate the production and licensing of novel TLR agonist-based adjuvants.
Vaccine Development and Clinical Trials
- New vaccines should be systematically analyzed for their potential to confer protection against a wide spectrum of diseases in people of all ages.
- Innovative clinical trials, such as parallel testing of multiple vaccines or vaccination regimes, may accelerate vaccine development.
- High-throughput technologies, such as systems biology methodologies, may provide early information about vaccine effectiveness and immune response.
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Description
Learn about the basics of Parkinson disease, including its prevalence, average age of onset, and common symptoms such as motor functions and non-motor components.
