Specific prophylaxis of shigellosis

A high level of shigellosis morbidity requires new approaches to the control of bacterial dysentery. According to modern concepts, the outbreaks of Shigella infections are linked both with less intensive epidemic control measures and the objective cyclic character of the epidemic process. In this connection great importance is attached to the development of vaccines for the immunization of high risk groups in territories with unfavorable epidemic conditions and in zones of military conflicts, as well as children of school and pre-school age, who mostly determine seasonal rises of shigellosis morbidity. In this article the data describing new approaches to the creation of new live enteric vaccines on the basis of the knowledge of the genetic control of microbial pathogenicity and the regulation of its expression are presented. Attenuated Shigella mutants, created by different authors and having good prospects to be used for the development of vaccines, are characterized.