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06/01/2004
Research promises to beat common meningitis bug
The latest research into a broad spectrum vaccine may have led to a breakthrough in protecting against all strains of meningococcal meningitis.
Currently only a vaccine protecting against the less common Group A and C strains of the bacteria are available, but research by scientists at the University of Surrey promises a vaccine which may protect individuals against all the strains of the bacterium, including the most common Group B strain.
Research by scientists at the School of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences at the University of Surrey and the Health Protection Agency provides hope for developing a new meningitis vaccine that will protect children against all groups of meningococcus.
Meningococcal bacteria cause epidemics of meningitis worldwide that kill thousands of children each year. Vaccines are available for the A and C groups, but no effective vaccine is currently available for B groups.
Each year in the UK there are about 1,500 confirmed cases of group B meningitis, but the true incidence is thought to be nearer twice that number as many mild cases may go unreported.
About 10% of children who contract meningococcal meningitis die of the disease and many of the survivors are left severely handicapped.
In research supported by the Meningitis Trust, the Surrey researchers used genetic engineering technology to make a mutant strain of the meningococcus that was incapable of causing disease in mice. Although the mutant was based on a C group meningococcus, it was discovered that mice inoculated with the mutant bacteria developed antibodies that killed not only C groups but also the B and A strains, effectively immunising them against all groups.
Researchers warn that there is some way to go, but they are hopeful that it should be possible to develop a single vaccine to protect against all groups of the meningococcus. Such a vaccine would revolutionise meningitis immunisation around the world, they said.
(SP/GMcG)
Currently only a vaccine protecting against the less common Group A and C strains of the bacteria are available, but research by scientists at the University of Surrey promises a vaccine which may protect individuals against all the strains of the bacterium, including the most common Group B strain.
Research by scientists at the School of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences at the University of Surrey and the Health Protection Agency provides hope for developing a new meningitis vaccine that will protect children against all groups of meningococcus.
Meningococcal bacteria cause epidemics of meningitis worldwide that kill thousands of children each year. Vaccines are available for the A and C groups, but no effective vaccine is currently available for B groups.
Each year in the UK there are about 1,500 confirmed cases of group B meningitis, but the true incidence is thought to be nearer twice that number as many mild cases may go unreported.
About 10% of children who contract meningococcal meningitis die of the disease and many of the survivors are left severely handicapped.
In research supported by the Meningitis Trust, the Surrey researchers used genetic engineering technology to make a mutant strain of the meningococcus that was incapable of causing disease in mice. Although the mutant was based on a C group meningococcus, it was discovered that mice inoculated with the mutant bacteria developed antibodies that killed not only C groups but also the B and A strains, effectively immunising them against all groups.
Researchers warn that there is some way to go, but they are hopeful that it should be possible to develop a single vaccine to protect against all groups of the meningococcus. Such a vaccine would revolutionise meningitis immunisation around the world, they said.
(SP/GMcG)
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Children in the UK are to receive a vaccine against a disease, which causes blood poisoning, meningitis, pneumonia, under new plans announced today. A routine pneumococcal vaccine is being introduced as part of a series of changes to the childhood immunisation programme. The jab, which will be given in three doses, will be introduced from April.
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George Awarded Damages Over 'Obsession'
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Meningitis B Jab To Be Free For Babies
The life-saving vaccine against Meningitis B disease will be made free on the NHS for babies if an agreement is reached with the manufacturers. It is a U-turn from the Government who rejected the rule last year .
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