Or click on the first letter of the article:
A B
C D
E F
G H
I J
K L
M N
O P
Q R
S T
U V
W X
Y Z
Bacille Calmette Guérin
Bacille Calmette Guérin: An effective immunization against tuberculosis . Commonly abbreviated BCG, it is an attenuated (weakened) version of a bacterium called Mycobacterium bovis which is closely related to Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the agent responsible for tuberculosis.
Camille Guérin (1872-1961) and Albert Calmette (1863-1933) produced the BCG strain of the bacteria at the Pasteur Institute in Paris in 1921. Within a decade BCG was being given in France and many other countries. By 1928, BCG had been given to 116,000 infants in France alone. However, conflicting reports about its effectiveness delayed the use of the BCG vaccine in the United States until 1950.
BCG is also used as an adjuvant to stimulate the immune response and in cancer chemotherapy .
Last updated on 07/03/2008
© 1996-2004 MedicineNet, Inc. All rights reserved.
Information on this web site is provided for informational purposes only and
is not a substitute for professional medical advice. You should not use the
information on this web site for diagnosing or treating a medical or health
condition. You should carefully read all product packaging. If you have or
suspect you have a medical problem, promptly contact your professional
healthcare provider.
Statements and information regarding dietary supplements have not been
evaluated or approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Please consult
your healthcare provider before beginning any course of supplementation or
treatment.
|
