Smallpox: looking back to Edward Jenner and even a little further

The World Health Organization (WHO) announced on May 8 1980 that smallpox was the first human infectious disease eradicated from the environment. It was possible thanks to the spectacular success of the Intensified Smallpox Eradication Program initiated in 1967 by WHO. In this article, we summarize the fascinating history of smallpox variolation and vaccination. We also acknowledge Edward Jenner (1749-1823), the father of immunology and one of the world's greatest scientific visionaries, who was many years ahead of his times. Since the studies on variola virus (VARV) are not accepted by the civilized countries, public opinion and scientific community, the progress in the immunobiology of VARV and the production of modern vaccines against smallpox will be not possible without model studies both in vivo and in vitro. Also, the lack of research would hinder the understanding of virus nature and the cellular and molecular mechanisms of the disease. For this reason, in our laboratory we are conducting studies on immunobiology of ectromelia virus (ECTV) and on mousepox pathogenesis as a substitute for VARV and smallpox.