ABSTRACT
Both viral and fungal infections lead to diseases and conditions that range from mild, such as the common cold or athlete’s foot, to deadly, such as AIDS or systemic fungal infections. Until the mid-1900s, there were no safe drugs to treat either type of infection. Historically, however, certain viral infections such as smallpox and polio have been prevented with vaccines, which, when administered, provoke an immune response so that antibodies are present in case of exposure. Vaccines have been in use since 1798, when Edward Jenner advocated the use of cowpox vaccine to protect against smallpox. Although they are effective against many viruses, for a variety of reasons, vaccines against certain viruses, as well as against fungal infections, have not yet been developed, despite the medical need.
