Researchers at the University of Iowa in Iowa City have developed a vaccine that protects patients against lethal pneumonia caused by Staphylococcus aureus bacteria and drug-resistant Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, according to a news release from the University of Iowa.
Researchers using an animal model found vaccination against three staph toxins almost completely protect against staph infections. Additionally, after introducing the vaccine, disease-causing bacteria were completely eliminated from the animal’s lungs.
Previous attempts to target staph vaccines have focused on the cell-surface proteins on bacteria instead of staph toxins, according to the report. Researchers found vaccines focused on cell-surface proteins tend to increase the severity of the infection while the newly developed vaccine that targets staph toxins almost completely protects against staph infections.
Researchers using an animal model found vaccination against three staph toxins almost completely protect against staph infections. Additionally, after introducing the vaccine, disease-causing bacteria were completely eliminated from the animal’s lungs.
Previous attempts to target staph vaccines have focused on the cell-surface proteins on bacteria instead of staph toxins, according to the report. Researchers found vaccines focused on cell-surface proteins tend to increase the severity of the infection while the newly developed vaccine that targets staph toxins almost completely protects against staph infections.
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