Scientists have found common targets among strains of the pneumonia-causing bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae, in a step toward a universal vaccine against the infection and other serious conditions such as meningitis.
Researchers are looking for alternatives to existing pneumococcal vaccines, which protect against just a handful of strains, and do not cover the more than 100 known subtypes of the bacteria. The research could lead to a future vaccine with broader protection, Nature reported.
The approach targets proteins on the surface of the pneumococcal bacteria rather than strain-specific sugars targeted by existing vaccines. Scientists are trying to conquer one of the biggest hurdles in developing broader protection against pneumococcal disease by focusing on these conserved proteins.
Pneumococcal infections can be serious especially for young children, older people and others at risk of infection. Pneumonia is still the biggest killer of children around the world and pneumococcus also causes meningitis and blood infections that can be fatal.
Previous studies by scientists at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital also has developed a vaccine targeting conserved portions of pneumococcal proteins. Early lab and animal studies have proved promising.
This latest work is still a very early step and more research and clinical trials will be needed before a universal vaccine could be available.
