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Protein research could lead to new meningitis vaccine
April 03, 2002New technology is leading to a vaccine against Group B Streptococci (GBS), a common cause of meningitis as well as a frequent cause of pneumonia in newborns. Key proteins have been found that can kick-start the immune system to fight these bacteria, scientists heard today (Tuesday 09 April 2002) at the spring meeting of the Society for General Microbiology at the University of Warwick.
"We have developed a method to rapidly screen for cell surface proteins in GBS, which can cause pneumonia and meningitis in newborn babies (0.7 per 1000 live births in the UK). Our lab results show that vaccines containing these proteins can protect against infection," says Dr Sean Hanniffy of the Institute of Food Research, Norwich.
"We have discovered a large number of novel GBS proteins through our LEEP (Lactococcal Expression of Exported Proteins) screening technology. Some of these proteins are present in GBS isolates representing all known serotypes, suggesting they might protect against most strains. No licenced vaccines are currently available against GBS infection," says Dr Hanniffy.
Dr Jerry Wells, Head of the Bacterial Infection & Immunity Group at IFR said, "this approach has been very successful for GBS and has also been used to discover surface proteins from Streptococcus pneumoniae, the leading cause of middle ear infections in infants and pneumonia in the elderly."
"Our work in collaboration with Provalis plc, indicates that certain surface proteins from these bacteria show promise as vaccine candidates. We hope that these vaccines will be evaluated in clinical trials in the near future," says Dr Hanniffy.
Society for General Microbiology
Dr Jerry Wells, Head of the Bacterial Infection & Immunity Group at IFR said, "this approach has been very successful for GBS and has also been used to discover surface proteins from Streptococcus pneumoniae, the leading cause of middle ear infections in infants and pneumonia in the elderly."
"Our work in collaboration with Provalis plc, indicates that certain surface proteins from these bacteria show promise as vaccine candidates. We hope that these vaccines will be evaluated in clinical trials in the near future," says Dr Hanniffy.
Society for General Microbiology
Immune System Current Events and Immune System News RSSFirst reconstitution of an epidermis from human embryonic stem cells
Stem cell research is making great strides. This is yet again illustrated by a study carried out by the I-STEM* Institute (I-STEM/ Inserm UEVE U861/AFM), published in the Lancet on 21 November 2009. The I-STEM team, directed by Marc Peschanski has just succeeded in recreating a whole epidermis from human embryonic stem cells.
New findings suggest strategy to help generate HIV-neutralizing antibodies
New discoveries about anti-HIV antibodies may bring researchers a step closer to creating an effective HIV vaccine, according to a new paper co-authored by scientists at the Vaccine Research Center of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health.
UAB Researchers Discover Antibody Receptor Identity, Propose Renaming Immune-System Gene
Researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) have uncovered the genetic identity of a cellular receptor for the immune system's first-response antibody, a discovery that sheds new light on infection control and immune disorders.
New culprit for viral infections among elderly -- an overactive immune response
Researchers at Yale School of Medicine have found that exaggerated responses of the immune system explain why the elderly succumb to viral infections more readily than younger people.
Women at risk from vitamin A deficiency
Almost half of UK women could be suffering from a lack of vitamin A due to a previously undiscovered genetic variation, scientists at Newcastle University have found.
Immune system activated in schizophrenia
Researchers at the Swedish medical university Karolinska Institutet have discovered that patients with recent-onset schizophrenia have higher levels of inflammatory substances in their brains. Their findings offer hope of being able to treat schizophrenia with drugs that affect the immune system.
Thoughtful words help couples stay fighting fit
Couples who bring thoughtful words to a fight release lower amounts of stress-related proteins, suggesting that rational communication between partners can ease the impact of marital conflict on the immune system.
Largest gene study of childhood IBD identifies 5 new genes
In the largest, most comprehensive genetic analysis of childhood-onset inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), an international research team has identified five new gene regions, including one involved in a biological pathway that helps drive the painful inflammation of the digestive tract that characterizes the disease.
Faithful mothers have healthier babies
Faculty of 1000 reviewers examine a study from New Zealand on whether prolonged exposure to the father's semen protects new mothers against pre-eclampsia and having an undersized baby
Hoping for a fluorescent basket case
Although recent advances have raised hopes that a protective vaccine can be developed, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) remains a major public health problem.
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