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The Hindu
a day ago
- Health
- The Hindu
Scientists identify how children develop immunity to bacterial infection, paving way for vaccine
Scientists have discovered how young children naturally develop immunity to bacterial infection Strep A, a breakthrough that could speed up vaccine development and save up to half a million lives each year, a new study has said. Tracking Strep A immunity Strep A, or Group A Streptococcus, is a common bacterium that can cause mild conditions such as sore throat and skin infections, but in severe cases leads to life-threatening illnesses. Thousands of people in low and middle-income countries die each year after contracting the infection, however, deaths from Strep A are relatively uncommon in more affluent nations by comparison. A deadly Strep A outbreak in the UK and Europe in late 2022 resulted in hundreds of deaths, including of many children. Working in partnership with the Medical Research Council (MRC) Unit The Gambia at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, the University of Sheffield research team tracked how children in The Gambia develop natural immunity to Strep A. Identifying antibodies linked to protection They were able to identify the specific antibodies that are linked to protection from the potentially fatal infection, according to the study published in Nature Medicine, a monthly medical journal. The researchers looked at how antibodies - our natural defence against infection - develop in people in The Gambia from birth and throughout their lives. It found that infants are born with some maternal protection against Strep A, but that quickly fades away. Young children rapidly develop antibody responses to various parts of the bacteria after exposure to Strep A. 'Identifying this key window for developing immunity is a critical discovery for future vaccine strategies,' the study said. Lead author Dr Alex Keeley, a Wellcome Clinical PhD Fellow in Global Health at the MRC Unit the Gambia and the University of Sheffield's Florey Institute of Infection, said understanding this process removes a major obstacle to vaccine development. 'For the first time in humans, we have observed how antibodies formed after vaccination could work to prevent infections,' he said. Gambian scientist Fatouamta Camara, who was part of the research, said Strep A has a 'devastating burden' on communities, both in health and socio-economic impact. 'A vaccine offers hope to break this cycle and allow children to thrive,' she said. Paving the way for life-saving vaccines The study was part of a collaboration between Sheffield's Florey Institute of Infection and the GSK Vaccine Institute for Global Health. Professor Thushan de Silva, Co-Director of the Florey Institute of Infection in Sheffield and a Principal Investigator at the MRC Unit The Gambia, who supervised the research, said: 'This study reflects the value of working across institutions to deliver high-quality, impactful research in global health.'
Time of India
a day ago
- Health
- Time of India
Scientists identify how children develop immunity to bacterial infection, paving way for vaccine
London: Scientists have discovered how young children naturally develop immunity to bacterial infection Strep A, a breakthrough that could speed up vaccine development and save up to half a million lives each year, a new study has said. Strep A, or Group A Streptococcus , is a common bacterium that can cause mild conditions such as sore throat and skin infections, but in severe cases leads to life-threatening illnesses. Thousands of people in low and middle-income countries die each year after contracting the infection, however, deaths from Strep A are relatively uncommon in more affluent nations by comparison. A deadly Strep A outbreak in the UK and Europe in late 2022 resulted in hundreds of deaths, including of many children. Working in partnership with the Medical Research Council (MRC) Unit The Gambia at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, the University of Sheffield research team tracked how children in The Gambia develop natural immunity to Strep A. They were able to identify the specific antibodies that are linked to protection from the potentially fatal infection, according to the study published in Nature Medicine, a monthly medical journal. The researchers looked at how antibodies - our natural defence against infection - develop in people in The Gambia from birth and throughout their lives. It found that infants are born with some maternal protection against Strep A, but that quickly fades away. Young children rapidly develop antibody responses to various parts of the bacteria after exposure to Strep A. "Identifying this key window for developing immunity is a critical discovery for future vaccine strategies," the study said. Lead author Dr Alex Keeley, a Wellcome Clinical PhD Fellow in Global Health at the MRC Unit the Gambia and the University of Sheffield's Florey Institute of Infection, said understanding this process removes a major obstacle to vaccine development. "For the first time in humans, we have observed how antibodies formed after vaccination could work to prevent infections," he said. Gambian scientist Fatouamta Camara, who was part of the research, said Strep A has a "devastating burden" on communities, both in health and socio-economic impact. "A vaccine offers hope to break this cycle and allow children to thrive," she said. The study was part of a collaboration between Sheffield's Florey Institute of Infection and the GSK Vaccine Institute for Global Health. Professor Thushan de Silva, Co-Director of the Florey Institute of Infection in Sheffield and a Principal Investigator at the MRC Unit The Gambia, who supervised the research, said: "This study reflects the value of working across institutions to deliver high-quality, impactful research in global health."
Telegraph
3 days ago
- Health
- Telegraph
Antibodies raise vaccine hopes for a bug that kills 500,000 a year
The discovery of antibodies thought to protect children against a common bacterial infection could bring a vaccine against a bug that kills 500,000 each year. Scientists at the University of Sheffield and the Medical Research Council (MRC) have for the first time identified specific antibodies that protect against Strep A. The common bacterium is mainly known for causing sore throats and flu-like symptoms, but in more invasive cases it can be deadly. The bug kills hundreds of thousands of people each year in poor and middle-income countries, and a UK outbreak in 2022/23 caused more than 400 deaths. Researchers tracked children in The Gambia, and discovered that while maternal protection faded, young children quickly mounted immune responses to parts of the bug. Until now, a limited understanding of the body's natural defences against the bug, which is also called Streptococcus pyogenes, has hindered any vaccine development. The findings of the peer-reviewed study, which are published in the Nature Medicine journal, are a potential breakthrough to develop a new jab. Dr Alex Keeley, a Wellcome fellow in global health at the MRC's Gambia unit and Sheffield's Florey Institute of Infection, led the research. He said: 'Our findings represent a significant step towards a safe and effective vaccine that could save around half a million lives here in the UK and around the world.' 'Now, for the first time in humans, we've been able to observe how antibodies that would be made following vaccination may be preventing infections and show how these antibodies may be working against Strep A.' Fatouamta Camara, who worked on the research, said Strep A in the Gambia 'carries a devastating burden on children and adults in their prime years'. She said: 'Beyond causing illness, its impact ripples through families and communities, perpetuating cycles of poverty and reducing quality of life. 'A vaccine offers hope as a powerful tool to prevent these infections, protect our communities, and improve health outcomes, enabling children and young people to thrive.'
