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Working Safely with Vaccinia Virus

Laboratory Technique and the Role of Vaccinia Vaccination

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Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 269))

Abstract

Vaccinia virus, the prototype Orthopoxvirus, is widely used in the laboratory as a model system to study various aspects of viral biology, virus-host interactions, and as a protein expression system and a vaccine vector. The ubiquitous use of vaccinia viruses in the laboratory raises certain safety concerns, because the virus can be a pathogen in individuals with immunological and dermatological abnormalities and, on occasion, can cause serious problems in normal hosts. This chapter reviews standard operating procedures when working with vaccinia virus and issues surrounding the use of prophylactic smallpox vaccination for laboratory workers.

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© 2004 Humana Press Inc., Totowa, NJ

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Isaacs, S.N. (2004). Working Safely with Vaccinia Virus. In: Isaacs, S.N. (eds) Vaccinia Virus and Poxvirology. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 269. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1385/1-59259-789-0:001

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1385/1-59259-789-0:001

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-58829-229-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-59259-789-5

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols

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