Passive Immunotherapy and Its Applications in Envenomation and Infectious Diseases: In Tribute to Gaston Ramon (1886–1963)

Dear Colleagues,

Passive immunotherapy (or serum therapy against diphtheria, tetanus, venoms or virus) has developed gradually since its discovery in 1894 by Césaire Phisalix and Albert Calmette separately. To date, many improvements have been made to obtain the high-efficacy and high-tolerance products that we use today.

In 2023, we will commemorate sixty-year anniversary of the death of Gaston Ramon (1886–1963). G. Ramon was a veterinarian and immunologist who made major contributions to the enhancement of immunization, through the development of flocculation, toxoids, adjuvants and antigen combinations for vaccination. Despite 155 independent nominations for the Nobel Prize in Medicine between 1930 and 1953, a record number of nominations, G. Ramon never received this prize.

This Special Issue aims to provide an update of Gaston Ramon’s various discoveries in the field of passive immunotherapy and its applications in the context of envenomation and infectious diseases.

Potential topics include but are not limited to:

• History of the development of antitoxins and antivenoms;
• Mechanism of action of toxoids;
• Role of flocculation in the neutralization of toxins;
• Significance of flocculation to measure the affinity of antibodies for their target;
• Mechanism of action of adjuvants;
• Benefit of adjuvants for the immunization and production of antibodies;
• Relevance and limits of the combination of antigens for immunization;
• Application of passive immunity in the management of infectious diseases (including Ebola, COVID, Dengue, Zika, etc.);
• Use of the serum of convalescent patients in the treatment of infectious diseases.

Dr. Jean-Philippe Chippaux
Guest Editor

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